Virtualisation will become the most disruptive technology to face the PC in a decade, according to research firm, Gartner. The company’s analysts predict that the innovation will revolutionise the enterprise desktop by decoupling PC hardware and software, and allowing multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single desktop.

This in turn will enable Information Systems (IS) departments to implement more efficient IT support policies, and most significantly, achieve more cost-effective outsourcing contracts for PC support and drive total cost of ownership savings in deployment.

The reason for this greater efficiency is that virtualisation can help them to better define what are and are not business IS functions, and thus they will be able to better clarify support agreements and service expectations towards outsourcing, the research firm says.

According to Brian Gammage, vice president at Gartner, PC virtualisation will achieve broad appeal over the next five years. ‘The technology has been used in niche applications for a number of years, but increased industry support from major players such as Intel and Microsoft will rapidly move it to the mainstream,’ he told SM365.