Today, various organizations are exploring hybrid workplaces. Note that rotating workers between working from the office and from home can promote work-life balance and increase productivity. Also, most companies are adopting this approach to tame the spread of the pandemic through physical distancing. However, not all work environments are the same. Particularly, remote employees remain productive if they have a seamless, secure, and familiar method of connecting and accessing their employer's workflows, networks, and data from outside the office. Additionally, remote workers may use a mix of network connections, company-issued devices, and personal devices to complete office tasks. The only problem is that if the security of personal devices is lax, they can be compromised, which can lead to the loss of valuable company data. Indeed, you can minimize disruptions in productivity by allowing team members to use familiar work processes, desktops, and applications. As much as that is the case, you cannot afford to overlook security, and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) can address that. Microsoft has two DaaS options. These are Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD).
Streaming the full experience of Windows OS through the internet is possible, thanks to Windows 365. After launching the service in July 2021, Microsoft claimed that it represents a new way for entities of all sizes to experience Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems in the cloud. That implies that Windows 365 is taking Windows OS to the cloud. In turn, that allows users to access their favorite Windows apps anytime and from anywhere, using any browser or device. The interesting bit is that running the Windows OS, its settings, and its apps in an actual Windows environment is possible through Windows 365.So, users do not need to rely on an emulated or virtualized platform whether they are streaming to a macOS, Windows, IOS, Linux, or Android device due to the capabilities of Cloud PC.
Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) was replaced by Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). AVD refers to a cloud-based service that allows firms to host and use Windows on the web. Note that before changing its pricing model and adding new features, Microsoft built the DaaS product on top of its Azure Cloud Services. Understand that both Microsoft and Microsoft Partners can handle Windows 365 and AVD DaaS's back-end, and both platforms run on Azure's cloud infrastructure.
Once Microsoft announced AVD in 2018, its initial reception was lackluster. The reason was that most entities were skeptical about moving their workflows to the cloud using Microsoft Azure Cloud Services. After that, China announced the first cases of COVID-19 in 2019.That is when health organizations started encouraging companies to allow employees to either practice social distancing if remote work was impossible or allow workers to work from home. In that case, the need to support remote work became critical, which was a compelling reason to move to Azure. Unfortunately, many firms did not have the dedicated IT resources or in-house skills necessary to manage WVD, nor did they require full customization. The solution, in this case, was a desktop virtualization infrastructure that would use such existing resources like familiar Windows apps, Windows 10 licenses, and the Microsoft Endpoint Manager portal. Eventually, such infrastructure would simplify rapid transitions. That is what led to the development and launch of Windows 365. Various aspects differentiate Windows 365 from AVD, and here are some of them.
Windows 365 offers fixed pricing, although it is a subscription-based service. So, you will be paying a flat fee monthly depending on the Cloud PC configuration you choose. Also, regardless of the amount of time Windows 365 customers spend on their Cloud PCs, they can pay a per-user fee. On the contrary, AVD charges by consumption. That means that in the case of AVD, you will pay per usage monthly. Note that different rates will apply here depending on whether you are using a combination of desktop services and apps or apps alone. The Windows 10 or Windows 11 license you have will also affect AVD pricing.
There are several use cases where you will discover Windows 365 is better than AVD, and below are some of them.
Here are some of the use cases where AVD may work better than Windows 365.
Although Windows 365 and AVD share the same global control plane and run on top of the Azure cloud architecture, their deployment differs. Windows 365 relies on cloud-based computers, and the Cloud PCs are permanently dedicated to individual users. AVD, on the other hand, makes use of session host virtual machines (VMs). That suggests that AVD users can optimize cloud costs based on usage through reserved instances and auto-scaling. Also, you can use AVD session host VMs as pooled desktops and personal computers.
If you are considering the best option between Windows 365 and AVD, you need to establish the requirements of your organization first. That way, you will identify the cloud-based platform that will help you achieve the most once you analyze the capabilities of the two.