Westcon Imagine 2014 - Cost efficiency, security and ease of management – what’s not to like about that?

The three are among the key benefits virtual desktop infrastructure can deliver to enterprise IT, says Graham Dunn, Director of MMD, the New Zealand agent for Philips IT Displays.

“With every element in the VDI landscape coordinated from a single point of administration in the enterprise, IT managers can maintain strong safety and security systems for the entire working space of their organisation, and eliminate the chance of maverick software entering the system.

“All the data is secured in the cloud and synced with the main server – ready for instant-on access when users sit down to work,” he adds. “It’s just a smarter way to manage IT.”

With VDI, IT organisations can maintain all data and software on the centralised server and deploy a simple all-in-one client on theuser side. User desk space is freed up, data on the server is viewed securely from the client and IT resources spent on the client side are greatly reduced.

And with that in mind, Dunn says the new Philips Cloud Base brings VDI within easy reach of enterprises, and is set to streamline IT in organisations with its ‘all-in-one simplicity’.

The zero client all-in-one ready solution enables users to attach their current Philips monitor to the stand and plug directly into their enterprise VDI environment for access to centralised IT applications, data storage and security.

Versions are available for both VMware infrastructure and for Citrix and the ergonomic stand enables users to attach any Philips S, P or B line monitor of between 19 and 29 inches. A mouse and keyboard can be connected directly to the base, and no separate PC or notebook is required.

“It provides all of the benefits of maintaining data and software on the server, and eliminating the need for computing power on individual desktops,” Dunn says.

Observing a clean desk policy, with less noise and not tangle of cables, is also easy with the system, Dunn says the offering fits right in with the ‘clean, reliable IT’ concept, being easy to deploy and easy to manage, and a cost-effective way to transform a monitor into a zero client.

“Since enterprises can use existing Philips monitors with the new base, there is no need for additional outlay on hardware. It simply plugs into the virtual desktop infrastructure that the enterprise already has in place,” he says.

“The potential savings are impressive: Enterprise IT with zero-client technology using the Philips Cloud Base drives down the total cost of IT ownership by reducing the acquisition costs for computing devices.”

An added bonus: with up to 90% savings on electricity, the Base helps cut power bills while also being good for the health of the planet, giving the enterprise a green footprint that benefits the planet as well as the businesses operating expenditure.

“The Philips Cloud Base might deliver all-in-one simplicity, but there is nothing ‘one size fits all’ about its design,” Dunn says.

“The stand is adjustable to the users eye level, and can be swivelled, tilted and rotated as required – all of which ensures the screen is in exactly the right position to ease the physical strains of a long working day.”

For more information visit www.philips.co.nz