Introduction
What's the best way to provide virtual desktops for your business? Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 are two options to consider. They both have their pros and cons, so which one is the best for you? In this post, we'll compare Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 and help you decide which option is best for your business.
Is Windows 365 the same as Azure Virtual Desktop?
The answer is, no. Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop are two different services. Windows 365 Cloud PC is a subscription-based compute service that enables streaming of the Windows operating system and other Microsoft products on any device, while Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based desktop virtualization service. Windows 365 has two types of services, which are Windows 365 Business Cloud PC and Windows 365 Enterprise Cloud PC. Windows 365 Business Cloud is mostly targeted towards small businesses that are looking for a way of buying, deploying and managing cloud PCs. Windows 365 Enterprise Cloud PC is focused on organizations that manage their Cloud PCs with Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
Azure Virtual Desktop supports two types of host pools: personal host pools and pooled virtual desktop pools. A personal host pool consists of a single virtual machine (VM) that is assigned to a single user. Every time a single user signs in, their user session is directed to their assigned personal host VM. On the other hand, a pooled virtual desktop pool consists of multiple VMs that are used by multiple users. In pooled host pools there is a limit on the number of users that are logged on into a single session host for the purposes of load balancing.
Windows 365 is better compared to Azure Virtual Desktop "Personal host pools" rather than to Azure Virtual Desktop "Pooled host pools."
Azure Virtual Desktop is a more flexible and powerful solution for businesses that need remote access to desktop applications, while Windows 365 is more suited for individual end-users who need access to Microsoft products on multiple devices such as android or IOS. Windows 365 has two different versions: Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise.
Azure Virtual Desktop comes with tools such as FSLogix which optimize the performance of AVD deployments. Your IT admins can use FSLogix to help optimize how we use resources, improve application and data access times, and reduce storage consumption.
Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based desktop virtualization service that allows businesses to provide remote access to applications and data. Azure Virtual Desktop is built on top of Microsoft Azure, which provides a secure and reliable cloud platform for personal or pooled hosts pooled desktops.
Windows 365 uses provisioning technology to create a virtual machine (VM), also called a session host, which runs on top of the Azure cloud. Under default circumstances, the VM is isolated from the rest of the Azure environment and provides a dedicated desktop experience for the individual user.
What is the difference between Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365?
Azure Virtual Desktop is a PaaS-based virtualization service that allows users to access a virtual machine running Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise Multisession. Windows 365 is a subscription-based service that provides access to the Windows operating system and other Microsoft software.
Azure Virtual Desktop includes the Windows operating system, when used in conjunction with Microsoft 365 supported licensing, and allows users to install their own applications. Azure Virtual Desktop also supports multiple users accessing the same virtual machine, while Windows 365 is designed for a single user.
Azure Virtual Desktop is a more comprehensive solution for businesses that need to provide their employees with access to a virtual machine running Windows.
Azure Virtual Desktop is a pay-as-you-go service, meaning users only pay for the resources they use, depending on the size of the VMs running the host pools associated with the deployment. AVD has also the option to run with Azure Reserved Instances and Azure Hybrid Benefit to reduce the monthly run rate of the AVD environment. Windows 365, on the other hand, is a subscription-based service, meaning users pay a monthly or annual fee for access to the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Azure Virtual Desktop is a great option for businesses that need the flexibility to scale their resources up or down as needed. Windows 365 is a good option for businesses that want a simple way to provide their employees with access to the Windows operating system.
When is Azure Virtual Desktop better than Windows 365?
When it comes to AVD vs Windows 365, there are a few key factors to consider. Azure Virtual Desktop may be a better option for businesses that need more control over their environment, as well as businesses that require higher security. Azure Virtual Desktop also offers a more robust set of features and is more customizable than Windows 365. Finally, Azure Virtual Desktop is typically less expensive than Windows 365 when deployed at scale.
What is the difference between Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows Virtual Desktop?
Windows Virtual Desktop was the initial name for Azure Virtual Desktop when it was launched in public preview in September 2018.
Why would you choose Azure Virtual Desktop over Windows 365 for Your Business?
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a cloud-based desktop virtualization service that allows users to access a virtual machine from a remote location. AVD is a great choice for businesses that need to provide their employees with access to a desktop environment for both hybrid work and remote work.
The following are some of the comparative advantages of AVD over Windows 365:
- Has the option to run on ephemeral hosts that are created and eliminated based on load, giving elastic scale consumption of VDI services to SMBs and Enterprise clients alike.
