Services
Virtual Desktops & Apps
Managed desktops and application streaming from our private cloud, with centrally hosted storage and access controls configured for your firm's users and devices.
A good fit when
- Staff work from personal or remote devices
- Data must stay off endpoints for compliance
- You onboard contractors or seasonal staff quickly
- Applications need to run from one controlled location
Probably not the right fit when
- Every user is on a managed laptop in one office
- Workloads need local GPU or ultra-low-latency trading
- You only need one or two web applications
DaaS, VDI, and application streaming
Instead of the desktop living on a laptop, it lives in Option One Technologies' private cloud. Users connect from any managed or unmanaged device to a persistent virtual desktop, or to a single streamed application, so fund data is stored in the data center rather than on the endpoint. Copy, print and download behaviour is governed by the access and supervision controls configured for your firm.
Desktop as a Service (DaaS / VDI)
Persistent virtual desktops hosted in the Option One Technologies private cloud, sized per user profile from light knowledge worker to multi-monitor trading desk. Includes the full managed IT stack: patching, EDR, backup, and helpdesk on the virtual desktop itself.
- Persistent or pooled desktops with roaming profiles
- Multi-monitor and high-DPI support for trading layouts
- Access from Windows, macOS, iPad, or thin client
- Geo-replicated to a secondary region with a 99.99% uptime SLA
- Session recording and access logging for supervision
Apps as a Service (SaaS / app streaming)
Individual line-of-business applications published to users without a full desktop. Ideal for market data, order management, portfolio accounting, and legacy applications that must stay close to the data.
- Publish a single app: OMS, PMS, Bloomberg tools, accounting, legacy software
- Runs next to the data, eliminating slow VPN round trips
- Application compatibility, vendor licensing rights and version control validated before deployment
- Contractors and third parties get one app, not your network
- Instant revocation on offboarding with no device to collect
Why firms move to virtual desktops
Reduce local data storage
Keep desktop data centrally hosted, with clipboard, print, download and device restrictions configured to your policy. Endpoint and export risks still require management.
Streamlined onboarding
Provision approved desktops and applications after identity, licensing, device and access checks are complete
Performance validated for your applications
Review latency, multi-monitor needs and application dependencies during onboarding rather than assuming every workload behaves the same
Audit-ready access control
Centralized authentication, conditional access, session logging, and immediate revocation
Predictable cost per seat
Per-user monthly pricing that includes compute, storage, backup, and management
Support for office continuity
Approved devices can reconnect from another location, subject to connectivity, access controls and the agreed workload recovery objectives
What it looks like day to day
Portfolio manager
A multi-monitor trading layout that follows them from the office to home, with market data and OMS running next to the data.
Analyst on the road
Full research desktop from an iPad or hotel laptop, with nothing stored on the device if it is lost.
Deal team in diligence
A controlled workspace for a live deal, with access limited to the team and closed when the deal is done.
Contractors & short-term hires
Interns, consultants and temporary staff get one app or a locked-down desktop on their own device. No laptop to ship, no network access, and access ends on their last day.
Laptop vs. virtual desktop
| When… | Laptop-based | Virtual desktop |
|---|---|---|
| A laptop is lost or stolen | Fund data may be on the device; wipe, report and replace | Desktop data stays hosted; revoke the session and reconnect on a new device |
| A new hire starts | Order, image and ship hardware before day one | Desktop and apps provisioned once access checks are complete |
| An employee leaves | Collect the laptop and verify local data is gone | Disable the identity and the desktop is gone instantly |
| A contractor or short-term hire ends | Recover loaned equipment and audit what was copied | Access expires on schedule with session logs retained |
| The office is unavailable | Work depends on what each laptop holds | Approved devices reconnect from another location |
Built for growth
New teams in days, not hardware cycles.
New team or office
Stand up desktops for a new team or location without waiting on hardware.
Acquired business
Give an acquired team controlled access to your applications while the longer integration is planned.
Fund launch
Spin up seats for a new strategy or vehicle and scale them back down when needs change.
Desktops, apps and what's actually enforceable
Device support, data egress controls, application compatibility and cost - answered before you ask.
What devices can people connect from?
Windows, macOS, iPad or a thin client, managed or unmanaged depending on your policy. Desktop storage is hosted in our private cloud. Local copies and exports depend on your configured controls, so endpoint restrictions are scoped explicitly.
Can users copy or print data out of the desktop?
That is a policy decision we configure during onboarding rather than a promise we make on a web page. Session logging and centralized access control are included, and clipboard, print, download and USB restrictions are set to match your supervision requirements. Where users connect from unmanaged devices, we scope explicitly what is enforceable so there are no assumptions.
Will our line-of-business applications work?
We assess OMS, PMS, market data, accounting and legacy applications for desktop or app-streaming deployment. Compatibility, vendor licensing rights, peripherals, network dependencies and performance are validated before cutover. Some applications require a different design or licensing arrangement.
How is it priced?
Per user, per month, including compute, storage, backup and management, sized to the user profile from a light knowledge worker to a multi-monitor trading desk.
What happens during an office outage?
Approved devices can connect from another location when an office is unavailable, subject to connectivity and access policy. Hosted desktops use geo-replication under the hosted availability commitment; recovery time and data-loss tolerances are separately scoped and tested.
Next step
Talk through your firm's next technology decision.
Tell us what's prompting this. We'll reply within one business day with a time to discuss your priorities, responsibilities and scope.