UTS deploys VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure to more securely provide over 10,000 students with simultaneous remote access from anywhere to complex apps
Scalable, cloud-based virtual desktop environment gives students the experience of digital workspaces while reducing operations and maintenance needs
SYDNEY, Australia – April 3, 2019 - VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), a leading university in Australia, today announced the deployment of VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure, available to all students within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. The integration allows over 10,000 students the flexibility to simultaneously and seamlessly access applications and workloads online on any student device from home, on campus or wherever they have Wi-Fi.
Previously, Engineering and IT students were required to complete coursework on campus, due to the availability and complexity of the software required for their courses. Now, instead of spending time commuting to campus, students can log into their virtual desktops wherever they are and begin working with their software of choice – all within minutes. The efficiency of the VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure solution even enables students to access their virtual desktop from overseas or in high latency connectivity areas without any downtime.
By running VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure, UTS is able to host, manage and scale out its digital tools and software over VMware virtual desktops. VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure has successfully handled over 50,000 software and application load requests with zero downtime. The cloud deployment has also significantly reduced operations and maintenance time for the university’s IT team, while better guarding UTS’ network against data breaches or attacks. This frees-up the team to devise and deliver broader student experience improvements.
“Our priority is to have our students prepared for today’s highly digital and connected society, something a cloud-first approach to self-directed learning can provide,” says Rob Jarman, Associate Dean Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, UTS. “VMware’s virtual desktop solution hosted on Microsoft’s public cloud platform Azure is helping us create an environment where students can gain that confidence in digital working, learning and collaboration which will take them even further in the workforce. It’s a valuable milestone in our digital transformation journey and one that we believe will positively impact students well beyond what they experience today.”
“VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure is far more stable and consistent than anything we could have deployed on-premises. Moving applications and desktop infrastructure to the cloud has resulted in reductions to operational costs by 40% - freeing up not only IT’s budget, but also the space once used to house server infrastructure,” says Peter Gale, deputy CIO, UTS. “The Engineering faculty’s coursework and research involve immense amounts of processing power that can stretch even the most powerful workstations. VMware’s cloud solution allows any engineering student to run their complex calculations or rendering tasks from home or even public Wi-Fi areas without compromising performance. This means UTS can expand its deployment to other less compute-intensive faculties with total confidence.”
“VMware works alongside UTS to deliver services that will help the university reach its vision of becoming a world-leading facility. VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure has enabled the university to differentiate its student experience, allowing students to access digital tools at any time, from any location, from any device,” says Andrew Fox, director, end user experience, VMware ANZ. “In today’s education environment, students yearn for and expect a certain level of operating experience, leaving IT to navigate through the complexities of multiple platform interfaces and security risks. UTS has approached this head-first in partnership with VMware to provide a digital workspace that can deliver a seamless experience with the speed and flexibility students need.”
About VMware
Mware software powers the world’s complex digital infrastructure. The company’s cloud, networking and security, and digital workspace offerings provide a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to over 500,000 customers globally, aided by an ecosystem of 75,000 partners. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html.
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