SINGAPORE, Sept. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today announced that the deployment of the largest virtualized desktop environment inMalaysia by the Ministry of Education (MOE) has won the 2014 VMware Innovation Awards in the category ofTransforming IT by Defying Convention. One of the five global winners, the award celebrates its achievement in leveraging technology to change the way education is provided across the country. The implementation of VMware's virtual desktop infrastructure technology, possibly one of the largest acrossAsia Pacific to-date, transformed the way MOE provides education, enabling access of technology,Internet and online learning resources to over 300,000 students in rural areas acrossMalaysia.
Globally Recognized for Bridging Urban-rural Digital Divide
"The recognition of the Ministry of Education among the numerous entries is testament of the significance of the deployment that promises to helpMalaysia achieve its ambitious education goals. We are proud to have played a part in helping the MOE transform the access and quality of education acrossMalaysia, extending education to teachers and students in remote areas of the country," saidLaurence Si, Country Manager of Malaysia and Brunei, VMware.
With over 10,000 schools located in rural areas, transporting engineers for system maintenance presented logistical challenges, resulting in inconsistent and sporadic service. By modernizing the desktop infrastructure, not only did system maintenance became more cost-effective and efficient, the MOE was then able to centralize its management, enabling the schools to receive latest software updates and applications in a timely manner.
This rollout covers some 1,250 schools and 25,000 desktops that have been equipped with virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) technology, allowing schools to concentrate on a holistic learning environment without having to worry about IT maintenance and other costs.
Virtual Desktops for Educational Excellence and Compliance
Aligned with the vision to bridge the urban-rural digital divide as outlined in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013 - 2025, the MOE implemented VDI technology to achieve the country's vision. PCs were replaced to include VMware Horizon®, transforming physical PCs into centralized managed IT services, delivering elastic desktop services as a virtual workspace for easy management and rich user experience. This provided the MOE with a simple and easy to manage way of provisioning PCs to these schools without the heavy expense of purchasing new units after each life cycle.
As of March 2014, the VDI deployment of client desktops and VMware Horizon, not only was compliant to the high auditing standards required by MOE, but was also well accepted by headmasters and teachers. The deployment model enabled desktops, applications and data to be consolidated into a simple, centralized virtualized infrastructure that serves 1,250 schools.
"The most important part (of the deployment) is that it can help reduce the digital gap for students who live in the rural and urban areas. VMware is the most reliable and effective virtualization platform provider in the world. Within three months, we installed the technology across over 700 schools allowing them to use the VDI client, with both students and teachers loving the application," said Encik Noorhisham Bin Shahabudin, Senior IT Officer, MOE.
The 2014 VMware Innovation Awards honor deployments that have driven business innovation through the adoption of hybrid cloud, software-defined data center, end-user computing, and workforce transformation strategies. All award nominations were reviewed and rated by a panel of experts from Computerworld and VMworld®, using the criteria outlined for each category. The winners were honored on-stage at VMworld 2014 inSan Francisco from 24-28 August 2014.
Additional Resources:
VMware: Enhance Education While Reducing IT Costs <http://www.vmware.com/industry/education/overview.html>Malaysia Ministry of Education Video - VMware <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbO7lRGRbek>Malaysian Ministry of Education <http://www.moe.gov.my/en/home>Malaysian Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) <http://www.mampu.gov.my/web/en/>
Media Contacts: Mark KohASEAN Communications, VMware Phone: + 65 9022 3938Email: mkoh@vmware.com <mailto:mkoh@vmware.com>
Chan Shu Ling FleishmanHillard Singapore Phone: + 65 6424 6379Email: shuling.chan@fleishman.com <mailto:shuling.chan@fleishman.com>
About VMware
VMware is the leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure solutions that enable businesses to thrive in the Cloud Era. Customers rely on VMware to help them transform the way they build, deliver and consume Information Technology resources in a manner that is evolutionary and based on their specific needs. With 2013 revenues of$5.21 billion, VMware has more than 500,000 customers and 75,000 partners. The company is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the world and can be found online atwww.vmware.com <http://www.vmware.com/>.
VMware, VMware Horizon, and VMworld are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. inthe United States and other jurisdictions. The use of the word "partner" or "partnership" does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.
SOURCE VMware