deskside

Deskside is an English term used as both an adjective and a noun to describe something located at or performed at a desk. In office and IT environments, deskside commonly denotes on-site, at-workstation activities, as distinct from remote or centralized services. The term originates from combining desk and side, implying the location beside the user’s desk.

In information technology and facilities management, deskside support refers to a service model in which technicians visit a user at their workstation to diagnose and resolve equipment or software problems, install or configure devices, perform imaging or software deployment, replace peripherals, or assist with moves, adds, and changes. Deskside support may be provided by an internal IT department or a third-party service provider and is often contrasted with help-desk or remote support.

Practices around deskside support include scheduling, asset verification, and adherence to security and privacy requirements. Technicians may need appropriate authorization, access credentials, and knowledge of organizational policies before handling devices or data. The approach is valued for hands-on troubleshooting, effective hardware repair, and rapid deployment in environments with limited remote access, but it can involve travel time, scheduling coordination, and higher cost per incident relative to remote alternatives.