🌩️AVD vs Windows 365: Which is The Best Virtual Desktop Experience?

The world of work is changing fast, and organizations across the globe are embracing remote desktop solutions like never before. Today, we have two major players in this sphere: Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365. These cloud-based platforms offer unparalleled flexibility and efficiency, enabling teams to work seamlessly, no matter where they are. But the question that lingers is, which one is the best for your organization? This article will dive deep into the comparison between AVD and Windows 365, exploring their features, cost-effectiveness, and security measures. By understanding these elements, you will be able to make an informed decision that suits your organizational needs and boosts productivity.

Introduction

The advent of digital transformation has spurred a new era in the way we work. Remote desktop solutions have emerged as a staple in this landscape, offering robust features for effective collaboration, communication, and management of digital resources. Among the numerous solutions available, Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 from Microsoft stand tall due to their seamless integration with other Microsoft services and enterprise-grade security features. The following sections will delve into the basics of these platforms, illuminating their features, pricing structures, and security aspects. By dissecting each aspect, we aim to equip you with the necessary information to choose the solution that fits your organization the best.

What is Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)?

Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop) is a desktop and app virtualization service hosted on the cloud, provided by Microsoft Azure. AVD offers flexible virtualization, enabling organizations to access their desktops and apps anywhere, anytime, and from any device with an internet connection.

AVD supports Windows 10 multi-session, which means multiple users can share a single virtual machine (VM). This feature is exclusive to AVD, making it a unique and cost-effective solution in the market. AVD also supports full desktop virtualization as well as individual app virtualization. This versatility provides organizations with the flexibility to choose the deployment that best suits their needs.

In terms of integration, AVD pairs seamlessly with other Microsoft products such as Microsoft 365, providing a familiar workspace environment. This smooth integration enhances productivity as employees can access their essential tools in a unified platform.

One of the main appeals of AVD is its built-in intelligent security. Microsoft’s Azure has an impressive suite of security measures in place, such as Azure Active Directory (AAD) for identity management, and Azure Firewall for protecting network resources. These features, coupled with Microsoft’s continual investment in security, make AVD a robust and secure choice for virtual desktop deployment.

Lastly, let’s talk about pricing. AVD operates on a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means you only pay for the resources you use. This model makes AVD a scalable solution, allowing organizations to adjust their usage according to their needs and budget.

Key Takeaway: AVD is a flexible, scalable, and secure remote desktop solution with unique features like Windows 10 multi-session and seamless integration with Microsoft products. Its pay-as-you-go pricing model makes it an affordable solution for organizations of all sizes.

What is Windows 365?

Windows 365 is another cloud-based virtual desktop solution by Microsoft. Unlike AVD, which was designed primarily for IT professionals, Windows 365 was created with the end-user in mind. It offers a more straightforward approach to virtual desktops, presenting what Microsoft refers to as a “Cloud PC”.

The Cloud PC provides users with a full Windows experience in the cloud. Users can log into their Cloud PC from any device and pick up right where they left off. The platform is designed to support a variety of workloads, from lightweight tasks to heavy computational work.

Integration is a significant strength of Windows 365 as well. Just like AVD, it integrates perfectly with Microsoft’s suite of services, including Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams. This integration provides users with a familiar work environment, enhancing productivity.

As far as security is concerned, Windows 365 employs Microsoft’s Zero Trust security model, which assumes breach and verifies each request as if it originates from an open network. This stringent security model, coupled with Microsoft’s strong security infrastructure, makes Windows 365 a highly secure platform.

Windows 365 follows a fixed pricing model, where users choose from a range of plans, each offering a certain amount of CPU, RAM, and storage. While this model might not be as flexible as AVD’s, it allows users to predict their costs more accurately, which can be beneficial for budgeting purposes.

Key Takeaway: Windows 365 offers a user-centric approach to virtual desktops with its Cloud PC. It provides a full Windows experience, robust security measures, and seamless integration with Microsoft services. Its fixed pricing model allows for better cost prediction.

Diving Deeper into AVD

Let’s explore AVD more closely, scrutinizing its key features, pricing structure, and security aspects.

Key Features of AVD

AVD offers an array of powerful features that sets it apart from other virtual desktop solutions. Its standout feature is Windows 10/11 multi-session, which allows multiple users to share the same Windows 10/11 desktop experience, thus reducing costs associated with virtual machine instances. Other significant features include:

• Persistent and non-persistent desktops: Depending on your organization’s needs, you can opt for persistent desktops (each user gets a personal desktop) or non-persistent desktops (users get a random desktop at each login).
• App virtualization: This allows you to deliver specific apps to users instead of an entire desktop, reducing the resources required.
• Seamless integration with Microsoft services: AVD works flawlessly with Microsoft 365 and other services, providing users with a familiar workspace.

