Paratransit Virtual Desktop Implementation

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

In an effort to provide additional data security, lower operating cost, increased continuity, and an overall enhanced experience for end users, Broward County has successfully implemented VMware’s VDI solution to their paratransit route planning users. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is similar to a shared application infrastructure architecture, where user access is presented via a thin client. The major system components are housed and maintained away from the end user in a secure datacenter. This enables IT staff to resolve workstation problems remotely. The demand for flexibility in our paratransit environment is critical. Utilizing a centralized resource approach such as VDI places all the moving pieces, such as computing, storage, and networking within close proximity of each other. As a result, we were able to produce a superior end user experience. The individual end user witnesses and controls their session through a thin client terminal, and this reduces the risk of unauthorized transfer of classified information from a computer or datacenter. Desktop images are refreshed as each user logs off resetting their desktop to a pristine, unused state, while all their previous work is saved in remote share drives or databases. Broward County Transit (BCT) is committed to staying current with technology trends that will provide improved functionality and support. Virtual desktops address this by reducing downtime, promoting security, and reducing administrative overhead. In addition, travel costs related to supporting desktops at remote sites are significantly reduced, and future costs will be much more reasonable since virtual machines can easily be upgraded or migrated.