There are more ways to build an IT infrastructure these days than with just on-site servers and storage devices. An option that many businesses choose is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). A hosted IT infrastructure provides the same computing resources (CPU, RAM, long-term storage, and bandwidth) as a traditional server. At the same time, a hosted IT infrastructure is more cost-efficient and convenient because it doesn’t require businesses to purchase any on-site servers or hire any on-site IT personnel and can be accessed from anywhere via the Internet.
In addition, a hosted desktop infrastructure is also a suitable replacement to an on-site IT infrastructure. Hosted desktops are web-based computing environments that appear and perform exactly like Windows desktop operating systems. It isn’t common to view them as a form of IT infrastructure—most people classify them as a category unto themselves (Desktop as a Service or DaaS) or as a platform or application further down the cloud “stack” from IaaS. Nevertheless, a hosted desktop infrastructure has all the essential features of an IT infrastructure, including:
–Application hosting. The primary purpose of an IT infrastructure is to host applications. Most companies prefer the efficiency and centralization of hosted applications over having each employee install the applications on his or her own device. Similarly, the applications in a hosted desktop infrastructure are centralized, multi-user solutions that are accessible from any of the HDI’s hosted desktops.
–File storage. To support the output of their hosted applications, IT infrastructures need the ability to store documents and data. Another reason that IT infrastructures have to be able to store files is that many businesses use their infrastructures as a central database. Fortunately, there are multiple ways that a hosted desktop infrastructure lets its users store their files: first, they can store their data in the private folders of their assigned desktops; second, each hosted desktop infrastructure has a common folder where documents and data can be shared; and third, file storage platforms such as document management and project management systems can be integrated with a hosted desktop infrastructure.
–Flexibility. IT infrastructures support all files and applications. Infrastructures aren’t limited to hosting one application at a time, either; using a single virtualized server or several virtualized servers, they can host multiple applications at once. For their part, hosted desktop infrastructures can also support any file or application and can install and give users access to as many applications as they want.
Though a hosted desktop infrastructure has many of the same useful features as an on-site IT infrastructure, it’s also more cost-efficient, accessible, and dynamic due to these unique features:
-Doesn’t require any on-site servers or storage devices
-Has a familiar, easy-to-use interface
-Can be accessed from anywhere, at any time
-Is scalable
-Has a centralized architecture
To make the switch from an on-site IT infrastructure to a hosted desktop infrastructure today, contact an IronOrbit sales representative. All of our hosted desktop infrastructures come with 24x7x365 technical support, Atomic Speed Technology, Orbital Security and automated backups. In addition, our hosted solutions cost only a low, flat monthly fee. Sign up here for a 30 day free trial of the best-performing and most secure and reliable hosted desktop infrastructure.