A hosted desktop is a client-user environment in which a desktop computer (also called a thick client) accesses data on a remote server using virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). A hosted desktop can operate independently, running its own operating system and applications, while others are managed from the server.

Hosted desktops allow companies to run virtual machines on desktop computers. Since applications and data stay in the datacenter, there are several benefits in the areas of security and control.

Simple access: Staff can access all they need in a centralized server.

Streamlined IT management: With hosted desktops, everything is managed in one central location. New applications can be added to the central desktop instead of needing to be installed in each new device.

Greater control: Since servers for virtual desktop infrastructure are usually located on-premises, they give IT more control over data.

Scalability: Hosted desktops can help make businesses more agile since they can simply add more virtual machines for testing or for use by contractors.

A cloud firewall is a security product that, like a traditional firewall, filters out potentially malicious network traffic. Unlike traditional firewalls, cloud firewalls are hosted in the cloud. This cloud-delivered model for firewalls is also called firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS).

Cloud-based firewalls form a virtual barrier around cloud platforms, infrastructure, and applications, just as traditional firewalls form a barrier around an organization’s internal network. Cloud firewalls can also protect on-premise infrastructure.

A host-based firewall is a piece of firewall software that runs on an individual computer or device connected to a network. These types of firewalls are a granular way to protect the individual hosts from viruses and malware, and to control the spread of these harmful infections throughout the network.

Depending on the size of your organization and the nature of its business, a hosted spam filter may be the most suitable solution to prevent spam, phishing emails, spoofed emails and email-driven cyberattacks. A hosted spam filter is a filtering solution hosted in the cloud.

For many businesses, a hosted spam filter can be the best email filtering solution for protecting networks from phishing and email-borne threats such as malware and ransomware. Leveraging the economies of scale available in the cloud, a hosted spam filtering service delivers enterprise-class security at the fraction of the cost of an on-premises spam filter.