Mahindra Satyam, a leading global consulting and IT services provider, has launched Workspace-as-a-Service (WaaS), which leverages technology from Citrix Systems, Microsoft and Liquidware Labs.

WaaS is a host-managed new world workspace solution that offers a unique opportunity for customers to experience virtual desktop computing. It allows the flexibility of dedicated, pooled or shared virtual desktops or applications that can be accessed any time, from anywhere, using any device, a statement from the company said.

It provides innovative user profiling and assessment methodology for analysing the various roles within an organisation and its suitability to adopt workspace virtualisation.

This methodology provides an end-to-end solution to a customer, starting with user segmentation, defining various workspace usage roles, identification of best-fit users, creation of high level design and definition of a business case. It is based on industry-proven framework, data from Liquidware Lab’s tools and Mahindra Satyam workspace transformation toolkit, the statement said.

WaaS provides services such as on-demand application delivery, automated workflow-based provisioning, usage-based metering and charge back, and the freedom to choose your own workspace from a service catalog. The entire service enables freedom from desktop management overhead while ensuring the boundaries of data security, it said.

The WaaS solution is made possible by industry leading technologies such as Citrix XenDesktop, Windows Server Hyper-V, application-level virtualisation enabled by Microsoft Application Virtualisation (App-V), and management provided by Microsoft System Center.

The service can be provided as a hosted on-premise solution within the customer datacenter or on a dedicated infrastructure at a Mahindra Satyam-hosted data center. The company also offers a flexible financial model, including per desktop, usage-based pricing to alleviate the financial burden on the customer, the statement said.

Mahindra Satyam has a core team of solution architects who are well experienced in taking the customer from proof-of-concept (POC) to production, followed by a managed-services journey. It has developed a delivery methodology to make the transition from traditional desktop environments easier by using pre-defined success criteria, tools, processes and engagement models.

To further facilitate the process, it has developed the concept of ‘Demo-in-a-Box’ to enable customers to experience workspace virtualization, it said.

Sudhir Nair, Senior Vice President for Infrastructure Management Services, Mahindra Satyam, said, “Mahindra Satyam’s WaaS solution lays the foundation for an IT platform cloud using Microsoft virtualisation, orchestration and automation capabilities that can be leveraged for future multi-model cloud solutions to be deployed by enterprises.”

David Jones, Vice President, Citrix Systems, said, “Mahindra Satyam WaaS is based on XenDestop, leading desktop virtualisation technology. Combined with an experienced delivery methodology including user assessment and user experience management tools, this solution meets enterprise needs for next-generation, cost-effective desktop virtualisation.”

Sonja Pelichet, General Manager EMEA, ANZ at Liquidware Labs said, “With the number of organisations migrating to a Windows 7 environment continuing to rise, it is essential for customers to establish that their desktop estate is fit for purpose. Liquidware Labs’ software works perfectly as part of Mahindra Satyam’s comprehensive methodology, allowing customers to cost-effectively plan, migrate, and manage their next-generation desktop infrastructure.” – TradeArabia News Service