ENABLING VDI

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR ENABLING VDI

Assaad El Saadi, regional director – Middle East, Pure Storage discusses why Enabling Remote Working Isn’t the Only Reason You Should Consider a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

As organizations across the Middle East look to quickly enable and scale remote working environments, there has been an uptick in the adoption of virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). This is not surprising given the benefits of VDI for remote working. For one, integrating new users, user devices, businesses, and even applications is made easier with VDI. Secondly, developers can respond faster, users can utilize a rich desktop environment, and organizations can truly enable the business by incorporating a completely virtual desktop ecosystem. Last but not least, VDI scales from the datacenter and into the cloud as well. This means users can access intelligent systems monitoring their performance, utilization, and even licensing while still pushing out a rich VDI environment. However, the benefits of VDI extend far beyond just enabling a remote and mobile workforce. Here are eight more reasons why you should consider VDI.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Application virtualization aside, delivering desktops via BYOD can be a great solution for end-users as well as IT. Whether they’re working from home, internally or even internationally, users can access a desktop with all of their settings intact. Increased demand for mobility and IT consumerization has led to a rise in BYOD. This is where VDI can help. The endpoint never retains the data, and both the desktops and applications are always secure and controlled at the datacenter level.

Providing access to third parties

Some organizations have numerous contractors working within an organization. A great way to control contractor access is through a private cloud VDI platform. This gives users access via controlled active directory (AD) policies and credentials and allows them to connect to a virtual desktop. From there, administrators can quickly provision and de-provision desktop resources as needed for a given contractor.

Testing and development

There is no better way to test out an application, service or new product than on an efficiently provisioned VDI image. Administrators can deploy and test out new platforms within “live” environments without having to provision hardware resources. Once the testing is complete, they can simply spin down the VDI instance and rollout the new update, application or desktop environment.

Application compatibility and delivery Recent updates within organizations have forced some applications to adopt 64-bit technologies. Some apps, however, won’t run on these platforms, forcing administrators to get creative. This is where VDI can help. For those select, finicky applications, VDI within a private cloud environment can be a lifesaver. Virtual desktops can run within 32-bit or 64-bit instances and allow administrators to continue to support many older apps.

Accelerating heavy desktop compute workloads

New technologies are allowing for powerful resource sharing while still optimizing the user experience. Solutions with 100% NVMe all-flash storage systems accelerate virtual desktops and applications with sub-millisecond latency, allowing the enterprise IT to deliver true performance from the datacenter to any user on the network. Now organizations can place more heavy resource users on multi-tenant blades, network, compute, and storage architecture. This opens up new possibilities for those users that historically needed a very expensive endpoint.

Centralizing and securing the datacenter

New delivery capabilities allow organizations to completely centralize management of the virtual desktops. This creates a new security paradigm where nothing is stored at the endpoint. More so, HTML5 allows for complete clientless delivery so that sessions are completely controlled within the datacenter. This means organizations can isolate VDI sessions, geo-fence users, and create a proactive VDI security ecosystem.

Creating new levels of datacenter economics

VDI and virtualization allow organizations to control their own cloud environment and how they provision resources. The ability to dynamically provision and de-provision resources gives organizations unparalleled flexibility when it comes to virtual desktop delivery. Data reduction technologies such as deduplication and compression enable IT to deliver all-flash solutions with increased performance, at the same price or lower, than traditional spinning disk or hybrid storage. Organizations no longer need to worry about big endpoints and lost resources. IT teams can create true

Assaad El Saadi Regional Director – Middle East, Pure Storage

datacenter efficiency by controlling all resources connected into the virtual desktop delivery architecture.

Optimizing resource controls

VDI allows organizations to dynamically shape the entire user experience. Is the application lagging? Is the user requiring more resources due to the workload type? How quickly can you adjust to user and market demands? VDI allows entire workloads to be re-provisioned with resources that allow the user to be productive wherever and whenever they choose to work. By moving from a spinning disk architecture to flash storage, IT can enable greater end-user performance, higher resiliency, and powerful scalability at a lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

In the past, technologies like VDI were seen as heavy, forklift projects that required long time frames, resources, dedicated infrastructure and big budgets. But that is a thing of the past, thanks to advancements within the network, compute and the storage layers. There can be great benefits to an organization if there is a direct fit for VDI — reduced desktop IT costs, improved security, increased control, and expanded connectivity. This allows organizations to support new business models and improve both IT operations and user satisfaction, critical success factors in today’s digital economy.

