Azure Virtual Desktop and the move to hybrid

 

Microsoft recently introduced the all-new Azure Virtual Desktop – with a change of name (from Windows Virtual Desktop), logo, capabilities, as well as pricing. Azure Virtual Desktop is a flexible cloud virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform that securely delivers virtual desktops and remote apps with maximum control.

The interest in Azure Virtual Desktop will only continue to grow in the coming months as businesses plan what the future of the workplace looks like, and for many this will be a hybrid work model. AVD fits perfectly into this model as it allows users to access everything they need to work, regardless of where they are located or what device they are using.

Through the use of a Virtual Desktop, it also increases security, which has been a constant issue throughout the last year and a half of remote work. As the Virtual Desktops can be managed from a single point, this makes it easier for IT administrators to deploy new Virtual Desktops, as well as update and patch all machines at the same time. This is an added benefit when considering hybrid working as devices can be updated and fixed without needing to be physically with the device.

Many of the new Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) capabilities are aimed at increasing security and simplifying management for IT Administrators. In the new update, one of the most exciting changes is the enhanced support for Azure Activity Directory (AAD). Soon AVD Virtual Machines will be able to connect to your AAD—this will allow users to connect to Virtual Machines from any device, from any location, by just logging in with their basic credentials. From an IT administrator standpoint, this will simplify deployment, and for an end-user this will make the process more streamlined and support the move to a hybrid workplace.

The workplace is changing, and Azure Virtual Desktop can help facilitate this change. It brings together Microsoft 365 and Azure to provide users with the only multi-session Windows 10 experience—with exceptional scale and reduced IT costs. At Simplex Services too, we’ve been helping our customers move to a hybrid workplace with customized virtualisation and Desktop-as-a-Service solutions.