Definitions: Desktop Management

Definition

Desktop management is a comprehensive approach to managing  all the computers associated with an organization, including desktop, laptop  and other computing devices. Also, falling under the general topic are more  current enterprise concerns, such as, virtual platforms. Virtual platforms  promise to rise in the IT consciousness in 2009 with widespread deployment in 2010.

Among the responsibilities within desktop management are the  following: installing and maintaining hardware and software; virus protection and spam filtering; patch management for all installed applications; and  administering user permissions. Desktop management tasks can be performed  onsite or via the Internet with a remote support solution. See On Top of Virtual Desktop Management for further insights.

Business Applications

The technology is ready to provide seamless connectivity  with little or no application latency. Desktop virtualization solutions  generally break into two types: server-based and client-based. Server-based  virtual desktop models are most appropriate for fixed PCs that have constant  LAN network connectivity to a centralized server farm where computation takes  place. This approach can work over the WAN for certain applications, but  latency and mobility are challenges, especially for the 50 percent of PCs that are laptops.

Client-based desktop virtualization is most appropriate for  organizations that have laptops and remote users; in this model, virtual  desktops run locally on the end-user PC, with centralized management and policy  enforcement. Kidaro's platform uses client-hosted desktop virtualization, which  has the benefits of supporting fixed users, mobile users, and disconnected use  in a single infrastructure, while avoiding the need for expensive server farms.  (See On Top of Virtual Desktop Management.)

Security Issues

Desktop virtualization can help enterprises realize dramatic  improvements in security but only if it is integrated into existing  infrastructure and processes. Security is merely one aspect among many for  desktop-management solutions. It is best to build it in when creating the  entire process, that is, when addressing distribution, integration, formatting,  and so on. Plus, security is a potentially paramount management headache with  laptops and other unmanaged computers.

Technical Details

Many organizations would like to provision enterprise access  to consultant laptops or home PCs, instead of buying laptops for these users, but they're concerned about inviting unwanted malware and vulnerabilities onto  their network. Kidaro enables enterprises to deliver a "virtual laptop"—essentially an encrypted, corporate-managed virtual machine that  can run off a USB drive or be downloaded over the Web onto any PC. This allows  organizations to provision access rapidly to new users, consultants, home PCs,  or M&A scenarios without worrying about the underlying operating system or configurations.