Over the past few months, we’ve been taking you on a whistlestop tour into the world of Windows 365 and its many benefits (see here where it all began).
Also known as Microsoft’s Cloud PC, Windows 365 is a secure, efficient and versatile solution ideal for any organization looking to embrace flexible work. However, as you may know, it’s not the only Microsoft virtual desktop solution we have available to businesses.
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is also out there, and, at first, it even looks quite similar to Windows 365 – so you might be wondering which one works best for you and what the differences between the two actually are. That’s where we come in.
Here’s a look at the two solutions, how they compare, and what business needs they can help solve.
At a glance: Windows 365 vs Azure Virtual Desktop
On the face of it, W365 and AVD look almost identical, being both Windows virtual machines running on the Azure Cloud. In reality, they are two different cloud models designed for differing needs and use cases.
On the one hand, Windows 365 is a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that securely streams personalized Windows desktop, apps, settings, and content from the Microsoft Cloud to any device. Secure, easy to use and to deploy, it allows employees to stream their full personalized persistent desktop experience from the cloud to any device, anywhere.
Meanwhile, AVD is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) that delivers hosted desktops and apps with maximum flexibility and control. A key feature is that’s highly customizable, meaning you can build your own desktop environment however you need, directly to your users.
Use cases
We recently delved into Windows 365’s many use cases in another one of our article series, but here’s what differentiates it from AVD: usage needs and Customer’s responsibilities.
AVD comes with a pay-per-usage kind of approach, so you may want to choose it if you already know that you’re not going to use that virtual machine for long stints of time. If your business case requires only a few hours per month, for example, AVD may be more convenient.
If, on the other hand, you already know that you will need a virtual machine for your user for extended periods of time, then you may want to pick Windows 365, which has a fixed price per month.
Management of on-premises VDI, Azure Virtual Desktop, and Windows 365 differ regarding roles and responsibilities as shown in the table below. Some of the responsibilities that are unique capabilities for Windows 365 are managed by Microsoft, so if you’re looking for a solution that’s optimized for simplicity and user experience, consider Windows 365 today!
A hybrid way is possible
These two solutions are not mutually exclusive and can actually work together.
For example, in one organization some the users might need Windows 365 and others might need AVD. You could also choose to assign one Windows 365 license and one AVD license to the same user based on the different needs that they might have. A developer, for instance, might need an AVD machine to test a piece of software that they may be developing and a Windows 365 one to stay connected with the rest of the organization.
What Swiss technology company ABB is doing is another prime example. In need of a cloud-capable solution to help them enhance global collaboration, meet changing security needs, and support sustainability, ABB recently adopted a solution that brings them both together. The decision has led to a 50% cost reduction, enhanced security, and improved global collaboration.
Get your Windows 365 journey started today: reach out to your account manager or preferred partner.
Read more about ABB’s digital transformation story here
Learn how Norwegian company Aker Solutions is using AVD here
