Virtual Computer announced NxTop, a next-generation PC management platform, which makes it as easy to manage thousands of PCs as it is to manage one. NxTop’s patent-pending technology isolates the PC’s critical components -- hardware, operating system, applications, and user data -- allowing each to be managed independently in a highly-scalable fashion without a persistent network connection. The technology effectively lowers the cost of PC deployment and maintenance and improves PC reliability and security without compromising the end-user computing experience.

“PC management is out of control,” said Dan McCall, president and CEO of Virtual Computer, “with so many agents and point solutions, IT managers are forced to make compromises that affect security, performance, and the end-user experience. NxTop is the only solution that integrates the core elements of PC management into a single, unified architecture.”

With so much energy behind Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) for stationary environments, Virtual Computer is focusing on the fast-growing mobile and remote work force. NxTop, however, also integrates easily with existing VDI deployments allowing corporations to cover their entire base of end-users with centrally managed virtual machines.

“IDC considers desktop virtualization to be a high-growth market, and NxTop's technology has an opportunity to further drive that market by fully virtualizing the endpoint device,” said Michael Rose, research analyst at IDC.

“NxTop is the first desktop virtualization product I have seen that delivers extensive manageability and rigorous security benefits while respecting the individual business needs of mobile users,” said John Christly, manager of Information Technology Security and HIPAA security officer for Memorial Healthcare System of Miramar, Florida. “My department is managing a large number of laptops and as a healthcare organization, security of these laptops and the data on each of them is a top priority. In the past few years, we’ve read of too many companies that have experienced data loss or security breaches. We are always seeking new and innovative methods of system and data security. Therefore, I welcome a product like NxTop, which will fill a market need that has been unmet for quite some time.”

“The desktop hypervisor is a critical element for securely extending virtualization technologies to desktop devices,” said Chris Wolf, a senior analyst with Burton Group. “Desktop hypervisors allow IT organizations to partition desktop and laptop systems into both personal and work environments, thus giving users the flexibility to install personal applications, and the IT staff the isolation and control of the work environment required by the organization. Desktop hypervisors will clearly play a significant role in redefining what users expect of their desktop and laptop systems.”