Desktop in the Clouds Using Virtualization to Extend Client Outreach and Protect Data.

Desktop in the Clouds

Using Virtualization to

Extend Client Outreach and

Protect Data

Maryland Legal Aid

• Only LSC funded organization in Maryland• Statewide program serving Baltimore City and all 23 counties

• 150 Attorneys• 65 Paralegals• 40 Support Staff• 45 Other• 300 total users • 150 in Baltimore City and 150 in county offices

Maryland Legal Aid

• 100% Virtualized Datacenters in Two Locations

• Developing a Private/Hybrid Cloud

• Completed First Phase of Virtual Desktops

• Using Virtualized Applications

Session Overview

• Desktops Discussion

• What is a Virtual Desktops Infrastructure (VDI)

• Role of Virtualization

• Components of VDI

• Using VDI

Review of the DesktopMainframe – Mini Systems - terminal end points

PC RevolutionPersonal ComputingPersonal Power

Desktop IssuesWindows SecurityApplication UpdatesHardware FailuresProtecting the data

The Challenges

Provide all client information to our employeesProvide up to date information to our clientsPerform intake from anywhere

Reduce time maintaining desktopsProvide quick application updatesFlexibility to react quicklyRemote Access – Offices – Court HouseWork from home solutionsNon-Window users (MAC – Linux- iPad)High staff turnoverProtect client data

And…

Keep our information safe from:DisastersCyber attacksLoss of equipment

What if Disaster Strikes?

What are Cyber Attacks?

A cyber attack is an assault against a computer system or network.

USA Today

$163,167,539.95

Possible Solution

Virtual Desktops

What is a Virtual Desktop

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is the practice of hosting a desktop operating system within a virtual machine (VM) running on a centralized server.

-TechTarget-

What is -

•Virtualization

•Virtual Machine

E-Mail

Client Database

Client Applications

Anti-Virus Server

Active Directory

ETC...

Physical Data Center

Virtualization

10%

10%

10%

10%

10%

40%10%

• Active Directory• E-Mail• Client Management DB• Client Management App• Finance• Donor Tracking• Anti-Virus Server• Intranet• Bankruptcy• Network Printer• Public Files• User files

Before Virtualization

• Active Directory• E-Mail• Client Management DB• Client Management App• Finance• Donor Tracking• Anti-Virus Server• Intranet• Bankruptcy• Network Printer• Public Files• User files

Virtualization

• Active Directory• E-Mail• Client Management DB• Client Management App• Finance• Donor Tracking• Anti-Virus Server• Intranet• Bankruptcy• Network Printer• Public Files• User files• Help Desk• Blackberry Server• Printer Monitoring• Network Monitoring• OCR server• Client Management Test DB• Client Management Test App• Router Recovery Server• New Intranet• New Bankruptcy• Sharepoint & over 20 more

Virtualization

After Virtualization

Main Datacenter Secondary DatacenterPrivate Cloud

Previous Datacenter Virtualization Experience

• 25 Employees • 6 Servers• $3000 Budget

• Free version for 100% virtualization

• Virtualized servers provided all reporting for state agencies

• Created Virtual Desktop solution

• Approach and Procedures will scale to any size environment

VDI - Virtualization

Virtualization and Desktops

Difference Between Virtual Servers And Virtual Desktops

Servers – DatacenterDesktops – Personal

Multiple applications on each desktop

Connection

Components of VDI

Desktop Pools

End Points

What makes up the Desktop

OS & Installed Apps

Persona (User stuff)

Data files (Docs)

Building the Virtual Desktop

OS & Installed Apps

Persona (User stuff)

Data files (Docs)

End Points

• Thin Clients

• Re-purposed PC

• Note/Netbooks

• Smart Phones

• Tablets

The Connection Piece

• Broker (Vendor supplied)

• Non-broker (RDP – VNC – Others)

Free Hypervisor

RDP or VNC

Low Cost Solution

How Maryland Legal Aid is using VDIUser Desktops

IT Desktops

Access from Courthouse Owned Workstation

Access from Courthouse with Netbooks and Broadband cards

BYOC

Access from Home

Results

Secure Data

Master Image

Virtual Desktops

Reduced Maintenance

OS & Installed Apps

Persona (User stuff)

Data files (Docs)

Dealing with Virus – Spyware

Access from AnywhereFollow me desktop

Main Datacenter Secondary DatacenterPrivate Cloud

Disaster Recovery

Application Access for County Offices

Application Virtualization

VNC Server• Virtualized and push it to workstations• Start to finish - less than 3 hours

•Reduced travel to county offices by 90%

How we are Building the Virtual Desktop

OS & Installed Apps

Persona (User stuff)

Data files (Docs)

Virtualized Apps

OS

My Contact InformationChuck Mills

[email protected]

Questions?

Thank you to everyone who attended this session!