Cloud Hosted Desktop FAQs

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Overview

What is a hosted desktop?

A hosted desktop is a Windows desktop containing your applications, which you use to access your files and data from. Files can be stored on a hosted file server, data can be on a database server such as SQL Server. Our hosted desktop service comes with the desktops, file server and a firewall, all dedicated to you and not shared with other customers.

What happens if I lose my internet connection?

Firstly, we recommend using a backup internet service if required, such as ADSL or a dongle if mobile. Secondly, if you lose your connection to your hosted desktop, when you regain your connection, your desktop is exactly as you left it, with all applications and data intact.

Do we need to buy any special equipment?

No. Customers can use any PC, Mac or Linux machine to connect to their hosted desktop. One of the initial cost-savings is the ability to continue to use existing PCs. As the processing power, memory, and storage are provided by our servers, customers are even able to use older PCs that would be unable to run a new Operating System themselves, thereby extending their working lives and ROI. Alternatively, you may decide to supply thin clients, to further enhance the benefits of moving to a hosted desktop environment. Thin clients are physically smaller PCs; they cost less than a normal PC (aka a "fat client"), and use a lot less energy. Of course, as a hybrid measure they may opt to simply replace existing computers with thin clients as they begin to fail. Hosted desktops will also work on laptops, tablet devices such as the iPad and smartphones such as the iPhone.

Do we need internet access?

Yes. A reliable Internet connection is essential. As the hosted desktops are housed within our UK data centres, the only way for customers to connect to them is over the Internet. We’re watching the roll-out of Starlink by SpaceX very closely. Imagine being able to access the internet from anywhere in the world. Up a mountain, over a desert, on a beach…

How do I download my data if I end the contract?

You are able to download your data whenever you want. Depending on how much data you have, you can copy the data via a mapped drive, download via FTP, or we can send you USB hard drives.

How It Works

What resiliency does the service have?

The SANs (Storage Area Networks) are configured in a RAID10 set, and all SAN nodes are also in a network RAID5 configuration. Should a single disk fail, customers will be unaffected apart from a small temporary performance drop, whilst we replace the failed disk. In the event that a SAN node fails, customers will be unaffected apart from a small temporary performance drop, whilst we replace the failed SAN. We also have dual diversely routed transit connections to the internet.

What platforms do you operate the service on?

The hosted desktops run on Windows Server (usually the latest version), contained in a VMware or HyperV virtual machine. The hosts are branded enterprise servers and they in turn connect to high-end data centre SANs running in a RAID 5/10 configuration. We use enterprise-class firewalls.

Can we access our hosted desktops 24/7?

Yes. There is no restriction on when the hosted desktops can be accessed, unless one is specified within the security policy of a customer network itself, which would be a restriction set by the customer. GoCloud do not impose any such restriction as standard.

Can we use our own applications?

Yes. We can add almost any application to a customer network, making it available on whichever desktops they wish. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that they have the correct software licences for use on a multi-tenanted, hosted infrastructure.

Pricing

How are we billed?

All our customers sign up to a direct debit and are billed monthly in arrears.

Are your prices including or excluding VAT?

All our prices are excluding VAT.

Are we tied into a long-term contract?

No. We offer a month-by-month pay-as-you-go service. You can cancel the contract with only 1 month notice.

How do we cancel our contract?

You only need to provide 1 month notice to cancel your service, and simply log a ticket to do so.

Security

What resilience is in place at the data centres?

All data centres we use have backup power generators, UPS backup (n+1), air conditioning (n+1), Vesda smoke detection, fire suppression and are all above flood levels.

What security is in place at the data centres?

All data centres we use have physical 24/7 manned security, 24/7 CCTV cameras inside and outside the buildings, photo card access, 24/7 manned operations centres and individual lockable racks.

Do you use 2 factor authentication?

Yes. About 63% of confirmed data breaches involved weak, default or stolen passwords. (Source: Verizon 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report). Multi-factor authentication defends against account takeovers and data theft by verifying your users’ identities before they access their data.

Is my traffic to the data centre encrypted?

Yes. All traffic between the end-user and the UK data centre is 256-bit encrypted (not just the logon process).All the data is actually stored and processed on servers within the data centre itself, so all that is actually transmitted across the internet are the screen changes on the desktop, key presses and mouse movements. Consequently, a hosted desktop is even more secure than a normal desktop PC.

Do you provide anti-virus protection?

Yes. Bitdefender Endpoint Protection comes as standard with all of our solutions which detects and removes threats accurately. Bitdefender’s layered next-gen endpoint protection platform (NG EPP) protects against the full spectrum of sophisticated cyber threats with speed, accuracy, low administrative overhead and minimal system impact.

Will we have our own firewall?

Yes. Every customer has their own dedicated firewall installed in their environment.

Will our data and files be backed up?

Yes. We backup all customers’ server data to an offsite location, daily.

Hardware

How is printing managed?

Printers can be configured as network or local devices. When the hosted desktop client connects to the Windows server, local/network printers are mapped automatically.

What hardware is the hosted desktop running on?

The SANs (Storage Area Networks) are configured in a RAID5 set, and all SAN nodes are also in a network RAID5 configuration. Should a single disk fail, customers will be unaffected apart from a small temporary performance drop, whilst we replace the failed disk. In the event that a SAN node fails, customers will be unaffected apart from a small temporary performance drop, whilst we replace the failed SAN. We also have dual diversely routed transit connections to the internet.

What hardware do we need to access a hosted desktop?

Windows or Linux PCs or Macs can be used, as can smartphones and tablets. There is no minimum specification for any hardware as such, as most modern equipment manufactured in the last 5 or so years can access our service.

Resellers

Do you charge a reseller fee?

No. There are no fees charged to be a GoCloud reseller.

Are there minimum sales targets we must achieve?

No. There are no sales targets. We believe in zero pressure to sell our environment.

Do you provide any white label marketing material?

Yes. In fact, we provide you with access to materials for you to customise with your own logo, colour scheme and contact details.

Hosted desktop FAQs

Filter by Category

Overview

How It Works

Pricing

Security

Hardware

Resellers

Download the free guide...

How to make remote working simple and secure with hosted desktops.

You'll discover...

Hosted desktop FAQs

Filter by Category

Overview

How It Works

Pricing

Security

Hardware

Resellers

Download the free guide...How to make remote working simple and secure with hosted desktops.

You'll discover...

Download the free guide...

How to make remote working simple and secure with hosted desktops.