Leaflet

Already the business results make impressive reading. Moving to virtual desktop-as-a-

service has replaced a burdensome capital expenditure model with one that is funded

from operating expense, highly scalable, and consumption-based.

The cost per seat is between 20 and 25 percent lower than before. Compared to the

previous solution, Cisco thin clients consume 80 percent less electricity and have

twice the expected lifespan (from five to ten years typically). These two factors alone

have cut total cost of ownership by a third. Laptops have reduced in number and can

be pooled, reducing capital expenditure further still. As configured, the platform has

the capacity to extend to 10,000 seats in the future, especially important in view of

the shared services agreement.

It’s also good news for the council’s service provider. Productivity has increased

by 50 percent; previously one engineer could support 250 users; compared to 500

now. Service delivery is also faster and more cost effective.

The most striking example of the potential of Cisco Desktop Virtualization to

transform the council’s business operations is the acceleration of mobility from 50 to

85 percent of the workforce, and still growing fast.

“Training takes just 10 minutes and that’s more about the Microsoft upgrade, rather

than the use of the technology,” says Huws. With no intensive user training required,

take-up was further boosted by offering a version for home workers. Feature-rich

virtual voice services, not possible with the old system, are also now freely accessible.

Meanwhile, the council is looking to tap into trends such as the growth in bring-your-

own-device, allowing employees to access corporate resources securely on personal

devices such as smartphones and tablets.

“The potential in terms of accommodation savings is massive,” says Huws. “We’re

well on track with our building disposal plans. More importantly, people will be able

to work more efficiently, remotely or closer to the customer.”

And the council faces less risk of data loss. Information that resided on PCs and

laptops has now moved to the data center. Other potential uses for Cisco Desktop

Virtualization include a ready-made platform for delivering eLearning and corporate

communications, using a broader range of communications tools than ever before.

Customer Case Study

“Early adopters like the

new service because

booting up, logging in and

launching applications is

much faster. Hearing this

from colleagues rather than

IT makes others ask if they

can have it too. People want

it as quickly as we can get

it out to them.”

Howell Huws

Head of Business Technology

Hammersmith & Fulham council

For More Information

To learn more about the Cisco desktop virtualization and solutions featured in this

case study, please go to: