Microsoft’s Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) is a scalable, secure, and easy-to-manage desktop and app virtualization service. It is a modern solution that enables businesses to deliver a seamless experience to their end-users. Moreover, WVD contributes to the long-term sustainability of businesses by supporting remote & hybrid work environments.
To support organizations in the post-pandemic business landscape & to empower them in the wake of changing customer needs, Microsoft has announced new features and rebranded Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) as Azure Virtual Desktop.
Now, let us explore the new features of WVD or Windows Virtual Desktop announced by Microsoft & look at how businesses can benefit from the same.
Increased Support for Azure Active Directory (AAD)
Azure Active Directory is a cloud-based identity and access management service. By using AAD, businesses can effectively manage their user access to important data and apps. At the same time, it also helps them in maintaining a strong & resilient security control.
Now, businesses using WVD, or Windows Virtual Desktop would be able to join their virtual machines to AAD directly. This means that businesses can connect to Virtual Machines with basic credentials easily from any device.
This is indeed a piece of very good news for WVD users. This enhanced support for AAD not only “eliminates the need for a domain controller but also reduces costs and streamlines their deployment.”
Effective Management of multi-session Virtual Machines with Microsoft Endpoint Manager
Microsoft Endpoint Manager is an integrated service for device management. It enables businesses to manage policies and distribute applications across devices. Following the new updates, businesses using WVD can now automatically enroll virtual machines. Moreover, they can also easily manage Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session virtual machines. Microsoft Endpoint Manager allows businesses “to host multiple users on the same machine running Windows 10 Enterprise on the cloud”. It provides WVD users with a unified view across both physical devices as well as virtual desktops. At the same, it also paves the way for simplified management of the same.
Quick Start Experience
The new QuickStart feature creates a streamlined onboarding experience for Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) in the Azure Portal. It empowers businesses to support a hybrid work environment. As per Microsoft, this new feature would enable businesses to “quickly deploy these environments for understanding how they work, how their apps behave in them, how to think about app groups as well as host pools, etc.”
New Pricing Options For Remote App Streaming
Remote App streaming allows businesses to run their app in Azure and accordingly stream it to a remote device. This helps businesses using WVD to create a high-performance and low latency user experience on any device from virtually anywhere.
Microsoft has announced monthly per-user pricing for WVD users. With this new pricing, businesses can deliver their app as a SaaS solution that can be easily accessed by their customers. It will be effective from 1st January 2022. However, a special promotion offer has been announced concerning external user access rights. From 14th July 2021 to 31st December 2021, “businesses can access WVD for streaming first-party or third-party applications to external users at no charge.”
Nevertheless, businesses would continue to pay for the underlying Azure Infrastructure based on usage.
As a Microsoft Gold Partner with over 11+ years of Industry experience, Dhyey Consulting (https://dhyey.com/) can assure you a seamless experience in terms of services like Windows Virtual Desktop ( WVD) & Microsoft Azure.
For more details contact us at enquiry@dhyey.com
