Desktop Virtualization: What It Is and Why You Should Implement It

 Employees of today’s digital workspace don’t have the luxury of being offline through the workday; they require access to their data at all hours and from wherever they are. Organizations can ensure this improved accessibility by installing a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), giving workers the same computing experience no matter where they are in the world.

A VDI’s core structure is a desktop interface that is created and managed centrally before being distributed over a network to each of its users. This decreases the computational burden on local clients while still enhancing security and performance.

However, before we delve into the benefits of desktop virtualization, let’s first understand what it is.

What Is Desktop Virtualization?

Desktop virtualization is a technology that enables multiple user desktop instances to be generated and maintained on a single host, whether in a data center or the cloud. That is accomplished by the use of a hypervisor, which sits on top of the host system hardware and manages and allows virtual desktops to access the underlying server hardware’s processing resources.

The hypervisor creates virtual machines (VMs) that replicate the user’s desktop environments and can store a variety of operating systems, programs, custom settings, and user data. These desktops can be accessed and used  from any endpoint device.

Types of Desktop Virtualization

Desktop virtualization has two major deployment models: Hosted Desktop and Client Virtualization.

Hosted Desktop Virtualization

The virtual machines are hosted by a server in a data center in this model. Common protocols such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or connection brokers may be used to bind to the server. Hosted Desktop Virtualization has three main variations:

1. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

In VDI, the operating system operates virtual machines (VMs) on a server in the datacenter that host the desktop image. VDI technology uses a hypervisor to divide a server into several desktop images that users can access remotely from their end-devices. Inside the virtualized world, VDI assigns each user a dedicated VM with its own operating system.

2. Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

RDS, also known as RemoteVirtual Desktop Session Host (RDSH) and formerly Terminal Services, allows users to access shared desktops and Windows programs operating on Microsoft Windows Server OS from a remote site. RDS allows users to link to remote desktops by sharing hardware, operating systems (in this case, Windows Server), applications, and host services.

3. Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS)

DaaS works similarly to VDI as users can access their desktops and applications from any system or platform. While VDI requires you to buy, deploy, and handle all of the hardware components yourself, DaaS allows you outsource workspace virtualization to a third-party to assist you in developing and operating virtual desktops.

Client Virtualization

Client virtualization involves running a hypervisor on a client computer in order to run various operating systems. Users no longer require their own dedicated hardware and applications due to client virtualization. There are two types of client virtualization deployment:

1. Presentation virtualization

Users can connect with published desktops and applications via a web-based portal enabled by presentation virtualization. This technique can be used to deliver applications or desktops from a shared server.

2. Application virtualization

App virtualization enables applications to run on all devices. You can, for example, run Windows applications on Linux. Through building portable applications, you can use Application virtualization to make OS migration simpler as applications can be moved from machines without needing to be mounted.

What Are The Benefits Of Desktop Virtualization?

Virtualizing desktops can offer a range of advantages, depending on the implementation model you select. The below are some of the potential advantages:

Simplicity for the IT Department

When it comes to upgrading security, protocols, applications, and operating systems, IT departments can handle VDI from a centralized server, which allows faster rollouts, better servicing, and lower service costs. Furthermore, since all dynamic processing is performed locally, outdated and redundant applications can be reconfigured as VDI clients.

Improved Productivity

There’s no doubt that businesses want to boost workforce morale at work, and VDI can help. Employees have safe remote access to their corporate VDI desktops and results. Since it offers safe access to an employee’s workspace space, VDI may be an essential part of a telework or even BYOD program.

Continuity of Operations for the Business

Large companies can benefit from VDI to boost their Continuity of Operations (COOP). When faced with travel disruptions due to pandemic or bad weather, having a VDI in place enables workers to resume work at home or in another corporate office with complete access to their VDI desktop and data.

Why Desktop Virtualization Is A Revolution In The IT Sector?

With the support of desktop virtualization, each user gets a VM with a dedicated instance of Windows Operating System (OS) and related programs clustered in the form of a desktop environment. Due to their high availability and remote control, virtual desktops improve enterprise usability and availability.

