Challenges in Higher Education Desktop Virtualization
Posted on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 @ 12:59 PM
Last month higher education IT professionals came to MCPc’s new headquarters (which will officially open this summer) to discuss desktop virtualization in higher education. Participants heard about the latest technologies from VMware and Wyse, among others, and how they fit into a custom and strategic IT solution. OARnet participated to explain how Ohio schools, agencies and governing bodies could leverage the exclusive VMware pricing.
As higher education IT professionals make technology and ecosystem upgrades — switching servers, desktops and applications to virtual alternatives — several common challenges are emerging. Some mentioned at the event included:
- Windows 7 migrations
- End-user demands — technology freedom vs. IT control
- Virtual desktop management
- Doing more with less, and proving the value of upgrades to superiors
Windows 7 Migration
Upgrading your university’s operating system is a complex undertaking. Properly evaluating the change and its associated costs, effort and impact are critical to moving forward successfully. Helpful resources for Windows 7 migrations include:
From a strategic standpoint, Windows 7 upgrades can set the stage for longer-term, strategic plans to improve operational efficiency and simplify IT management, and work particularly well with desktop virtualization.
Managing End-User Demands, Balancing
Freedom with IT Control
College campuses are a hot spot for hackers. Why? With a pool of data — from finance to medical — on top-grade computer systems owned by digital natives, universities are attractive targets.
Some advice in balancing end-user freedom and accessibility with IT control:
- Follow the Data: New devices are constantly connecting to university networks. Shifting focus from controlling these devices to controlling and classifying the data that flows within the university network can help IT assess risk.
- Authenticate and Encrypt: Two-factor authentication (TFA) is more difficult to compromise than traditional, single-factor methods. And, encrypting data that’s in transit and in storage can protect it from network hackers.
- Establish Firewall Zones: Not everyone in the university network needs open access. By implementing firewall zones you can limit and better manage sensitive information.
Virtual Desktop Management
With the ability to improve data security, enforce policy and compliance, provide 24-hour access (on-campus and off), and centralize and simplify update management, virtual desktop management is a necessary component to maintain control in virtualized ecosystems.
If you’re still unclear on the benefits of desktop virtualization in higher ed, and how it can improve desktop management, see this recent example of a comprehensive, hosted desktop virtualization at Menlo College in Silicon Valley. For Menlo College, VDI will “give students greater access to lab applications, reduce the operational costs of desktop management, minimize the capital expenses needed for PC refresh, and reduce the college's carbon footprint.”
Doing More with Less, and Proving IT’s Value
In many cases, virtualization has a great return on investment (ROI) in higher education. However, with universities slashing budgets nationwide, colleges are cutting programs, increasing tuition and fees, increasing layoffs, and even closing.
Therefore, to invest in any technology upgrades, you’ll need to prove their need and value. To do so, before a complete rollout, set clear goals for virtual designs. Start with an assessment to analyze what you have, complete a proof of concept, then design, pilot and implement tests to see what will work, and what results (successes and hiccups) to expect.
In addition, doing your homework beforehand is crucial. Analyst studies, like this Forrester Study on VDI Cost Analysis ROI and Total Economic Impact, have found desktop virtualization’s ROI to be 170 percent. Another suggestion is to research other universities who have completed similar projects to assess virtualization impact and lessons learned.
As a reseller with the VMware Academic Specialization certification, MCPc can aslo be a valuable resource for planning a VDI project in the education sector.
What do you think?
Did you attend our May virtualization event? What did you think of it, and what additional questions or points of discussion do you have?
If you were not in attendance and have a virtualization technology or specific product question, post it here and we’ll address it promptly.
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Andy Jones is Senior Vice President of Sales. He has more than 15 years of IT industry experience, and is an expert on cloud, virtualization and managed services solutions. Connect with Andy on LinkedIn.
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