Implement Desktop Virtualization and Transition to Everything as a Service

From VDI to DaaS, desktop virtualization is back. Choose the right solution, then develop an implementation plan that balances user experience, infrastructure complexity, and total cost.

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Your Challenge

There isn’t necessarily one desktop virtualization deployment method for all; unique evaluation of each user-group for fit with each deployment method is required in order to deploy a solution that is right for your organization.
The push for businesses to be mobile is driving desktop virtualization adoption. As legacy PCs are reaching end of life, many businesses are looking for a solution that will support a mobile workforce.
Desktop virtualization options abound. VDI, DaaS, app virtualization? Each has strengths, drawbacks, and costs that should be considered.

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Our Advice

Critical Insight

Desktop virtualization technology has caught up to the dream. The last few hurdles are being overcome, and the value is higher than ever in a mobile, cloud-based world.
Focus on user experience. If the new user experience is not equal to or better than traditional desktops, the project will fail at the pilot stage.
The virtual desktop is only part of the device-agnostic workspace. A workspace that enables users from any device can involve desktop virtualization, but it’s only a piece of the puzzle.

Impact and Result

Establish and align your IT goals with the solution requirements. Successful desktop virtualization involves implementing a solution that fits with the organization’s vision, but equally important is implementing it at a reasonable total cost, which can only be accomplished by establishing and aligning the goals and solution requirements.
Follow Info-Tech’s process for implementing the right desktop virtualization solution to create a project plan that will help ensure that you not only choose the right solution but also implement it effectively.

Contributors

Christopher Bilbro, Systems Architect, Veterans United Home Loans
Tom Howarth, Infrastructure Architect, Cap Gemini
Andrej Golebiowski, Independent Citrix Consultant
Sean Ebeling, Manager of Infrastructure Architecture for Endpoint Engineering, Health Care Industry
Lucinda Davidson, VP, Login VSI
Scott Stanley, IT Manager, Calgary Public Library
Eric Pierson, IT Manager, City of Durango
Dan Salinas, VP Business Development, Lakeside Software
Steve Anderson, President/Consultant, The Anderson Network
Carlo Castagnino, IT Infrastructure Manager, Calgary Public Library
Ivan Sabados, Senior Project Manager, Region of Peel

Additional interviews were conducted but due to privacy and confidentiality requirements, they are not listed

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Get to Action

Launch the desktop virtualization project

Assess the value and identify the organization’s fit with desktop virtualization to structure the implementation project.
Analyze virtual desktop requirements and pilot the solution

Gather and analyze desktop virtualization requirements, then pilot the solution.
Plan the desktop virtualization implementation

Plan the implementation based on evaluation of the pilot and a carefully crafted communication plan.
- Desktop Virtualization Pilot Test Assessment
- Desktop Virtualization Communication Plan

Guided Implementation

This guided implementation is a nine call advisory process.

Guided Implementation #1 - Launch your desktop virtualization project

Call #1: Identify drivers and goals
Call #2: Create the project plan
Call #3: Assess your user-groups & strategy

Guided Implementation #2 - Analyze requirements and pilot the solution

Call #1: Gather requirements
Call #2: Outline RFP & evaluate options
Call #3: Plan your pilot

Guided Implementation #3 - Plan your implementation

Call #1: Evaluate pilot results
Call #2: Create implementation rollout plan
Call #3: Monitor and communicate your DV solution to end users

Schedule Your First Call

Onsite Workshop

The Purpose

Identify the scope and objectives of the workshop.
Identify the drivers behind your desktop virtualization project.
Determine and prioritize the business, end-user, and IT project goals and success metrics.
Understand the needs of end users to create user-group profiles.
Explore which applications are critical to virtualize.
Develop a high-level budget based on the estimated cost to deliver desktop virtualization.
Understand the high level risks and how to mitigate them.

Key Benefits Achieved

Determine workshop scope.
Determine project resourcing.
Evaluate your current environment: infrastructure, project drivers, and opportunities for improvement.
Identify the goals and success metrics.
Detailed creation of user-group profiles.
Document the critical applications in your environment to virtualize.
Outline a high-level budget for your desktop virtualization project.
Create a list of risks and mitigation strategies for each.
Match the user-groups to the appropriate desktop virtualization delivery method.

Activities:		Outputs:
1.1	Develop the scope and objectives of the workshop
1.2	Review the current state environment
1.3	Identify the drivers behind your desktop virtualization project
1.4	Determine the business, end-user, and IT project goals and success metrics	Completion of the first section of a project plan
1.5	Understand the needs of end-users through a user-group profile creation and analysis	Documented user-group profiles
1.6	Determine desktop virtualization delivery method fit with user-group profiles
1.7	Inventory and analyze critical applications to virtualize
1.8	Determine the high-level budget and total cost of ownership (TCO)	High-level budget and desktop virtualization appropriateness assessment
1.9	Assess the high level risks and strategies to mitigate them	Launched desktop virtualization implementation project

The Purpose

Identify functional requirements for the organization’s desktop virtualization solution.
Determine technical requirements for the organization’s backup solution.
Assess the responses from vendors to determine which vendor is the best fit to pilot your solution.
Plan the pilot: select who will be in the test group and which applications will be supported.

Key Benefits Achieved

Documented functional requirements.
Documented technical requirements.
Identified the appropriate vendor to host the solution that best fits the organization’s requirements.
Developed a plan to conduct the pilot.

Activities:		Outputs:
2.1	Develop technical and functional requirements	Completion of section 2 of the project plan
2.2	Test out the products in the market (PoC) to further refine requirements	Documented requirements for the future solution
2.3	Create the Request for Proposal (RFP)	Scoped RFP
2.4	Assess the responses from vendors to negotiate a service contract
2.5	Plan the pilot: select the test group and critical applications	Completed pilot plan
2.6	Draft an end-user satisfaction survey	Customized end-user satisfaction survey

The Purpose

Discuss the milestones and initiatives required to implement desktop virtualization.
Build a roadmap of initiatives mapped on a timeline.
Discuss best practices around an implementation plan.
Develop a communication plan.

Key Benefits Achieved

An action plan for implementing and communicating the desktop virtualization solution.
Creation of a roadmap of initiatives to implement desktop virtualization.

Activities:		Outputs:
3.1	Brainstorm milestones and deliverables
3.2	List the project initiatives
3.3	Consolidate the initiatives into a project roadmap/timeline	Completed roadmap of initiatives to implement desktop virtualization
3.4	Discuss best practices around implementation	Completion of section 3 of the project plan Implementation plan
3.5	Develop a communication plan	Communication plan