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A hosted desktop solution can improve the efficiency of your IT system, with associated benefits to the way your staff work. The advantage to users is that they will barely notice that anything has changed at all, making it easy to ‘sell’ the concept to change-resistant employees.
All users will log onto their desktops via an online portal, requiring just an internet connection. Integration of cloud-based identity providers (e.g. Microsoft Azure AD) enable features such as seamless single sign-on, passwordless login and multi-factor authentication. Enabling such integration will provide an enhanced user experience by reducing (or preferably eliminating) password prompts and provide secure access to corporate data in an intelligent, non-intrusive manner. Staff will see and access exactly the same data in the same format they are used to, whether they are working on a computer, laptop, tablet or phone – and from wherever they are.
As all the processing happens in the central server, the speed of individual devices is no longer an issue – all you need is access to broadband and you will be able to work on everything you are used to, whether that is simple Word files or complex CAD work.
Agile working
The main advantage of installing a hosted desktop solution is to facilitate agile working solutions. It not only helps staff to be flexible in where they work, but it also enables those who need to travel to meetings to travel lighter because they will be able to access anything they need via a phone, tablet or laptop.
This means your firm would no longer have to provide expensive, state-of-the-art laptops capable of running huge amounts of data to every member of staff who needs to work remotely. It also means that if the hardware is lost, damaged or stolen, your firm can not only replace the device more cheaply but will not have to worry about losing data and confidential details – because there will be no need for any to be stored on the device.
Increasing productivity
Productivity is hugely important, especially when it comes to fee earners. The right technology can have a huge impact on reducing the amount of time staff have to waste on tasks that can now be automated, at the same time as improving accuracy.
Hosted desktop solutions provide staff with predictable and scalable amounts of centralised processing power. A well-designed architecture can provide sufficient compute power to all staff, regardless of the capabilities of the endpoint devices being used. The speed of the central server is also beneficial in terms of the time wasted by members of staff waiting for inefficient endpoint hardware to process data.
Architects, for instance, who need to access a huge amount of computing power to operate CAD software, no longer need powerful (and therefore expensive) laptops from which they can show clients their designs. With centralised processing power, they can access anything they need on any device they have with them, whether it’s a laptop, tablet or phone, working at the same speeds as a high-powered computer.
Real estate savings
One big advantage of agile working for organisations is that it frees up more office space. With more people opting to work remotely, companies do not have to provide everyone with a dedicated desk of their own. A hosted desktop solution will enable your company to provide hot-desking, so wherever a staff member sits, they will always be connected to their own desktop, with everything available they need and are familiar with. This will eventually bring cost savings when more staff need to be taken on, but without the consequent need for your organisation to move to larger premises.
Security
Hosted desktop solutions offer extra security for both your hardware and software. In a ‘non-persistent’ environment, the hosted desktops being accessed by staff are stateless clones that contain no permanent data. Critical components such as user profiles and line of business applications are instead centralised and dynamically attached at user login. These ‘disposable desktops’ are linked to a single master image. As such, any software updates only need to be installed once, into the master image, rather than onto every piece of hardware in the company. Moving to a stateless environment with single image management not only drastically reduces the amount of time IT staff spend updating every computer in the company, it also reduces the chances that some hardware will slip through the net, which increases the possibility that a cyber breach can occur.
When it comes to meetings and remote working, the chance of losing devices or having them stolen increases. Not only does that mean having to replace the device, you could also lose any work that is saved on it – and there is the security concern that the data will fall into the wrong hands.
In terms of hardware, if you use power-hungry apps, your device will also be more powerful and therefore much more expensive than a standard one. However, with hosted desktop solutions, all staff can use standard devices, which are less expensive to replace. Also, none of your company data needs to be on that device, which means losing hardware will no longer be company critical.
Business continuity
With all staff members logging onto the system remotely (even if they always work at their desks), any interruption to the working day does not need to have a devastating effect on business continuity. If, for instance, there is a power cut or staff cannot access your building for whatever reason, everyone would be able to work on their own devices at home. No data will have been lost because the server is in a different location (with backup servers in additional locations), so you will be able to get ‘up and running’ quickly and efficiently.
