VESK Virtual Desktop Myths

There are many myths envolved with cloud computing/virtual desktops. Here we are going to discuss some of these.

1. Remote computing is cloud computing
Cloud computing services provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers. So Remote Desktop, LogMeIn and GoToMyPC are not cloud computing, but a way to access your physical machine from the internet.

2. Virtual Desktops Managers
These are not Virtual Desktops, but instead are a way of having multiple desktops on one PC. This was first implemented by Linux systems many years ago, and developers over the years having been creating versions for other operating systems and calling the Virtual Desktop Managers, instead of the more descriptive and correct name of Multiple Desktop Managers.

3. The internet is the cloud
This is also not true, the term cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. This is because the icon in diagrams used to depict the internet in computer networks is a cloud. Just because a service is brought to a user over the internet doesn't mean it is a cloud application.

4. Changing cloud suppliers is easy
Due to almost every supplier implementing systems in a different way with different software and hardware, what one supplier offers another may not actually be able to supply in the same manor.

5. Privacy Concerns
Most people assume that cloud computing isn't as secure as having the data stored on their local harddrive. Make sure the supplier you go for uses encryption with 128 bit SSL certificates, it is as secure as submitting your bank details via any reputable online shop. Due to the technology being fairly new, it's a target for privacy advocates. This means any cloud service that is not properly secured maybe subseptable to attacks.

6. Cloud computing is just virtual computing by another name.
The people that think this obviously don't know what cloud computing actually is. Clouds aren't just fancy virtual computing environments. A cloud system make use of virtual computing along with many other technologies to accomplish things that otherwise wouldn't be possible.