Why Azure Virtual Desktop is essential for your modern workplace

The modern workplace requires flexibility, security, and efficiency. Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) offers a comprehensive solution to meet these demands. By delivering virtual desktops and applications to users, AVD enables organizations to unlock new levels of productivity, collaboration, and cost-effectiveness.?

In this article, we will explore the strategic advantages of adopting Azure Virtual Desktop and showcase its potential to transform your business operations. As well as provide clear guidance on determining your eligibility for this powerful cloud service.?

Azure Virtual Desktop Overview?

Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based service that delivers secure, remote access to Windows desktops and applications. It empowers your workforce to work from anywhere on any device, without compromising security or performance.?

Key benefits of Azure VD include:?

• Access from anywhere: Enjoy a full Windows 11 or Windows 10 experience on any device.?
• Complete control: Maintain full configuration and management over your virtual desktops.?
• Enhanced security: Leverage the robust security features of Azure.?
• Cost optimization: Save with multi-session environments and pay-per-use pricing.?

?

Core Azure Virtual Desktop components?

Azure VD user experience?

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) provides a persistent, user-centric virtual desktop environment accessible via various endpoints. Leveraging technologies like FSLogix and Azure AD, AVD delivers optimized user profiles, application performance, and seamless roaming between physical and virtual desktops.?

AVD remote app streaming?

AVD’s remote app streaming capabilities enable the delivery of individual applications to users without requiring a full desktop. This approach utilizes Remote Desktop Services (RDS) technology and Azure’s scalable infrastructure to provide on-demand access to applications. By decoupling applications from the underlying OS, AVD optimizes resource utilization and enhances application performance.?

Azure VD security?

AVD incorporates a layered security model, combining Azure platform security with additional features like Azure AD Conditional Access, network security groups, and application control. This approach protects virtual desktops, applications, and user data from unauthorized access and threats.?

Azure VD management?

AVD simplifies management through the Azure portal and PowerShell cmdlets. Features like Azure Resource Manager templates and Azure Automation enable automation and orchestration of AVD environments. Additionally, AVD integrates with Azure Monitor for performance monitoring and troubleshooting.?

Azure VD resilience?

Built on Azure’s highly available infrastructure, AVD provides inherent resilience through features like automatic failover, load balancing, and geo-redundancy. Availability Zones and Azure Site Recovery can be leveraged for enhanced disaster recovery capabilities. AVD also supports features like session state backup and application recovery to protect user data and application configurations.?

Azure VD BCDR?

AVD offers comprehensive BCDR capabilities by integrating with Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery. These services enable regular backups of virtual machine images, application data, and user profiles. In case of a disaster, AVD can be recovered to a secondary region using Azure Site Recovery, ensuring business continuity and minimal downtime.?

Read about Azure VD in more detail, here.

What you can do when you run Azure Virtual Desktop on Azure?

Simplify VDI management with AVD?

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) transforms traditional VDI by shifting the focus from complex infrastructure management to user experience and security. By centralizing desktop and application delivery, AVD empowers IT teams to efficiently manage and scale virtual environments while ensuring seamless access for employees. Securely deliver full desktops and applications to any device, granting your workforce the flexibility to work from anywhere.?

Unlock hybrid work scenarios with Azure VD?

Azure Virtual Desktop empowers organizations to thrive in a hybrid work environment by addressing critical challenges:?

• Enhanced security: Centralize data and reduce attack surfaces to improve regulatory compliance and protect intellectual property.?
• Scalable performance: Deliver high-performance computing resources for demanding workloads like design and development through cloud-scale infrastructure.?
• BYOD flexibility: Enable secure access to virtual desktops on employees’ personal devices.?
• Business continuity: Ensure uninterrupted operations and data accessibility with robust disaster recovery capabilities.?
• Agile workforce: Simplify onboarding and offboarding for temporary or contract workers.?
• Smooth mergers and acquisitions: Facilitate seamless integration of disparate IT environments.?

Azure Virtual Desktop licensing requirements?

Many customers are already eligible for Azure VD, here’s how to know if you’re eligible.?

Client?

Customers are eligible to access Windows 11 and Windows 10 single and multi-session, and Windows 7 with AVD if they have one of the following licenses:?

• Microsoft 365 E3/E5?
• Microsoft 365 A3/A5/Student Use Benefits?
• Microsoft 365 F3?
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
• Windows 11 and Windows 10 Enterprise E3/E5?
• Windows 11 and Windows 10 Education A3/A5?
• Windows 11 and Windows 10 VDA E3/E5?

Server?

Customers are eligible to access Server workloads with AVD if they have one of the following licenses:?

• RDS CAL License with active Software Assurance (SA) or RDS User Subscription Licenses.?

Customers pay for the virtual machines (VMs), storage, and networking consumed when the users are using the service.?

For more information about Microsoft Business licensing or to purchase licenses, go to 365cloudstore.com?

Read more about implementing AVD in our guide: Azure Virtual Desktop Guide: How Does It Work?

Let Team Venti be your guide to Azure Virtual Desktop?

With almost 20 years of experience as a Microsoft Solutions Partner, Team venti can help you implement and manage AVD for your organization. Our Azure VD QuickStart is designed to seamlessly integrate with your organization’s workflow, it includes:?

• Project planning??
• AVD POC:??Setup AVD service??Deploy VMs and applications??Scaling plan??Domain controller configuration??Solution validation??
• FSLogix Implementation:??Create Azure storage??File share??Integrate with AD??Set permissions??Configure session hosts??Validate profile creation??
• Present our implementation report?

Ready to unlock the power of Azure Virtual Desktop? Contact us today!?