- Elimination of all infrastructure overhead of a "traditional RDS (Remote Desktop Services)" infrastructure. No RDS Broker, Gateway, or Licensing server is required in the AVD Model.
- Optimized cost structure for pooling resources of multiple users running on the same host pool.
Azure Virtual Desktop vs. Remote Desktop Services in Azure?
If you're looking at Azure services for your business, you may wonder what the difference is between Azure Virtual Desktop and Remote Desktop Services. Both Azure services allow you to remotely access a desktop environment, but there are key differences to keep in mind.
Azure Virtual Desktop is the newer PaaS-based service to replace Remote Desktop Services. AVD provides a Windows 10 or Windows 11 Enterprise Multisession experience and can also host published apps. AVD supports FSLogix profile containers while RDS utilizes User Profile Disks and Native Profiles for profile management. When it comes to the connection infrastructure, the control panel for AVD is hosted in Azure as PaaS managed by Microsoft, while RDS is hosted in Azure on VMs managed by either an MSP or the customer themselves.
Is AVD the same as RDS?
No. Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a service that provides virtualized desktops and applications to users. It is based on Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2016, and Azure Resource Manager. Azure Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is a legacy service being replaced by AVD.
Is Azure Virtual Desktop cost-effective?
Yes, Azure Virtual Desktop is cost-effective for businesses. Azure Virtual Desktop provides a way to manage and deploy virtual desktop infrastructure in the cloud. Azure Virtual Desktop reduces the need for on-premises hardware and allows businesses to scale their desktop environment quickly and easily. Azure Virtual Desktop is also backed by Azure SLAs, so businesses can be confident in the availability and performance of their virtual desktop environment.
It helps businesses implement "bring your own device" (BYOD) policies and provides a way to securely access corporate data from any device. Azure Virtual Desktop also integrates with Azure Active Directory, so businesses can easily manage user identities and access control with confidence, excelling at supporting mobile work and work-from-home (WFH) teams.
Is Azure AD and Office 365 the same?
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and Office 365 are two distinct services with different use cases. Azure AD is Microsoft’s cloud-based identity and access management service, which helps your employees sign in and access resources. Office 365 is a suite of productivity and collaboration applications that includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Skype for Business Online.
Does Azure Virtual Desktop work with Office 365?
Yes, Azure Virtual Desktop works with Office 365. You can use Azure Virtual Desktop to access your Office 365 applications from anywhere. Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based service that allows you to connect to your Office 365 applications from any device. Azure Virtual Desktop is available through Azure subscription. Through the use of an FSLogix Office Container, it's possible to optimize Microsoft 365 usage in an AVD environment with non-persistent environments.
Is my company ready for AVD?
As your business grows, you may need a more reliable and efficient desktop solution. Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a cloud-based desktop virtualization service that allows businesses to provide their employees with a secure, remote desktop experience. The question then becomes, is my company ready for Azure Virtual Desktop?
There are a few key factors to consider when making the decision to move to Azure Virtual Desktop. The first is pricing. Azure Virtual Desktop can be a more cost-effective solution for businesses than traditional on-premises desktops. Azure Virtual Desktop is also easy to set up and manage. And finally, Azure Virtual Desktop is an auto-scaling solution that can grow with your business.
What are the benefits of Azure Virtual Desktop?
There are many benefits of Azure Virtual Desktop, including the following:
- Azure Virtual Desktop allows businesses to have a remote desktop infrastructure that is highly secure and scalable.
- Azure Virtual Desktop provides a desktop-as-a-service solution that is cost effective and easy to manage.
- Azure Virtual Desktop gives businesses the flexibility to choose the operating system, applications, and storage that best fit their needs.
- Azure Virtual Desktop seamlessly integrates with other Azure services, such as Azure Active Directory and Azure Security Center.
Thus, Azure Virtual Desktop is an ideal solution for businesses looking for a secure, scalable, and cost-saving desktop-as-a-service solution.
Choosing a Desktop software as a service DaaS for your business
So, is Azure Virtual Desktop the right solution for your business? It depends on several factors, but our team can help you make the decision. At ne Digital we’ve been working with Azure and other cloud compute services for years and are experts in helping companies migrate to the cloud and manage their IT infrastructure. Contact us today to learn more about Azure Virtual Desktop or any of our other services – we would be happy to help!
