Thin Client Workstations: The Technological Future is Here
Fri, Sep 7, 2007 4:00 PM EST

Fat versus thin might not sound like a politically correct way to describe your workplace, but it is appropriate when it comes to workstation technology. At Workshift Systems Corporation, when we conduct our quarterly business reviews with our clients who've chosen our Elite Managed Services Platform, this weighty IT topic is common. We are frequently asked to help companies assess whether it makes sense for them to continue to purchase "fat" PC's for their workstations, or update their offices with modern, cost-effective "thin" connected-office client workstations.

While there are numerous factors to consider, a key part of the decision making process has to do with the type of workflow in which your employees are engaged. Fat workstations, meaning traditional PCs loaded with specialized applications, are appropriate if you are a company involved in engineering (AutoCAD, for example), software development, heavy duty graphic design or other production work. However, if you are a company that primarily uses standard office applications such as email, word processing and spreadsheets, thin client workstations are often the better choice.

Thin client systems, also commonly used to interconnect branch offices, employ the latest technology which replaces an organization's existing desktop computers with terminal client access stations, sometimes called dummy terminals. These terminal client stations provide all the power of a desktop solution, at a fraction of the price, and offer remote users the same access as those in the central office.

It isn't hard to project the savings in time and workload when you envision an office with only one server supporting numerous terminal client workstations. Rather than having to purchase and support fully loaded desktop or laptop machine for each employee, binding them to their desk, a terminal services scenario can support from one to hundreds of workers, be they 10 feet or 10,000 miles away from the server.

A tremendous additional benefit comes from dramatically reduced maintenance requirements. Instead of upgrading and patching critical applications, data and security software on each user's machine, only the server ever needs maintenance. Because Individual user stations are only used to access applications, not to store information, they are never out of date and cannot become infected by viruses.

Thin client solutions represent a major improvement in how your firm's employees can access and utilize corporate information resources, whether they are at their desk, at home, or on the road. Not only are there financial gains from the increased productivity and worker effectiveness, the savings in systems maintenance, as described above, often defray initial deployment costs in a very short period of time. Ultimately, the advantages of a thin client solution include faster, secure and more reliable connectivity, significantly reduced maintenance headaches and reduced software licensing costs.

One might expect that the annual cost of providing such reliable, leading-edge IT service would be daunting but, in fact, most thin client solutions Workshift Systems Corporation has implemented have actually saved the organization tens of thousands of dollars annually. These savings are a reflection of the amount that many companies waste each year on piecemeal upgrades and maintenance costs, not to mention the lost worktime associated with ineffective tools. Typically, even with the cost of converting or replacing existing equipment, a connected office solution can result in a savings of as much as 35 to 50 percent of existing annual costs.

With PCs costing about $95 per month, not including initial purchase price, thin clients are certainly less expensive. Their cost of ownership is only about $20 to $30 per month and other savings are achieved in that a thin client workstation can be maintained and upgraded much more efficiently; it takes significantly less time to set up a station for a new employee. In addition, an organization can purchase fewer software licenses, which represents a substantial savings. Add to this the convenience and reliability factors to this along with increased productivity, and an organization is looking at a substantial net gain.

So how does a thin client solution increase employee productivity? Files can be accessed while in the office, at client sites, on the road or at home. With a uniform configuration for all staff, maintenance is easy and upgrades are very fast. Many companies face a common technology obstacle: a lack of data mobility between offices. This means that sales or customer service staff, who often spend the majority of their days out in the field, are restricted to accessing information they need from their primary office location only, rather than having the freedom to connect in the most convenient and proximate location to their clients. A terminal services or thin client setup makes the connected office an all-encompassing solution that addresses the former technology hurdles of reliability, speed and performance.

Any business, small or large, dependent on reliable computers, including those requiring remote access, can benefit from the connected office solution. Not only are there payoffs in terms of productivity and convenience, but it also ensures your firm's infrastructure investment is being maximized, since it is accessible 24/7 for each user, regardless of where they are in the world.

Workers have access to the full functionality of their desktop from anywhere in the world that they can access the Internet, be it in a hotel, at an Internet café, or at home, without needing to carry their own laptop, which is an added bonus in terms of convenience and security. Laptops, and the information on their drives, can be stolen or damaged, making that data quite vulnerable, whereas the terminal server solution offers the same level of protection for remote users as it does for those accessing the system from right in the office.

In a perfect world, information technology would be simple to use, easy to maintain and cost-effective. Unfortunately, for most businesses, this has long been a fantasy, but one that can now become a reality with a little ingenious help. Workshift Systems Corporation has developed a strategy to tackle the challenges of system availability as well as timely and hassle-free upgrades, thereby allowing companies to focus on doing business, not on operating and maintaining their computer systems.

Workshift Systems Corporation has been providing leading edge information technology (IT) solutions for over ten years. Having developed successful strategies for streamlining and outsourcing IT, Workshift Systems Corporation can demonstrate to companies of any size the benefits of implementing a thin client solution. This is the future and it is here.

John Galligan is the General Manager of Workshift Systems Corporation; he is a senior operations manager with thirteen years experience in the not-for-profit sector and eight years in the for-profit sector. Prior to joining the Workshift Systems Corporation team in 1998 he was operations manager for the Liberal Party of Canada. His managerial strengths include human resources, finance, customer service and supply chain management.

John is an active community volunteer with over 20 years of involvement with organizations like Ontario Special Olympics, Victorian Order of Nurses (Ottawa-Carleton), Red Cross/Canadian Blood Services and the Distress Centre of Ottawa & Region. His unwavering commitment to meeting the customers' needs at 110% combined with respect for his customers' interests have allowed him to develop an excellent rapport with all of Workshift Systems Corporation's key clients

Workshift Systems Corporation, is a private company that provides end-to-end business computer and network consulting services. Workshift Systems Corporation is a leading integrator of business information technology with solutions that will increase competitiveness and reduce costs for small and medium-sized businesses in National Capital Region. Workshift Systems Corporation's partners include industry's leading suppliers and manufacturers of quality hardware, software and peripherals. These partnerships enable us to offer a one-stop-shop for Information Technology equipment and service.

To contact John call 613-230-3923 or e-mail jgalligan@Workshift Systems Corporation