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Windows Virtual Desktop helps bridge the gap between legacy apps and Office 365

We find so frequently that companies would like to adopt new technology such as Office 365, but there is one application they cannot live without that is only functions in a traditional ‘server-based computing’ model. Those companies are sometimes held back from latest technology by their legacy software.

Since our founding in 2006, we have offered our Hosted Workspaces for these customers. However, they are not a perfect fit for everybody. For those that would prefer something different, Microsoft now offers Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) – could this service be for you?

Cloud Hosted services designed to solve common business problems

Too often IT providers will talk in complex jargon, possibly to hope to confuse you into buying. We try to be different. Instead, we talk in terms of common problems that companies face, and how we can solve them.

If you find any of these concerns with your business, perhaps we can help:

Difficulty moving from a traditional IT model to a modern one

Microsoft 365 is great. It works so well for so many different companies across the world. However, there are still a large number of companies that rely on legacy software for the day-to-day running of their business. If your software is a number of years old, then it may not be compatible with Microsoft 365 or similar modern services.

Microsoft now recognises this problem and have taken steps to resolve it with Windows Virtual Desktop. WVD uses Microsoft’s Azure platform to create a Hosted Desktop environment which allows applications to be published in the cloud and therefore integrate more closely with Microsoft 365.

Find out more here.

If you are looking to leverage WVD, your best option is to enlist the help of a Citrix Partner (such as entrustIT) as Citrix software will give you the most reliable connection to your WVD environment.

Find out more here.

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

As the country went into lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it was the legacy apps that businesses rely on that were holding them back from modern cloud environments and therefore, the ability to work from home efficiently. Fortunately, most of these legacy apps can be taken into the cloud with WVD which will enable you to continue working throughout the pandemic. If you’re looking to leverage WVD, we can now meet with you face-to-face via Teams to discuss your options.

A Microsoft 365 subscription in place, but difficulty linking your saved data with your workspace

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, it is likely you keep a lot of your company data in OneDrive for Business and Sharepoint. If so, you may find that your data is not easily accessible from your legacy applications.

Because Windows Virtual Desktop is based on the Azure platform and is included in 365 E3 licences (and above), WVD provides fast links between your Microsoft 365 data and the desktops used to manage it.

Enlist the help of an MSP such as entrustIT to create, monitor and support your WVD environment and take the pressure away from your teams to enable them to focus on their work.

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

If due to the coronavirus pandemic, your employees are having to work from home, it is likely that it is even more of a struggle (if not impossible) to access your data from your legacy applications. By implementing WVD, you can resolve this issue which will benefit you now and beyond the pandemic.

Find out more here.

Trouble finding the most cost-effective IT option for your company

IT is complex and expensive, but a necessity. If you are reliant on technology as so many businesses now are, it makes sense to invest in the most cost-effective option. The one that balances functionality with price.

Windows Virtual Desktop is most cost-effective for smaller teams that work traditional business hours (i.e. 9-5). This is because Azure’s pricing model is based on, among other things, active time using a cloud server. Therefore, it can get expensive if used outside of standard office hours.

For larger corporations or those that work at ‘non-traditional’ hours, a private Hosted Workspace (also from entrustIT) could be a better option. Hosted Workspace allocates private servers to your business and is charged based on user count and storage volume, rather than minutes of use.

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

Due to the current circumstances, businesses are relying on technology more than ever to pull them through the pandemic. Money is tight for us all, which is why it still makes sense to invest in the most cost-effective option. We can discuss with you face-to-face via Teams your needs to ensure that you are investing in the option that you will get the most from, as well as for the most cost-effective price.

Find out more here.

The need to upgrade to Windows 10, but lack of clarity on the best way to do it

You may have heard that Windows 7 is reached end-of-life in January 2020. End-of-life means the end of security patches and updates to Windows 7, leaving the OS vulnerable to cyber attacks. To ensure your business remains protected from such attacks, it is crucial that you update your devices to Windows 10 if you have not yet done so. Unfortunately, that means a sizeable one-off investment.

Windows Virtual Desktop gives a boost to those with this predicament. WVD users gain access to extended support for Windows 7 to buy your business a bit more time to upgrade. WVD also provides you with Windows 10 based desktops in the Azure platform, allowing you to make the transition with ease.

Using Windows Virtual Desktop to transition to Windows 10 is a cost-effective strategy in comparison to purchasing one-off hardware and software upgrades.

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

Windows 7 has now reached the end of life, which means if you are still using it, you are putting your business at immense risk. Cyber criminals were already targeting those that had failed to upgrade, as well as targeting those who are working from home amidst the pandemic without the right security tools in place. WVD will give you an instant upgrade to Windows 10, meaning your business is protected now and beyond the pandemic.

Find out more here.

Lack of qualified staff to support your IT environment

There are always day-to-day niggles when it comes to your IT. If you do not have qualified staff that can help resolve them, they can become a real challenge and can waste valuable time.

Microsoft do not support Windows Virtual Desktop directly. Whilst they ensure the system works, they will not support what goes on inside your desktops. That means if you have a problem with one of your applications – you are on your own.

That is where a Managed Service Provider such as entrustIT come in. We will support your Windows Virtual Desktop environment. Whether you need upgrades, changes or enhancements, we are Microsoft Partners and experts. You will have full access to our support team during your working day.

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

If your employees are working from home, it is not possible for someone to be there to resolve all the day-to-day IT niggles. Additionally, with so many other projects needing the attention of your IT teams to help keep your business afloat in these uncertain times, updates and security fixes may get forgotten. We have a fully-staff support team working throughout the lockdown, meaning that you can have peace of mind that your staff, as well as WVD environment is supported at all times.

Find out more here.

Concerns about backing up your data

With the rise of cyber threats, backup has never been more crucial for your precious business data. Microsoft does not handle backup of your data in Windows Virtual Desktop, which means you will need a solution to handle it.

entrustIT‘s Managed Backup service is perfect for this. The service uses a cloud backup and works in the background, backing up your precious data multiple times throughout the day to ensure that if the worst should happen, you are only ever a few hours behind. Included is disaster recovery to entrustIT‘s private cloud environment. The result is your peace of mind that your precious data is backed up and ready to be restored should you encounter any trouble.

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

Even though we have been in lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, cyber threats are still as prevalent than ever before and cyber criminals are still targeting businesses of all sizes. Therefore, if you don’t have sufficient backup in place and you get hit, your business may not survive it at all given the circumstances. Our backup solution will protect you during the pandemic and beyond by backing up your precious data throughout the day and having it ready to be restored it should the worst happen.

Find out more here.

Trouble with integration of Microsoft 365 and your workspaces

If your business is struggling to utilise the benefits of your Microsoft 365 subscription in your legacy applications, then Windows Virtual Desktop could be the answer.

WVD uses your Microsoft 365 licences (and is part of your subscription if you are on a 365 E3 package and above). That means that you can make use of the collaboration and document sharing tools from Microsoft 365 within your workspace and therefore within your legacy applications.

Data storage in WVD is handled by your OneDrive, meaning your data is all in one place too – easy!

Solving COVID-19 specific problems:

If your employees are working from home, there is no doubt that they will need to continue working on documents with one another despite the circumstances. Therefore, now, more than ever is the time to implement a solution such as WVD, so that you can advantage of the collaboration and document sharing tools from Microsoft 365 in your legacy applications.

Find out more here.

Ready to learn how Windows Virtual Desktop can streamline application delivery in your business? Get in touch with us at 0330 002 0045