Organizations in the IT industry are investing in Virtual Desktops and servers that help reduce costs and provide additional benefits for their businesses. With these new technologies, it is easier for companies to scale and handle tasks more efficiently. However, with this change comes risks. A recent article from The New York Times discusses how technology has changed the pandemic effect of viruses – now more than ever, it is important to have a plan in place to protect your company against cyber threats.
Sudden Shift to Remote Work
Remote work is the new norm, but what are the pandemic effects on virtual desktop solutions?
Virtual desktop solutions have been gaining popularity over the past few years as companies have realized the benefits of having a separate, isolated environment for employees to work in. Unfortunately, while this has been great for employee productivity, it has also created unforeseen pandemic effects.
The first and most obvious effect is that remote work creates a sudden shift in worker productivity. Employees working from home are freed from the distractions of office life and can focus on their work. This can lead to increased productivity and better results. However, when companies switch to a remote work model, they may not be used to working remotely and struggle with productivity. This can create a shortfall in employee productivity, impacting company morale and the bottom line.
Another problem with remote work is that it can lead to physical isolation. Employees who work from home cannot interact with other team members or see them in person. This can lead to them feeling isolated and lacking communication, negatively impacting team morale and overall performance. Additionally, when employees are physically isolated, they may become more susceptible.
Flexibility and Speed – Much-needed while Working from Home
Virtual Desktop Solutions have long been a staple in businesses of all sizes. Whether you are an individual working from home or a business with multiple remote employees, VDS is an essential part of your workday. In addition to their flexibility and speed, Virtual Desktop offers a level of privacy not found in other work environments.
However, the pandemic has significantly impacted the use of virtual desktop solutions. As a result, many businesses have now decided to limit their employees’ use of VDS in order to keep them healthy and productive. This is especially important for remote employees who may be more susceptible to the effects of the pandemic.
Limiting employee use of Desktop Virtualization can have several benefits:
- It keeps employees more flexible and mobile when working from home.
- It preserves productivity by limiting distractions.
- It reduces the risk of spreading the pandemic to other employees.
- Limiting employee use of VDS helps to protect company resources and data.
There are a few ways to limit employee use of Virtual Desktop Solutions. One option is to set up specific times during the day when Virtual Desktop usage is allowed. Another option is to create separate accounts for each employee and restrict access to specific files.
Putting the Classroom in Cloud
Virtual desktop solutions have become an increasingly popular tool for educators to use in their classrooms. However, with the pandemic affecting so many people, it’s important to be aware of the potential pandemic effects on VDS.
Schools and universities are turning to virtual learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some schools plan to resume in-class lectures, while others plan for continued online classes.
The user experience has to be on par with or better than that of real-life interaction. VDI provides a means to bridge the gap by providing a streamlined, simple, straightforward option for remote access.
Remote learning is a prerequisite for quality education, but providing limited IT access and canned lectures is not enough. A more engaging user experience encourages students to continue their education.
Virtual desktops will open new opportunities for growth for the IT industry.
A Shift to Non-persistent Desktops for a Persistent User Experience
To support a large and diverse customer base, corporations in the past have had to invest in expensive hardware just to power their virtual machines. But now, with Copymatic, businesses can easily build and provision custom desktops, which help enhance the customer experience.
Non-persistent desktops that don’t save preferences are less costly and can create new machines every time users log in to their virtual desktops. The desktop’s various capabilities depending on what it is needed for.
Desktop virtualization providers such as Microsoft and Citrix have taken a personalization layer to their VDI products to ensure that end users have the same experience when working with a non-persistent desktop. As a result, it is expected that through 2026, the adoption of desktop virtualization will grow by 18%.
What Lies Ahead for Virtual Desktop post-COVID-19?
People and enterprises are still bouncing back from the pandemic shockwaves, and it’s a little too early to make overly specific prophecies about Virtual Desktop following the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, a post-COVID world promises to spur recovery as enterprises of all sizes to facilitate their workforce with secure access to business-critical applications – irrespective of device, location, or browser.
Virtual desktop solutions have matured, and the infrastructure that supports VDI has also grown. Now they are a bit cheaper, more stable, and no longer confined to use-cases in particular domains. Nevertheless, the market is still evolving, with more potential developments in the virtualization space after the COVID-19 chapter ends.
