Hidden Risks You Might Be Ignoring
In this month’s IT Bulletin, we’re shedding light on the cybersecurity threats that often go unnoticed — but can have serious consequences for businesses of any size.
Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI is becoming more and more prevalent within architectural, engineering and construction businesses because it is providing companies with new ways of working and managing their staff.
One of the main ways VDI is impacting the way businesses work is the fact that it allows companies to collaborate across large distances; even between countries and time zones. This therefore provides businesses with greater flexibility and improves productivity.
In addition to this, VDI is increasingly being adopted because technology is allowing for it eg with more compute power being provided in a smaller footprint or via cloud services. But what is Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and how does it allow for all of this?
At its simplest, VDI is the virtualisation of a user's desktop on a centralised server instead of using resources via a device like a laptop, PC or workstation. VDI still requires a user to have a device to access the virtualised desktop operating system, but the workloads remain on the centralised server. This means that the only data the user typically receives is the input and output data sent and received via a keyboard, mouse and display.
VDI can be either implemented internally within an organisation on dedicated hardware, hardware within a data centre, or what is becoming more common, on a cloud service. Each of these options have their benefits and drawbacks, so like any IT infrastructure or business project, they need to be thought through. One VDI solution doesn’t fit every business case.
When it comes to VDI, there are two main methods to delivering it: persistent and non-persistent.
Each of the methods above have their advantages and disadvantages, and in some instances, VDI may not be the appropriate solution. So how do you determine whether VDI is appropriate for your business? This is where a business case should be drawn up to help. The first step would be to understand the benefits that VDI can provide.
All these benefits make Virtual Desktop Infrastructure a very appealing prospect and could pose the question
"Why doesn’t every business run a VDI solution and ditch the traditional workstation and office-based model so many of us are accustomed to?".
Well like all solutions, there is not one-fit for all and it also has its disadvantages that businesses need to be aware of before venturing down the VDI road...
The one item of infrastructure VDI is most reliant on is network connection. Without a reliable and well performing network connection, VDI doesn’t work. Some of this is difficult to control as end users could be at home or on a mobile network. Because of this, troubleshooting and incidents can be difficult to trace and resolve.
Beyond the hardware estate comes the applications installed on the VDI estate and their software licensing requirements, as not all products can be easily licensed within a virtual environment. A prime example is Autodesk which has stated that single user licenses must be used and a term within the EULA states you cannot use it over an Internet or WAN connection, which effects the bulk of VDI users.
A prime example of the software licensing but also application compliance is Windows 10. Windows 10 has very specific licensing rules when virtualising and cannot be done in a shared hardware estate, hence a majority of estates are based on Windows Server software which is skinned to look like Windows 10. The issue there is that a large amount of applications are not officially supported on Windows 10 including the majority of Autodesk products, therefore if you have an issues you may not receive the support you want.
So, from everything that has been said, it can be difficult to confirm if Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI is right for your business. Even if the benefits sound a good fit to you, the work required and upheaval can sometimes be too much to investigate which is what Symetri are here to help you with.
We can look to put together simple budgets, designs and plans to examine if VDI or another solution may be the right fit for your business requirements, and we have a number of options to test the waters without large commitments both in time and money.
Visit our webpage to find out more or feel free to contact us.
In this month’s IT Bulletin, we’re shedding light on the cybersecurity threats that often go unnoticed — but can have serious consequences for businesses of any size.
In this blog, we’ll look at some common challenges teams face when configuring engineering software and share practical tips on how to simplify the process. We’ll also explain how Symetri’s solutions can help you optimise your software setup, reduce errors, and keep your projects running smoothly.
Managing a growing number of Autodesk BIM 360 or Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) projects can quickly become overwhelming - especially when it comes to project setup, user management, and data backups. With the right tools, you can eliminate manual inefficiencies, boost productivity, and focus on more strategic initiatives. If your team works with BIM 360 or ACC, this blog focuses on four powerful ways Naviate Cloud Manager can streamline your operations.