VDI - virtual computer client

The service includes

• Rent of one or more virtual clients based on a number of predefined standard configurations of CPU and RAM.
• The virtual clients are installed with ITA's standard platform (Karyon) for Windows 10.
• A resource pool in which one or more clients are placed.
• A resource pool can only contain one standard CPU and RAM configuration. If more configurations are needed, other resource pools can be created.
• Two security levels (zones) for resource pools;

Security level: standard access

The clients access the KI services and have access to the internet. You can also access all KI file servers. In essence, a VDI is equivalent to a physical Windows 10 client.

• You have direct access to Office 365.
• Profile management for all software, Windows settings, and Edge - means your settings will follow you if you log out of your VDI and log in later.
• Roaming for Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music and Video - means that the files you save in these folders are synchronised. They will remain if you log in to the VDI through another device.
• You cannot use Teams in the same way - you can access the web application but cannot use audio or video.
• Centrally procured applications for which you have a licence will automatically be available when you log in.
• For freeware applications, you need to submit a ticket to access when needed.

Security level: security locked

A locked-down environment where clients cannot access KI services, file servers or the Internet. You also cannot access the storage of the physical client you connected from. The virtual clients in the security-locked zone can only use a dedicated storage area (W:) exclusively dedicated to these virtual clients.

• Moving data in and out of W: is done via a dedicated MFT solution by predefined, authorised users. Ordering of dedicated storage is done separately.
• Access to the virtual clients is via VMware Horizon or a web interface.
• Local office applications are installed (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Profile management for all software and Windows settings — this means that if you log out of your VDI and log back in later, your settings will follow.
• Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music and Video folders are stored on the security zone's own storage (W:).
• No access to Teams.
• "Copy-paste" only works in VDI.
• The start page in Edge is set to VDI transfer.

Important to know about the service

• The user complies with KI and ITA's policies, rules and guidelines.
• ITA handles the installation of applications.
• Data outside the specified roaming folders (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Music and Video) on the virtual client is not backed up by any separate service.
• Data placed in the dedicated MFT service for resource pools in Restricted is automatically deleted after about seven days.
• The virtual client is configured with failover regardless of security level. Failover is a form of redundancy, which means that if problems occur where the virtual client is running, the client will be started up in a secondary server. Services running on the clients at such a time can be cancelled if that happens.

Support

• Error reports and support cases are reported to the Helpdesk at ITA;
• The service may be affected by ITA's service window.

Environment and safety

The virtual clients are located in our data centres, which means:

• Physical protection, cooling and uninterruptible power with UPS and diesel.
• Energy efficiency, compared to physical servers and clients in other environments such as offices or labs.
• The standard version of the service is located inside the KI firewall. The restricted zone is also located on a separate network (VLAN).
• From an environmental and sustainability perspective, using virtual clients is advantageous, as capacity can be easily scaled up and down as needed. Since you rent the service on a monthly basis, you only need to pay for it when you use it, as opposed to purchasing expensive computing hardware with a long amortisation period.

Orders, pricing and delivery

New VDI pools are ordered through the Wisum portal. The delivery time for the service is approximately five working days.

Pricing for file share (W :) and billing is the same as for other file storage in central systems and is not included in the service's pricing. See more at Servers and storage.