Owing to the unified aspect of client-server hosting, virtual desktop management is also simplified. Virtual desktops are more cost-effective than standalone workstations since you simply pay for the server’s computing power. In terms of user data, software, and operating system, each workspace running as a virtual machine is separated from the others, ensuring privacy and protection.

Conclusion

Most organizations around the country are adopting at least one of the desktop virtualization techniques. This is an increasingly rising development. Desktop virtualization is a  more effective way to cope with the burden of technology on a daily basis. Companies should, however, be mindful of the advantages and disadvantages of all solutions and work with IT experts, like Accops, to ensure that the virtualized approach they choose can help them achieve their operational objectives.

What Is Worksplace Visualization & Why Do You Need It?

 Virtualization is the process of turning a computing device, such as a processor, server, or other hardware component, into a virtual model, or a software-based resource, such as an operating system. Partitioning a hard disk during OS installation, where the physical hard drive is split into several logical disks to improve data storage and recovery (a category known as ‘data virtualization’), is the most common example of workspace virtualization

In this article, we have discussed the types of workspace virtualization and the benefits that companies can leverage from with this model

Types of Workspace Virtualization

Virtualization is classified based on the resource that is being created. There are various categories such as:

• Network virtualization
• Server virtualization
• Desktop virtualization
• Hardware virtualization
• Software virtualization
• Storage virtualization

Server virtualization is the most widely used of these. Server virtualization is the method of pooling resources from one or more physical servers and splitting them among several virtual servers. This is accomplished by the use of a specialized virtualization method known as a hypervisor.

Ideally, there are two types of hypervisors, wherein the first type is for bare-metal hypervisors that run directly on raw hardware, which are also called virtual machine virtualization. On the other hand, type 2 hypervisors are hosted hypervisors that run on a guest OS. VMware, Microsoft, and Citrix are the main players in the type 1 industry, while Red Hat’s Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) is the most widely used type 2 product.

Advantages of Virtualization

Virtualizing your environment will improve scalability while lowering costs, and the following are only a few of the many advantages that this remote access solution can have for your business:

1. Reduce Your IT expenses

If you’ve not invested in a virtualized workspace, the computer sits idle and can’t be used for other things, hence, a non-virtualized environment can be inefficient. When you virtualize a system, a single physical server becomes a set of virtual machines. Although both of these virtual machines are hosted on the same physical server, they can run different operating systems and run different applications.

Hence, by consolidating systems into virtualized environments, you will spend substantially less resources on servers.

2. Reduce Downtime 

When a physical server is damaged, a resource will have to replace or repair it, which may take hours or even days. It’s easy to provision and deploy virtual machines in a virtualized environment, allowing you to duplicate or clone the affected virtual machine. The recovery process would take minutes, rather than the hours it would take to provision and set up a new physical computer, greatly improving the environment’s resiliency and decreasing downtime. 

3. Increase Efficiency And Productivity

Your IT teams would be able to spend less time maintaining physical hardware and computers. Instead of going through the laborious and time-consuming process of installing patches site-by-server, you’ll be able to deploy, upgrade, and manage the environment for all virtual machines on the server. The morale and productivity of your staff would improve if you spend less time maintaining the environment.

4. Control Independence 

Your developers can easily spin up a virtual machine without affecting the development environment because the virtualized environment is segmented into virtual machines. The developer can easily replicate the virtual machine and perform a test on the environment, which is perfect for Dev/Test.

Furthermore, if a new software patch has been released, your resources can clone the virtual machine and apply the current software upgrade, validate the environment, and then pull it into their development application. This improves an application’s speed and agility.

5. Become More Eco-friendly

When you reduce the number of physical servers you have, you can reduce the amount of resources you use. This has two environmental advantages:

• It lowers the company’s costs, allowing capital to be re-invested elsewhere.
• It lowers the data center’s carbon footprint.

Conclusion

Virtualization is an effective method for reducing operating costs, scalability, and performance while increasing cost management, scalability, and efficiency. Despite the fact that it was invented decades ago, virtualization appears to be a driving force behind corporate IT techniques. As businesses consider their IT modernization journeys, the value of virtualization is increasing rapidly, and the advantages mentioned here are just the tip of the iceberg. You too can leverage the benefits of workspace virtualization by contacting Accops for desktop and application virtualization solutions. 

