The desktop has been around for decades, but it faces some significant challenges. The tech industry is evolving very quickly, and software development is being rethought from the ground up to take advantage of this. In 2022, the industry will look quite than it did before. There are several key areas where there has been a significant shift that will impact the desktop industry: cloud computing, universal always-on mobile broadband, management by IT departments, and personal devices.
Emerging Technologies are Changing the Way People Work
Cloud-based computing has been discussed for many years, but the traditional IT systems technology itself is now mature enough to be affordable and reliable. More importantly, there are now plenty of businesses that offer related services - including storage, collaboration tools, and enterprise app stores. These technologies are so well-entrenched that it will be impossible to imagine how we used our computers ten years ago.
Hybrid Computing: Cloud and On-Premises
The cloud is great - you can access your files and programs from any device, and it makes collaboration with colleagues easy. However, what happens when you need to work while out of the office? What about files that cannot be stored on a server anywhere in the world for compliance reasons? In this case, you will still need an on-premises device that can help you connect to the cloud when required.
Several services can help with this, including those that allow you to access your desktop from anywhere. Using such a service does require that your network has sufficient bandwidth and stability, but the technology is mature enough now to make this possible (at least in many cases). It's essential to use a provider who specializes in this type of service - they will an extensive partner ecosystem and a lot of experience managing updates that are required due to increasingly stringent security requirements.
IT Administrators Take Over the Management of Devices
In the past, people expected their IT department to set up everything on their computer. These days, most users have been using PCs for long enough to know how to add a device, install some software, and so on. As such, more and more small businesses are buying hardware in bulk and managing it themselves.
For larger organizations, though, this is not practical - they can't simply trust their staff to know how to configure everything correctly. Consequently, the IT department takes over the management of devices remotely (and sometimes even locally).
How Desktop as a Service Will Work in 2022
The industry is still experimenting with exactly how Desktop as a Service will work, but the basic concept is that it allows your organization to provide a complete desktop solution. Rather than users having to install and configure software themselves, their IT department can provide them with a secure image that includes all of the pre-configured apps and so on.
Tying it all Together
In 2022, we will continue to develop a desktop solution that combines the convenience of a cloud-based approach with the flexibility of on-premises hardware. It is likely to be offered alongside similar services - such as communication tools and training. With this level of integration, your organization can provide a potent tool for workers who are not tied to a desk.
Noah Thompson
