Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) became a viable enterprise product about twenty years ago, and it has been a game changer for end-user computing (EUC) ever since as it provided enterprise users with a more secure, reliable, and cost-effective way to access their applications than the physical desktops they replaced. But just as we saw VDI replace physical desktops, another technology is replacing VDI as it provides an even more secure, reliable, and cost-effective way for users to access their applications: enterprise web browsers.
End-user computing (EUC) has always been about delivering applications to users. The desktop OS, regardless of whether it was running on a physical or virtual machine, has always been just a means, and often a hindrance, to this end. Since the desktop OS was invented, we in IT have been dreaming of ways to eliminate it. Many forward-thinking companies are making this IT dream a reality by combining enterprise web browsers with two proven technologies: software as a service (SaaS), which doesn’t depend on local computing resources, and thin clients, which are inherently more efficient and secure than physical desktop PCs.
The Rise of SaaS
Over two decades ago, in 1999, Salesforce revolutionized how end users access their applications by allowing end users to access them over the internet rather than installing them on a local computer. Thus, Salesforce was a hit with its users and became the first SaaS application to gain widespread acceptance. This was groundbreaking and started a shift in how enterprise users consumed applications.
A dozen years later, in 2011, Microsoft launched a cloud-based subscription service for its widely adopted suite of office applications. After some initial resistance, Office 365 has proven wildly popular for business and home users and is now the most popular SaaS application in use.
This ushered in a flurry of other SaaS applications, and since then, we have seen a massive uptake in SaaS applications. Everything from simple notetaking applications like Evernote to complex computer-aided design (CAD) applications like Catia and graphic software like Adobe Creative Cloud have become SaaS applications and no longer run on local systems.
SaaS applications have resolved many of the issues associated with traditional desktop-based software. For instance, users can now access applications and their data from wherever they are located on their chosen device. Updates and patches have always been a headache for the IT staff. With SaaS applications, these have all but been eliminated, and by doing this, it ensures that users always have access to the latest features and that the software has the most recent security and bug patches. Upper-level management and corporate number crunchers love SaaS as they have an operational expense (OpEx) model that allows businesses to pay only for the software they use and manage software expenses more efficiently.
SaaS applications are not entirely trouble-free, but, interestingly enough, most of the issues we see are not with the applications themselves but because they are accessed using insecure commercial web browsers from Windows machines.
The Problem with Commercial Web Browsers in the Enterprise
Consumer web browsers such as Chrome, Edge, and Safari were designed to be user-friendly, not to address the needs of businesses. Enterprise browsers, on the other hand, were invented to address the needs of businesses while maintaining the ease of use of consumer browsers. They do this by building on the usability of consumer browsers but adding centralized management, compliance, and the security that enterprises demand. As shown below, most people will not even realize they are on a purpose-built enterprise browser running on a thin client using Stratodesk’s highly secure and award-winning No Touch OS.
Centralized web management is a crucial advantage of enterprise browsers, as it allows IT teams to control browser settings, enforce security policies, and manage browser extensions from a central dashboard. This reduces the complexity of managing browser security across a large organization and ensures employees adhere to corporate guidelines. More advanced enterprise browsers allow IT administrators to push updates, disable risky extensions, and configure the browser settings for compliance at scale without managing individual devices. This centralization helps organizations respond quickly to security threats and streamline compliance with regulatory standards.
Organizations’ compliance needs vary significantly from one business to another and even within their own organizations. Enterprise browsers are equipped with tools to help organizations meet data privacy and regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, and industry and organizational-specific standards. Enterprise web browsers allow IT teams to monitor and control web activity, help safeguard sensitive information and ensure that web interactions adhere to legal and organizational compliance frameworks. Features like data loss prevention (DLP), auditing capabilities, and access control are built into enterprise web browsers to ensure that data is not improperly accessed, shared, or leaked during browser use.
Unlike consumer-grade browsers, enterprise browsers are built with advanced security features such as Zero Trust policies, which assume no user or device is automatically trusted and enforce strict access control measures. These browsers may even come with integrated threat detection that protects against malware, phishing, and other web-based threats in real time.
Compliance and security measures frequently force end users to adopt cumbersome and unnatural workflows, not so with enterprise browsers. Enterprise browsers are based on existing web browser technology. Employees access the same corporate apps, SaaS platforms, and critical systems directly through the browser in a secure, controlled environment. This reduces the need for additional software installations and makes it easier for employees to work across multiple devices, whether in the office or remotely. Built-in productivity features like tab management, session isolation, and secure bookmarking enhance workflows without compromising security.
The Problem with Windows Desktop OS
A massive benefit of enterprise browsers is that a user’s Windows desktop OS can be made more secure, changed to a more cost-efficient one, or even eliminated!
Windows, regardless of whether it runs on a physical or virtual machine, is a significant cost for most organizations, not only from a licensing perspective but also from a support and security standpoint.
Windows systems suffer from software and driver compatibility issues that can lead to system crashes or errors, especially after updates. Another frustration is Windows’ frequent updates, which can result in disruptive restarts and application incompatibility. Given Windows’s popularity, security vulnerabilities also make it a target for malware. You can make it more secure by locking a Windows desktop down, running security programs, and carefully monitoring it. However, system crashes, such as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), can occur due to hardware or driver failures, and locking it down does nothing to address the cost associated with licensing it and ensuring that you comply with the Microsoft and application licensing agreement.
How Stratodesk Makes a Good Idea Even Better
Stratodesk has partnered with leading enterprise browser companies like Island.io, Surf, Acium, and Citrix to eliminate the cost and headaches associated with the desktop OS by allowing the browser to run natively on Stratodesk NoTouch OS with the needed complexity and cost of running VDI and virtual desktops.
Stratodesk NoTouch OS is an exceptionally lightweight, cost-effective, high-performance, and secure thin client operating system that allows seamless access to remote applications and desktops via enterprise browsers without needing a desktop OS.
As NoTouch OS directly runs the browser, the need for an intermediate virtual or physical desktop OS is eliminated. This is a huge cost saving, as Microsoft licensing and the support costs associated with Windows are eliminated. In the unlikely event that a thin client encounters hardware issues, replacement is hassle-free as no persistent information is stored on the device itself. The end-user connects their existing monitor and peripherals to a new thin client, logs in to their enterprise browser, and continues their work seamlessly with minimal interruption.
NoTouch uses far fewer resources than a Windows PC, and organizations are delighted to discover that thin clients cost only a fraction of Windows PCs. Many other companies find that their existing PCs can’t be upgraded to Windows 11 due to hardware limitations, but they are more than capable of running NoTouch OS. By converting these systems to NoTouch, they found they could save costs and prevent many old or “obsolete” PCs from ending up in landfills.
The Present is Where You Create Your Future
Enterprise browsers are designed to address the unique security, management, and compliance challenges organizations face. They help streamline IT operations, enhance productivity by integrating with enterprise applications, and reduce the risk of data breaches and non-compliance, making them an essential tool for businesses operating in today’s digital environment.
Stratodesk NoTouch OS, SaaS applications, and enterprise browsers combine to create an unbeatable combination that reduces costs and IT support calls and modernizes application delivery to your end users.
No company can completely replace physical or virtual desktops with enterprise browsers, but they should integrate them into their user base for their security and management benefits.
Whether you want to reduce desktop costs or modernize your application delivery mechanism, combining enterprise browsers with Stratodesk allows you to create a more efficient, secure, and robust workplace for your employees.
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