Managed Workplace. Combine cost effectiveness with end user satisfaction. shaping tomorrow with you

Transcription

1 Managed Workplace Combine cost effectiveness with end user satisfaction shaping tomorrow with you

2 What is your goal? Managing stationary and mobile IT workplace systems has always been an enormous challenge for IT departments. One reason for this is the lack of standards. In some cases, for example, two users having identical tasks are working with entirely different hardware, different operating system versions and different applications. And if you consider the fact that various user requirements need to be met in every enterprise, you can quickly understand why routine tasks such as providing new workplace systems, updates and patches are complicated and difficult. How can you keep an eye on so many devices and configurations? How can system failures be corrected quickly in such environments? And how can you protect the entire end user environment from daily risks and force majeure? IT departments have the job of finding the right answers to these and other key questions. This is usually done by defining the appropriate IT services required and by contracting with external providers to deliver these services. These partners need to be integrated in existing internal service processes an additional aspect that makes the operation of end user environments an extremely complex job. Furthermore, smartphones which are rapidly becoming an important tool in today s enterprises are often not even taken into consideration in terms of corporate IT. Take a look at your end user environment and ask yourself: What is your ultimate goal when it comes to managing your IT workplace systems? Higher service quality and system availability to keep your end users satisfied? At any price? No, of course not. You are facing a challenge that many of your colleagues in other enterprises are also trying to come to terms with: They are also looking for a solution that offers better end user service at prices that are affordable and predictable, with the option of transforming fixed costs into variable operating costs. The solution should also minimize the recurring investments needed for modernizing stationary and mobile workplace systems, giving you more time and financial freedom to concentrate on innovations and strategic projects. 2

3 Where to start with the architecture or with service processes? There is no standard or single starting point for initiating an optimization project. Sometimes it is the need for additional expertise or a lack of personnel for international end user services that are the factors for starting such projects. For many enterprises today the transition to Windows 7 is an issue that requires action because Microsoft plans to discontinue extended support for Windows XP in April If enterprises continue to use XP, they could soon be facing higher support costs. Based on past experience, those who decide in favour of the transition generally need to spend 15 to 24 months planning and completing the migration to the new operating system. Therefore, now is the right time to precisely analyse the various options available for optimising IT workplace infrastructure. The following aspects should be included in the analysis: How can products, processes and service level agreements be consolidated and standardized? What improvements are possible through virtualisation? How can process automation reduce workloads and contribute to higher service quality? Which service sourcing model is the most economical internal, external or hybrid? The potential for optimization in the traditional PC architecture IT workplace systems, both stationary and mobile, are essential tools for end users that greatly impact the productivity of an enterprise. Among the characteristics of these systems are the personalized environment, the separation from other users, performance geared to the specific needs of the user and support for graphics. Or in other words: Every user relies on his own personal system which is set up according to his own individual needs and preferences. This poses a number of challenges for IT departments in terms of administration, security, availability, compliance and much more. However, one key factor is always the most important: the overall costs. These costs are increasing steadily, whereby an average of 80% can be attributed to the cost of operations alone. By standardizing services and products, as well as automated processes, these operating costs can be reduced considerably while increasing the service quality for end users at the same time. 3

4 Why enterprises are rethinking their PC workplace architectures 80% operating costs 20% acquisition costs Higher security, fewer risks, more flexibility for adaptation and minimizing future investments are factors that are of growing importance in today s enterprises. However, in traditional PC architectures, the tightly coupled lifecycles of hardware, operating systems, applications and user profiles pose a number of limitations when it comes to optimising an entire environment. That is the reason why more and more enterprises are now looking for alternative architectures and delivery models. Today enterprises are using various models of desktop virtualisation as an alternative architecture. All of them are based on the concept of a flexible architecture having independent lifecycles for the hardware, operating system and applications. This gives enterprises, end users and IT management a number of important advantages. On average 80% of the overall costs for IT workplace systems today can be attributed to operations. 4