D-LINK’S NEXT-GEN WI-FI 6 ROUTERS

The latest version of Wi-Fi, also known as AX Wi-Fi or 802.11ax Wi-FI, offers users the opportunity to achieve speedier and even more efficient performance from routers and other devices. Wi-Fi 6, introduced in the market in 2019, greatly expands and enriches the current 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard.

According to research firm IDC, WiFi 6 will offer extensive benefits to a vast number of users and use cases. The most important advantages will be seen in areas with high densities of users or client devices connecting to and transferring data over wireless networks. The research firm states that businesses that face these challenges will be the first adopters of the technology while others will integrate it as part of regular cyclical refreshes of WLAN hardware upgrades.

In order to truly capitalize on the advantages of Wi-Fi 6, it is necessary for users to invest in new hardware as Wi-Fi standards not only rely on software upgrades.

Unlike the existing 11ac wireless standard that operates only in the 5 GHz range, Wi-Fi 6 fully utilizes both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It also comes with 1024 QAM to boost throughput to devices by up to 25%, and 160 MHz contiguous channel width for even more bandwidth. Ground-breaking Wi-Fi 6 routers from D-Link include two of its flagship products - DIR-X1560 EXO AX AX1500 and DIR-X1860 EXO AX AX1800.

Philips announced its initiative to quickly scale production of its new Philips Respironics E30 ventilator as a readily available ventilation alternative during the COVID-19 crisis in situations where full-featured, critical care ventilators are not available. Philips has begun production immediately, ramping up outputs on an ongoing

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7. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology provides faster speeds, greater capacity and less network congestion Next-gen speeds up to AX1800 (1200 Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band) Dual-band Wi-Fi with up to 4 simultaneous streams makes 4K streaming, gaming or video chatting a breeze OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology communicate more data to more devices while simultaneously reducing lag BSS coloring technology reduces interference in 'noisy' Wi-Fi environments, making more efficient use of available Wi-Fi spectrum 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports and 1 Gigabit Ethernet WAN port provide optional wired connectivity Intelligent Quality of Service (QoS) prioritizes network traffic to minimize the impact of busy bandwidth

PHILIPS RESPIRONICS E30 VENTILATOR

Highlights (EXO AX AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Router DIR-X1860):

HP’s newest Z by HP mobile workstation is designed for creators who push the envelope of what’s possible. The HP ZBook Studio, HP ZBook Create, and the HP ENVY 15 are the latest additions to the HP Create Ecosystem, which launched at Adobe MAX in 2019. For those who create professionally – from design, modeling, coding, or application design – Z by HP solutions are perfect small form-factor powerhouse solutions for resource-intensive tasks.

HP’s ZBook Studio, ZBook Create, and ENVY 15 laptops with RTX GPUs are members of NVIDIA’s RTX Studio program, featuring acceleration for demanding ray-traced rendering

HP ZBOOK

basis with expectations of producing 15,000 units per week in April, 2020.

Highlights

• Creators can design, edit, render, and stream from anywhere no matter how complex the workflow, with choices of Quadro or GeForce graphics and next-gen Intel Core and Intel Xeon processors.

• Creative pros today want to multitask while projects are rendering in the background without slowing down other applications. The ZBook Studio is the most powerful mobile workstation per cubic centimeter7 for rendering.

• Z Power Slider gives the user complete control over the type of performance and acoustics for specific workflows. At the same time, the Z Predictive Fan Algorithm intelligently manages fan behavior based on the kind of work and applications used by creatives.

Philips has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the device for use only during the COVID public emergency. Status of EUA requests can be found on the FDA website.

The E30 ventilator is designed for mass production by a team deeply experienced in respiratory care. invasively and non-invasively; • Quick set-up and simple operations, allowing healthcare providers with a wide range of skill sets to treat and monitor patients in clinical and field-hospital settings;

and AI creative workloads, and Studio drivers for outstanding reliability.

