Windows Virtual Desktop provides a productive environment

Having started a trial of Windows Virtual Desktop with seven users before the Covid pandemic began, the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has had time to fully evaluate the system. "We received good feedback from colleagues who used the system and we decided it would be a more secure and reliable environment than our Terminal Service setup," explains Nigel Cook, Strategic IT Manager for the Diocese.

Windows Virtual Desktop enables Windows 10 and servers to be run 'in the cloud' and accessed via any device with a modern internet browser. "Essentially it provides a Windows network in the cloud, replicating and replacing the on-site network we used to connect to via Terminal Services. All our network drives are available too, so once you log in it's just like being on a local network – it works really well," adds Nigel.

Improvements in performance and stability provide a productive environment with the additional benefits of security. "We no longer need to take off-site backups as all our data is in the cloud."

As all PCs at the Diocese are fully encrypted and multi-factor authentication is required for access to sensitive information, colleagues have the flexibility to work 'locally' on their own device or work entirely in the Virtual Desktop. "Both ways work well, and it depends on personal preference. For example, we use Teams for calls and meetings, and it works well whether run directly on the laptop or via Virtual Desktop, which didn't always happen with Terminal Services. Those working locally need to ensure files are uploaded to the network, but this is the only drawback," adds Nigel.

The virtual network has all the security features you would expect to see on an on-premise network, with network drives protected by permission policies and software regularly updated with latest security patches.

In addition to day-to-day operational benefits, Windows Virtual Desktop can be scaled and deployed easily. This means users can be quickly added and removed as needed without committing to long-term costs or moved to a new device with minimal downtime.

To find out more about Windows Virtual Desktop, contact Strident today.