All You Need to Know About Netsuite Partners in 2021

 Using ERP tools has become a must-have for most businesses as these tools are extremely useful in automating tasks, thereby increasing the productivity of a company. That being said, it’s imperative for a company to choose the right software and partner when opting for a new ERP software. For example, for a leading ERP software NetSuite, around 50% of all new customers prefer licensing and implementing the tool through credible NetSuite Solution Providers, also known commonly as NetSuite Partners. 

NetSuite Partners come in all shapes and sizes but usually share a common goal of delivering applications, resources and solutions to NetSuite customers. So, what exactly does a NetSuite partner do? 

What Is A NetSuite Partner?

NetSuite Partners primarily offer software solutions, including business transformation consultancy, acquisition and delivery services to business organizations. The performance of NetSuite deployment will depend on the skills of the implementation partners. With q, companies may gain more profit from the procurement of NetSuite.

Alliance Members are specialists in their field of service and possess a broad and special understanding of NetSuite solutions. Businesses will pair with any of NetSuite’s consulting service providers to make use of the services at their convenience.

Currently, the NetSuite software has three distinct NetSuite partner programs:

• SuiteCloud Development Network (SDN): SDN members are independent software vendors (ISVs) focused on developing NetSuite extensions and apps on the SuiteCloud platform.
• NetSuite Alliance Partners: A NetSuite Alliance Partner Initiative is a newer program consisting of broad alliances offering implementation services to clients only. Software review and procurement is sponsored by NetSuite’s direct sales team.
• NetSuite Solution Providers: NetSuite Solution Provider has been around for many years. Solution Vendors are supporting customers with both NetSuite licenses and services. NetSuite Solution Vendors come in multiple forms and proportions of different degrees of ability and experience. Essentially, NetSuite Solution Providers are enterprise technology professionals and/or consultancy firms who have the experience to provide holistic ERP solutions to organisations that aim to exploit cloud-based technologies to scale their enterprises.

Working with a NetSuite partner can have a transformational effect on your business, but it is important to select the right partner, one who is genuinely compatible with your needs, priorities and culture.

What Does A NetSuite Partner Do? 

A successful NetSuite implementation partner completes the following steps of discoveries and knows the mechanisms involved in receiving the full benefits for the NetSuite community.

Initial Discovery

The NetSuite deployment service partner will get in touch with you and evaluate your business processes and problem areas. They recommend solutions that will help the company profit from NetSuite.

Deep Dive Discovery

In this step, NetSuite Partnership Partners will help you understand more practical and comprehensive ways to customise your company with NetSuite ERP perfectly. They suggest optimal methods from which companies will benefit best from the introduction of NetSuite.

Free Demo

The best NetSuite implementation partners may volunteer for free demo sessions without any cost or commitment. These sessions will help you gain a better understanding of and use NetSuite ERP functions.

Alignment

After a free demo, NetSuite partners ensure that they take a look at your company and take important measures to match your business with NetSuite. The company has to be consistent with the specified needs of the business. Both procedures and roles need to be compatible with NetSuite in order to make the system more favourable.

Document of Commitment

Once the plan and pricing structure has been finalised, the implementation partner presents a contract to be signed as an initial joint working arrangement. The commitment document is an initial agreement on the setup, architecture, customisation and other specifications for products that are to be discussed during the implementation process.

Implementation

The compliance process will begin after the agreement has been completed. Strong deployment collaborators will incorporate NetSuite on your system with greater accuracy and performance. They appreciate your company, offer ways to scale up your business. They outline the criteria for adoption, including the possibilities for customisation and integration, and call for greater market advantages.

Go Live

This is the real implementation of NetSuite. Businesses will benefit from real-time advantages such as business development and production productivity with NetSuite, one of the best cloud business management platforms. Essentially, starting from this stage, the company will start running on the NetSuite ERP network.

What Are The Benefits of Working With NetSuite Partners? 