The HP ZBook Studio, the world’s most powerful mobile workstation per cubic centimeter4, and HP ZBook Create, the world’s smallest 15” notebook for creation and gaming5, allows users to create on-the-go unlike ever before. The latest additions to the Z by HP portfolio are purpose-built and re-engineered from the ground up to meet the demanding needs of the most creative applications and workflows and provide optimal experiences today and in the future. The ZBook Studio and ZBook Create bring the first DreamColor display with 17.5 hour, all-day battery life2 to visual effects artists, animators, and colorists worldwide, enabling them to accurately represent their content on-screen from anywhere because of DreamColor’s built-in colorimeter for automatic self-calibration, 100% sRGB and Adobe RGB for accuracy, and over a billion colors7 for smoother shading and more consistent gradients.

• The ability to accept high-flow oxygen;

• Recommended circuit set-ups contain a bacterial/viral filter to minimize exposure for healthcare providers when used invasively or noninvasively with example accessories that may be used, such as a full-face, non-vented (without integrated leak) mask, or helmet;

• On-screen respiratory monitoring to measure and display vital ventilation type parameters such as pressure, tidal volume, respiratory rate, leak, and oxygen saturation, enabling clinicians to evaluate therapy effectiveness;

STUDY SHOWS CONSUMERS IN THE UAE MOVING TO CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS

According to global consumer sentiment data, more than 70 percent of respondents in the Middle East are now using some form of contactless payment

During March 2020, as many countries in the Middle East imposed necessary restrictions on social distancing, a significant majority of consumers turned to contactless payments for necessary purchases. 70 percent of respondents in the Middle East say they are now using contactless payments, citing safety and hygiene as key drivers. Consumer polling by Mastercard, studying changing consumer behaviors in 19 countries around the world, paints a picture of accelerated and sustained contactless adoption.

The act of running to the store for groceries, medicine and other necessities has changed dramatically. Shoppers around the world have had to adjust to social distancing measures and other new challenges when buying everyday supplies for their families and loved ones. This shift in consumer behavior is particularly clear at checkout, as people express a desire for contactless, and voice concerns over cleanliness and safety at the point of sale, according to the new Mastercard study. In fact, findings from respondents in the UAE show:

Contactless Move to Top of Wallet – Perceptions of safety and convenience have spurred a preference for contactless and reminded consumers of the convenience of tapping on a global scale. In the UAE, 73 percent of respondents have swapped their top-of-wallet card for one that offers contactless while 82 percent UAE respondents consider contactless to be their preferred method of payment.

Confidence in Contactless – The global disruption has led to increased concern from consumers on cash usage and positive perceptions towards contactless due to the peace of mind that it provides. 71 percent of consumers say they are now using some form of contactless payment. Amidst the pandemic, 84 percent agreed that contactless is a cleaner way to pay, while 85 percent think it is more convenient than cash. Furthermore, 78 percent of UAE respondents have said contactless payment methods have been easy to adopt. Contactless payments are up to 10 times faster than other in-person payment methods, enabling customers to get in and out of stores faster.

Contactless is Here to Stay – We are in a sustained period in which consumers are making purchases in a very focused way; it’s reinforcing contactless use in markets where adoption is more mature, and it’s stimulating use in newer markets. This trend appears to be here to stay. Three in four UAE respondents (74 percent) confirmed that the pandemic has led them to use less cash, and 83 percent of UAE respondents said they will continue to use contactless post-pandemic.

“The UAE government is setting a great example in keeping residents safe and in addition to social distancing between people, this should also apply to publicly shared devices, like point of sale terminals and checkout counters,” said Girish Nanda, General Manager, UAE and Oman, Mastercard. “Contactless is already quite prevalent in the UAE, though conditions resulting from this pandemic are advancing consumer adoption further. UAE shoppers are increasingly recognizing contactless as a safer, more hygienic, faster way to pay, especially since control over physical proximity is critical at that moment.”

INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS SWITCHING

YEARS WARRANTY

What Makes Them Special?

Toughness

D-Link Industrial Ethernet Switches are built to tolerate harsher conditions than most standard switches in terms of temperature, dust, lightning strike, vibration, corrosion, electromagnetic interference, and even impact.

Convenience

They can be installed in areas that industrial facilities are likely to already have, such as electrical closets, and mounted onto common local architectural elements, such as wall railings.

Reliability Redundancy

Ethernet networking enables a greater degree of redundancy than older proprietary Industrial standards allow. Standard Ethernet switches employ Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) architecture for redundant failover, which can re-route network transmission in the event of a failure in 50 milliseconds.