Desktop Optimization is a collection of tools and processes to reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of managing, maintaining and supporting your desktop environment. Components of an optimized desktop are rapid deployment of operating systems and applications, removing complexity of system management processes and improving security and compliance of your desktop systems. Increasing the “maturity” of your desktop environment equates to a more optimized environment, thus lowering your TCO.
Statera can assist with your desktop optimization initiative with a proven track-record in assessment, testing and deployment technologies. Whether you currently have a deployment methodology in place or require a ground-up build of an architecture for the complete desktop optimization life-cycle, Statera can help.
Compatibility Analysis and Mitigation
Statera can provide a foundation for your desktop optimization initiative by gathering information on you current desktop hardware, applications, desktop security settings and network configurations. Statera will provide and overall assessment and high-level cost matrix for your desktop optimization initiative.Hardware compatibility inventory and assessment:
Statera will use automated tools to perform a comprehensive PC and Laptop discovery and inventory. This report will identify what machines are Windows 7 capable, and what machines will require upgrade or replacement.Software/application inventory and compatibility assessment:
Using Microsoft’s Application Compatibility Toolkit and application inventory collected from customer’s asset inventory, Statera will identify applications that either are not compatible with Windows 7 or will require further testing. If considering and upgrade to Office 2010, Statera can determine whether any existing Office files will be compatible with Office 2010’s file format.User assessment:
Statera will survey the user environment to determine what user types exist. Whether the user type is an “office worker”, “remote user”, “task worker”, “contract worker”, or “home access user”, each user type may require a different configuration on the desktop. Planning and Mitigation:
Based on the initial desktop environment assessment, Statera will assist the customer with planning next steps in the optimization process. This can include cost estimates for software, hardware, infrastructure and resources. This can give the customer valuable insight to future desktop TCO. Statera will also assist the customer in choosing the correct technologies for each aspect of desktop optimization. Whether it is a simple desktop upgrade with compatible applications, to a complex migration with many applications, locations and user types, Statera has the experienced resources and strategic 3rd party partners to make the effort a success.
Imagining and Deployment Strategy
Windows 7 Image Management:
Windows 7 comes with many new features. Statera will assist customers in choosing the operating system configuration and settings most appropriate to the customer’s environment and user types an create an appropriate image for future deployments.Application Packaging and Deployment Strategy:
Statera can assist the customer developing a deployment strategy for their applications. Some applications are best deployed as part of the base image, while other may need to be “virtualized” due to Windows 7 compatibility issues. Statera can guide the customer to the best decision for each application. Statera has experience with Microsoft’s App-V and MED-V application virtualization solutions as well as Citrix’s XENApp. Deployment Implementation
Desktop Deployment:
Statera will assist customers through Proof of Concept, Pilot and Enterprise deployment phases of an operating system deployment. Whether the deployment is “zero-touch” through System Center Configuration Manager, or “lite-touch” through the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, Statera will assist the customer through all phases of a deployment.Virtualization
Statera can guide customers through the maze of desktop virtualization technologies and help decide which technologies are appropriate for which type of end-user a customer may have. Separating the traditional “segments” of a desktop environment – hardware, operating system, applications and user settings – and virtualizing one or more of these components, is a significant piece of optimizing the desktop and reducing TCO.
From a complete VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) solution where all the desktop components are virtualized and “streamed” over the network to an end-users hardware device to application virtualization technologies such as remote desktop services or Microsoft’s App-V to user virtualization components like Roaming Profiles, Statera can map business needs and end-user expectations to the correct virtualization technology.