With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, it is hard for small and medium businesses to keep up with the new software and computers. One tech trend that has enabled users to get more out of their existing hardware is virtualization. A cool thing about virtualization is that it enables users to access their desktops from nearly anywhere, including their mobile devices. VMware has recently introduced a new feature that makes mobile access of a Windows desktop even better.

In mid-March, VMware announced Unity Touch, an app that allows users to view, open, run and manage Windows files and applications on their Android and iOS devices.

What exactly is Unity Touch
This app takes your existing Windows desktop and makes it more manageable and easier to use on mobile devices. This feature is part of the Horizon View offering from VMware which allows administrators to virtualize the desktop environment, and users to access their desktop from anywhere.

Unity Touch takes Horizon View desktops and makes them easier to use on a touchscreen device. When it’s introduced, you will be able to log in to your desktop and access your files and applications.

How does Unity Touch improve desktop access on mobile devices?
One of the most important parts of the Windows environment is the Start menu. It’s what the majority of users use to access their files and run applications. On mobile devices that connect to a virtual desktop, space is limited, so having a full start menu just doesn’t cut it. This app essentially makes the Start menu an ‘app drawer’ on the left-hand side of your screen – think of any screen where you can select apps on your mobile device.

There’s a little tab, located in the middle part of the left-hand side of the screen that you can press to bring up a list of files and apps that you can scroll through. This list also functions as a kind of launch center where you can switch between open programs, close them or even manage files.

Will my business find it useful?
If you travel lots, or have to be away from your computer and don’t want to carry a laptop with you, this could be a solution for you. You do need to have a VMware Horizon View Desktop version 5.2, the Horizon View Client 2.0 installed on your mobile device, as well as an Android, iPad or iPhone.

If you are interested in accessing your desktop from a mobile device, contact us today. We can work with you to develop a solution.

The modern business is no longer stuck in a small operating area, many now cover large territories. Because of this, many managers and employees are spending more time on the road, out of the office. When they’re away they still need access to their desktops in the office. VMware offers virtual solutions that allow employees to access their computers. One such solution is View, which has recently been updated.

For those who are unfamiliar with VMware, they’re a leading virtualization company, whose solutions allow companies to virtualize any aspect of their business. One of their most popular products is View.

What is View? VMware View, geared towards businesses, allows desktops to be virtualized. It essentially moves a user's desktop software, OS and essential programs, onto servers - in the cloud. Users use their physical system - mouse, keyboard, monitor and computer - to access their desktop via an Internet connection. If you’ve heard the term remote desktop, View is akin to that.

Updates to View View was recently updated to version 5.1 and with the update, three new features were introduced that could be useful to small businesses.

• Through a tool called Persona Management, users are now able to migrate their profile settings - desktop and application settings, user specific data and setups - from their physical desktop to their virtual desktop. If a user does not do a full virtual migration and keeps a physical copy of their desktop, any changes in settings will be synced automatically.
• There’s expanded coverage for USB peripherals like mice, printers and external hard drives. Before this update, if a user wanted to use a USB peripheral they had to have device drivers - software that allows the device to work with the OS - installed on their system. With the update, users don’t need to have the drivers installed, and should be able to use most USB devices. The drivers are installed on the administrator’s system instead.
• Administrators can now monitor and analyze individual desktop performance through the use of dashboards. These dashboards will allow them to identify and resolve potential issues. This service is called vCenter Operations Manager for View, and is available as an add-on.

When it comes to running a successful business, the last thing an owner or manager wants to think about is a disaster that could cause their business to go bankrupt. While there are many things you can do to minimize the potential fallout from any disaster, the most important is implementing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that covers more than just data backup. If you are struggling to figure out what to do, this article may help.

Here are five tips to help ensure that your business is fully ready for the next disaster.

1. Backup everything While it can be tempting to only backup the most important data and programs, it can be a chore to identify what is deemed to be important. Who knows, a file that is non-essential today may become essential in the future. If it is lost due to a disaster, this could prove to be a problem.

It would be a good idea to look for a backup solution that covers all data and programs. But, having a full backup solution isn't enough, you also need to ensure that recovery is easy and can be implemented quickly.

2. Look into tiered recovery Establishing a tiered recovery method means identifying the value and importance of existing systems and utilizing a recovery method that meets needs. It would be a good idea to identify mission critical systems and adopt a recovery method that can have these systems up and running as quickly as possible. From there you can tier different systems and match a recovery method. For example, archived files are likely not needed right away, so they can be recovered at a later date, using a slower recovery method.

3. Keep copies of all keys and licenses With the amount of software and programs businesses use on a daily basis growing, it would be a good idea to keep copies of the activation keys (the string of digits and letters you enter to activate the full version of software) and purchased licenses.

While many of these are now distributed electronically through email, there are still software developers that distribute keys by mail or with the physical install CDs. If you lose the codes in a fire, you will be out of luck and have to purchase the software again. This is an extra charge you likely don't want.

4. Pick the right recovery locations The best recovery plans offer numerous backup solutions which are hosted in different locations. A good provider knows this and will utilize data storage centers as far apart as possible. If you choose to backup your own data, it would not be a good idea to keep the backups in the office.

Similarly, if you are preparing for a big disaster, you likely have physical locations that you can move to if your main business location is damaged or destroyed. Optimal plans will have more than one location identified, and have them as far apart as possible. This will minimize the chances of losing full operations and increase your business's ability to bounce back quicker.

5. Match your recovery plan to your business There are so many different backup and recovery options that it can be tough to pick one. The best course of action is to look at your systems and how they work. If you operate strictly offline, a cloud based backup solution likely isn't your best bet. Or, if you operate fully in the cloud, a physical tape or hard disk backup may not be optimal.

If you are looking to beef up, or establish a disaster recovery plan, try working with an IT partner like us, who can help you find the optimal solution that can meet your needs and budget.