What is Windows 365?
The revolution of the cloud desktop is already here.
👋 Microsoft’s Commitment to Windows 365
🤔 My Computer in the Cloud?
🎉 Advantages of Windows 365
Your cloud PC offers a series of advantages that a traditional computer could not even imagine. We would especially like to highlight the following points:
- Remote Access to your PC: You will be able to connect to your desktop whenever you want. If you need a work file, you will be able to access your cloud PC from any device and from any location without any issues. Likewise, you could finish working on your office computer, disconnect from the cloud PC, and find that the desktop remains exactly as you left it when you connect from your personal iPad at home.
- Scalability: With a simple license change, we can increase or decrease the power of our cloud desktop from 2 to 8 vCPUs and from 8GB up to 64GB of RAM.
- Security: All company information is always stored in the cloud. You can configure all access to Windows 365 to require multi‑factor authentication. In addition, Windows 365 is completely isolated from the device you connect from so that, if the device is infected, it cannot spread malware to other computers on the corporate network.
- Backup: All virtual desktops have multiple backup copies available to restore the information stored on them.
- Controlled costs: It is easy to predict the cost of the next invoice because it is a fixed‑price model.
🏅 Prices and Availability of Windows 365
There are two licensing models to distinguish: Business and Enterprise. The former is designed primarily for small and medium-sized businesses, where users can work on a device without access to the corporate network. In contrast, the Enterprise license includes the same capabilities as Business, but also allows you to host your virtual desktop within your Azure subscription, enabling direct connectivity to the corporate network.
Licensing prices start at €28.30 per user per month for a desktop with 2 vCPUs, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage, and scale up to €159.70 per user per month for a desktop with 8 vCPUs, 32 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. Additionally, there is a modality called Windows 365 Frontline, which allows you to provision up to three Cloud PCs with a single license. The limitation is that only one desktop can be used at a time, although brief overlaps are permitted. It is particularly designed for shift-based roles or for provisioning desktops to teams that do not overlap in working hours due to being located in different geographic regions.
📢 Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of Windows 365 compared to other virtual desktop platforms?
The main advantage over other VDI environments is that with Windows 365, you don’t have to worry about the underlying infrastructure to keep your cloud desktops continuously available. Windows 365 does not require on-premises infrastructure and is fully managed by Microsoft.
What do I need to do to start using Windows 365?
All you need to do is purchase the required licenses, assign them to users, and provision the corresponding Cloud PCs. In our detailed guide, you’ll find more information and examples to help you set everything up.
What is the difference between Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)?
The main difference is that with AVD, you are responsible for deploying and maintaining all the infrastructure in Azure to keep the virtual desktops available. From an Intune perspective, both are endpoints so similar that they are managed in the same way.
How is the security level managed in Windows 365?
Windows 365 leverages all of Microsoft’s advanced security measures. For example, data encryption in transit and at rest, multi-factor authentication, and threat protection. Additionally, since all information and applications are stored in the cloud, local risks are significantly reduced.
What devices are compatible with Windows 365?
Windows 365 is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Windows 10/11 PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, as well as Android tablets and smartphones. You only need a stable Internet connection to access your Cloud PC.
What connectivity requirements are needed to use Windows 365?
The main requirement is that the connection is stable. Download speed and connection latency will affect the user experience; therefore, a broadband connection is recommended. It is also compatible with mobile connections such as 4G/5G, as long as coverage is reliable.
Can I use all my applications on Windows 365?
Yes, Windows 365 is compatible with any desktop application. Although some applications may present issues, most have already been adapted to be fully compatible. Even if you require graphics performance, there are currently Windows 365 virtual desktops with GPU support available in preview.
🧑🏫 Step-by-Step Detailed Guide
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