UNC Health Care selects IGEL Universal Desktop Converter (UDC) and IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) for simplicity, cost-savings and security.
“The need to provide users with access to their desktops from any device anywhere, anytime is driving a growing number of IT organizations to migrate toward VDI environments,” said Simon Clephan, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Alliances, IGEL. “One of the key advantages that IGEL brings to the table is the simplicity that comes from being able to manage an entire fleet of thin clients from a single console. Additionally, the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter provides IT organizations with the flexibility they need to convert any compatible thin client, desktop or laptop computer into an IGEL thin client solution, without having to make an upfront investment in new hardware to support their virtualized infrastructures.”
UNC Health Care selected the IGEL UDC and UMS software for its Citrix VDI deployment following a “bake-off” between thin client solutions. “IGEL won hands down due the simplicity and superiority of its management capabilities,” said James Cole, Technical Architect, UNC Health Care. “And, because the IGEL UDC software is designed to quickly and efficiently convert existing endpoint hardware into IGEL Linux OS-powered thin clients, we knew that by selecting the IGEL solution we would also realize a significant reduction in our capital expenditures.”
Since initiating the deployment of the IGEL UDC and UMS software, UNC Health Care has also experienced significant time savings. “Prior to deploying the IGEL UDC and UMS software, it took our team 25-30 minutes to create a virtual image on each system, not counting the personalization of the system for each use case, now that process takes less than 10 minutes, and even less time when converting the system to VDI roaming,” added Cole.
Additionally, the ease of integration between the IGEL UDC and IGEL UMS with Citrix XenDesktop and other solutions offered by Citrix Ecosystem partners, including Imprivata, has enabled secure access to the health care network’s Epic Systems’ Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system.
Metallic is a new SaaS backup and recovery solution based on Commvault's data protection software suite, proven in the marketplace for more than 20 years. It is designed specifically for the needs of medium-scale enterprises but is architected to grow with them based on data growth, user growth, or other requirements. Metallic initially offers either monthly or annual subscriptions through reseller partners; it will be available through cloud service providers and managed service providers over time. The initial workload use cases for Metallic include virtual machine (VM), SQL Server, file server, MS Office 365, and endpoint device recovery support; the company expects to add more use cases and supported workloads as the solution evolves.
Metallic is designed to offer flexibility as one of the service's hallmarks. Aspects of this include:
Protecting your data and ensuring its’ availability is one of your top priorities. Like a castle in medieval times, you must always defend it and have built-in defense mechanisms. It is under attack from external and internal sources, and you do not know when or where it will come from. The prevalence of ransomware and the sharp increase in users working from home and on any device adds further complexity and broadens the attack surfaces available to bad actors. So much so, that your organization being hit with ransomware is almost unavoidable. While preventing attacks is important, you also need to prepare for the inevitable fallout of a ransomware incident.
Here are just a few datapoints from recent research around ransomware:• Global Ransomware Damage Costs Predicted To Reach $20 Billion (USD) By 2021 • Ransomware is expected to attack a business every 11 seconds by the end of 2021 • 75% of the world’s population (6 Billion people) will be online by 2022. • Phishing scams account for 90% of attacks. • 55% of small businesses pay hackers the ransom • Ransomware costs are predicted to be 57x more over a span of 6 years by 2021 • New ransomware strains destroy backups, steal credentials, publicly expose victims, leak stolen data, and some even threaten the victim's customers
So how do you prepare? By making sure you’re recovery ready with a layered approach to securing your data. Two proven techniques for reducing the attack surface on your data are data isolation and air gapping. Hitachi Vantara and Commvault deliver this kind of protection with the combination of Hitachi Data Protection Suite (HDPS) and Hitachi Content Platform (HCP) which includes several layers and tools to protect and restore your data and applications from the edge of your business to the core data centers.
There’s little doubt we’re in the midst of a change in the way we operationalize and manage our end users’ workspaces. On the one hand, IT leaders are looking to gain the same efficiencies and benefits realized with cloud and next-generation virtual-server workloads. And on the other hand, users are driving the requirements for anytime, anywhere and any device access to the applications needed to do their jobs. To provide the next-generation workspaces that users require, enterprises are adopting a variety of technologies such as virtual-desktop infrastructure (VDI), published applications and layered applications. At the same time, those technologies are creating new and challenging problems for those looking to gain the full benefits of next-generation end-user workspaces.
