The rising adoption of desktop virtualisation in 2012 means information will start to take on a new importance.
This is according to Sean Wainer, Citrix System's country manager, who points out that organisations will need to refocus their computing strategies around desktop virtualisation with the intention of securing their data.
“The challenge for IT organisations across 2012 will be ensuring access to applications and data from any device, across any network, at any time, while managing risk, protecting data, ensuring privacy and meeting compliance demands.“
According to Wainer, the traditional approach large organisations have taken to secure their computing has been to own the network, and manage all the applications on each device. He says this is impossible in a world of 'bring your own device' policies and employee mobility.
“Virtualising infrastructure will provide an essential solution to these information security issues. Organisations employing desktop virtualisation will put security and agility at the heart of their IT policies, therefore alleviating their information security worries.”
Wainer forecasts that, in 2012, the demand for desktop virtualisation could outstrip supply. He says that in order to prepare for the “desktop virtualisation tsunami”, Citrix has rolled out a strategic programme to train its channel in desktop virtualisation. He adds that desktop virtualisation has become more critical in Citrix's development of its channel partners.
IDC indicates that worldwide IT spending will be about 6% for 2012 and will remain at this level through 2013 and 2014.
This figure is expected to be higher in SA, initially at about 7% for 2012, in order to address the inherent pent-up demand prevalent in the local market, particularly virtualisation. The overall market value in 2012 is estimated to be about $14 billion, split between hardware (48%), services (37%) and packaged software (15%).
According to IDC, desktop virtualisation is maturing rapidly. IDC predicts that the virtualisation market will begin to consolidate next year as larger vendors acquire smaller firms to access new capabilities.
ESG Research says seven out of 10 businesses globally have either implemented desktop virtualisation or are in a pilot phase. In a recent ESG desktop virtualisation 2011 survey, 69% of enterprises have either already implemented desktop virtualisation or are preparing to deploy it.
Current server virtualisation users tell ESG they also consider desktop virtualisation
vitally important; in fact, it has become their top IT initiative for the next 12 to 24 months.
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