Managed Services

What is a Managed Desktop Services?

When hoping to take the load off your IT team while also providing your staff more autonomy over their workflow, cloud-based solutions are becoming more and more the norm.

Staff not only expect their digital environments to be optimized and seamless, but quick, reactive, updated, secure, and generally unobtrusive regarding the workflow they hope to apply their creative and intelligent thinking to. In other words, they want accessibility, and they want reliability. As the leaders of such firms, we would of course be remiss in failing to provide this functionality.

Managed desktop services are becoming prized by companies within a diverse array of industries, and in this post, we’ll elaborate on and discuss what they are and how they can be used to service your firm.

What is a Managed Desktop Services?

A managed desktop service uses cloud-powered integration to manage and secure desktop estate. With a service such as Microsoft 365, MMD can help manage and configure devices used by your firm. In other words, they help set up and ensure the continued technical aid of the programs and functionalities an employee will need to interact with their workflow. This includes the operating system used, the apps involved, and additional security services.

Additionally, MMD’s provide app compatibility, analytical data about your desktop, app and device usage, and more. They can also make sure localization is more readily applied, guaranteeing the best experience for your staff.

How do I set up Microsoft Managed Desktop?

For this, it’s best to work with one of the partners aligned with Microsoft, such as ExternetWorks. From there, you can review the list of currently recommended devices, and establish your network infrastructure. Once they are in place, validating the example devices can help you get started through this software pipeline. Official registration of your devices will grant you access to the full suite of MMD benefits. You can also reuse existing devices, provided they meet the device requirements of MMD’s program.

What is Microsoft’s Modern Desktop Management?

Modern desktop management takes the time to manage the PC, automating and streamlining every level of your tech infrastructure so your staff can focus on the work they need to do without interruption. This has been shown to free up at least four free tech maintenance hours each day. This includes increasing battery life of port able devices by 2x, and improving staff efficiency by up to 31%.

What is a cloud-managed PC?

A cloud-managed PC is a PC that is not directly managed by a local administrator, but rather, an administrator running the software and service packages from a cloud-based server. In other words, it’s a great way to decentralizing your IT and ensuring that 24-hour maintenance, care and provisions are all but guaranteed by your managed IT services. They take the busywork, downtime, and compatibility problems out of modern computing, saving your employees and business at large.

What is an MMD device?

An MMD is an approved device used in conjunction with Microsoft Managed Desktop. This could be a desktop computer or laptop. It uses the Microsoft 365 Enterprise infrastructure to ensure constant user support access, immediate security monitoring and response, as well as IT service management made easy.

Not all devices are verified for this kind of software, and so it’s best to check with us if you need your infrastructure developing a little more, or if your devices are ready to be approved ahead of time. While there once was a list of exact devices Microsoft would approve, the 5th of May 2021 saw that restriction loosened a a little more, and provided your device has the correct specifications you should still be able to make use of this functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked question we hear regarding this topic is:

What is the Desktop Services Delivery model?

In addition to the services rendered above, we believe that a desktop services delivery model capable of ensuring world-class security and seamless managed desktop experiences is essential. This is especially important to domestic and SOHO end-users. This is provided through a PXE-based thin-client platform for broadband environments that can actually replace a fully integrated PC, while eschewing little and retaining most of the benefits.

Feel free to speak to us regarding any questions you have about this process, and how it can be maximally applied and optimized to and for your firm. We’re here to help, and to field any queries you may have. Despite the accessibility, performance, reliability and peace of mind Managed Desktop Services can offer, it’s always best to be informed first and foremost.