How application virtualization can meet the demands of remote workers

Virtualization lets you run multiple operating systems, applications and virtual machines on a single server

Virtualization is the process through which organizations create a virtual version (not an actual one) of servers, operating systems, network sources, or storage devices. The process uses software to simulate the functionality of hardware devices when creating virtual systems.

Organizations have embraced virtualization because, with it, they can run different operating systems, multiple virtual machines, and many applications, all on a single server. They are able to reduce costs of operation and run efficient computer systems.

Application virtualization can be defined as a technology that allows organizations to encapsulate their applications from an operating system where they are executed. It would be correct to say that a virtualized application, in the traditional sense, is not installed but is executed like an installed application.

How Does Application Virtualization Ease Remote Work?

Remote work has grown popular among most organizations in the recent past. The COVID-19 pandemic has even fueled the need for companies to allow their employees to work from home. This has been a challenge for most employees since they need to access company applications from home using their personal devices. 

On the other hand, companies need a way to make sure that while employees are accessing applications from home, they (employees) are only accessing what they need. This is where application virtualization comes in. Using application virtualization software, organizations can meet the demands of their remote workers in a number of ways, among them;

1. Application virtualization gives organization managers the ability to control which applications a user has access to. Here, they can assign applications only to the users who need them for their work. This access can also be revoked when the user loses their job or their position is changed in the company.

How would this scenario work out for organizations that have not embraced application virtualization? Managers would be forced to install the applications that employees need on the employees’ devices, then uninstall them when there are changes in the company. This is so much work, and the company data would be exposed.

2. Application virtualization makes it possible for organizations to protect their sensitive information when their employees are working from home. They do this by making sure that the employees do not save company files on their devices through the use of desktop containers which allow them to save applications and data on encrypted sandboxes.

The organizations can then go ahead and assign these sandboxes to the users that are supposed to access the files and applications in them. If a user wants to keep their data separate from everyone else (but not on their personal computers), they can create their own containers on the server. This way, organizations can protect their data with remote employees even when they sack them.

3. It helps organizations save money on server setup, maintenance, and licensing. Application virtualization allows companies to have all their applications running on a single physical server, instead of having each application running on its own server. This ensures that applications are isolated from local OS (operating systems), helping organizations save money on server maintenance. 

In addition, the companies might be using applications that need licensing, something that could be quite expensive if they needed a different license for each application running on different employee devices. They install one license on the virtualized servers and grant access to all users that need to use that particular application.

Finally, application virtualization is very important to organizations that want to promote remote work. As discussed above, organizations do not want to have company applications installed on their employees’ personal computers. This technology makes it possible by ensuring that their operating systems are separated from the application layers, allowing the applications to be hosted by a virtual machine. Employees can access these applications remotely using their personal devices.