VIRTUAL MACHINES (VM) ARE SLOWLY MAKING THEIR MARK IN THE WORKPLACE. THE TECHNOLOGY HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS, HOWEVER MANY BUSINESSES ARE ONLY NOW REALISING THE BENEFITS TO PRODUCTIVITY THAT VIRTUAL MACHINES CAN FOSTER.
A virtual machine is an isolated computing environment in which a software program or operating system can be installed and behaves as if it is a separate computer. Given that access is provided, users are able to simply login directly from their own computer to use a software or operating system that has been installed on the virtual machine.
“Virtual machines have always been something of interest to me as they are not only examples of clever technology, the range of functionality they offer is fantastic. For example, the portability of virtual machines means that users are able to change physical machines without having to lose their software setup,” commented Kareem Tawansi, CEO of software development provider, Solentive Software.
“Organisations can now implement virtual machines in a controlled environment on a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). This enables employees to use the company standard environment from anywhere, even at home. By providing employees access to virtual machines, organisations can benefit from reduced costs in hardware purchases, desktops and real estate,” remarked Kareem.
A renowned insurance company is currently in the process of rolling out an enterprise-wide virtual desktop to enable their staff to work from home. They have embarked on this project to improve the company’s staff attrition rate. By allowing their employees the flexibility to work from home, particularly those who are single parents, they are more likely to maintain their staff for much longer. The company has already seen an increase in productivity.
“However, as more businesses begin to implement virtual machines in the workplace, there are a few considerations that organisations should keep in mind. Such considerations include the increased costs associated with the backend of the virtual machine which may include things like the server licences and hard disk space needed,” concluded Kareem.
Overall, the costs incurred from purchasing server licenses and hard disk space is negligible to the cost savings that organisations will achieve in the medium to long-term. Moreover, offering additional flexibility for your staff will also lead to a happier workforce and thereby increase productivity further.
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