EverDesk® is a Cloud-based virtual desktop that can be accessed from anywhere by several different platforms including, Zero Clients, Thin Clients, Windows, Mac, and various mobile devices. EverDesk desktops are hosted by Tier IV datacenters and include High Availability, Full Backups, and a Window Operating System.
Current corporate desktops are configured with specific Operating Systems and Applications to meet business needs and run on specific dedicated hardware as required to support them. This approach requires loading various applications onto every desktop and providing the necessary support and cost to manage them. Given that different roles in the organization require different applications, several desktop permutations must be managed by IT to support the business.
Figure 1 demonstrates a Standard Desktop where all of the applications are installed into the Operating System and the OS is installed on the physical hardware. This approach requires the management of the hardware, the OS, and the applications for every desktop in the business. Desktop refresh cycles are typically utilized in this model to support the new applications and Operating System enhancements, which always require bigger and better hardware. These refresh cycles are always driven by the application needs to support the business and rarely due to hardware failure which often leads to perfectly good hardware being replaced on regular cycles.
Figure 2 builds upon the Standard Desktop model by introducing a Managed approach where specialized third-party applications and servers are implemented to facilitate the "pushing" of applications across the business to increase efficiency in application delivery and maintenance. This approach suffers from the same shortcomings of the Standard Desktop approach and adds to it the complexity and cost of the management infrastructure while continuing to require the same equipment refresh cycles.
The EverDesk solution provides several benefits. First, the Operating System is abstracted from the Hardware, which allows existing hardware to run any of the Windows Operating Systems while greatly extending the life and viability of that hardware. Next, the applications are abstracted from the Operating System and placed in a global roles-based catalog, which eliminates the need to install applications into Operating Systems for various business groups. These applications are served up on-demand based on user's roles within the business and are all managed at a single publishing point. A single EverDesk configuration will support all of the business roles and required applications thereby greatly reducing the management overhead while also providing a single management point for every EverDesk desktop. The EverDesk approach is provided as a service, which allows the transition from CapEx to OpEx including Microsoft licensing if needed. When the existing hardware finally does fail, it can be replaced with a much more cost-effective and energy efficient Zero Client device that has a significantly longer life span.
When a user logs into their EverDesk desktop, a private instance of the company master desktop is created on-the-fly and the user is presented with the applications from the catalog that they are authorized to use. All private user settings and application data will persist between sessions providing the user with a consistent experience every time they access their desktop from any location. New applications can be added to the catalog while it's in use and existing applications can be upgraded while in use eliminating the need for scheduled downtime.
Each EverDesk desktop can be accessed from several different clients from any location that has Internet access. The connections are fully encrypted and support connectivity over lower bandwidth connections such as 3G Cellular data connections. EverDesk supports USB pass-thru so local hardware can be utilized such as printers and scanners. Every EverDesk desktop includes High Availability to provide continued usage in the event of hosting hardware failure as well as full daily backups. EverDesk desktops can be joined to customer domains and fully managed under existing GPO schemes.
EverDesk represents the next evolution in desktop and application delivery providing for an agile workforce to focus on the business.