There are many ways that a NetSuite partner can help you get the best out of your investment in NetSuite. Here are some of the typical focal points of NetSuite Solution Providers:

1. Best Price Options 

Essentially, it is the responsibility of the NetSuite Solution Provider to help clients evaluate NetSuite with the needs of the organization in mind. This can be achieved by NetSuite demos, NetSuite trials, or by attending local events.

NetSuite partners also referred to as Value-Added Resellers (VARs), are not actually VARs. Instead, NetSuite Solution Providers currently co-sell NetSuite licenses with the assistance of the NetSuite Channel Team.

This is a perfect model for consumers who want a direct partnership with a tech provider and get the best NetSuite pricing options. The customer would have access to a non-biased advisory company with the best interest in mind as well as exclusive access to NetSuite employees. Since NetSuite Solution Providers help clients license NetSuite for a living, they can usually offer considerable expertise and benefit from your NetSuite license subscription.

2. Customised Implementation

In addition to licensing NetSuite, Solution Partners support clients with the introduction of NetSuite. No two versions are similar, but there are some common patterns for the implementation of NetSuite. The total cost of adopting NetSuite would be entirely based on the technique strategy. Waterfall or agile, offshore or onshore tools, custom integration or connectors, there are many factors to consider, and a NetSuite Partner can help you make the right decisions that suit your company. 

3. Custom Integrations 

Some NetSuite Service Providers are also NetSuite integration partners, which means they provide system integration experience along with NetSuite expertise.

NetSuite was designed from the ground up to be extremely extensible both in terms of customisation and integration, providing many methods for integrating NetSuite with other applications.

Common integration examples in the NetSuite space include:

• NetSuite integrated into CRMs like Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, etc. 
• NetSuite integrated into E-commerce platforms, like Shopify, Magento, etc. 
• NetSuite integrated with 3rd Party Logistics Providers like 3PL. 
• NetSuite integrated to online retailers, like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc. 

Some NetSuite Service Providers provide custom integration solutions while others align with different iPaaS integration systems such as Celigo, Jitterbit or Dell Boomi.

If your NetSuite plan needs incorporation, it would be prudent for you to collaborate with a NetSuite partner who has experience with NetSuite integration initiatives and will help you appreciate and weigh your choices. Getting your NetSuite deployment and integration run by a single company would be a massive advantage for your ERP project.

4. Get Better ROI 

Most NetSuite Service Providers provide optimisation and/or assistance programs. These services provide ongoing customer service and guidance after they are live on NetSuite.

NetSuite’s most active clients tend to be those who see the benefit of having a long-term relationship with a consultancy company to maintain consistency and value long after the NetSuite has been deployed. Having a team that knows you, your company, your instance can be invaluable to get the best out of your investment in NetSuite.

5. Training To Match Company Processes 

One of the main metrics for assessing whether or not the ERP framework initiative has been successful is how much end-users have accepted the transition.

It’s not surprising to learn of companies introducing innovative technologies only to find out that end-users are returning to their old ways of using spreadsheets because the new method is hard to use, hard to get reports out of, or doesn’t provide them with the details they need to make decisions.

This also includes equipping end-users with appropriate preparation. NetSuite Partners can have personalised training commitments and can also sell NetSuite training provided by the training department of NetSuite.

Your NetSuite partner will be able to prescribe a training option that makes sense for your organisation, needs and budget.  

6. Support For Data Migration 

Data migration is a crucial feature of any ERP project and is often ignored during the sales process.

Some NetSuite Partners do not provide facilities for data migration. They will have some high-level guidelines and supervision, but you will eventually be responsible for collecting data from legacy networks and taking it to NetSuite.

If you are worried about getting data from your current system to NetSuite, make sure you have a partner that can help with your data migration project.

When Should You Work With A NetSuite Partner? 

It might be a good idea to consider working with a Netsuite Partner under the following circumstances: 

• You have no experience handling ERP contracts. An experienced partner knows when to look for and what to help you get the right price and stop the risks synonymous with “not knowing what you don’t know.”
• Flexible payment and collateral structures are important to you. Most partners bill instalments in milestones rather than a single initial charge, as is common for direct transactions by NetSuite. When you have invested your whole implementation budget ahead of time, you will have no option if you wish to adjust your implementation team.
• You are seeking continuing robust assistance and stability from the team that has worked out the deployment. If you work with a NetSuite Partner, you will most likely get access to multiple departments helping you during the length of your NetSuite use.

