Third of firms look to desktop virtualisation

Centrix provides solutions to optimise the way IT infrastructures deliver apps and content

Desktop virtualisation looks set to become widespread in the near future, according to a recent survey commissioned by Centrix Software, which found that over a third of companies intend to deploy the technology.

The survey, which canvassed IT decision-makers across a range of company sizes and industries, identified the chief reasons for considering a virtual desktop strategy as reducing costs, improving delivery of IT services and simplifying application deployment.

Centrix, which provides application delivery services, said that almost three-quarters of respondents used more than one application delivery model in their organisation, while over 30 per cent of companies using a single application platform are evaluating virtualisation.

"The survey findings highlight the momentum behind the move to virtual infrastructures and the central deployment of applications," said Centrix vice president for sales and marketing Lewis Gee.

Desktop virtualisation holds out the promise of simpler management by hosting user desktops inside the datacentre, with user access provided remotely through various methods, including thin clients, PCs or other devices.

However, Gee warned that care is needed to prevent virtualisation models creating new IT silos and adding to the management complexities, performance challenges and costs that have affected traditional desktop computing approaches, rather than helping to solve these issues.