XP is a security disaster. Unpatched and unsafe.
- 90% of the NHS is still using XP according to recent freedom of information requests from Citrix.
- 42 out of 63 trusts responded. 24 trusts expressed a desire to move to VDI. Not sure the rest have a plan.
Organisations with XP need to address security as an immediate concern as XP is full of security holes that can be exploited. Our recommendation is to deploy Palo Alto Network’s TRAPS which not only provides next generation anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-exploit but by its nature acts as a desktop hardening solution that will stop unwanted applications in their tracks. TRAPS supports everything from XP to Windows 10 and server from Windows Server 2003 to 2016.
Thereafter the aim should be to upgrade. For that we believe the best solutions to be either a fat client Windows 10 deployment or Citrix XenDesktop.
There are pros and cons to both. Citrix provides an elegant server centric access method that lends itself to any device / any location access but organisations need to be aware that there may be investment in thin clients or re-provisioning PC’s as a secure conduit from which to launch Citrix.
Citrix is one way of moving away from the never-ending cycle of desktop upgrades. It can also help move the endpoint to a more op-ex based investment as opposed to the large capital expenditure required to buy new PC’s every few years. It centralises administration more and it streamlines support services; reducing the need for desktop visit.
The other option is a straight forward Windows 10 deployment. Consilium has a huge wealth of experience doing enterprise desktop deployments with technologies such as MDT and SCCM.
Contact us to ask about how we can reduce your security concerns and migrate your environment before an issue occurs.
Consilium is a certified partner of Microsoft, Citrix and Palo Alto Networks