Before racing into any particular desktop transformation delivery approach it’s important to define appropriate goals and adopt a methodology for both near- and long-term success. One of the most common planning pitfalls we’ve seen in our history supporting the transformation of more than 6 million desktops is that organizations tend to put too much emphasis on the technical delivery and resource allocation aspects of the platform, and too little time considering the needs of users. How to meet user expectations and deliver a user experience that fosters success is often overlooked.
To prevent that problem and achieve near-term success as well as sustainable long-term value from a next-generation desktop transformation approach, planning must also include defining a methodology that should include the following three things:
• Develop a baseline of “normal” performance for current end user computing delivery• Set goals for functionality and defined measurements supporting user experience• Continually monitor the environment to ensure users are satisfied and the environment is operating efficiently
This white paper will show why the user experience is difficult to predict, why it’s essential to planning, and why factoring in the user experience—along with resource allocation—is key to creating and delivering the promise of a next-generation workspace that is scalable and will produce both near-and long-term value.
The importance of testing in your virtualized desktop environments
With VDI gaining greater popularity among many enterprises across multiple industries, and with growing numbers of desktops migrating to the cloud, the importance of testing your virtualized desktop environment has never been higher.
Read this white paper and learn how:
In this white paper from BitTitan, we outline the top approaches to planning and preparing for your Office 365 tenant migration including:
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) can be integrated with Microsoft RDS to enable system administrators to centrally manage the delivery of virtual desktops and applications with ease while giving end users the functionality needed to boost productivity.
Parallels RAS is quick and easy to install, and features:
By integrating Parallels RAS with Microsoft RDS, organizations of any size and scale can meet their unique needs.
Download this white paper now to learn how your company can publish applications and virtual desktops seamlessly and securely to any device with the combined capabilities of Microsoft RDS and Parallels RAS.
There are many solutions on the market that can make remote work easier and more accessible so staff can continue to be productive, regardless of their location. But not all are created equal. A solution should be able to be deployed quickly, ensure the security of confidential data and be easy for both admins and employees to use.
That’s where virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions come into play.
The benefits of using VDI—rapid deployment, inherent security and simplified management—make a compelling case for its suitability as the technology to adapt to today’s new normal and prepare for future disruptions.
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is a VDI solution that enables organizations of all sizes to effortlessly deliver applications and virtual desktops to any endpoint device at any time. What’s more, its simple infrastructure makes it easy to implement, manage and scale, while its affordable price point keeps costs down.
Download this white paper today to understand how a VDI solution like Parallels RAS can boost your remote workforce.
In addition to helping propel demand for more mobile solutions (e.g., laptops, thin clients and Bluetooth-enabled accessories), the pandemic has also emphasized the vitalness of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions in helping enable successful digital workplaces.
Many VDI solutions offer a centralized architecture, which simplifies various IT processes crucial to supporting remote work environments. While there is no shortage of VDI tools out there, Parallels® Remote Application Server (RAS) certainly stands out.
Parallels RAS is an all-in-one VDI solution that takes simplicity, security and cost-effectiveness to a whole new level while enabling employees to easily access work files, applications and desktops from anywhere, on any device, at any time.
Parallels RAS effectively addresses the common challenges of enabling workforce mobility, such as:
In this white paper, you’ll learn what workforce mobility looks like in today’s business world, the key benefits and drawbacks of a mobile workforce and how Parallels RAS helps solve common remote work solutions.
Download this white paper now to discover how Parallels RAS can help transform your digital workforce to conquer today’s challenges and ensure you're well-prepared for the future.
Hybrid and remote learning environments have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic and will likely continue until the health risk abates completely. The good news is that virtualization technology has helped make educational resources more readily accessible to staff and students regardless of device and/or location, allowing teaching and learning to continue despite the pandemic.
This whitepaper identifies how virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) enables better virtual learning environments by providing greater accessibility, mobility and flexibility for users. In addition, VDI can further enhance virtual education because it creates a customized learning experience by:
Parallels Remote Application Server (RAS) is an all-in-one, cost-efficient VDI solution that provides seamless, secure access to educational applications and desktops to all stakeholders - administrators, educators, and students. Download this whitepaper today and find out why so many educational institutions choose Parallels RAS for VDI and application delivery to create more effective virtual learning environments.