Still, old machines can be troublesome, and the other option is to put new terminals on users' desks. These devices are designed to provide enough power to run the client software needed to display the server-based applications without complicating the terminals' simple design. In a thin-client environment, the level of computing power on each desktop may vary between end users. In many cases, terminal vendors let administrators enable or disable certain functions depending on the needs of the particular user while retaining centralized control. We are looking to augment them.
Terminals are very application-specific.
Steve Kaplan, senior computer security consultant for STG Inc., a contractor for the State Department, said thin clients reduce security risks in several areas. Key Tronic's ClienTerm device is attractive for security-oriented applications at federal agencies, according to the company, because of an optional fingerprint or smart card scanner built into the device, which combines the terminal hardware into the keyboard to save space on desktops. James Marsala, product manager for Citrix, said administrators must look at the end user's need for devices such as disk drives and local printers when deciding whether to use a PC or dumb terminal and determining how to configure them. In practice, most clients are PCs. Some agencies are finding that thin clients come in handy when sharing applications and data with outside agencies and field offices through dial-up connections.