Tackling the Windows Embedded Endpoint Challenge

Transcription

1 Tackling the Windows Embedded Endpoint Challenge Prepared by Dan O Farrell Dell Cloud Client-Computing Gaining control with virtual desktops and Windows Embedded thin clients Many organizations ranging from small school districts to large Global 500 corporations have deployed desktop virtualization, often with Windows Embedded-based thin client endpoints, to better protect vital apps and content while vastly reducing much of the constant desktop management and maintenance burden faced by their IT teams. While improving security remains the primary reason most organizations migrate their people to virtual desktops, another key impetus for this migration has been control. That is, gaining control over how apps and content are accessed, by whom, and from which devices. The drive toward greater control comes as no surprise given the recent sharp increase in how people now get their work done. It seems every month a new tablet or smartphone is announced, and these devices can run on a variety of operating systems predominantly ios, Android, or Windows. Moving apps and content away from the network edges and into the secure, reliable datacenter via desktop virtualization is Step One toward accommodating the growing number of new access devices, empowering mobility, and enabling people to match their work-style to their lifestyle. But all of this can come at a price to IT teams, namely in terms of control. This is where Dell cloud client-computing can help. A lot.

2 Dell cloud client-computing enables strong control of how people can access corporate-owned apps and content in the following three ways: 1. Migrating to desktop virtualization: Moving apps and content into the secure and reliable datacenter is Step One in gaining control. With all apps and content located in one location, IT teams can focus their policy-setting and control activities in one place instead of across hundreds or many thousands of traditional desktops. 2. Wyse Windows Embedded thin clients from Dell can be configured in multiple ways based on the needs of specific users to give them just what they need to be as productive as possible, and nothing more. 3. Virtualization and management software from Dell allows IT teams to strictly map user capabilities and access rights to applications, with enforcement, to cover the myriad of ways in which people may attempt to gain access to target apps and content. Wyse WCM for auto configuration of mobile clients. Dell Wyse Configuration Manager (WCM): enabling fine-tuned control with high productivity Configuration of Windows Embedded thin clients is often a time consuming, and costly, manual process. Wyse WCM, offered only by Dell, directly addresses this pain point by giving organizations extreme virtual desktop endpoint control by vastly simplifying the process of configuring Windows Embedded thin clients, and replicating like configurations across hundreds or many thousands of other endpoints. Simply select the desired configuration, and WCM does the rest, automatically, with no imaging or re-booting required, across the entire installation. WCM supports SMB to Enterprise environments, stationary or mobile thin clients, in or out of the office, and supports Microsoft Active Directory, when present. Simple and flexible auto-configuration WCM greatly simplifies and automates the configuration and management of Windows Embedded devices. With WCM, deploying a new Windows Embedded thin client is as simple as taking it out of the box, plugging it into the network, turning it on and, within less than 2 minutes the device is specifically configured for either general or user-specific settings. 2

3 Saves IT time and money With WCM, IT administrators can create configuration files using a simple standalone GUI or capture them from an already configured Wyse Windows Embedded device. This configuration can be automatically deployed to Windows Embedded devices when users log in. Typically, IT departments often spend a significant amount of time creating and deploying custom images to provide updated settings such as VDI connections (RDP, Citrix HDX, VMware Horizon View, Wyse vworkspace) and device settings for display, keyboard, localization and networks. With WCM every user can have a different configuration without IT having to re-image each and every endpoint. With WCM, IT departments no longer need to create and deploy a new image each and every time a change is required to the device settings. IT departments can define a single Gold image for the entire organization to dramatically simplify and reduce costs of managing and maintaining Wyse thin clients with Windows Embedded Standard 7 or Windows Embedded 8 Standard images. For even greater endpoint control, WCM supports appliance mode, wherein any Windows Embedded thin client can be configured to function as a locked down single-purpose appliance and nothing else (e.g. as a read-only kiosk). Other important WCM control features include display configuration settings for up to two displays, timeserver settings, Internet Explorer proxy settings, and greater security and credential authentication for WCM operators. WCM Features Granular control for IT department to deploy Universal or user-specific settings Stationary or mobile thin clients Local or remote devices Key features Create configuration from standalone GUI or capture from an already configured device Maintain history of configurations Update existing configuration or revert back to previous configuration Appliance mode allows configuration of one or more Windows Embedded thin clients to function only as one of the following single-purpose appliances. Examples include: - Kiosk - Citrix client - VMware Horizon View client - Microsoft RDS/RDP client Up to 16 settings VDI connections for Citrix HDX, Microsoft RDP or VMware Horizon View Device configuration (incl. display, time zone, network, wireless, etc.) OS configuration (incl. browser, firewall, etc.) 3

4 Sample Wyse WCM Use Cases Corporate Users With WCM, configurations are available on the network and the settings are applied to the device as a user powers it on and logs in. Mobile or Home Workers For users connecting over a VPN, all the settings can be published over the Internet so that devices get configured while the user is working from home or travelling and connecting from an airport or a hotel. Wyse WCM for auto configuration of desktop clients. Small Businesses For small businesses with just a few devices, WCM allows settings to be deployed on each device using a USB key, removing all the complexity of setting up a server. Import from Server/Locally Gain Windows Embedded thin client control with Wyse Configuration Manager 4

5 About Dell Dell Inc. listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more. For more information, visit Dell cloud client-computing One Dell Way Round Rock, TX The Dell logo and references are trademarks of Dell Inc. Other product names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the details, specifications, models, images and benefits featured in this datasheet, we cannot be held responsible for any errors and/or omissions. Refer to our website for regional and international office information. 5 Whitepaper-Dell CCC Control