Virtual desktops are by no means a new concept. They’ve been around for a number of years.
Microsoft are not the only provider of virtual desktop services with healthy competition from all the big players in the cloud technologies industry.
Although creating a virtual desktop environment for your business is far easier than setting up a physical one, you will likely still need an expert to help with what may seem like a complicated setup process to the unfamiliar.
So why do it? What real advantages will your business have when adopting this technology?
We’ve broken down the top reasons to consider Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)…
Flexibility
Hybrid working is here to stay. AVD allows you to access your “work computer” from any device, anywhere, anytime. That’s any personal or company PC, laptop, tablet or mobile from any internet-connected location.
Scalability
Once you’ve set up one or more virtual desktops in the management console, adding a new user couldn’t be easier. You can have a new starter setup within minutes and likewise, can remove access instantly. This is all managed from a central location making it so easy to scale your business in a heartbeat.
Affordability
The payment structure may seem a little complicated at first glance but the concept is really pretty straightforward - with AVD you pay for what you use. You’ll need a certain Microsoft 365 licence for each user, such as 365 Business Premium. Utilising the Windows 10 multi-session capability within AVD means less virtual machines and therefore less cost. Turn off your virtual desktops when you’re not using them and save yourself even more.
Availability
Give your employees the right tools for their job. You can design specific pc builds for different areas of the business. For example, your Sales team could share a desktop configured with access to M365 Office apps and a CRM, while your factory staff have a build with access to the MRP alone.
The cloud infrastructure is always on and always available so you won’t have to worry about access again.
Security
Using Azure Active Directory Conditional Access you can apply the right security controls to your user accounts and devices. You can set password policies, enable multi-factor authentication, configure auto-updates, disable auto-run and control many more essential security features. You won’t have to worry about security updates and patching as this is all taken care of in AVD, keeping your applications and systems up to date. Your data is secured in Azure cloud infrastructure so you’ll never have to worry about losing access to your vital information. Of course, you can also leverage the Azure security solutions within your virtual environment such as Azure Firewall and Azure Security Centre.
Simplicity
Azure Virtual Desktop can give you the best of both world: the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere at any time with the security and stability you’d expect from a physical infrastructure – all at a fraction of the cost. Managing your end users, devices, virtual machines and deployments is made easier from a single interface, giving you the control that you need over your environment and allowing you the time to focus on your business.
James Naylor
James Naylor is ITbuilder's Managing Director and Founder. He has worked in technology since the early nineties and, after a decade in the corporate world, went into business himself.
James has lead ITbuilder for over two decades, building the business into the force that it is today, but is still a technician at heart and still very hands on with tech.
Despite growing up in Hertfordshire, James lives in the Netherlands for five years as well as London, before returning and setting up the base in Hertford, where he lives today.
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