In addition, the growing number of consumer-based devices being used in the enterprise today is forcing organisations to consider new ways of delivering IT services, such as desktops and applications. A survey conducted with Citrix customers earlier in December 2010 found that almost half of all 4,951 respondents were already using the iPad daily at work. The end-user is increasingly driving IT adoption, blurring the line between corporate IT and consumer devices.

As access to applications and data from all devices becomes a business imperative, desktop virtualisation will be the key.

The huge growth of consumer technology like tablets, combined with a new generation of tech-savvy workers who increasingly demand to run company software and services on personal devices will progressively command more of the IT managers' attention and spur desktop virtualisation.

While the traditional desktop environment remains an important part of enterprise IT, there is no reason for it to remain just on the laptop. Many employees are already accessing enterprise systems from a variety of devices. Desktop virtualisation frees the desktop from its traditional physical confines. The desktop of the future is becoming rapidly more cloud-enabled, centrally maintained, and accessible from any device, anywhere, anytime.