What is a Hosted Desktop?
The term Hosted Desktop covers a range of technologies and services that are designed to provide a virtual computer desktop environment, with all its range of applications and utilities, that runs not on the individuals PC, but on a hosted computer in a dedicated data centre and accessed over the Internet. Read More
How does a Hosted Desktop run?
A Hosted Desktop is commonly run a Windows server based operating system which has a familiar look and feel to people used to working on a Windows PC. Hosted Desktops are accessed using a Remote Desktop “Client” application such as: Microsoft Terminal Services Client, Microsoft Remote Desktop Client or other 3rd party applications such as Ericom Blaze. Remote Desktop software is available for most operating systems so the hosted desktop can be accessed from a wide range of devices including Windows PCS, Tablets, Mac OS X, iOS (iPads, iPhones) and Android tablets and phones.
Hosted Desktops - How providers operate
Hosted Desktop providers typically operate from secure industry standard data centres which provide the security and resilience expected by enterprise class organisations but are shared across hundreds or thousands of individual customers, all benefitting from the economies of scale. Hosted Desktops often have features including: multiple Internet connections for resilience; multiple power supplies into the data centre, with diesel generators to cover power cuts and battery UPS to cover the transition. Other security measures will included 24hr security, CCTV, fire, smoke and flood detection and secure building entry control measures.
Characteristics of a Hosted Desktop
Hosted Desktops were designed as a solution to improve application sharing across multiple sites, remote working and the ability to scale up or down easily. They are also an easy and simple route into IT outsourcing.
A Hosted Desktop platform usually includes all the surrounding infrastructure and support services needed to securely connect over the Internet. This will include user authentication, digital certificates to encrypt communication, backups of data and operating systems as well as anti-virus, Windows updates and general server support.
A Hosted Desktop may also be found under other names including: Hosted Remote Desktops, Hosted Terminal Servers, Hosted Remote Desktop Servers, Cloud Desktops or Hosted VDI.
Hosted Desktop Pricing
Pricing for hosted desktops is usually on a per user basis often with an initial monthly charge for the first desktop application which will also include any Microsoft Licences such as Windows Server CALs (Client Access Licences) and Remote Desktop CALs.
Additional products or services can then be added as required including additional resources (memory, CPU), extra storage and also additional services such as SQL Server instances or web servers. Providers can also include licences for other Microsoft products including Microsoft Office, Project or Visio, mostly these will be offered under the Service Provider Licence Agreement (SPLA) licencing model. Some providers base their pricing on the actual resources required e.g. x GB of Memory. Others offer a more managed service where the customer doesn’t need to know the technicalities of the service only what applications and how many users.
Contact Us About Your Hosted Desktop
Why not get in touch with us today to discuss the options available to your business. Simply fill out the online contact form or call us on (0)1282 500318 and we will be in touch with you shortly.
