Virtual desktop permits users to improve and streamline operations for efficiency. Virtual desktop hosting utilizes technology to distinguish a computer desktop environment from the physical computer hardware. The virtual desktop is saved and maintained on a centralized, remote server – not on the physical machine itself. Perhaps one of the best known virtual platforms on the market is Windows Virtual Desktop. (WVD)
WVD is a cloud-based desktop and app virtualization service running via Microsoft Azure. But changes are on the horizon. Microsoft is rebranding its Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) cloud service as “Azure Virtual Desktop.” Simultaneously, the company is rolling out Independent Software Vendor (ISV)/per-user pricing schedule and unveiling new manageability and security features due to arrive imminently.
Azure provides the basis for the Windows Virtual Desktop and gives users the capability to virtualize their Windows desktop, Office apps, and other third-party applications by running them remotely in Azure virtual machines. Microsoft officially announced (WVD) in September 2018 and made it available for general usage a year later.
On June 7, Microsoft officials announced the AVD-branded capabilities that Microsoft is preparing to “establish broader outlines for the product,” in the words of Kam VedBrat, General Manager of AVD.
The most significant of these new available features is a new pricing structure for application streaming. Microsoft is giving customers and ISVs the ability to use AVD to stream desktops and applications to users outside their own companies. This will allow both IT teams and ISVs to use AVD as the baseline infrastructure for providing apps as a service.
Microsoft vendor Nerdio is one partner who is upbeat about the new pricing options. “We have been working with many ISVs who are trying to solve both the technical architecture and pricing model issues of moving to Azure Virtual Desktop. With the new ISV fixed per-user pricing, it will be much easier for them to design their solutions on top of AVD,” said Joseph Landes, Chief Revenue Officer of IT management.
During the initial rollout period, customers and ISVs can obtain monthly-per-user option for no additional charge, though the underlying Azure services required for WVD (Azure compute, storage, and other services that power their apps) are still a requirement. Initial pricing promotion period runs from July 14 to Dec. 31, 2021. Beginning January 1st of next year, the option will cost $5.50 per user per month for apps and $10 per user per month for apps plus desktop.
New AVD Features On the Way
Enhanced Azure Active Directory support will soon be rolled out for public use. This feature will permit customers to connect their AVD virtual machines directly to Azure Active Directory without the need for an additional domain controller. The future plan will provide support for single sign-on and additional credential types like FIDO2 and Azure Files. Quickstart deployment will give customers the capability to set up and initiate an AVD session from the Azure Portal in just a few minutes.
The WVD/AVD announcements outlined above are not related to the upcoming launch of Microsoft’s Cloud PC virtualization service also known as “Deschutes.” Cloud PC is currently in private testing and may launch in several months, according to insiders. Cloud PC will be sold flat per-user managed Microsoft 365 experience. This is an significant deviation from WVD/AVD pricing, which depends on Azure consumption.
If you are interested in creating a virtual environment based on Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, call the IT professionals at Alliance IT.
