Desktop virtualisation demand surges

Demand for desktop virtualisation services is on the rise across Europe, with sales to enterprises doubling every 12 months, new research has revealed, states Codestone.

A study commissioned by Citrix revealed European-based providers of the firm's products expect compound annual growth of 99% to occur between 2008 and 2012.

Respondents said the chance to reduce the cost of ownership of IT systems is one factor prompting firms to opt for desktop virtualisation, along with the improvements it offers in terms of migrating desktops and enabling home and remote working.

Banking giant Credit Suisse has found a way to stem its seemingly ever-growing need for electricity, through the use of virtualisation, says PC World.

The use of the technology is necessary, noted John Froud, Credit Suisse's director of IT and head of technical architecture, speaking at the Optimising Cloud Computing Seminar held Friday in New York.

"We were running out of data centre space," he told the audience. As a result of virtualising many of its servers, the bank has been able to “aggressively address our power uptake consumption", he said.

Norfolk County Council is to use a virtual data centre to manage ICT in schools, writes Public Service.com.

Having signed a contract with virtualisation provider, BT, the council is to use a virtual data centre to eliminate the need for physical hardware, moving applications, storage and security into the cloud.

The new system will free up resources and allow learning services to be provided to over 100 000 pupils and students across 400 Norfolk schools.