Communicate the Value of Desktop Virtualization to the CXO

Transcription

1 Communicate the Value of Desktop Virtualization to the CXO Last Revised: January 5, 2010 Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can be an effective solution for managing end client assets and the client experience. Just like any other solution, VDI must also make financial sense to be a viable alternative. To avoid surprises in the boardroom set the right expectations: minimal short-term savings and substantial long term savings. 1 ï ½ Info-Tech Research Group

2 Executive Summary Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can be an effective solution for managing end client assets and the client experience. Just like any other solution, VDI must also make financial sense to be a viable alternative. To avoid surprises in the boardroom set the right expectations: minimal short-term savings and substantial long term savings. 2

3 The term virtualization has become synonymous with capital expense (Capex) savings through server consolidation. As the buzz around desktop virtualization grows, more organizations are examining its use cases. One of the first steps in evaluating the solution should be setting realistic expectations of where a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) implementation will save. VDI: Opex vs Capex Unlike server virtualization, desktop virtualization does not promise fewer physical devices. Users still need access to terminals on the desktop: a repurposed PC or some form of thin client. Where the two types of virtualization are similar is in that they provide a centralized means of managing IT assets virtual and physical. Info-Tech has found that the largest area of potential savings in moving to virtual desktops is in the operational areas of deskside support and new desktop/application deployments and updating (Figure 1). Workstation management and deskside support take up to 12% of IT expenses. A significant reduction in this area (by up to 40%) means an overall savings of 5% of annual IT spending. However capital savings potential still needs to be considered in making a business case for VDI. As one VDI implementer put it: I can argue longer term operational savings but one thing I cannot say is that, up front, this solution is going to cost more (than traditional desktops). Figure 1: Reduced Deskside Support Costs Source: Desktop Virtualization: Assessing Organizational Appropriateness 3

4 Capex savings are possible but are not as significant (Figure 2). Info-Tech found that almost all VDI implementers expected to see Capex savings, however the majority expected savings of less than 10%. Figure 2. Total Hardware Acquisition Savings Over Cost of Refresh Source: Desktop Virtualization: Assessing Organizational Appropriateness 4

5 Among enterprises that evaluated VDI and decided against implementation, the most often cited reasons were: Total cost of solution per desktop was too high to justify deployment. Cost areas include backend server and network and licensing. User needs were judged to be sufficiently met by existing remote client access technologies such as Citrix presentation server. Too many users were unsuitable candidates for virtual desktop solutions (due to mobility needs or local PC performance needs). Emphasize Long-Term Savings The real value of VDI solutions comes from their ability to separate the layers that make up the end client desktop experience (see Figure 3). The layering allows multiple users to access a single image that is centrally stored and managed. The image is that of a virtual desktop with preset applications. To allow for dynamic combinations of applications to be paired with different desktops, the application layer is also separated or virtualized. Figure 3. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Layout Source: Info-Tech Research Group 5

6 A VDI solution for 100 or 1000 users could be based off of one or a few master images. So instead of managing, updating, and patching a 1000 operating systems on distributed machines, the IT manager has to simply make the change on one image in the data center. Applications can also be assigned to each user profile, a group, or all users centrally. These small changes shave off a large number of hours from deploying and managing desktops. These hours translate in to dollar savings and allow IT to focus on service management rather than asset management. Recommendations 1. Set the right expectations. Setting the right expectations goes a long way in getting approval and ensuring a successful deployment. The most important point to make up front is that VDI will likely not be a large Capex quick win. However there will be some short term savings and potentially large long term savings. Boiling the technology down to short term and long term, financial and staffing impact will help set realistic expectations and avoid unpleasant surprises. 2. Assess potential candidates for virtual desktops. Operational savings potential increases with the proportion of end users that can be legitimately served by a VDI solution. 3. Assess current operational costs. Assess current time/effort spent on desktop deployment and management. Factors to consider include: Staff time spent on deskside support particularly for configuration issues and implementation of new software. Number of help desk calls for desktop issue support and time to respond. Time to provision new employees with a desktop. Cost of securing remote and mobile assets. 4. Conduct an independent financial assessment of the costs. Vendor provided TCO/ROI assessment tools might have biases built-in or might be difficult to customize to individual needs. Use internal or third party assessments as a way to verify vendor claims. ITA Premium members can use the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure TCO per Desktop Tool which provides a quick overview of the costs associated with desktop virtualization for two of the main VDI vendors (Citrix and VMware). The Excel based tool can be customized for individual scenarios. 6

7 5. Include operating system licensing costs in assessment. One of the top challenges in implementing VDI solutions was Microsoft s Virtual desktop licensing. Organizations that had not factored it in to the total cost of the VDI solution had to gain further financial commitment from the CXO. The only way to currently license Microsoft operating systems is through the Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (VECD) license. Bottom Line VDI can be an effective solution for managing end client assets and the client experience. Just like any other solution, VDI must also make financial sense to be a viable alternative. To avoid surprises in the boardroom set the right expectations: minimal short-term savings and substantial long term savings. 7