Sign Up | Contact us 2010, Jul 30
Remote desktop access: Hosted Service or Appliance?
Remote desktop access: Hosted Service or Appliance?
By Sunil Cherian | Mar 4, 2010
0 comments
Facebook
LinkedIn
Digg
Email
Print
Remote desktop tools are the only practical access solution for deskbound workers who are only occasionally out of the office, but should you use a hosted service or an appliance?
It will depend on your specific needs, but here are some of the pros and cons of each approach.
Appliances Pros
The appliance-based remote desktop solutions provide centralized control, which can be beneficial when corporate policy requires user compliance for network access from outside the DMZ. Additionally, there is no need to oversubscribe, reducing the risk of service interruptions and ensuring that even in emergencies each user will have access to their desktop. This maintains productivity for all users, which is especially useful when remote desktop is used in the context of business continuity planning (BCP).
Appliances only require a one-time capital outlay. While the up-front cost may be relatively higher than a managed service, there are no ongoing license costs that could keep adding up, making ROI more easily measurable.
Appliances are typically designed and built for enterprise use, which makes them easy to integrate securely with existing AAA infrastructure. Appliances require no client installation on either the office desktop PC or the remote client PC.
Appliances do not require a new service level agreement to be set up with a managed service provider. Thus, there are fewer potential points of failure, which helps enterprises to ensure a more consistent quality of experience for end users.
Appliance Cons
Most of the advantages of appliances stem directly from the fact that they have been designed for enterprise ownership and use. As a result, IT departments must procure, set up and manage equipment, and in some cases, configure office PCs.
Because appliances require management and upkeep, enterprises must have IT staff on hand to address installation, maintenance, upgrades, and keeping track of users who are authorized to access their office desktop PCs.
Thus, appliances can require an up-front investment of time, effort, and budget, which can be a deal breaker.
Appliances are relatively new so they do not have the managed services track record.
