Virtual Desktop Services with CloudTech24
At CloudTech24, we provide Azure virtual desktop management services to businesses so that you can focus on your business operations as we provide technical support and management. This includes managing user accounts, installing and configuring software, providing support, and more. We serve small and medium-sized companies in London, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and across the UK.
In addition to providing a high-quality and cost-effective desktop-as-a-service solution, Our team of certified Microsoft specialists have extensive experience in deploying, managing and supporting Microsoft Azure virtual desktop solutions for businesses.
Contact us today to find out how we can help with our virtual desktop services management.
What Is A Virtual Desktop Service?
Virtual Desktop Services (VDS) is a type of desktop virtualisation technology solution that allows businesses to securely access their desktops and applications from a remote location using any device with an internet connection.
VDS uses a server-based computing model in which the user’s physical desktop is replaced by a virtual desktop that is hosted on a remote server and can be accessed from different authorised devices.
By using virtualisation technology, businesses can create a pool of common operating systems and application images that are stored on a central server. When employees log into their virtual desktop, they are presented with their own personalised desktop environment that includes their own applications, settings, and data.
Virtual desktop services also provide a way to centrally manage and secure corporate data. By storing data on a central server, businesses can ensure that only authorised users have access to sensitive information. Additionally, by using virtualisation technology, businesses can isolate corporate data from the rest of the employee’s personal data, preventing data leakage. Virtual desktop services provide a flexible and secure way for businesses to deliver a desktop experience to their employees.
Choose Award-winning Microsoft Support
Work with the best IT team to help you achieve your objectives as a small or medium-sized enterprise. CloudTech24 is an award-winning Microsoft support company dedicated to helping you reap the benefits of Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop and other Microsoft products.
The Windows virtual desktop comes with flexibility designed to give you maximum business value, but you’re better placed to enjoy these benefits with the help of an expert. At CloudTech24, we walk the journey with our clients from the initial consultation.
Let’s help you determine the best way to utilise Azure VD. We’ll help you assess infrastructure needs, establish the best resource usage and assist you come up with a suitable billing plan. We endeavour to understand your objectives as a business and analyse your existing infrastructure and budget to provide personalised solutions for you.
We are well-versed on all things Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktops, so you’ll have an expert walk hand-in-hand with you. Our team of IT specialists are always available to help you resolve any issues affecting your usage of Azure VD and answer any questions.
We provide full management services so you can focus on the business side. CloudTech24 provides constant monitoring to anticipate any glitches or possible cyberattacks. Additionally, we’re well versed in other Microsoft services, so we can help you leverage other services supported by Azure VD like Microsoft Office 365 and Teams.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you get set up with a virtual desktop infrastructure that meets your needs.
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop Features
Many businesses around the world use Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) because it provides seamless transition from traditional work setups to a remote environment. You need not worry about interruptions in the workflow since your team can still access all the other productivity tools from Microsoft that keep your company running.
Azure Virtual Desktop includes several features that make it an appealing option for businesses and organizations, which include:
Access Windows 10 And Windows 11 Desktops And Applications From Anywhere
Your team can enjoy the same Windows 10 and Windows 11 desktop experience from virtually everywhere in the world on various endpoint devices. You can quickly and easily deploy a familiar desktop service and applications through the Azure Portal.
Azure virtual desktop service works on Windows, IOS, Mac, Android, and HTML5 (Azure VD clients). It can run on multi-session (Azure can help businesses save costs by running multiple concurrent user sessions).
Azure virtual desktop solutions support Windows 10 enterprise, Windows 7 enterprise full desktop, Windows 10 enterprise multi-session, Windows Server 2012 R2 and Server. It currently doesn’t support Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.
Built-in Intelligent Security
With many business operations running on IT platforms, cybersecurity attacks could paralyse businesses and cause many losses. Given the sensitivity of deploying virtual desktops and apps, Azure has built-in intelligent security to give you substantial protection against cybersecurity attacks.
Leverage Azure security features such as multiple-factor authentication, Azure Firewall, RBAC, SIEM, Azure Security Centre, Azure Active Directory Authentication, Microsoft Active Directory, and Reverse Connect. Azure virtual desktop solutions prioritise security to protect your data and company assets.
Optimised for Microsoft Teams and Office 365
With Azure virtual desktop, you can leverage Microsoft Teams and Office 365, so your employees can utilise and have the same experience as they would at an office desk. Your team can manage their emails and share files on OneDrive. The integration of Teams and Office allow for collaborative work, eliminating geographical barriers.
Supports Hybrid Deployments
Got existing virtual infrastructure? Azure virtual desktop solution allows for integration of Citrix virtual apps on Azure desktops and VMware Horizon Cloud. Citrix and VMware customers can also deploy Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session on Azure virtual machines. The hybrid deployment provision allows you to maximise your investments and skills.
