Specifications

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5. Security – Server-based computing keeps all the data on the
secure servers without it being 'spread out' onto the less
secure client computers. Furthermore the server is in the
server room, which is far more secure than on the user’s
desk.
6. Less prone to viruses and security breaches – Servers are
by definition better managed and because the server OS is
more secure, it’s far more difficult for a computer to get
infected by a virus.
7. Eliminates patch management of clients – Clients are not
running Windows, there is no need to patch the desktop
computers on a regular basis.
8. Server-based computing reduces Total Cost of Ownership
[TCO] by as much as 50%.
9. Scalability – New servers and clients can easily be added to
the network.
10. Increased availability – It’s easy to make the terminal
servers fault tolerant and to perform load balancing. In
addition, servers are inherently designed to be more reliable
than your average desktop.
What are thin clients?
A thin client is a general term for a device that relies on a server to
operate. It provides a display device, keyboard and mouse and
basic processing power in order to interact with the server. It does
not store any of the data locally – it’s very thin in features and
functionality – hence the term 'thin client'.
A thin client often does not have local storage and requires little
processing resources. Thin client hardware can be a converted old
PC, a dedicated thin client device, or simply a new low cost PC with
a thin client OS installed. The fact that little processing power is
needed and that the hardware can be used for longer periods of
time (on average 6 years instead of 3 years) means that the capital
expenses for desktops is significantly reduced.
Most importantly, the overhead costs associated with
administration, maintenance, support, security and installation are
significantly lower than with a traditional PC.