Pricing Structure of AVD

AVD follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, which means you only pay for the resources you use. The pricing is based on the virtual machine type and the runtime. This flexible pricing model allows organizations to scale their usage according to their needs, making AVD a cost-effective solution.

Security Aspects of AVD

Security is a top priority for AVD. It incorporates Azure’s robust security features, including Azure Active Directory for identity and access management and Azure Firewall for network protection. In addition, AVD’s built-in intelligent security offers threat protection and data security, safeguarding your organization’s sensitive information.

Key Takeaway: AVD’s unique features like Windows 10/11 multi-session, app virtualization, and seamless integration with Microsoft services make it a flexible and scalable solution. Its pay-as-you-go pricing model and robust security measures add to its appeal.

Unraveling Windows 365

Now, let’s shift our focus to Windows 365 and explore its key features, pricing structure, and security aspects.

Key Features of Windows 365

Windows 365 simplifies the virtual desktop experience with its user-friendly Cloud PC, allowing users to pick up their work from any device, anytime. Some of the key features include:

• Full Windows experience: Users get a complete Windows desktop in the cloud, enhancing productivity.
• Fixed resources: Each Windows 365 plan offers a fixed amount of CPU, RAM, and storage, ensuring consistent performance.
• Seamless integration with Microsoft services: Like AVD, Windows 365 integrates perfectly with Microsoft 365 and other services.

Pricing Structure of Windows 365

Unlike AVD’s pay-as-you-go model, Windows 365 follows a fixed pricing model. Each plan offers a certain amount of resources at a fixed price. This structure enables users to predict their costs more accurately, which can be beneficial for budgeting purposes.

Security Aspects of Windows 365

Windows 365 employs Microsoft’s Zero Trust security model, which assumes breach and verifies each request as if it originates from an open network. Additionally, it leverages Microsoft’s strong security infrastructure, making it a highly secure platform.

Key Takeaway: Windows 365 simplifies the virtual desktop experience with its Cloud PC, offering a full Windows experience and fixed resources for consistent performance. Its fixed pricing model allows for better cost prediction, while its robust security measures ensure a secure environment.

AVD vs Windows 365: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Now that we’ve explored the individual aspects of AVD and Windows 365, let’s pit them against each other to gain a clearer understanding of their capabilities. We’ll compare their features, analyze their cost-effectiveness, and contrast their security measures.

Feature Comparison

Both AVD and Windows 365 offer robust features, but their usage and implementation differ.

In terms of user experience, AVD’s standout feature is the Windows 10/11 multi-session, which allows multiple users to share the same desktop experience. This can significantly reduce costs associated with running separate VM instances for each user. On the other hand, Windows 365 provides a Cloud PC that offers a full Windows experience to the user, streamlining the transition to a virtual desktop environment.

While both platforms provide seamless integration with Microsoft services, AVD’s app virtualization feature stands out. It allows organizations to deliver specific apps to users, reducing the resources required and further enhancing its cost-effectiveness.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis

The cost structures of AVD and Windows 365 vary, and each has its own advantages. AVD operates on a pay-as-you-go model, where you pay for the resources you use. This flexibility allows you to scale according to your needs and can be a more cost-effective solution for organizations with fluctuating resource demands.

Windows 365, on the other hand, uses a fixed pricing model. Each plan offers a certain amount of resources at a set price, providing a consistent and predictable cost. This model can be advantageous for organizations that have a steady demand for resources and prefer to budget their costs in advance.

Security Comparison

Both AVD and Windows 365 boast impressive security features. AVD leverages Azure’s robust security infrastructure, including Azure Active Directory and Azure Firewall. It also includes intelligent security features that offer threat protection and data security.

Windows 365 employs a different approach with the Zero Trust security model, which assumes breach and verifies each request as if it originates from an open network. This stringent security model, along with Microsoft’s robust security infrastructure, makes Windows 365 a highly secure platform.

In conclusion, the choice between AVD and Windows 365 will depend on your organization’s specific needs, budget, and security requirements.

