An entity that is accessible via keyboard and screen, like a desktop, and may function, to the user, like a standalone computer. However, the virtual machine resides in a server or computer that may host many others as well.

In a simple case, each employee might use her/his own separate VM at work, but in fact all of the VMs might reside on a single server. (In reality there would likely be at least two servers for back-up purposes.) Yet, each employee experiences their own PC.

On the client side, the actual deployment of the virtual machines might be accomplished via network connectivity and login credentials.