independenceIT (iIT) has entered into an integration and distribution agreement with GCI, to add its iIT’s Cloud Workspace Suite to the GCI Managed Cloud Solution portfolio for its customers and channel partners.
According to 451 Research’s Market Monitor service, “Virtualization and cloud services have empowered the end user with dynamic and flexible computing alternatives, opening up a new world of possibilities in the ‘user-centric’ evolution of IT. This aligns with research showing that the desktop virtualization ecosystem is forecast to become a $6.9 billion market by 2016.”
The independenceIT Cloud Workspace Suite is a services enablement platform that allows IT departments, ISVs and service providers todeploy desktops, applications and entire corporate IT systems as cloud services, empowering users to work from anywhere, at any time, on any device. The Cloud Workspace Suite includes support for more than 600 business applications and its API permits integration with existing systems management and provisioning tools. It also has security and audit tools to provide compliance readiness.
In support of organizations throughout the UK, iIT’s Cloud Workspace Suite now integrates with the GCI Managed Cloud Solution, a managed computing platform that eliminates the need to maintain expensive servers or manage licensed versions of software. Leveraging Cloud Workspace’s API, GCI is integrating the solutions management and provisioning functions into its service delivery platform to extend desktop and application service provisioning, deployment and support functions.
“This is looking like a good time to enter the Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) market,” said Michael Coté, Research Director, 451 Research. “Demand should see growth from BYOD initiatives as employees look to use their own devices to access corporate applications and data. Virtual desktops have technically been a good answer for the delivery and security functionality needed there, but the reality of doing those installs pre-cloud has limited virtual desktop’s wide acceptance, especially for small and medium sized businesses. The fungibility and affordability of cloud infrastructure is primed to fix that limiting factor, creating an exciting window of opportunity for DaaS.”
“True business agility means user access to applications and data anytime, anywhere, and across any device. iIT’s Cloud Workspace allows for a superior user experience without having to build and manage virtual desktop infrastructure internally,” said Scott Riley, director of hosting and cloud solutions at GCI . “Selected for its rapid deployment capabilities, ease of management, broad application support and simple integration, CWS underpins our offering to the benefit of our channel and customers.”
“Empowering device- and location-agnostic access to the desktop can be a powerful driver of innovation and productivity. Complemented by operational, security and compliance advantages, iIT’s Cloud Workplace Suite provides enterprise-class capabilities for any size organization to deliver on the promise of DaaS,” said Charles Buck, CTO for independenceIT.