Dimension	Windows 365	Azure Virtual Desktop
Technical Architecture	Built on top of existing AVD components but has a different transactional model (fixed price vs. consumption-based)	Built on Azure cloud with flexible consumption-based pricing
IT Admin Experience	Aims to simplify management by making it identical to managing existing physical desktop assets and leveraging the same set of Microsoft tools to manage physical and virtual PCs	Relies heavily on Azure management concepts and provides maximum flexibility
End-user Experience	Almost identical to AVD	Provides access to a Windows desktop
Licensing and Infrastructure Costs	Fixed price model	Consumption-based pricing
Cloud PC License Cost	Fully managed by Microsoft at fixed costs	Entirely customer-managed with flexible consumption-based pricing

Key Takeaway: While both AVD and Windows 365 offer robust features, their cost structures and security measures differ. AVD’s flexible pricing and unique features like Windows 10 multi-session and app virtualization might be advantageous for some organizations. In contrast, Windows 365’s user-friendly Cloud PC, predictable pricing, and stringent security could appeal to others.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Organization

Deciding between AVD and Windows 365 can be challenging as both platforms offer compelling features. Your choice will ultimately depend on your organization’s specific needs and circumstances. Let’s explore the considerations for choosing AVD and Windows 365.

Considerations for Choosing AVD

When contemplating AVD, consider the following:

• Flexibility and Scalability: AVD’s Windows 10/11 multi-session and app virtualization features provide flexibility in terms of deployment. If you need to accommodate a variable number of users or want to provide access to specific applications, AVD is a great choice.
• Integration with Microsoft Services: AVD integrates seamlessly with Microsoft services, which can significantly enhance productivity if your organization heavily relies on these services.
• Pricing Structure: If your organization has fluctuating resource needs, AVD’s pay-as-you-go pricing model could offer significant cost savings. You only pay for what you use, making it easier to scale according to your needs.
• Security: AVD’s robust security features, including Azure Active Directory and Azure Firewall, offer comprehensive protection for your virtual desktop environment.

Considerations for Choosing Windows 365

When considering Windows 365, keep in mind the following aspects:

• User Experience: Windows 365 offers a straightforward user experience with its Cloud PC. If your organization values simplicity and wants to provide a full Windows experience to users, Windows 365 is a great choice.
• Fixed Resources: Windows 365 offers fixed resources in terms of CPU, RAM, and storage. If you prefer consistency in performance and have a steady demand for resources, this model could be advantageous.
• Pricing Structure: If you prefer predictable costs for budgeting purposes, Windows 365’s fixed pricing model would be suitable. However, it might not offer the same level of flexibility as AVD in terms of scalability.
• Security: Windows 365 employs the Zero Trust security model, which provides stringent security measures to protect your virtual desktop environment.

Key Takeaway: The choice between AVD and Windows 365 ultimately depends on your organization’s needs and preferences. Consider the flexibility, integration capabilities, pricing structure, and security measures of each platform to make an informed decision.

Real-World Use Cases

To fully understand the capabilities of these platforms, let’s take a look at AVD and how it’s been utilized in a real-world scenario.

AVD in Action

Waterloo Region District School Board in Ontario, serving over 64,000 students, faced challenges providing tech students with remote access to high-performance applications. Aging computer labs, high replacement costs, and unequal access for home-based learning students added complexity.

The board needed a secure, ubiquitous solution enabling students and staff to access a high-performance desktop from any device. Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), an on-demand cloud system, offered simplified IT infrastructure, lower costs, and enhanced security. It meant pay-for-use computing resources, available worldwide with internet access.

The scalable AVD, familiar and compatible due to its Windows 10 foundation, was customized for the Board’s needs, addressing GPU technical workloads, Office Suite, and administrative applications. After successful internal staff piloting, a graduated rollout was conducted by Microsoft Gold Partner, Softlanding, over three months, increasing the adoption rate among students, teachers, and IT staff. Tech teacher champions provided training support.

This solution equitably provided access to software tools in a hybrid learning situation, benefiting over 5200 students by November 2021 without the need for physical lab bookings.

Results included improved student and teacher experience with anytime, anywhere access from any device and consistent performance. Business benefits included cost savings, freeing up physical space, and scalability. Security and support were enhanced through secure workspaces, deep Azure security integrations, and reduced software fragmentation.

Key Takeaway: AVD and Windows 365 can cater to a variety of needs, as demonstrated by these real-world use cases. Whether it’s a multinational corporation needing flexibility and scalability or a small to medium-sized enterprise valuing simplicity and predictability, both platforms have proven to be efficient solutions.

Leaping Forward: Your Next Steps

Once you’ve made your decision between AVD and Windows 365, the next step is implementation. Here’s a general guide on how to incorporate each platform into your organization’s infrastructure.

How to Implement AVD in Your Organization

Implementing AVD in your organization involves a few steps:

• Plan your Deployment: Begin by assessing your organization’s needs. Determine the number of users, the applications they require, and the resources needed to run these applications efficiently.
• Set up your Azure Subscription: You’ll need an Azure subscription to use AVD. If you don’t have one, sign up for it on the Azure website.
• Create your Host Pools: Host pools are a collection of Azure VMs that register to AVD as session hosts when they are deployed. You can create different host pools based on your organization’s requirements.
• Assign Users: Once your host pools are set up, you can start assigning users to them. Users will access their virtual desktops through these host pools.
• Configure Your Environment: Set up your virtual network, storage, and other necessary components. Be sure to test your environment to ensure everything is running smoothly.
• Train your Users: After everything is set up, train your users on how to access and use their virtual desktops.

