Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) projects can frustrate IT managers, trying to keep end users happy and VDI costs on par with the cost of traditional PC implementations. VDIs place different I/O and read/write demands on the storage infrastructure than traditional desktops, and storage pros are likely to hear different advice from storage vendors and VDI providers on crucial topics such as how many IOPS each user will need, whether to pursue a single-image strategy and how to evaluate VDI implementations. You need to understand the importance of choosing between solid-state drives and SATA drives, persistent versus stateless desktops, and where and how to use data reduction technologies. Consulting Data storage professionals and independent experts helps to understand how to navigate a VDI project so that the technology and your project live up to its promise.