5 For example: When migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7, companies can expect that 15% to 25% of the applications will not run on the new platform. Virtualization, however, helps you avoid this problem. And if the IT department is planning to update its hardware, it makes good sense to rethink the IT strategy. Enterprises that implement desktop virtualisation are able to extend the lifecycle of their hardware and do not necessarily have to make large investments in future workplace systems. Providing support to users in branch offices is very expensive especially if these offices are located in foreign countries. But if these workplace systems are operated as virtual desktops in the data centre, many of the challenges of end user support can be mastered more effectively and easily. Data loss and downtime are business-critical events but their negative impact can be prevented using the high availability and disaster recovery concepts that are easy to implement with desktop virtualisation. What s more, enterprises can fully meet legal requirements and compliance guidelines with this infrastructure. The mechanical components of PCs in production environments are quite often the source of failures. With desktop virtualisation, enterprises can take advantage of access devices that do not have such mechanical components, and this drastically reduces maintenance and downtimes. If external personnel require access to the IT infrastructure during project work, the IT department can easily integrate them using desktop virtualisation for the duration of the project and then discontinue their access authorization just as easily once the project is completed. If new users need to be integrated into an existing infrastructure as the result of a merger or acquisition, this can be accomplished quickly, securely and affordably with desktop virtualisation. Enterprises involved in development using know-how coming from a foreign country can use desktop virtualisation to make sure that source code never leaves the data centre. 5

6 The key feature: the right model for every type of user Tightly coupled lifecycles User Apps OS HW In traditional PC architectures the lifecycles of hardware, operating systems, applications and user profiles are tightly coupled. Independent lifecycles User Apps OS HW Virtualisation separates the lifecycles of workplace components and thus supports extensive optimisation by delivering more flexibility. You should take a moment to think about the various types of users working in an enterprise and the different kinds of virtualised infrastructures that can be provided for end user systems. For instance, in the example above, why should the developers work in a virtualised environment rather than in a traditional server-based computing environment? Because in development they are constantly performing tests and therefore need to restart the system several times during the course of a day. That would affect the work of other users who are connected to the same server. The better solution is to give each developer his own virtual desktop, which is completely isolated from all the other end user systems. The following models can be set up for specific user types: Task and Office Worker: The hosted shared desktop (traditional server-based computing) is a proven solution for office and home office users who only need a few standard applications and want to continue working in their personalized environments. In this scenario the personalized environments are provided by the user profile management. Power User: Users with individual applications and high performance requirements should have their own PCs or workstations. Mobile Worker: When users are frequently on the move, they need to be able to use their workplace system and applications offline, i.e. without network access. Often notebooks are used as IT workplaces. Smartphones are also devices that are growing in importance. External User: Choosing the right system for these users mainly depends on the specific tasks that need to be done. Since user diversity is quite high, enterprises need an intelligent combination of innovative technology and very efficient service processes. Only then can the service quality be sustainably improved by optimising the IT workplace infrastructure, a strategic step that will also minimize risks and lead to maximum savings. 6

7 How to reach your goal Companies are best helped with an IT workplace infrastructure that ensures efficient and reliable management of both traditional and virtual IT workplaces. It should cover the entire lifecycle: from the definition of workplace standards to sourcing, provisioning, operations, support and ending with disposal when systems reach end of life. A holistic approach must help companies to: Drastically reduce the complexity of managing IT workplace systems Provide optimal support for the diverse types of users in enterprises Reduce daily routine workloads Reduce overall costs Continually improve your IT workplace infrastructure and service processes 7

8 FUJITSU LIMITED Tel: +353 (0) marketing@ie.fujitsu.com ie.fujitsu.com 8 Accuracy: Fujitsu endeavours to ensure that the information contained in this document is correct but, whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of such information, it accepts no liability for any loss (however caused) sustained as a result of any error or omission in the same. Copyright Fujitsu Limited All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Fujitsu Services Ltd. 1566/ /IDEAS BRA01