Virtualization did not just stop at the server side; there were meritorious client-side developments too. It started with session virtualization where multiple users would log into a terminal server remotely to get a Windows Server desktop session and experience. This allowed the users to share the server resources effectively. Microsoft along with Citrix has been one of the pioneers for session virtualization when the former offered terminal services, and now Remote Desktop Services (RDS); and the latter offered MetaFrame Server.

We are now in the era of mobility where the end users clamor for the flexibility to work from anywhere and look for convenience of using their personal devices to access the work environment, which led to the advent of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)-yet another catchy acronym. The answer to this is called virtual desktop, wherein a user can get a virtual machine assigned when he or she logs in.

RDS evolved to...