The shift towards virtualization of apps and desktops has increased these past months because of the pandemic, and many organizations are now considering thinner endpoints such as thin clients devices to access their remote data.

However, there are some common pitfalls when it comes to assessing Thin Clients.  The following is a list of the ones that stand out the most.

1. Underestimating thin client hardware requirements

Thin client hardware requirements vary from business to business. We see a lot of customers that are unsatisfied with their experience mainly due to thin clients that are not able to keep up with user workloads. Yes, thin clients are dumb terminals but even though they are only used to  connect to cloud apps, they still do need local processing power and graphic handling. Some apps require more resources than others, and if users open multiple apps, it can stress the endpoint system. It is also important to keep in mind that Thin Clients are meant to last upwards of 8 years and use cases can change over time. That is why it’s good to keep a “future proof” approach in place and over estimate resources.

2. Giving little importance to thin client management console

Many companies opt for Thin Clients with little consideration given to the thin client management console. Sometimes the thin client management console is not even tested. Without the right management tool customers are straining themselves by not having a completely centralized and simple method of managing all endpoint hardware and properly supporting users. The right  thin client management tool gives a zero touch capability where all endpoint support can be done from anywhere.

3. Opting for Windows endpoints instead of Linux

It is easy to go with a Windows endpoint but you will end up requiring more resources and continue to be concerned about security.  Linux based thin clients , while being less familiar in terms of interface will require very little resources and offer a much more secure option compared to Windows based thin clients. It is true that there are more drivers built for Windows but usually Linux drivers can be found and specialized thin client vendors in Linux virtual desktop can help with that. While Linux will run under the hood, users should not feel a difference since they will likely be accessing a familiar virtual workspace or virtual desktop.

4. Testing the thin client hardware, not comprehensive enough 

Many times customers do not test all of the peripherals that will be connected to the thin clients only to be confronted with incompatibilities later on. This can be avoided with proper testing and most vendors provide ample time to do this prior to making a purchase. It is important to request that vendors provide all of the features that will be used day to day. Sometimes certain features are locked during the trial. Furthermore, make sure to make a full list of all of the peripheral devices in use and test them thoroughly.

5. Lack of understanding of costs involved

Different vendors monetize their solutions differently. Some charge for the thin client management tool, some charge for certain management features, some charge for version updates, etc… There are also licensing differences between vendors so it’s important to have a complete understanding in order to avoid future surprises as needs change.

6. Not assessing vendor support 

Test the vendor support while assessing technologies. You don’t want to wait until after the purchase to realize that the vendor is unwilling to support certain aspects that are important for you. There are a lot of moving parts when dealing with End User Computing, and endpoints are one of the important pieces to the puzzle. As such, the vendor should be able to speak your language and understand your environment to be able to properly support you. If you don’t get the proper care in your testing, this may be a prelude to what will come next.

ZeeTim has years of experience when it comes to thin clients and VDI. We have prepared a comprehensive report combined with the frequently asked questions when buying a thin client hardware.

Click here to have a look at the “6 Major factors to be considered before buying a thin client endpoint.”