The VDI Showdown

The VDI landscape is evolving faster than ever.

Between cost pressures, user experience demands, and increasing complexity around device management and network security, IT leaders are under pressure to modernise while keeping operations lean and secure. The VDI Showdown brings together top technologists and strategists to explore the current state of play and the best-fit solutions for the modern workplace.

This morning event will help IT decision-makers unpack the choices around AVD, AVD + Nerdio, AVD + Citrix, and broader modern desktop strategies.

Session 1: Setting the Stage
Mario Cirillo, Chief Technology Officer

Kick off the showdown by zooming out. What’s the current VDI landscape? Why are so many organisations questioning their existing stack? Mario will outline the key pressures driving desktop transformation – licensing costs, security risks, the post-pandemic device sprawl, and the expectation for seamless hybrid work. He’ll also touch on emerging trends like cloud-native desktops, the role of identity, and increasing demands around endpoint agility.

Session 2: The Showdown
Liam Kilby, Solution Architect

In this head-to-head comparison, Liam breaks down the three most common deployment models for Azure Virtual Desktop:

• AVD only – Microsoft-native, lean and cost-effective.
• AVD with Citrix – Enterprise experience with added management and delivery benefits.
• AVD with Nerdio – Simplified deployment and operational efficiency for IT teams.

Using a scorecard approach, Liam compares each option across factors like cost, user experience, scalability, security, licensing, and IT overhead. Expect real-world examples, customer comparisons, and straight-talking guidance.

Attendees will leave with a clearer picture of which AVD model best fits their environment and user needs.

Session 3: Tech Deep Dive
Jhonny Marques, Solution Architect

With more businesses rethinking whether they even need traditional VDI for all users, this session explores how modern endpoint management stacks up. The speaker will demo how Microsoft Intune, Windows Autopilot, Defender, OneDrive, and Conditional Access can power a ‘cloud-first, device-light’ approach, shifting from thick client setups to secure laptop-first strategies.

They’ll also explore common pitfalls: roaming profiles, app packaging, and compliance, and how to overcome them with a simplified Microsoft-first stack.

Session 4: Networking & Security – The Overlooked Piece
Alistair Slocombe, Sales Director

In this final session, Alistair ties it all together by focusing on secure access. With distributed workforces and cloud-based desktops, the perimeter has shifted. He’ll explain how a robust SASE and SD-WAN approach ensures fast, secure, and policy-driven access, whether users are on VDI, a local machine, or somewhere in between.

Expect sharp insights into:

• Reducing latency in VDI environments
• Enforcing security without slowing down users
• Aligning access control with desktop strategy