Desktop Virtualization: A Buyer's Guide

The next frontier in the virtualization landscape is the virtualization and centralization of desktop PCs. Desktop virtualization can be broadly defined as the physical separation of the end user from the execution of the Operating System (OS) and applications, which will be centralized in data centers. Virtualization addresses the challenges of manageability, security and supporting a global workforce, three of the toughest desktop computing challenges. Globalization, outsourcing and increased mobility are decentralizing business processes. On the other hand, shrinking IT budgets, and increasing IT accountability for information security and service-level agreements underscore centralization. IT systems complexity hinders business agility and resilience - critical success factors in today's businesses.