Conclusion: Exploring the Map for the Digital Workspace Journey
Click here for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
During this series on exploring the map for the digital workspace journey, you’ve learned why the status quo is unstainable, how to reimagine end-user computing and what you need to know before getting started. Now, it’s time to begin.
Starting Is Easier Than You Think
You likely already have some of the building blocks and skills required to begin the digital workspace journey. We have divided these building blocks into traffic lanes in our roundabout:
- Transform Windows Delivery
- Unify Endpoint Management
- Simplify App & Access Management
Transform Windows Delivery
Your organization may already be leveraging application or desktop virtualization. Hosting apps (RDSH) with Citrix XenApp or VMware Horizon is a common way that IT has abstracted apps away from the endpoint so that they may be easily accessed from anywhere and any device.
There will continue to be applications that are best managed through virtualization as part of a digital workspace strategy. When data is particularly sensitive, or when there are large databases behind the application, performance and security are often best handled as a virtual app. Likewise, nearly anywhere a fixed desktop is needed, or again when security is critical, a full virtual desktop remains an important option.
Never underestimate the importance of separating the “state” of a desktop, with all of it’s applications, half-written documents, designs and models being rendered, or code be written from the device or location itself. The ability to jump from one physical workstation to another, coming back to exactly where you left off before, can be invaluable across use cases in healthcare, manufacturing, finance and engineering, not to mention the improved availability of that desktop for any mission-critical function.
However, a digital workspace is more than any one app or any one desktop. Many employees will still need non-Windows apps across non-Windows devices. So while a digital workspace strategy will nearly always include virtualization, it also requires the ability to deliver and manage apps across devices, and either manage or at least establish trust with the devices employees are counting on to do their work.
[Learn more about transforming Windows delivery with app and desktop virtualization.]
Unify Endpoint Management
Chances are there is already some mobile device management (MDM) in place somewhere in your organization. Many customers we talk to have a variety of tools in place for either supporting bring-your-own (BYO) devices with email, fully “supervised” MDM for corporate-owned devices, perhaps a solution for macOS, and then traditional PC lifecycle management (PCLM) tools for Windows.
All of these skills are reusable, but as we’ve discussed in this series, to handle the range of form factors, operating systems and choice required to drive employee productivity and innovation requires a platform that can manage across any of these silos. Whether you are a Microsoft Office 365 shop, leveraging MobileIron, IBM MaaS360 or VMware AirWatch, Jamf, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), LANDESK (now Ivanti) or Symantec, we can get you on a path to leverage and/or migrate accordingly to the centralized platform needed for digital workspace success.
[Learn more about unifying endpoint management for Windows 10, macOS, iOS, Chrome OS, Android and rugged devices.]
Simplify App & Access Management
Most organizations also have investments in VPNs, portals, remote access, some sort of password management, multi-factor authentication and policy management, but the siloed nature of these technologies is often as much a part of the problem as it is a solution. Once again, many of these technologies can be leveraged as part of your digital workspace strategy, but a platform approach will be needed to put user experience first.
It can start simply with the VMware Workspace ONE catalog and native app to begin building that “one place” to go for applications. Virtual apps and desktops and endpoint management can then be added to establish trust and manage configuration of devices.
[Learn more about simplifying app and access management.]
To help you start your digital workspace journey, here’s one more resource to take along: the Secure Digital Workspace for Dummies guide. Use these tips and best practices to plan your digital workspace strategy and architect, manage, secure and deploy your digital workspace.
