One of the most important aspects that any VDI or DaaS solution needs to address is how to allow users to securely access their virtual desktops and apps when using an external network. This is especially important when addressing work-from-home use cases.

Secure external access is typically achieved through a client VPN, site-to-site VPN, or a reverse proxy solution. The new Frame Streaming Gateway Appliance (SGA) is a reverse proxy solution that removes the need for a VPN. To understand the benefits of the Frame SGA, let's start with a review of how VPNs evolved.

One of the most important aspects that any VDI or DaaS solution needs to address is how to allow users to securely access their virtual desktops and apps when using an external network. This is especially important when addressing work-from-home use cases.

Secure external access is typically achieved through a client VPN, site-to-site VPN, or a reverse proxy solution. The new Frame Streaming Gateway Appliance (SGA) is a reverse proxy solution that removes the need for a VPN. To understand the benefits of the Frame SGA, let’s start with a review of how VPNs evolved.

Cloud-based infrastructure has empowered IT managers with the ability to provide their users with virtually unlimited on-demand compute and storage resources from datacenters across the world. Successful capacity management is key to balancing the cost versus user experience equation. Running and pre-provisioned machines make for quick connections for users, but also consume infrastructure costs by keeping the cloud meter running.

Introduction​

Desktop and application virtualization is not new technology, but has become more of an essential component for businesses of all sizes for the better part of a decade. More and more customers see the benefits of virtual applications and desktops--you can read more about why they are turning to VDI and DaaS.

Transitioning virtual application and desktop environments from on-premises to the cloud in the past has been challenging due to security requirements, networking requirements, and overall unfamiliarity with cloud services. Our goal is to hide complexity and make end user computing (EUC) as simple and as easy as possible, while being flexible to support your own security and network requirements.

"If you're grateful it's hard to be grumpy" is a quote that helps me to stay focused on the good and positive things in life - especially these days with very limited in-person communication, all kinds of restrictions, polarisation, social isolation, and higher rate of burn-out and various global challenges.

Yes, there are reasons to be concerned and grumpy, but it is important to stay positive since there are many things to be grateful for. Of course my reasons differ from those of others, but I am grateful for my family (3 adult children and a great wife), awesome friends, freedom, relationship with God, and health.

Also, the ability to exercise outdoors, walk the dog, play games with kids, enjoy a nice BBQ, a great motor ride and working for Nutanix, with a focus on End User Computing, are reasons for me personally to be grateful. "If you love what you do you never have to work a day in your life" applies to me. By the way, a great book to read is "Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About the World--and Why Things Are Better Than You Think."

When "work from home" became the norm for many of us, there were those that had the ability to work from everywhere with virtual desktops and applications, and those that didn't. Those organizations with modern, flexible VDI and DaaS solutions in place said "No sweat. We got this."

Delivering the best user experience, supporting a modern workforce with delivery of virtual desktop and applications, and adopting cloud resources both on-premises and in the public cloud is key for many of us. Unfortunately, too many organizations prioritize cost reduction rather than delivering a great user experience, and often fundamental questions are answered too simply and expectations are not properly managed. So, how can you use Nutanix Frame, our desktop as a service solution, to both deliver a great user experience and lower costs?

The latest versions of Stratodesk NoTouch software are now Nutanix Ready AHV.

Why is being Nutanix Ready a big deal? The reason is this: being Nutanix Ready shows that a solution is trusted to enhance the Nutanix delivery infrastructure. This includes undergoing rigorous testing and achieving the utmost confidence in joint compatibility. This designation also means that Nutanix customers can rest assured that the solution offers current, mutual product compatibility, commitment to a continued relationship, and ongoing interoperability.

I'm happy to share that today Nutanix Xi Frame has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Digital Workplace Competency status. This designation recognizes that we have demonstrated deep experience helping customers build a digital workplace on AWS that frees end users from the office, allowing them to work securely on virtually any device, from anywhere, at any time.

In May of 2018, we announced Frame on AHV for deploying, running, and managing virtual desktop and application workload on Nutanix AHV - all still orchestrated from the Frame cloud backplane.

One of the core values of Frame is the ability to support workloads in multiple clouds, including public clouds with AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, and on-premises powered by Nutanix AHV. It wasn’t a surprise that our customers started adopting Frame with AHV in volumes in a very short span of time. But we were impressed to see how many customers have also embraced a hybrid cloud model, with some workloads on-prem and some in the public cloud.

You probably remember Marvel Comics' "Fantastic Four." They're a superhero team on a mission to make the world a better place by battling evil doers like Doctor Doom and Ronan the Accuser, ruler of the negative zone! Sometimes trying to launch a remote work initiative can make you feel like you need a band of superheroes to help you vanquish Doctor "Can't Do" and "Mr. Impossible" from the "Department of No." Fear not, good citizens, Nutanix and Google Cloud have teamed up to give you the superpowers you need to provide secure, flexible workspaces with a great user experience.

The four key elements in Desktop as a Service are user Identity, easy Application Access, flexible Infrastructure to run virtual desktops and applications, and of course Storage to access your data. Nutanix Xi Frame and Google Cloud are great together and have a unique integration with the four IT superpowers: Google Identity, Progressive Web Applications (PWA), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Google Drive.

In this article we describe the advantages of this integration and share examples of the Xi Frame configuration. We also include a nice user-experience video with Frame and Google Identity, PWA, Google Drive FileStream, and GCP in action.