Endpoint Modernisation & VDI Decommissioning

Endpoint Modernisation & VDI Decommissioning

The Challenge: Legacy Hardware and Insufficient VDI Performance

The client faced a serious problem with the management of their hardware estate and stability of the VDIs that users depended on for critical software.

User devices were unmanaged, insecure and unfit for purpose. The vast majority of devices were not enrolled into Intune, the ones that were, had no controls in place and were often shared between users. This resulted in a lack of visibility and control over the device estate.

The VDIs in use were under-resourced and not cost effective for their use case. Users had frequent issues with connections to them as well as the general under performance, leading to downtime of critical platforms.

We helped the client to quantify the true cost to the business that this downtime was having. At just 1 hour per week, across their user base of 200+ users this was costing the business ~£1m in lost salary costs and sales revenue.

Falx’s Approach: Visibility, Standardisation, and Control

To address both challenges, Falx designed and delivered a phased strategy. This approach guaranteed minimal operational disruption, enhanced overall device responsiveness, and generated substantial reductions in cloud cost.

• Device Refresh: Prior to addressing the virtual desktop environment, the existing hardware fleet underwent a comprehensive overhaul. Falx created baseline configuration policies to harden the devices, whilst Intune Autopilot was deployed across all endpoints to standardise device builds and consistently enforce the baseline policies.
• VPN Implementation: To establish secure connectivity, a dedicated VPN was designed and rolled out across all newly provisioned Autopilot endpoints.
• Local App Deployment: Once managed endpoints were in use and VPN connections were established, the primary applications on the virtual desktops were packaged for targeted deployment. Specialised packages were created to streamline software installation and automated configuration across the user base.
• VDI Decommissioning: After a test period without active user logins, the supporting cloud infrastructure was fully de-provisioned.

Results: A secure, Modern, and Cost Effective Workplace

Through implementation of the planned solution, multiple positive results were achieved, improving the security and efficiency of the business.

• Mitigated Financial Impact: By eliminating virtual desktop instability and the downtime of business critical software, the client recovered ~£1m in lost revenue.
• Hardened Endpoints: All 200+ devices were Autopilot enrolled with baseline configuration policies applied.
• Reduced Attack Surface: 15 Azure VMs were decommissioned, significantly reducing the Cloud compute attack surface.
• Reduced Monthly Cloud Costs: The decommissioned VDI resources reduced the client’s Azure costs by ~25%.
• Improved Usability of Software: End users reported a dramatic improvement in the speed, stability, and overall performance of their core applications after transitioning away from the unstable VDIs to local devices.

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