Make your workforce scalable with Azure Virtual Desktop

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns has meant that businesses have had to adapt quickly and respond to the challenge of having staff no longer in the office and remote working. As a result, many organisations have offered their staff the option to resume working from home (WFH) - Nationwide Building Society being one example - but what strains does this put on an organisation’s infrastructure?

This issue plus the increased interest in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) can be managed in the form of Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly referred to as Windows Virtual Desktop). We’ll be highlighting what it is, how it works and the benefits it offers.

What is Azure Virtual Desktop?

Azure Virtual Desktop is a desktop and app virtualisation service that runs on Microsoft’s Azure cloud. With no installation needed and with immediate effect, this is the perfect solution for your remote working teams. Regardless of the device they’re on, they can access their working environment from wherever they happen to be. Not only does this bring greater flexibility but means that everyone is using the same platform(s). 

Desktop and applications access can be made possible on any computer - Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or HTML5. By selecting the right Azure virtual machine (VM), you can optimise performance as well as run simultaneous multiple interactive sessions that were earlier, only possible with a Windows Server. One resulting benefit is a cost saving.

Let’s go into more detail and discover the benefits that Azure Virtual Desktop will bring to your organisation.

The benefits of Azure Virtual Desktop

Your team can continue working from wherever they are

As long as your team has access to the internet, they can access their work desktop whether that’s on their own device, one you’ve issued them with or a shared work computer. 

The experience will be exactly the same - complete with functionality they’re familiar with and personalisation. Whilst not in a physical office environment, they can still do everything they need to as if they were, such as manage their inbox with Outlook, share files in OneDrive, or liaise with other team members on Microsoft Teams.

Cost saving

Say goodbye to the more expensive option of hardware setups and supporting server expenditure. With more people choosing to work remotely, it is likely that demand for personal workstations in the office will diminish. 

You can reduce overheads by applying accurate and effective Azure rightsizing (and we can help you with that). By doing so, you will be eliminating the risk of paying for excess capacity you don’t need. Another cost saving is shutting down VMs when not in use as well as employing Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session capability.

The beauty of Azure Virtual Desktop is that it can be used with an existing eligible Microsoft 365 or Windows per-user license.

Scalability

If your organisation has come out of lockdown and is eager to return to normal - whether that’s looking to grow or downsize as part of a restructuring strategy, you will need a platform that underpins that. Azure Virtual Desktop is completely scalable.

Are you looking to hire? With Azure Virtual Desktop there are no time delays due to problems relating to infrastructure setup; device procurement or company-issued devices.

Are you looking to downsize? Easily manage the number of users on Azure Virtual Desktop and as an added bonus, you won’t become saddled with outdated devices and servers. 

Security 

Having Azure Virtual Desktop puts many businesses at an advantage since it can manage the migration of information - from virtual environment to local PC - safely. It also ensures that, in terms of IT security, you’re always compliant. Microsoft automatically rolls out the latest in security features based on individual user requirements - remember the old days when organisations would schedule company-wide updates in one go?

Interested to know more about Azure Virtual Desktop?

You may be interested to learn that Microsoft recently hosted a webinar that explored the latest capabilities in Azure Virtual Desktop, and how they will help bring further innovation to your remote working strategy.  

New features include Microsoft Endpoint Manager support for Windows 10 Enterprise multi-session to help improve security plus:

• Remote app streaming with per-user pricing for organisations to deliver apps from the cloud to external (non-employee) users.
• Streamlined identity management to help administrators.  
• Easier onboarding in the Azure portal. 

Would you like us to help you move your business over to virtual desktops? This blog article has detailed the benefits of transitioning to Azure Virtual Desktop and how your organisation can enjoy cost savings, maintain IT security and aid remote working. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, we are here to support you through the process, please contact us and we can take it from there.