Windows Virtual Desktop to Bring Multi-user Virtualization

Microsoft Announced Windows Virtual Desktop

It seems that a number of third-party solutions for running a Windows desktop in the cloud but Microsoft itself hesitates to offer the same kind of user experience.

However, on September 24, 2018, Microsoft announced a new Azure-based service, Windows Virtual Desktop, delivering a full virtualized multi-user Windows 10 experience, together with Office 365 ProPlus. Besides, it also included free Windows 7 Extended Security Updates.

In the following paragraphs, we will show you these aspects in detail. Keep reading!

Offer the Only Multi-user Windows 10 Experience

Customers will be able to provide remote desktop sessions with multiple users who have logged into the same Windows Server or Windows 10 virtual machine by using Windows Virtual Desktop service.

The experience virtualized in the cloud that’s always up to date and available on any device. And it only delivers cost advantages previously only possible with server-based virtualization.

Besides, Windows 10 on Azure will offer the access to Microsoft Store and the usual line-of-business applications written by enterprises for their users. In other words, users can also choose to virtualize the full desktop, line-of-business applications or individual Microsoft Store.

According to this company, it has built WVD as a platform that can be extended and enriched by partners. Currently, Citrix, CloudJumper, Liquidware, People Tech Group, FSLogix, Lakeside Software, and ThinPrint are already working on integrations through the Azure marketplace.

Include Free Windows 7 Extended Security Updates

According to Microsoft, this service also supports full VDI with Windows 7 and Windows 10. For those users who want to virtualize Windows 7 after the end date – January 2020, they will be able to do so for three years without paying for Extend Security Updates.

Why WVD is throwing Windows 7 Extended Security Updates in here with a virtualized Window 10 desktop isn’t quite clear to us but perhaps that is what it is. It’s likely that Microsoft is using the offer as a way to get more Windows 7 users to switch to more modern operating systems.

Deploy and Scale in Minutes

Windows Virtual Desktop is the most scalable service to quickly deploy and manage Windows virtual machines, without needing to host, install, configure and manage components including networking, diagnostics, gateway, and connection brokering.

Use Existing Licenses and Systems

If you are a Microsoft 365 E3, E5 or F1 customer or Windows E3 or E5 customer, licenses for accessing WVD will be provided for free. And you only need to use an Azure free account to deploy and manage the virtualization environment. And you can only pay for the virtual machines you use and make use of options like Azure Reserved Virtual Machine Instances.

Microsoft uses Windows Virtual Desktop with Windows 7 and Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows Server 2012+. And for Windows 7 virtual machine users, they can get extended security updates for more flexibility without extra charge when transitioning to Windows 10.

Conclusion

According to this company, it is putting finishing touches on a public preview of WVD which will be available later this year. If you are interested in this service, please pay attention to Microsoft’s news. Once it is available, just get Windows 10 Enterprise to enjoy it.