Opt for the virtual office to reduce IT costs
Less well known than online software, the virtual office, also known as DaaS, frees users from the constraints of their physical workstations. Their working environment can be accessed via any terminal, thanks to virtualisation. This modernisation of IT with the virtual office seems to be a preoccupation of large companies. However, the solutions on the market are aimed more at very small businesses and SMEs. What are the real advantages of virtualising your company's workstations? And how do you go about it? Here's everything you need to know to be a winner with a virtual desktop infrastructure. Read all our advice on using virtual desktops.
Save money
The virtual office simplifies your accounting by allowing you to turn your IT investment costs (hardware investment, depreciation, with the software that goes with it, etc.) into simple expenses that will reduce your tax bill. By accounting for them as operating costs, you gain greater flexibility in your finances and administrative procedures.
What's more, you won 't have to worry about increasing IT costs, which can put the brakes on new recruitment. Desktop as a Service gives you greater flexibility in managing your workstations. Whether you increase your workforce by 5 or by 1, you won't have to invest in hardware. The tool can be the same for everyone, all you have to do is activate or deactivate the accounts.
Finally, the computer you currently have will not need to be replaced by the most powerful on the market. Even if it's a bit 'old' - that is, more than 3 years old in the IT world - you use your Internet connection to access the virtual desktops. These work using the power of the provider's servers, not your own computers. This is one of the advantages of the Cloud over a standard installation of an operating system (Windows, Linux, Mac OS). What's more, you'll be contributing to sustainable development by extending the lifespan of your hardware! The day the machine is actually out of service, you can take advantage of one of the many offers on the market from DaaS providers such as VirtuelBureau, Incwo or Citrix.
Secure your data
Have you installed anti-virus and anti-intrusion software on your company's computers? With the virtual desktop, your workstation is equipped with these security tools to protect your data. Updates are automatic, so you can rest easy at all times.
Data is backed up on the DaaS provider's server. You don't have to subscribe to a backup solution. You can recover all your documents in the event of a fire or computer breakdown. Statistically, 3 out of 4 companies do not resume business after a fire. You need to take these risks into account if you want to keep your business going.
The decoupling of hardware and data gives you peace of mind in the event of loss or theft of a computer. Your information and authentication access remain safe, stored on the servers in the virtual office publishers' datacentre. All your sales staff need to do, for example, is go and buy a new computer from the nearest retailer, so they can get on with their work without any significant interruption to their business.
Rest assured that everything is running smoothly
Managed services are not just about hardware maintenance. It's about keeping an eye on your infrastructure, to ensure that it's always up and running. An outsourced IT department to manage the information systems of a small business can quickly become very expensive, depending on your VSE's sector of activity. As a result, integrating this service into the various offerings from DaaS vendors is a considerable advantage, enabling you to concentrate on your core business.
What's more, in your small business, you don't necessarily have the human and material resources that larger companies do. Thanks to VirtuelBureau, from Avenir Numérique, you can benefit from a number of advantages with their comprehensive range of services: facilities management, anti-virus, firewall, automatic backup, private network, customer space, etc. Your virtual workstation runs on high-quality professional servers, with facilities management to ensure that your service is up and running at all times.
Finally, because DaaS is completely paperless, you have an on-demand work environment: operating system (Windows, GNU Linux, Mac OS), applications, webmail, storage space, user settings and preferences. You only use what you need, depending on the medium you choose, and your workspace is optimised with an ergonomic interface and a taskbar tailored to your needs. You avoid any unnecessary overload on the dedicated server.
Access your computer wherever you are
For an entrepreneur, centralising and accessing business data can save a lot of time. The virtual office meets these needs for mobility and byod. For example, you can log on from your tablet or smartphone on the way to a customer meeting, or reply to an urgent email from the comfort of your sofa in the evening.
Thanks to DaaS, you no longer need to stay late at the office to finish that important file. With remote access, your workstation stays with you in case you need it. The democratisation of the Internet via public Wifi access or 3G/4G connections means you can use your virtual office without any real constraints. So you can finish that file at home or on the move as if you were at work.
The number of very small businesses and SMEs using DaaS is set to reach record levels over the next few years. As a service" environments are booming, and represent real opportunities for businesses to cut costs and improve collaborative working. That's why the virtual office is particularly well suited to very small businesses, offering additional services that they couldn't afford in a traditional environment. Give your business a unified, modern IT system while reducing your budgets by virtualising your workstations!
Article translated from French