When users use a virtual machine as their desktop, they can be set up in two ways: permanent or nonpermanent:

• Example 1: A college has desktops for students set up in a virtual environment. During the day, the teacher has four different groups all carrying out the same activity, however, each group needs a pristine desktop. Therefore, it is set up as nonpermanent so when the user logs off, the image reverts back to the original setting.
• Example 2: Employees in a corporate environment are using virtual machines as their desktops. User A has just spent 10 hours working on a project, therefore when they log in on the next day, they need to get the same desktop or productivity would be lost. Their desktop is therefore set up as permanent.