This presentation provides an overview of virtual hosted desktops and their application within the accountancy sector. We look at how the technology has been developed, highlight the benefits, and address common concerns. It is put into context with real life case studies from clients that have implemented hosted desktop solutions and provide a valuable insight into the practicalities of choosing the hosted route. The aim of the seminar is to help you understand what a hosted desktop is, appreciate the benefits and issues associated with this solution, and enable you to evaluate its suitability for your business.

1. How Hosted Desktop is
Revolutionising The Professional
Office
Presented by:
Jonathan Oldknow - Hosted Desktop UK
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2. How Hosted Desktop is revolutionising
the Professional Office
• Overview – What is the Cloud and Hosted
Desktop?
• Benefits – How a Hosted Desktop could
benefit your business
• Risks – Address the common concerns
• How does it work in practice? – Case Study
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3. Working in the Cloud?
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4. What is Cloud Computing?
• ‘Buzzword’ for the Internet
• Name was inspired by the ‘cloud symbol’ that
was often used to represent the Internet in
diagrams and flowcharts
• Cloud symbol used to represent the Internet
as early as 1994
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5. What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing refers to services and
applications that are stored in secure data
centres and accessed over the Internet via any
Internet enabled device.
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6. Cloud Computing Services
Do you use any Cloud Computing Services?
• Hosted: Desktop, Applications and Servers
• Software-as-a-Service
• Data storage / synchronisation
• Online backup
• Websites
• Email
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7. Hosted Desktop – what is it?
• Remote working with access to all your
applications, data & email from any internet
connection
• Looks, feels and behaves the same as a normal
desktop PC
• A complete hosted desktop solution includes:
 Windows Operating System
 Software applications
 Microsoft Office Standard or Professional
 Email system e.g. Microsoft Exchange 7

8. Hosted Desktop Screen Shot
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9. Connecting to a Hosted Desktop
• Access through Remote Desktop Connection (type
‘mstsc’ in the Start menu of a Windows PC)
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10. Connecting to a Hosted Desktop
• Exclusive to HDUK – through a Web Browser
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11. Hosted Desktop running in a Web Browser
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12. Benefits of Hosted Desktop
• Work from anywhere – home, office, clients
• Scalability – easy to add or remove users
• Support – IT support and software updates
• Reliability – SLA with minimum of 99.9%
uptime availability
• Backup and replication
• Cost savings
• Lower carbon footprint & electricity savings
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13. Typical Cost Savings
NO. OF USERS COST SAVINGS £
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 TOTAL
5 users in 1 office 4,937 5,197 5,258 15,391
10 users in 1 office 3,931 4,513 4,694 13,138
20 users in 1 office 1,444 2,607 2,969 7,020
25 users in 2 offices 14,940 16,424 16,907 48,272
35 users in 2 offices 13,349 15,055 15,780 44,184
75 users in 3 offices 8,667 11,378 12,889 32,935
Examples of cost savings with a Hosted Desktop solution versus a traditional on-site
set-up:
Cost savings on average up to 50%, not taking into account staff / partner
time on IT. Expenditure becomes OPEX rather than CAPEX.
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14. Concerns over Hosted Desktop
• Security of Data – physical and virtual security
• Internet Speed and Connection
• Location of data
• Hosted Provider – do your homework
• Changes to the way you work
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15. Hosted Desktop Uptake
Poll of 250 Accountants at IT update webinar by
the ICAEW IT Faculty showed:
• 11% using hosted services
• 27% using a mixture of both
• 50% will consider it next time need to change
their server(s)
• 12% systems not robust enough to host
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16. How does it work in Practice?
Case Study 1
Scenario:
• 30 users over 2 offices
• Separate databases in the two offices
• Some software only available in one office
• Transferred data around on memory sticks
Moved to hosted solution in June 2011 ……
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17. How does it work in Practice?
• Integrated database of software and all data
• Staff can work from home or access system at
clients
• As well as no capital costs on servers, able to
purchase much cheaper PCs – Thin Clients,
which take 5 mins to setup compared to 5
hours previously
• All using latest version of Microsoft Office
• Software updates done by hosted provider
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18. How does it work in Practice?
Case Study 2
Scenario:
• 6 users – 2 offices (1 UK and 1 India)
• A server in each office plus Dropbox
• Problems with reliability and speed
• Owner dealt with all IT matters
Moved to hosted solution in November 2010…
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19. How does it work in Practice?
• Hosted desktop solution is faster
• Cost savings in terms of both IT equipment
and staff time
• Removes the need to use Dropbox to share
data
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20. How does it work in Practice?
• Great for start-up practices – grow with your
business, low start-up costs
• Multiple offices – integrated systems, costs
savings
• Merging firms – easy integration of two or
more practices
• Replace old IT infrastructure – quicker
migration, lower costs
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21. Practicalities of using Hosted
Desktop
• Printing
• Scanning
• Syncing of data / email to various devices
• Software updates
• Anti-virus & SPAM filtering
• Backup to site
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22. Hosted Application
• Host any one application in the Cloud
• Makes any software accessible in a web
browser
• Bookkeeping software such as Sage Line 50 or
Quickbooks becomes available to view and
edit by your client and you
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23. Summary
How is hosted desktop revolutionising the
professional office
• Security
• Cost savings
• Always up to date
• Paperless office (or Less Paper)
• Any business can benefit
• Your Office Anywhere !
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24. Any Questions?
Jonathan Oldknow
Stand 412
020 3239 6181
www.hosteddesktopuk.co.uk
@HostedDesktopUK
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