Have you ever wondered how you can revolutionise your workspace and make your life (and your IT team's life) a whole lot easier? Enter End-User Computing (EUC) in the cloud. Today, we're diving into why cloud-based EUC is the way to go, sharing some success stories, and giving you a roadmap for making the transition. Let’s get started!
Benefits of EUC in the Cloud
First things first, why should you care about EUC in the cloud? Here are some major perks:
- Flexibility and Mobility: Work from anywhere, anytime. Whether you're at home, in a café, or on a beach (lucky you), your virtual desktop is just a click away.
- Cost Savings: Say goodbye to hefty upfront hardware costs. With a pay-as-you-go model, you only pay for what you use.
- Security: Robust cloud security measures mean your data is safer than ever. Think encryption, network isolation, and compliance with regulatory standards.
- Scalability: Easily scale up or down based on your needs. No more worrying about over-provisioning or under-provisioning.
- Simplified IT Management: With cloud providers handling the heavy lifting (think updates, maintenance, and infrastructure management), your IT team can focus on more strategic tasks.
AWS Solutions: WorkSpaces Personal, WorkSpaces Core, WorkSpaces Pool and AppStream 2.0
Let’s dive into the specific AWS services that can make your EUC dreams a reality.
Amazon WorkSpaces Personal
- Fully Managed Desktop Solution: Get fast and responsive Windows or Linux desktops that your team can access anywhere, anytime.
- Pay-as-You-Go: Only pay for the WorkSpaces you use, whether on a monthly or hourly basis.
- BYOD Support: Employees can bring their own devices and still access their WorkSpaces, making it easier to support a flexible workforce.
Amazon WorkSpaces Core
- Streamlined Virtual Desktops: Provides the core infrastructure needed to run virtual desktops, letting you use your preferred VDI management tools.
- Cost-Effective: Focuses on core infrastructure, avoiding unnecessary management features and allowing you to pay based on actual usage.
- Enhanced Security: Utilises AWS's robust security features, including data encryption and network isolation, ensuring a secure virtual desktop environment.
Amazon WorkSpaces Pool
- WorkSpaces Pools provides non-persistent virtual desktops to Workspaces service, where you can bring your own Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise licenses to use on WorkSpaces services.
- Allows you to use your own Office licenses, unlike AppStream.
- Same cost as AppStream
- Bundles (Images and hardware setup) can now be shared between workspaces personal (persistent), and workspaces pools (non-persistence)
- SAML 2.0 authentication and iDP integration.
- Improved scaling-in and scaling-out policies as now we can define more than just one per type
Amazon AppStream 2.0
- Managed Application Streaming: Streams SaaS applications and desktop apps without any code changes, making it easy to scale apps globally.
- Multi-Session Capability: Allows multiple users to share a single instance, optimizing resource utilisation and cutting costs.
- Seamless Integration: Supports a wide range of applications and user needs without over-provisioning.
Customer Success
Dundee City Council
Dundee City Council are in the process of moving their data centre to the cloud. This includes modernising their End-User Computing (EUC) setup. Cloud-bridge partnered with them to transition from on-premise Citrix deployments to a secure and scalable cloud solution on AWS.
We successfully migrated to AppStream 2.0 in under 3 months, ensuring it was completed before their Citrix end date. The move to AppStream 2.0 significantly reduced their EUC costs, compared with their Citrix renewal quote.
We are currently optimising the solution, looking to move to Workspaces Pools and create more automations for the application installations and updates, to improve the support and maintenance process.
Steps to Transition from Traditional to Cloud-Based EUC
Ready to make the leap? Here’s your roadmap to transitioning from traditional to cloud-based EUC:
Assess Your Needs: Understand your organization’s specific requirements. What applications do you need? How many users will be accessing the system?
Choose the Right Solution: AWS offers several options like Amazon WorkSpaces for virtual desktops and Amazon AppStream 2.0 for application streaming. Pick what suits your needs best.
Plan Your Migration: Create a detailed migration plan. This includes timelines, resources, and potential risks. Don't forget to communicate with your team about what to expect.
Pilot Test: Start with a pilot program to test the waters. Select a small group of users to trial the new system and gather feedback.
Train Your Team: Provide training sessions to ensure your team knows how to use the new system effectively. The smoother the transition, the better.
Execute and Monitor: Roll out the migration in phases. Keep an eye on performance and address any issues promptly.
Optimise: Continuously monitor and optimise your cloud-based EUC environment to ensure it meets your evolving needs.
Final Thoughts
Transitioning to cloud-based EUC might seem daunting, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Flexibility, cost savings, enhanced security, and simplified IT management are just a few reasons to make the switch. By following the steps outlined above and learning from those who have successfully done it, you can ensure a smooth and efficient transition.
So, what are you waiting for? Evolve your workspace and embrace the future with cloud-based EUC! Discover more here about how Cloud Bridge can support your EUC journey.
