Q&A with Lisa Hammond of Centrix Software
VSM: Tell us a bit about Centrix Software and your product Centrix WorkSpace?
LH: Centrix Software helps organizations prepare for and manage desktop transformation by providing an unprecedented level of visibility on how users are consuming technology. With deeper insight into the unique dynamics of their end-user computing environments, businesses can make faster, more informed decisions about new technology investments such as desktop virtualization and achieve considerable financial savings. We also help companies that use multiple application platforms unify how services are delivered to users, helping them manage the diversity of services and devices that exists in today’s corporate environment.
Our background is in business consulting and virtualization. We developed Centrix WorkSpace after seeing first hand the challenges large organisations face when modernizing their IT infrastructure and in keeping pace with innovation. Centrix WorkSpace includes three solutions - WorkSpace iQ, an analytics and reporting solution that monitors and meters the technology services and assets installed and consumed across end-user computing environments; WorkSpace Universal, a unified end-user computing platform that aggregates and manages the delivery of services provisioned from legacy, virtualised and cloud-based platforms, allowing organisations to maintain control and service flexibility. We also offer a free tool WorkSpace Discovery that identifies installed assets.
VSM: End-user computing is undergoing rapid change. What should companies consider as they plan their desktop strategies for the next few years?
LH: There is now so much choice available to companies in how to deliver and provide access to applications that it is both an exciting and nail-biting time for desktop infrastructure teams. With competitive pressures and unprecedented economic situations, any change in strategy around desktop services has to be able to deliver business value fast - companies can’t afford to make the wrong technology choices – but it also has to support an end-user computing environment that is only going to increase in diversity. The traditional buy-and-install world of the corporate desktop is shifting to a more consumer style model with multiple application and content delivery options available.
The good news is there has never been a better time to rethink desktop strategy. The need to migrate from Windows XP is giving many organizations the opportunity to review their desktop environments and think about how they can use desktop and application virtualization in order to support more agile service delivery. If you’re at this point, it’s really important to step back and assess a few things before you make any decisions. Taking this approach means that you can be sure that the choices you make are the right ones and provide lasting value.
In any desktop transformation, you want to ensure your users, their applications and their devices are all compatible for the new environment. By identifying the applications that are not used, utilizing WorkSpace iQ, we help to accelerate the transformation by increasing the pool of users that are suitable for transformation and significantly reducing the application compatibility issues.
