The challenges of working in two environments

Using traditional remote desktops to access business systems and other legacy apps used to be a great idea. That was before Microsoft's cloud services took off and more and more companies realized the value of using Teams and OneDrive - which don't work optimally on traditional remote desktops. Today, many of these companies feel compelled to maintain dual environments, which is far from optimal.

 

Old systems and new productivity tools

Many are the companies that today run Citrix or traditional remote desktops in order to use their old business systems or other legacy applications. The systems work as they should and the employees know them inside and out, so a change seems quite distant. At the same time, these systems have been around for decades. Then Microsoft entered the picture with its productivity and communication services. The fact that Teams is the fastest growing business application in Microsoft's history is pretty telling of the impact it has had. With employees suddenly expecting to work in the platform, take advantage of the cloud and embrace a more modern way of working. Many companies feel compelled to maintain and sustain dual environments.

 

Dual environments are not an optimal solution

While it may seem sensible in the short term to have both traditional remote desktops and the Microsoft 365 environment in parallel, it presents long-term problems. There are advantages to traditional remote desktop environments, such as centralized management and less reliance on client devices. But these become complicated when employees start saving files both within the remote desktop environment and on OneDrive. This fragmentation quickly leads to a mess. What's more, in a world where technology development is accelerating and tools like Teams are becoming central to business collaboration, companies that cling to legacy remote desktop solutions risk being left behind. Teams has evolved into more than just an internal tool; it now acts as a bridge between companies on joint projects. This, along with the fact that traditional remote desktop solutions limit the use of popular cloud tools such as such as Microsoft Planner, underscores the need for modernization.

Some of the difficulties businesses experience with working with a traditional remote desktop include:

  • Reduced productivity: Users spend extra time navigating through their files when they are saved in different locations.
  • Having to switch between different environments: It becomes tricky for users to constantly switch between modern tools. Such as Teams, legacy apps and business systems.
  • Increased administrative burden: Managing and maintaining multiple systems places an additional burden on the IT department.
  • Increased costs: Duplicate systems can often mean duplicate costs, especially when you need to purchase licenses. As in the case of Windows Server for traditional remote desktops.
  • Lack of security: With multiple environments to protect, it can be more difficult to keep systems secure.
  • Complex onboarding process: With different tasks in different systems, it can be a challenge to quickly introduce new employees to the business.

 

Why choose Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) over traditional remote desktop?

With AVD, we are making the leap from Windows Server to Windows 10/11. users a more familiar and intuitive interface. AVD simplifies device management and printer configuration, supports a range of devices from iPads to Androids, and offers significant cost savings by eliminating the need for separate licensing for Windows Server. At the same time, AVD opens up a full-fledged Windows 10 environment in the cloud, available on all devices. Whether it's business systems or storage systems, everything can run smoothly in this environment. And this at a fixed monthly cost per user, making AVD the obvious choice for those looking to the future and wanting an efficient working environment.

 

Want to know more about how Azure Virtual Desktop can be used in your business? Based on our experience and expertise, we have put together a package that we call Microsoft 365 Desktop, where we tailor the service to your business. Read more about Microsoft 365 Desktop here.

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