Page 6 - ATEN Office Desktop Solutions Guide

Industry Trends in

Desktop KVM

Demand for Ultra High Resolutions

In tandem with the increasing availability of UHD content across the IT industry and increased digitization spurred by developments in
the SOHO segment, desktop KVM solutions are slowly but surely moving towards future-ready, scalable solutions for high-performance
digital display connectivity. It is desktop KVM switch models that support DisplayPort technology that are leading this trend, and as
DisplayPort with 4K@60 capability (DP 1.2) becomes increasingly welcome for the desktop user, the demand for KVMs supporting
their native resolutions at reasonable refresh rates will certainly grow in turn, especially as these next generation DisplayPort desktop
KVM switches are now able to deliver the larger, widescreen working areas for various pixel-heavy environments, such as specialized
animation, graphic design tasks and medical imaging in healthcare.

Increasing Adoption of New Technologies

In terms of new technologies that are being adopted by advanced desktop KVM solutions, DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) is
especially useful for desktop users that require multiple monitor setups using only a single cable. Models with this feature enable
dual/multiple displays to be used from a single DisplayPort source. For example, splitting the total bandwidth coming from a DisplayPort
1.2 output and allowing desktop users to connect up to 4 independent Full HD monitors allows for easy multitasking while reducing
bulky cable connections and with no extra MST hub being required.

Looking further in to the future, as KVMs continue to adopt the latest technologies, all indicators point to USB-C becoming one of the
most important connection protocols the desktop KVM needs to incorporate. USB Type-C is the most advanced industry-standard
connector for data, power, and video transmission that is set to simplify cabling while maximizing the flexibility of data delivery. USB
Type-C carries a wide array of benefits for users, including its functional extension abilities to carry USB signals and DisplayPort video
at the same time, which can be leveraged by DisplayPort Alternate Mode (DP Alt Mode) to reduce connection complexity and offer
users more types of data delivery options.

Demand for Increased Security

In today’s increasingly security-conscious world, industry pundits are anticipating a pronounced move towards secure desktop KVM
switches in the very near future. Secure KVM switches protect desktop access to reduce risk in government and military office environments
where security is imperative, as well as any other information-sensitive applications that require safe and secure switching between
computers on different security level networks. With channels isolated to prevent electromagnetic interference, models must also abide by
privacy and security regulations. In addition, there are worldwide certifications in place that are constantly evolving, and models must
comply with the requirements of the very latest protection profiles for peripheral sharing devices.

However, security concerns are becoming universal, and while sales are mainly driven by applications in as in high security industries
and those affected by increased concerns over data security due to international politics and governmental relations, users in other
security-conscious vertical markets like healthcare and finance are strong potential markets for secure desktop KVM solutions, not
only because of the many regulations already surrounding data management in these fields but also due to wider concerns about
information sensitivity in an ever-increasing data-heavy world.

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