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The Flexible Desktop

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‘Delivering the service level of the full operating system desktop, while lowering costs and increasing flexibility, is now within reach via the Flexible Desktop.’
Paul Hearns, Editor, ComputerScope
Event Moderator
TechFire 4, the fourth in the series on 12 March in Dublin, looked at the 'Flexible Desktop.’ 

The retirement of Windows XP (finally), pressure on operating costs and multiple device/platform choices are factors causing IT departments to focus now on building a truly flexible desktop environment.
   Combining desktop virtualisation and management with application virtualisation, flexible delivery and centralisation, the flexible desktop environment will be an accessible, effective, and responsive environment for business users.
   Integrating BYOD, transition beyond XP, operating environment changes and consistent delivery are all hurdles that can cause delays and failures. Attendees at the meeting learned more about:
  • The results of  Comreg’s Flexible Desktop 'proof of concept'
  • Managing, updating, and provisioning thousands of desktops from a single management console
  • How to provide  users with a best-in-class desktop end user experience across multiple devices
  • Increasing security by moving data from end-point devices to the data centre
  • Reducing overall total cost of desktop computing and operational expenses
  • How practical Service Management can help with this important transformation.
Speakers at TechFire 4, March 12:

   USER EXPERIENCE
Gerard O’Rourke
IT Manager, Comreg
:: The Communications Regulator, Comreg, is undertaking a 'proof of concept' of the flexible desktop approach. Designed to support strategic decisions on desktop and application delivery, the project’s results were shared for discussion at TechFire.
Gerard O’Rourke holds a Masters in Internet Systems and a diploma in Cloud Strategy.
Derek Monahan
Manager, IT Service Management,
Aer Lingus
:: In contributing user experience to the event, Derek Monahan drew on extensive background in both the theory and practice of centralised IT operations. At Aer Lingus, streamlined IT processes have the goal of maintaining strict control of projects and staff costs; in his previous role as IT Services Director at DHL, he led the transition of IT services in Europe to a centralised facility in the Czech Republic.
Derek Monahan's specialities include certifications in ITIL, Prince 2 and Change Management

STRATEGY BACKGROUND
Kevin Reid
Chief Technical Officer, SureSkills
:: Having designed, led and delivered some of the largest infrastructure projects within Ireland covering a variety of technologies, Kevin Reid specialises in data management solutions based on VMware and Microsoft Infrastructure. He provided a technical overview of the Flexible Desktop concept.

JOINING THE PANEL DISCUSSION

Mike Hayes
Solutions Architect for End User Computing and Desktop Virtualisation, Dell
:: Mike Hayes has more than  10 years experience working with desktop and server virtualisations with a strong background in VMware, Citrix and Microsoft technology.