Virtual desktops

The Citrix acquisition of XenSource has some compelling implications for companies with a large pool of remote workers and branch offices. One such implication is the ability to virtualize users’ desktops, allowing companies to decouple the hardware and software acquisition and ongoing management.

At many virtual companies—large and small—IT prefers to establish a corporate standard for laptop brand and model (the latter of which changes fairly frequently as new models emerge). Aside from buying power, one reason for this is the ability for the IT support team to remotely log on to a consistent remote machine.

But if all the desktop applications are stored in the data center and delivered via a streamed image, management, control, and troubleshooting become much more streamlined.

And interestingly, it becomes much easier for companies to “individualize” the computer-buying decision. Laptops are becoming a personal statement about who you are and what you like, and this is becoming increasingly true for companies trying to attract the 30-and-under rising stars.

Companies that provide their employees with a PC allowance, and give them the freedom to select their own laptops may win more tug-of-wars with their competitors for star prospects. I wrote about this in a recent column.

Citrix says it will release the Citrix XenDesktop in the first half of 2008. Basically, the product will let companies deliver Windows desktop applications to any employee over any network. The desktop delivery controller will be based on Citrix Desktop Server with native ICA protocol support. But the key is the ability to deliver and centrally control a consistent virtual desktop image to all employees.

With applications increasingly centralized at the data center, and IT’s requirement to deliver those applications to a growing number of remote and mobile workers, virtualized desktops may ease management—and a truly “personal” PC possible.