Hardware savings
The beauty of a hosted desktop solution is that it is designed to work with any device. This means that even if you have just replaced your computer hardware, you will not lose that investment by introducing a hosted solution.
Attracting talent
By 2025, Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce and as such, they will be in a stronger position to make demands. According to research undertaken by Deloitte: “tomorrow’s future leaders might ‘reject’ what business as traditionally organizational has to offer, preferring to work independently by digital means in the long term. This and other findings in Deloitte’s annual study of Generation Y point to significant challenges facing business leaders if they are to meet the expectations of the Millennial generation. Millennials … want to work for organizations that foster innovative thinking, develop their skills, and make a positive contribution to society.”
This means that, in order to attract talented staff members, fee earners and future leaders, organisations across all sectors must offer working practices that suit the best candidates, otherwise they will be passed over by the most talented workers.
Flexible working is a hugely important benefit for many, and a hosted desktop solution will enable any of your staff to work remotely. As long as they have access to broadband (even a poor service), they will be able to work as effectively and efficiently as they do from their desktop in the office. A hosted desktop solution works from any location, for any workload and from any device – there are no barriers.
If you are not thinking about agile working practices, you may not be attracting the right people, so it is well worth investigating a hosted desktop solution as a possible future direction for your company.
The Lumina hosted desktop solution
We have been developing and testing our own hosted desktop solution which will be launched at the Legal Technology Forum in March. If you are attending the Forum, come and talk to us about how a hosted desktop solution can help your firm, or contact us to arrange an appointment with one of our team.
Lumina Technologies have taken the time to understand the requirements of our business and work as our strategic IT partner, enabling us to concentrate on delivering a high quality service to our clients and focus on our growth strategy. They have delivered a 100% cloud solution to our business with no underlying infrastructure costs or maintenance, which gives us scalability for our planned growth. It also means our business critical applications and data are securely accessible from virtually all our user devices. Lumina’s professional approach and strategic expertise is highly valued and their management of our IT – based on their in-depth knowledge, leaves us confident that our systems are available 24×7.
Luke Harrison
Keidan Harrison LLP
Lumina have supported us so well through the difficult circumstances of 2020. They worked extremely hard to ensure we were able to work remotely and continue to operate our business successfully. The support team are very friendly and knowledgeable, and have excellent response times.
The team have also enhanced our cyber security which is so important in the legal sector, and they continue to provide high quality advice to help us move forward with our IT goals.
Robin Illingworth
Managing Partner, Adams & Remers LLP
The quality of IT Support provided by Lumina Technology is of the highest standard and is complemented by effective client liaison with impressive response times. Trap Oil Group plc has no hesitation in recommending Lumina as a dedicated and specialist group of IT professionals.
Martin David
Technical Director, Trap Oil Group plc
Richard and his team are a real inspiration to anyone who meets them and I have watched Lumina’s growth over the last few years with interest and admiration. Richard has been an amazing supporter of the Hospice of St Francis, being a Gold member of the Corporate Partner Network for almost two years. He takes an active interest in the community and is passionate about his company and his town: nothing is too much trouble, he is always willing to help, to give up his time and to provide business advice when asked. Lumina is an inspiration to any company wanting to set up business in Hertfordshire.
Carolyn Addison
Corporate Fundraising Manager, The Hospice of St Francis
Lumina Technologies Prism Hosted Desktop has allowed our business to centralise our global corporate data, allowing much faster access for all our staff – regardless of their location. We have also been able to simplify and reduce our infrastructure and management overhead. With the new Prism Hosted Desktop solution all staff now have simple and secure access to corporate data using any device they choose. Prism Hosted Desktop has increased the productivity of our staff and given us a single, consistent and familiar experience for all users from any device, in any location, 24/7.
Katherine Roe
Chief Executive Officer, Wentworth Resources PLC
The commercially sensitive and regulated nature of Lambert Energy Advisory’s business requires an IT provider able to maintain the highest levels of integrity and confidentiality, Lumina Technologies has consistently been unimpeachable in this regard over the nine years we have employed them.
