DefenseEnd-User ComputingPublic SectorDigital Workspace
Case Study • 4 minute read

Research Organization Boosts Productivity, Optimizes IT with Secure Desktop Service

WWT provides a federally funded research organization with a secure, cloud-based virtual desktop solution that scales seamlessly, increases operational efficiency and frees IT teams to focus on innovation over maintenance.

In this case study

  1. Challenge 
  2. Solution 
  3. Outcomes 

 Challenge 

Waiting minutes to log into a desktop isn't just frustrating — it's a major productivity drain when added up across a multi-site organization. End users are stuck, unable to get to work, while IT teams spend valuable time chasing down performance issues. 

This was the situation for a federally funded research organization. With a large user footprint and support for desktop services spread across multiple IT groups and sites, maintaining a consistent, secure desktop environment through its on-premises infrastructure had become nearly impossible. As a result, users were waiting up to four minutes to log into desktops, and aging infrastructure components were becoming costly to update.   

The research organization began exploring ways to improve the performance and management of its secure infrastructure. It believed a cloud-based environment — like those used in conventional corporate IT — could help. But because its desktops handle sensitive workloads for a federal agency with stringent security requirements, the organization couldn't implement a standard virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution. 

Upgrading its on-premises infrastructure was an option, but doing so would have required large capital investments across multiple sites and strained IT staff. Fortunately, the organization discovered WWT's IPA-MSP Desktop Service.  

 Solution 

 Simplified, secure desktop management that empowers IT staff and end users  

The IPA-MSP Desktop Service is an offering under the 10-year, firm fixed-price contract awarded to WWT in 2020 that designates the company as the agency's Industry Partner Access Managed Service Provider (IPA-MSP). All existing Industry Partners, such as the federally funded research organization, have previously worked with IPA-MSP to establish network, voice, video and collaboration services. 

With multiple secure facilities around the U.S., the research organization was looking for a way to consolidate its IT operations and was excited to explore additional services WWT offers through the contract. These IPA-MSP services provide industry partners a one-stop-shop to obtain all their secure IT needs — from everyday communication and collaboration to advanced cloud, software and data solutions.  

The research organization saw an opportunity to quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively move to a virtual desktop model by subscribing to WWT's IPA-MSP Desktop Service. Not only would this address performance and management issues but it also would align to the organization's corporate goals such as improving workforce productivity. 

The IPA-MSP Desktop Service is designed for the secure handling of secret and top-secret government data. Hosted on the Microsoft Azure platform, the service would allow the research organization to quickly deploy Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) in its Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) with WWT managing setup, security compliance and infrastructure requirements.  

The organization's IT staff would no longer spend time troubleshooting desktop issues and maintaining challenging legacy environments. Meanwhile, its workforce would receive robust desktop features, including:  

  • Windows 11 Operating System
  • Microsoft Defender for Cloud
  • Service and Storage Redundancy
  • Comprehensive Technical Support
  • IPA365 Productivity and Identity Tools
  • Token-based Multi Factor Authentication

 Guiding a seamless transition to cloud-based, virtual desktops   

To ensure a smooth transition to AVD, WWT took a comprehensive, end-to-end approach — from initial assessments and workshops to demonstrating the solution's value and leading pilot deployments.  

WWT consultants and engineers began by assessing the research organization's needs through workshops and discovery sessions. They then delivered a proof of concept (PoC) that demonstrated faster login times and improved system performance. Based on the PoC's success, the organization implemented the IPA-MSP Desktop Service at two sites as part of a pilot.  

The result was a fast, seamless transition to a VDI solution tailored to the organization's unique operational needs and security requirements. 

 Outcomes 

  • Improved login times: User login times dropped from four minutes to just 23 seconds, dramatically improving user experience.
  • Cost savings: By adopting a cloud-based model, the research organization avoided costly hardware upgrades and reduced long-term IT infrastructure expenses.
  • Enhanced productivity: IT teams can now focus on strategic initiatives — such as supporting government contracts — instead of routine desktop maintenance.
  • Stronger compliance: By consolidating IT resources and offloading security and compliance responsibilities to IPA-MSP, the organization aligns with government and industry best practices for secure cloud computing.

With around 250 users already benefiting from the modern desktop model, the research organization is operating more efficiently — confidently meeting the stringent security requirements of a key government agency while delivering a better experience for both end users and IT. With comprehensive engineering support from IPA-MSP, the organization can easily onboard new sites and scale as its needs grow.