Forrester Research: The Keys to a Successful Deployment

Desktop virtualization projects are transformational. They can dramatically minimize IT costs while better empowering workers with more ubiquitous access to the applications and data they need to be productive. In fact, according to recent research by Forrester, worker productivity when working remotely across multiple devices, increased 51% with virtualized deployments. And, 39% of IT managers said that end user satisfaction with the computing environment increased when desktop virtualization was in place.

With the win-win-win of lower costs, easier IT management and improved user productivity, desktop virtualization could be the strategic project that transforms your organization. But, as with every major IT initiative, careful planning is required.

Here are four things that you should know before you virtualize your desktops:

• Invest in Tools for Application Performance – IT managers point to application performance as the leading challenge for both desktop and application virtualization. To avoid latency issues that could degrade performance, invest in tools and infrastructure to manage the transition with ease.

• Avoid Over-provisioning – Don’t be tempted to accommodate multiple user profiles by simply making more images. Consider tools and partners to help you optimize your user profile management so that you can create the most efficient virtualized environment possible.

• User Acceptance Takes Time – Understand that users take time to accept change. To help them adjust, invest in education and tools that deliver the best user experience in an environment that is familiar and easy for users to navigate.

• Cross-Organizational Participation is Required – Refrain from embarking in deployment projects in silos. Without cross-team participation it can be difficult to consider all priorities, from user experience to data center capacity, network requirements, backup and recovery needs and more. By creating a cross-organizational task force to lead the desktop virtualization project, all goals priorities and decisions can be shared and communicated for the best outcomes possible.

The success of your desktop virtualization project can have a significant impact on your business performance. Begin your virtualization journey with the end in mind.

By Michael Mills