IT automation versus desktop virtualisation

Koby Amedume says automation software should be considered as an alternative to desktop virtualisation

IT professionals carry the weight of the entire company on their shoulders and are under more and more pressure. Not only do they have to maintain and repair the tech, they also have to deal with critical problems swiftly, as well as fielding calls from employees whose IT knowledge is often limited.

At the same time, pressure from managers and time spent travelling between locations mean IT staff are often so busy that they do not have time to assist in any plans for major modifications in a firm's IT infrastructure.

One solution for overworked IT departments is IT automation, which can help many companies boost efficiency and cut costs while remotely managing complete infrastructures. IT systems management software reduces the need for staff to move around, offering better service delivery in one package.

Dealing with internal IT issues will take up most of an IT administrator's average day, and IT staff spend excessive amounts of time dealing with mostly minor problems. This is expensive. In large businesses, IT systems can become disjointed, resulting in a backlog of technology issues.

Automation software can resolve issues quickly, eliminating the need for human intervention where a computer can do the job more effectively.

A single, web-based interface can improve visibility of IT assets, and help centralise data protection, compliance and security.

While desktop virtualisation can also boost IT efficiency, unexpected upgrades, high set-up costs, difficulty maintaining drivers and a lack of user personalisation mean that the benefits can be limited.

IT automation can offer more for less. It can be effective and easy-to-enforce systems management, and avoids the need for a complete organisational restructure.

It can also reduce the number of staff needed, as well as travel costs and general IT running costs, and help companies save energy by enabling remote switch-off of kit.

The service angle is equally important. An organisation's staff may benefit from faster call-out response times, raising productivity and enhancing customer satisfaction. IT automation also offers cross-selling, up-selling or bundling opportunities.

Consider the benefits and pitfalls of IT automation versus desktop virtualisation, looking at the size of the organisation and its budget.

While IT automation will not suit everyone, it is can be a viable alternative to desktop virtualisation. The channel needs to be able to empathise with organisations' pain points and identify the most suitable solution in each case.

Koby Amedume is marketing director at Kaseya