How to Implement Windows 365 in Your Organization

Here are the steps to implement Windows 365:

• Evaluate Your Needs: Start by determining your organization’s resource requirements. Identify the number of users and the resources they need for their tasks.
• Sign Up for Windows 365: Once you’ve identified your needs, go to the Windows 365 website and choose the plan that best fits your organization.
• Assign Licenses to Users: After signing up, assign Windows 365 licenses to your users through the Microsoft 365 admin center.
• Configure Your Cloud PCs: For each user, set up a Cloud PC with the necessary settings and applications.
• Educate your Users: Once the Cloud PCs are set up, educate your users on how to access and use their Cloud PCs.

Remember, implementation will require thoughtful planning and might necessitate the assistance of IT professionals, depending on your organization’s complexity.

Key Takeaway: Implementing AVD or Windows 365 in your organization requires planning and careful execution. Begin by assessing your needs, then follow through with setup, user assignment, and user training.

Unleashing Your Remote Desktop Potential

Taking the plunge and adopting a remote desktop solution can truly revolutionize your organization. Let’s recap our key takeaways and provide some final thoughts on achieving a more efficient remote desktop experience.

Recap of Key Takeaways

• Understanding AVD and Windows 365: Both are robust solutions offered by Microsoft. AVD is a highly flexible and scalable solution that leverages Azure’s powerful infrastructure. Windows 365 offers a Cloud PC that provides a full Windows experience.
• AVD vs Windows 365: Each platform has unique features, pricing structures, and security measures that might be advantageous to certain organizations.
• Choosing the Right Platform: The choice between AVD and Windows 365 ultimately depends on your organization’s specific needs. Consider the flexibility, integration capabilities, pricing structure, and security measures of each platform to make an informed decision.
• Implementation: After making your choice, implementation involves several steps, from planning your deployment to training your users.

Final Thoughts for a More Efficient Remote Desktop Experience

Whether you choose AVD or Windows 365, remember that the best solution is the one that meets your organization’s unique needs. Be sure to involve key stakeholders in the decision-making process, consider the user experience, and ensure your choice aligns with your budget. A more efficient remote desktop experience is within reach, and the potential benefits to your organization are vast.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I migrate from AVD to Windows 365?

Migrating from AVD to Windows 365 involves several steps. You’ll need to back up your data, purchase Windows 365 licenses, assign these licenses to your users, set up their Cloud PCs, and then restore your data on the new platform. Consulting with a Microsoft Partner can streamline this process.

Which solution provides better support for mobile devices?

Both AVD and Windows 365 offer robust support for mobile devices. Users can access their virtual desktops or Cloud PCs from iOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices. The choice between the two would depend on other factors, such as cost, scalability, and specific feature needs.

How does the user experience compare between AVD and Windows 365?

While AVD offers a solid user experience, especially with features like Windows 10/11 multi-session, Windows 365 tends to have a slight edge due to its Cloud PC, which provides a full Windows experience.

What are the scalability options for each solution?

AVD offers excellent scalability options with its pay-as-you-go model, which allows you to scale according to your needs. Windows 365 offers fixed resources, which may limit its scalability, but ensures consistent performance.

Can I customize security settings on both AVD and Windows 365?

Yes, both AVD and Windows 365 offer customizable security settings. AVD leverages Azure’s robust security features, while Windows 365 employs a Zero Trust security model. Both can be tailored to meet your organization’s specific security needs.

Sources

• “Azure Active Directory | Microsoft Azure.” Microsoft.com, 2021, azure.microsoft.com/en-ca/products/active-directory. Accessed 30 June 2023.
• “Login | Microsoft 365.” Office.com, 2023, www.office.com/. Accessed 30 June 2023.
• “Welcome to Your Windows 365 Cloud PC | Windows 365.” Microsoft.com, 2022, www.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-365. Accessed 30 June 2023.
• “Zero Trust Model – Modern Security Architecture | Microsoft Security.” Microsoft.com, 2023, www.microsoft.com/en-ca/security/business/zero-trust. Accessed 30 June 2023.
• vhorne. “What Is Azure Firewall?” Microsoft.com, 24 Mar. 2023, learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/firewall/overview. Accessed 30 June 2023.

Article Updated for Jun 30, 2023