Less than a month after launching Windows 11 as the latest desktop operating system to insiders in the development channel, Microsoft announced Windows 365, a new thin Windows PC client for cloud businesses. It is provided as an extension of the Microsoft 365 software suite. So what is a Windows 365 Cloud PC, how does it work and how does it differ from Microsoft’s existing Remote Desktop solution, Azure Virtual Desktop? That’s exactly what this article explains.
Windows 365 Cloud PC: Description (2021)
Microsoft describes Windows 365 as follows: “A cloud service that introduces new ways to experience Windows 10 or 11 for businesses of all sizes”.. However, many have already claimed that repackaging Azure Virtual Desktop into more fashionable avatars at a premium price is a huge amount of PR. As part of an upcoming in-depth survey of cloud PC services in this article, we’ll try to find the underlying ones.
What is Windows 365?
Windows 365 is Microsoft’s new Software as a Service (SaaS) that combines the power, security, and convenience of the cloud with the versatility and simplicity of client PCs. New services, similar to Azure Virtual Desktop Provides a cloud virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform We offer virtual desktops and remote apps for a subscription fee. Microsoft said in a press statement that it hopes the new Windows 365 services will help increase the agility and productivity of teams and organizations.
According to Microsoft, Windows 365 allows users to: “You can securely stream your personalized Windows experience, including desktops, apps, settings, and content, to any device at any time.” According to the company, the service will modernize the way it delivers the Windows experience to anyone on any device. It also provides a premium experience for end users who no longer have to worry about slowing down their PCs or uneven internet connectivity. “It’s easy to use and just as easy to manage using the tools and processes that IT is familiar with.” Microsoft states in the official Windows 365 documentation.
Simply put, Windows 365 provides a Windows-based cloud PC that you can access using your Windows PC’s web browser, Linux computer, Chromebook, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices. At its core is a thin client that provides remote Windows desktops to companies looking to embrace remote work following their pandemic experience. As with Office 365, you can use Windows 365 with modern browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari.
Target audience for Windows 365
Windows 365 is strictly an enterprise product, not a consumer product for retail users. Enterprises of all sizes are eligible to sign up for this cloud PC service. This means that not only small businesses with a small number of employees, but also large businesses with thousands of employees in multiple locations around the world can use Windows 365.
According to Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, Windows 365 is “Organizations with the flexibility and security to increase employee productivity and connectivity, no matter where they are.”
Whether you’re a single employee or a company that can technically sign up for Windows 365, you’ll have to go through the same daunting process of creating, allocating, and managing remote virtual desktop services through Microsoft Endpoint Manager. This is complicated. It’s best to leave the time-consuming work to your company’s IT department.
It’s not yet known if Microsoft will release it later. Consumer version of one-click setup service For retail users. But at least for now, it remains a completely enterprise-oriented product. Until then, retail users can choose to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 today to experience all the new features of Windows 11. This includes UI overhauls, widget panels, and the Microsoft Store that supports Android apps.
Windows 365 security
Microsoft is enhancing security as one of the foundations of Windows 365.According to the company, this product is “Safe by design” And Built on the principle of zero trust.. As cybersecurity threats grow, you can’t expect anything from a service that gives you access to all your sensitive enterprise data. This can have immeasurable benefits if cybercriminals can break into the system.
According to Microsoft, Windows 365 information is stored in the cloud rather than on the device, making it extremely secure even when employees access the service from an insecure device. Of course, every company is expected to stick to a wide range of security devices for enterprise products. This is especially true for cloud-based services that can have serious consequences if a malicious attacker accesses private data in any way, form, or form.
How to set up a Windows 365 Cloud PC?
As mentioned earlier, the Windows 365 setup process is complex and difficult, and it’s best to leave it to a professional IT manager. Microsoft designed the product as a fully managed service that requires you to allocate and configure your cloud PC using enterprise tools such as Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
Microsoft claims that deploying Windows 365 can be a relatively easy task for IT departments. Check out the video below to get a closer look at the flow of deploying a Windows 365 cloud PC to your team. But at this point, at least, there’s no consumer version, and no easy setup options for potential retail customers.
One of the interesting aspects of Windows 365 is the following features:Change the specifications of the cloud PC Meet the demand for that device. According to Microsoft, this nifty feature helps organizations allocate the right amount of resources to different users based on their requirements.
This ability to upgrade specs on the fly is a new feature in cloud PCs. As part of the plan, every virtual PC assigned to every user has a “resource performance score”. This informs the IT manager of the performance of the remote PC. If the score is low, you can add RAM, CPU cores, or storage resources for that particular user.
What’s the difference between Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop?
Microsoft hasn’t released details about future Remote Desktop Services yet, so it’s difficult to identify all the similarities and differences between the two services. However, according to Microsoft’s official blog post, Windows 365 services are much more streamlined than existing Azure Virtual Desktop solutions.
Cloud PCs are much easier to set up for IT admins Much easier to use for remote workers. It also eliminates the complexity of setting up a complete remote desktop environment in the Azure cloud, making deployment easier.
Windows 365: Device compatibility
Windows 365 is a platform-independent service that can be virtually accessed from any device that can run a standards-based web browser. It can be used not only on Windows PCs, but also on Macs, Linux computers, Chromebooks, iPhones, iPads, Android smartphones and tablet PCs. All you need to access CloudPC services is a modern web browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge. Safari, Opera, etc.
Windows 365: Price and Release Date
Microsoft hasn’t announced anything in terms of pricing yet, but has mistakenly revealed one of its subscription tiers. The lowest priced Windows 365 Cloud PC with one CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage is still sluggish, but Cloud PC with two CPUs, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage $ 31 / user per month.. But that’s not all. The Redmond Giants offer more SKUs, giving IT administrators the option of deploying even more powerful Windows 365 PCs for remote workers.
In addition, the Redmond Giants have confirmed the official launch date for the new Remote Desktop Services. Windows 365 will be available to businesses of all sizes after August 2, 2021. We will update this article with pricing details as soon as the service is available next month.
Windows 365: Old wine in a new bottle?
Windows 365 is the core thin client, but if Microsoft can sell it right, the idea can still be successful. In any case, the company says it will share service details when it launches next month. Until then, anyone can guess how the service will be received and how it will work in the long run. Is it interesting to see if many companies are upgrading from Azure Virtual Desktop to Windows 365? On the other hand, for virtualization service questions, see how to install Hyper-V on Windows 10 Home and how to run Android on Linux using a virtual machine.
