Microsoft’s (News - Alert) recent announcement to discontinue its Windows XP support will force 25 percent of the world's corporations and call centers still on XP to migrate to a new OS. However, cloud-based technologies can be used as alternative options by CIOs to optimize their end-user computing environment. They now can leverage cloud-based applications as well as communications and infrastructure services (e.g. Videoconferencing, storage). Additionally, by using desktop virtualization (VDI), tablets and browser based OS (such as Chrome OS) and the BYOD phenomenon CIOs can substantially reduce HW costs.
After announcement of its Softwatch Assessment Service, that will allow enterprises to migrate from MS Office to Google (News - Alert) Apps based on MS Office real usage analysis, SoftWatch today announces a new service as part of its OptimizeIT Premium Suite to support CIOs in their decision making process.
The new SaaS (News - Alert)-based service identifies and segments users to give more comprehensive usage information to decision makers. Users who carry out highly specialized tasks (such as CAD/CAM, retouch imaging, heavy statistical analysis, etc.) are classified as ‘Power Users.’ Other segments include, home grown and/or customized enterprise applications (ERP, CRM etc.) users and those who use standard office applications (such as MS Office). Further, based on the extent of application usage, users are also classified as Heavy and Light users within each group.
By using the SoftWatch solution, IT decision makers will have ability to reduce operational costs by building an end-user computing environment that fits the user profile as well as utilizes various combinations of hardware and software. The OptimizeIT analysis will provide be flexible and cost-effective hybrid cloud architecture to suite needs of different users at optimal cost. Power users may continue to use advanced applications using powerful workstations while others may use relatively low-cost tablets and cloud-based applications.
"We continue to extend our services to enable IT decision makers to make informed decisions and optimize their end-user computing environment based on application usage analysis," said Uri Arad, co-CEO of SoftWatch, in a statement. "We strongly believe that the default decision to migrate to the next Microsoft OS and the "one size fits all" approach are no longer serving the interests of enterprises. The availability of application usage information allows enterprises to obtain a thorough analysis of their readiness to embrace cloud based services, manage the transition and enjoy tremendous economic and technological benefits."
SoftWatch is also talking with large IT system integrators who can use its services to offer their customers a range of optimization and migration initiatives.
Edited by Alisen Downey