How To Select An Ideal NetSuite Partner? 

There are several NetSuite Partners for you to select from, with various partners in the fields of industry concentration, depth of experience and regions they represent.

Choosing the right NetSuite partner is both a short-term and long-term strategic choice, where “fit” is just as critical as power and expertise.

1. Industry Expertise

NetSuite deployment partner is responsible for delivering industry-specific expertise. It will help you to recognize the pressure points and problems you face and the ways to overcome them. In addition, implementation partners are training organisations on how to encourage the effective use of industry-specific modules in order to ensure market efficiency.

A strong NetSuite implementation partner is a true promoter of the vocabulary of the industry and will use the industry’s best practices to meet your team’s short-term and long-term targets.

2. Technical Expertise

The development partner possesses the ability to grasp the overall design and efficiency of the system when combining the same with the actual business procedures and processes. Implementation partners may take important decisions, in particular on integration, whether or not to use connectors. They can also forecast the methodologies that will work for your company. The professional competence of the execution team can be judged by the certifications, awards, advice and credibility they have received through their service time.

3. Accurate Guidance

You will be driven to progress by a successful execution partner. They will recommend solutions to integrate the company into NetSuite seamlessly. They provide insights to increase the proficiency of running your business effectively with NetSuite.

4. Communication

NetSuite Implementation can be a long process; continuous collaboration with implementation partners is very successful in producing the best performance. The increased flow of communication between the two sides is important to the efficient operation of the process. Engaging dialogue keeps you updated on the progress that has been achieved at each point. Many of the changing criteria, questions, and inquiries were required to be answered to ease the evolving obstacles.

5. Post Implementation Review and Support

Help for post-implementation is a crucial factor. It is as critical as the performance of the NetSuite implementation process. The post-implementation analysis is a good idea that can be initiated by a good implementation partner. They assess the goals of the initiative, ensure the success of the implementation process and, where appropriate, provide post-implementation assistance. They need to eliminate errors and reap the advantages of NetSuite implementation.

6. Training

Training is really critical to the performance of the NetSuite implementation. Customers and beneficiaries need to understand how the mechanism works and how it needs to be run in real-time. Employees need to develop skills to make proper use of NetSuite. NetSuite deployment partners are responsible enough to supply the workers with the requisite preparation and enable them to use the framework with ease.

Why Should You Choose Aarialife As Your NetSuite Partner? 

There’s no doubt that a good and credible NetSuite implementation partner can help a company maximise the benefits of the software, and at Aarialife, we are one among them. There are countless case studies of companies who have struggled and often failed to implement NetSuite successfully as they have chosen inefficient partners. 

However, at Aarialife, we specialise in providing end-to-end assistance, right from implementation and integration, to customisation, optimisation, training and support, to ensure seamless deployment of NetSuite within your company. 

Using a unique and collaborative approach to all of our projects, we at Aarialife have multiple years of experience working with NetSuite Cloud ERP for a vast number of industries and clients. So, if you’re looking for a NetSuite expert partner with efficient resources and experience, contact us today! 

What is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and How Does It Work?

 Passwords may be the most common way to verify your online identity, but they are rapidly proving to be an inadequate protection method. If a password has been compromised, hackers can use it to log into applications and business systems, disable other security measures, and cause mayhem. In fact, according to the 2020 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Survey, hackers’ most common approach for accessing data breaches is stealing login credentials.

Hackers may use a wide range of attack mechanisms to capture passwords or gain access, including phishing attacks, brute force attacks, web app attacks, point-of-sale intrusions, and even stolen hardware to steal passwords or gain access.

Unfortunately, by using weak passwords, using the same password for different apps, saving passwords in vulnerable sites, and retaining the same password for lengthy periods of time, users make it easy for hackers. Users may follow these patterns to make it easier for them to recognize their passwords, but they also let hackers in through the front door.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security for staff and clients, addressing both of these flaws. It eliminates the detrimental effects of compromised credentials.

