InformationWeek Reports, a service provider for peer-based IT research and analysis, announced the release of its latest research report. Anywhere, Anytime App Delivery encompasses analysis of results from InformationWeek's recent 2012 Alternative Application Delivery Survey and guides readers in securely delivering the applications employees need, no matter where they are or what devices they're equipped with. Nearly 500 IT pros weighed in on how they efficiently accomplish this; for 66%, the browser is the preferred architecture, but the biggest surprise was the popularity of application virtualization, which is in widespread use by 35% of respondents.

Research Summary:

A byproduct of mobility is that IT teams are charged with supporting complex, mission-critical application loads using creative architectural strategies. For 45%, technologies like virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or application streaming are key. But questions remain around licensing, VDI hosting options and more.

Findings: 

• 70% of our survey respondents identify security as a very important facet of an application delivery strategy, yet just 33% are very satisfied with the security features in their application delivery products.
•  45% say 26% or more of their business applications are deliverable via alternative (non-local PC client) methods.
• 42% use VMware ThinApp to encapsulate or centrally administer applications, but Microsoft App-V is hot on its heels with 38%.
• 28% have conducted a TCO/ROI study to determine whether VDI would be a cost neutral, cost positive or cost negative project; of those, 39% say costs would be somewhat or much less than their current desktop strategies.