What is Windows Virtual Desktop?
Windows Virtual Desktop is a comprehensive Cloud based desktop and app virtualisation service. Virtual desktops are widely used by employees of large organisations where access to their desktop is needed from various devices, eg across both work and personal devices. Windows Virtual Desktop enables employees to not only access their desktops but also the specific applications on them via almost any browser without the need for that application to be installed any device. It’s also compatible across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android.
Virtual desktops separate your operating system, apps and data from local hardware and run them on a remote server rather than the device itself. This enables businesses to clearly separate their computer environment to the user device, lessening the risk of confidential information being left on personal devices or a potential data breach.
Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop is hosted on Microsoft Azure which is highly secure and it is a comprehensive virtualisation service built specially for Windows 10.
Core Features of Windows Virtual Desktop:
- Manage Windows 10, Windows Server, and Windows 7 desktops and apps with a unified management experience
- Set up a multi-session Windows 10 deployment that delivers a full Windows 10 with scalability
- Virtualise Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
- Provide Windows 7 virtual desktops with Extended Security Updates
- Bring your existing Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Windows Server desktops and apps to any computer
- Virtualise both desktops and applications
Added Convenience Benefits of Windows Virtual Desktop
With employees being able to log-in online to a virtual desktop on any device at any time and conveniently access all their files Windows Virtual Desktop enables them their work more efficiently as they don’t need to take their work laptop everywhere they go.
Virtual desktops are an invaluable asset for employees working from home, with flexible working schemes or those who opt in you use their own devices for work purposes (BYOD schemes).
Reduced IT Hardware Costs
Windows Virtual Desktops have been rolled out by many businesses as they help reduce IT hardware costs. A virtual desktop can be accessed from any device, so businesses with a BYOD approach avoid the need to purchase company devices because employees can use their personal ones. Also, if you have flexible working or part time workers, you can enable employees to share devices by adding their desktop to an existing computer as a thin client.
Enhanced Security
Microsoft Virtual Desktop offers the same high level of security as its host, Azure. Microsoft Azure has numerous benefits, it has more compliance certificates than any other cloud service provider. The security risks associated with virtual desktops are much lower because the information is stored in a VPN which only grants access to the employee it belongs to, they also have a lower number of data paths requiring inspection, meaning that monitoring is simpler and faster. Many larger businesses have chosen to implement virtual desktops for the greater control over access and security and to lower their IT Support overheads for remote workers.
Summary
Windows Virtual Desktop licensing is affordable for all; you pay for Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Storage consumed by users during their use of the service, so you only pay for what you use.
Windows Virtual Desktop provides cost and time savings, increased security and increased employee efficiency. As a result of these benefits, many companies are transitioning to this service and away from their restrictive hardware systems.
Infinity Group are one of the UK’s top Microsoft Gold Partners, to find out more about Windows Virtual Desktop, please get in touch.
**Windows 11 has now been released. Find out more about the upgrade here.
