The advancement of computers, mobile devices and technology have meant great things for education. Today’s college students have more resources at their fingertips than ever before. One downside to this ever-evolving technology environment, though, is that college and university IT departments are under constant pressure to ensure student and faculty have access to important IT resources without having the IT budget rage out of control. Cloudpaging may be the solution.
What is Cloudpaging?
Cloudpaging is a fast, efficient method for delivering Windows applications. Applications are “cloudified” (or packaged) and delivered from a secure repository in a private or public cloud. This essentially builds a compartmentalized application that is independent of a specific Windows version or installation type. Typically, less than 10 percent of an application is sent from the cloud to launch the application without any timely install process needed. As the user continues to use the application, additional instructions are delivered on demand, one codepage at a time (hence the name Cloudpaging). Cloudpaging runs applications natively on a notebook or desktop client device or on a VDI virtual machine. The local cache is persistent and stores all the features of the application the user needs over time – limiting what is pulled from the secure repository. Applications run at native speeds without installation, and usage can be monitored in real time to help manage ISV licensing.
Why Use Cloudpaging Technology?
Cloudpaging is compatible with nearly all Windows applications, providing higher compatibility than legacy solutions like Microsoft App-V. It enables self-service access to needed applications for students and faculty, providing an “app store” like delivery of requested applications.
In addition, Cloudpaging helps IT departments save time by simplifying the process of distributing applications and eliminating the need for users to surrender devices to IT in order to have applications uploaded, which would be a nightmare of logistics and manpower for any college technology department.
Cloudpaging also enables IT departments to ensure that all users have the most up-to-date version of any application, again without having to force users to surrender devices for upgrades.
How Can Colleges and Universities Benefit from Cloudpaging?
Cloudpaging is ideal for a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) environment, such as is found at most colleges and universities.
Students and faculty arrive on campus with their own device but need to access applications that are required for their studies/teaching. Cloudpaging simplifies application delivery when such a large number of users need access. In addition, Cloudpaging makes it easy for IT departments to track application usage in real time and manage software licenses.
By streamlining app delivery in a BYOD environment, Cloudpaging can help reduce or eliminate the need for onsite computer labs, which require tremendous resources for equipment, upkeep, and space. Cloudpaging can also simplify the management of computer labs by delivering the latest applications to those devices without having to put them out of service to facilitate updates. Using Cloudpaging along with the higher education focused Software2 Hub streamlines application delivery to labs or student devices. Tremendous savings in resources and costs can be had with deploying Cloudpaging at a college or university, such as it did for Kingston University London which reduced the need for specialist computing labs with the help of Cloudpaging.
Cloudpaging also helps ensure that all users have the most up-to-date versions of applications, without the need for downtime to manage tedious updates. This not only saves IT resources but also saves the user from experiencing downtime, which is burdensome in a fast-paced academic environment. University of Michigan’s College of Engineering used Cloudpaging to simplify application rollouts and saw major IT cost savings, as well as an increase in the number of applications they were able to provide.
Today’s academic institutions must carefully manage their IT resources, while still providing the necessary tools to staff and student. Cloudpaging is helping institutions around the world support millions of users by providing fast, efficient access to needed applications.
Nick Pandher is the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Desktop Solutions at Numecent.
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