In this blog, we will discuss what exactly MFA is and how companies can benefit from using this security tool. 

What Is MFA?

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security system that allows a person to authenticate their identity using two or more passwords. Passwords, hardware tokens, numerical codes, biometrics, time, and place are all examples of passwords used in this process.

MFA can be implemented using any combination of the examples above, but most implementations use two factors, which is why MFA is often known as two-factor authentication (2FA). The authentication mechanism would remain stable even though one of the authentication factors is broken by using several passwords instead of only one.

The Authentication Factors

The numerous mechanisms by which a person may authenticate their identity are referred to as authentication factors. In IT, authentication variables are categorized into the following categories:

• Knowledge: Something that the user knows, such as their core username and password. 
• Possession: Something that the user has, such as a smartphone or hardware token. 
• Inherence: Something that is inherent to the physical user, such as a fingerprint or retina.
• Location: Denoted by the physical location of the user.
• Time: A time-based window of opportunity for the user to authenticate.

Why is MFA Important?

Increased Security 

According to a new Ping Identity survey, IT and security professionals believe multi-factor authentication is the most efficient security control for protecting both on-premises and public cloud records. Not only that, but many MFA implementations on the market are quick and simple to adopt, allowing your company to implement this highly efficient security mechanism with little time or effort.

Enterprise Mobility 

Multi-factor authentication is also a great way to allow enterprise mobility, and is still a top priority for businesses going through a digital transition. Employee morale grows as they can use their preferred devices to access any of the services they need without needing to leave the workplace. They get the convenience and on-demand connectivity that they value, and companies can ensure that their network and data are secure, by using MFA to log into business apps or to the network remotely via VPN.

What Is Modern Multi-factor Authentication

Some companies may want to incorporate multi-factor authentication on all users, including staff and clients. It’s much more successful when used in conjunction with a single sign-on (SSO) solution, which eliminates multiple passwords from the equation, enhancing security and optimizing user experience.

However, certain businesses do not see the need to include MFA in all circumstances. In order to improve employee and customer convenience, they can opt to skip MFA in low-risk cases, while needing stricter protections in high-risk circumstances, such as while dealing with especially confidential data or high-value transactions. Some examples of this are:

• A bank may authorize a customer to log into his online account with only a username and password, but transactions must be accepted with a second authentication factor.
• When an employee tries to access an HR document from a coffee shop or another off-domain site, an organisation may want a higher degree of certainty that they are who they claim to be.
• When a vendor logs into their site from a new computer, a retailer can set up MFA to ensure it’s not a hacker attempting to break in with a stolen password.

This form of multi-factor authentication is known as contextual, adaptive, or risk-based MFA. The benefit of using contextual MFA is that it strengthens protection only as required, and these criteria or use cases can easily alter and expand over time.

The Future Of Multi-factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is increasingly developing to provide organisations with connectivity that is both more reliable and less cumbersome for consumers. Biometrics is an excellent example of this concept. It is more reliable because it is impossible to steal a fingerprint or a face, and it is more comfortable because the user does not have to recall something (like a password) or make any other substantial effort. The following are some of the recent developments in multi-factor authentication.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML)

AI and machine learning can be used to identify patterns that signify whether or not a given access request is “normal” and therefore does not require additional authentication, or, conversely, to recognize anomalous behavior that does warrant it. 

Fast Identity Online (FIDO)

The FIDO Alliance has established a series of free and open principles for FIDO authentication. It helps websites and applications to replace password logins with stable and quick login experiences.

Passwordless Authentication

Rather than using a password as the predominant means of identity verification and supplementing it with other non-password approaches, passwordless authentication does away with passwords altogether.

There’s no doubt that multi-factor authentication will continue to evolve and advance in the quest for ways for people to show they are who they think they are in a reliable and non-disruptive manner. So, if you’re looking to leverage the benefits of the latest MFA advancements, consider partnering with experts like AccOps. For more information and details, book an appointment today.