Azure Virtual Desktop vs. Windows 365 – Which One is Right for You?
Are you looking for a way to access a Windows desktop from anywhere, anytime and from any device? Do you want to enjoy the benefits of cloud computing without the complications of managing it? If so, you have two choices from Microsoft: Windows 365 Cloud PC and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). But how do you know which one is right for you? In this post, we will compare these two best of breed DaaS (Desktop-as-a-Service) solutions across five aspects: how they work, how easy they are to use, end-user experience, how much they cost and how to choose between them.
How They Work
Windows 365 Cloud PC is a desktop that runs on a Microsoft-owned Azure subscription. It’s an easy lift to set up and maintain the virtual machines (VMs) that power your desktops. You just need to have an Azure subscription, some networking and directory services that can talk to each other. You can pick between two types of cloud PCs: Enterprise and Business. Enterprise cloud PCs allow more granular control and integration to your existing infrastructure. Business cloud PCs are push-button ready and are great for organizations who don’t have significant infrastructure investments. AVD gives organizations a much greater range of options to meet customer needs, based on the elasticity AVD deployments provide. AVD is fully dependent on your own Azure subscription and resources. You can create and manage your own VMs, update mechanisms, identity and networking settings.
How Easy Is It to Use
Windows 365 Cloud PC is straightforward for IT admins to use. They can use the same tools as they do for their physical and virtual computing environments. They can also use the Windows 365 portal to give cloud PCs to users, change their settings and maintain the environment. AVD, on the other hand, can be tailored to more specific use cases. You can create and manage your own VMs, orchestrate scalability, patching, and operations. You also have more flexibility over your desktops with AVD.
End-User Experience
Windows 365 Cloud PC gives users a smooth and personal desktop experience across devices. Users can access their cloud PCs from any device that can run Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux. They can also use the web browser to access their cloud PCs without downloading anything. Users can switch between devices and pick up where they left off, as their cloud PCs are always on and ready. AVD also gives users a familiar desktop experience, which can be pooled or dedicated. You can choose between different options that affect how your desktops look, feel and behave.
How Much They Cost
Windows 365 Cloud PC has a simple monthly price per user based on the size of the cloud PC (CPU, RAM, storage). The price includes everything you need: Windows 10 or Windows 11 Enterprise license, and VMs running in your Azure subscription. You only pay for what you need, as you can change or cancel your subscription anytime. AVD has a more typical consumption model that depends on a few factors: type and size of the VMs, usage hours, data transfer costs and license type. You also need to have a valid license for Windows 10 or Windows 11 Enterprise or Microsoft 365 Business Premium or higher.
How to Choose Between Them
Windows 365 Cloud PC and AVD are both great DaaS solutions from Microsoft that offer a customized fit based on use-case. Windows 365 Cloud PC is perfect for organizations that want a hassle-free and consistent desktop experience for their users without having to deal with the granularity of management AVD provides. AVD is perfect for organizations that want the convenience of more customization and optimization options for their desktops and are willing to invest in Azure skills and resources.
Don’t have those Azure skills? Red River provides “Remote Workforce Assist (RWA)” – a complete turnkey, fully managed service around AVD. RWA alleviates the pressure organizations feel managing their own DaaS solution. For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our website: Azure Virtual Desktop | Remote Workforce Assist (redriver.com)