Patrick Agar
Lambert Energy Advisory
It has been a great pleasure working with Lumina Technologies over the past two years. They have fully committed to being involved in the local community with volunteering and with professional advice and commitment, helping many local charities along the way. As a growing company it proves that being involved in the local community is helping them attract and retain a talented workforce and I look forward to working with them well into the future.
Cindy Withey
Connect Dacorum
Hawkstone Management Services Ltd is a small company for which IT Outsourcing is realistically the only viable option. Lumina Technologies have successfully performed this role for over fifteen years. They also provide innovative solutions to keep pace with technological progress. I would have no hesitation in recommending Lumina to similar sized businesses.
Stephen Pembury
Hawkstone Management Services Ltd
Charles Douglas Solicitors LLP have been using Lumina Technologies for a number of years now and continue to be impressed by the technical know-how and contemporary knowledge of their senior management, who provide a timely, efficient and friendly service. Whether it is a small issue with one computer, or a strategic IT decision, they maintain a current knowledge of available technologies. Lumina are always at the other end of the phone to help resolve issues and minimise business interference. The technical knowledge of Richard and his senior team means that there has not been a problem that they can’t solve to date. I am sure we will continue to use them in the years to come.
Charles Douglas
Managing Partner, Charles Douglas Solicitors LLP
The team at Lumina Technologies have made the Amoun Travel & Tours office IT transition seamless and problem free. The office set-up has been vastly improved and the IT Support services are flawless. No issue goes unresolved, which is extremely reassuring.
Adam Helmy
Amoun Travel & Tours Ltd
Lumina Technologies has been Salamander Energy plc’s IT provider since start-up in 2005 and has supported us in London during our expansion across operational offices in SE Asia. Their professional approach, strategic advice and close co-operation have been essential in making this a success.
John Bell
Group Technical Director, Salamander Energy plc
Richard and his team at Lumina have provided Perrett Laver Limited with high quality strategic and practical IT Services for over ten years. During this period, Perrett Laver has grown from 10+ colleagues based in London to nearly 100 colleagues located in six offices across the Americas, EMEA and Asia-Pacific. Richard and the Lumina team have not just been responsive to our ‘everyday’ IT needs, but have proactively sought to work with us on developing an infrastructure suitable for the type of operation we are today, and are planning to be months and years down the line. I would not hesitate to recommend Richard, especially for small to medium size business with growth in mind.
Clementine McKinley
COO, Perrett Laver Limited
Society Limited has been supported by Lumina Technologies since our earliest start-up phase. From large logistical challenges like an office move, through to smaller fiddly issues like fixing a faulty e-template, we know we can count on their support and advice. They’ve also been able to engage with us strategically on the challenge of scaling-up our infrastructure as the firm continues to grow and evolve. We always feel confident going to Lumina with a problem, since we know they genuinely care about sorting things out and helping us to get on with our core business.
Simon Lucas
Managing Director, Society Limited
The Vita Group HQ staff have worked with Richard McBarnet and Lumina Technologies for over 9 years, with Lumina providing all our PC, server, phone, and software support. The services have included C-level executives based in London, Manchester, the US, as well as supporting home office IT as well. The service provided and intellectual capabilities are outstanding and we would highly recommend Richard and his Lumina team.
Joe Menendez
CEO, The Vita Group
We worked with Lumina on a GDPR Audit. Richard was knowledgeable and professional throughout, and did the best he could to bring a dry topic to life through lots of real life examples and analogies. We were so impressed with the service Lumina provided and the value we got from partnering with them on this project – we couldn’t recommend them enough.
Holly Cottingham, Vintec Laboratories
We’ve been so well supported by Paige and the Lumina team. They’ve been highly professional, very responsive, friendly, supportive. It’s really validated the decision to engage an IT partner, and we’re glad it’s with Lumina.
Bruce Storey
Chief Operating Officer, Estu Global Ltd
