There are many ways that travel agencies can benefit from signing up for hosted desktops from an IT hosting company.
Before we discuss the benefits of hosted desktops for travel agencies though, let’s clarify exactly what travel agencies, or any other type of business, get when they sign up for this solution:
- Hosted desktops
- A desktop management portal
- Application management services
- Infrastructure management services
- 24×7 performance and security monitoring
- Data security
- Data backups
- 24×7 technical support
What are the benefits of hosted desktops for travel agencies?
Hosted desktops
These are basically Windows desktop operating systems that the IT hosting company hosts on its servers, and that users access via the Internet.
These desktops look and perform exactly the same as the Windows desktop operating systems that you would install on your PC. For example, they have GUIs with desktops, icons, windows, taskbars, and Start menus, and you can use them to run applications, store files, send and receive emails, and browse the Internet, among other things.
Each hosted desktop is assigned to a specific user, and any changes that the user makes to his or her desktop are saved, so that all of the applications, files, and settings that are on the user’s desktop when he or she logs out will still be there when he or she logs back in.
Most hosted desktops are either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 desktops. They’re usually accessed via a web browser or a no-cost client such as Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Connection.
A desktop management portal
Most IT hosting companies provide their hosted desktop customers with access to an online portal that allows them to monitor and manage all of the desktops in their deployment.
The portal may allow customers to add and delete desktops, add and delete Exchange mailboxes, shut down and restart desktops, and reset passwords, among other management features.
Application management services
You can easily install, uninstall, and update applications on an infinite number of your hosted desktops simultaneously.
Want Microsoft Excel installed on all of your hosted desktops? Or do you just want it installed on the desktops of your accountants? Just contact the IT hosting company, and they’ll deploy the application for you.
Infrastructure management services
The IT hosting company will handle purchasing, setting up, and maintaining all of the following:
- Hardware (including servers and storage devices)
- Software (including hypervisors, server OSes, and VDI management software)
- And networking equipment used to host the hosted desktops.
24×7 performance and security monitoring
The IT hosting company will monitor your desktops 24x7x365 for performance and security problems and will respond to any problems that it finds as quickly as possible.
Data security
With the help of an IT hosting company, you are able to protect your desktops and their data from unauthorized access with security measures such as authentication systems, firewalls, IDS/IPS, gateway antivirus, and spam filters.
Data backups
Plus, your IT hosting provider will back up all of the data on all of your hosted desktops on a regular basis (usually at least once per day).
24×7 technical support
The IT hosting company will provide you with 24x7x365 technical support for problems related to your hosted desktops.
In addition, it will help you resolve problems such as:
- Being unable to connect to or log in to your desktops
- Being unable to launch or use applications,
- Needing to restore accidentally deleted files
- And integrating your desktops with printers, scanners, and other local devices
If you’re interested in learning about the benefits for travel agencies of signing up for hosted desktops, check out our follow-up article, “Hosted Desktops for Travel Agencies: The Benefits.”