Licensing
Azure Virtual Desktop can be used with your existing eligible Microsoft 365 or Windows per-user license.
Fuelling Growth with Azure Virtual Desktop
Here’s how Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop can help your business get to the next level.
Scalability
Scalability is a major concern when dealing with a mobile workforce. Microsoft Azure allows for rapid deployment of virtual apps and remote desktops to multiple users on multiple devices. If an employee spills coffee on their laptop and ruins it, you don’t have to worry about downtime because they can easily access their work on a different device. The desktop as a service solution can run on Android tablets, Android smartphones, iPhones, iPads, PCs and laptops. Although operating the virtual desktop on mobile devices can be hectic, you still can use them.
Azure Virtual Desktop is ideal for growing businesses. For any newly added employees, they can easily access the right tools to join the systems. All you need to do is to request us to create their profiles and grant them access to the service.
Security
To provide secure remote access, the Azure Active Directory (AAD) and other security features protect users from security threats. The Azure Active Directory is an identity service designed to enable single sign-on multi-factor authentication and conditional access, which is an ideal security measure for remote work.
Azure Virtual Desktop uses Microsoft Intune to manage and deploy security policies to virtual desktops. As a result, businesses can be confident that their data is safe and secure when using this proprietary cloud desktop service.
Businesses also have full control over their environment, including the ability to restrict access to sensitive data. In addition, all data is encrypted and stored centrally in the Azure servers, making it more difficult for hackers to gain access to company information.
Finally, Azure Virtual Desktop encrypts all data in transit between the user and the VM, making it impossible for third parties to intercept and read user data.
Cost-Effective
With Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) services, you can scale your Azure deployment up or down as needed, so you only pay for the computing power you need. Azure also provides a pay-as-you-go model that only charges for the resources you use. This allows you to reduce your subscription costs.
Using desktop as a service makes financial sense because some newer software versions don’t run on older equipment, forcing you to make hardware upgrades. DaaS, like Azure, eliminates the need to buy compatible hardware.
Since all the virtual desktop infrastructure is on the cloud, you can reduce your management overheads by having a designated manager. A cloud desktop also reduces the costs associated with software upgrades, data security and backup when dealing with office desktops.
For those who already have Microsoft 365 and Windows Enterprise licenses, you can access Azure’s cloud desktop at no extra cost. You can also run Windows 7 desktops in the cloud without needing to pay for extended security updates up to January 2023. Microsoft Azure offers more flexibility in making capital expenditure and operational expenses decisions.
Ease of Access
Microsoft Azure virtual desktop is accessible with web browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple Safari. Azure supports various operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Chrome OS, so you can easily access the desktop service on Mac computers, Windows desktops, Android devices and IOS devices.
Simplified Management
All aspects of the Microsoft Azure virtual desktop service are managed in the Azure Portal. Azure manages the virtual desktop and infrastructure, while you have complete control over desktop and remote apps as well as management and policies.
You get control over network settings, management of users and identities, number of users and operating systems. Cloutech24 takes care of the computing, networking, diagnostics, load balancing, broker, and gateway. You maintain control over aspects that give you flexibility in making choices that fit the needs of your business.
Flexibility
One of the major reasons to use Azure Virtual Desktops is flexibility. You can choose how to use the service to maximise benefits. Without the one-size-fits-all model or minimum limits on users, organizations of different sizes can utilise the product. You have various execution models to choose from, increasing your chances of enjoying an array of services.
Do you have changes in your business needs? Maybe you have more employees at certain periods of the year; Azure accommodates such changes. You don’t need a minimum number of users to access certain packages; you can pay only for what you use. The flexible service levels save you the headache of having to change plans or pay extra for services you don’t need.
You can customise your settings in line with your already existing infrastructure, so you don’t waste your resources. Most programming languages and frameworks are compatible with Azure. It allows you to conduct your operations as you intended without needing new skills.
Reliability
Using cloud desktops and services, in general, can cause fears due to issues like latency. Businesses often have their operations slowed down due to incomplete data transfers or premature termination of virtual desktop sessions due to poor connection. With Microsoft Azure, you’ll hardly face such challenges.
The company has set up data centres across the globe so you can easily and quickly access data when you need it. Azure virtual desktops are reliable, making the experience of using cloud desktops almost mirror sitting in an office cube and physically accessing your desktop resources. Since Azure has over 40 data centres around the world, companies in geographic regions with data compliance policies don’t have to worry about remaining compliant.
Common FAQs about Azure Virtual Desktop Services
We often receive questions about Azure virtual desktops and virtual desktop solutions in general, so we have provide some answers to a few of the frequently asked questions. In case you have any more questions, reach out, and we’ll happily provide you with answers.
Who Uses Azure Virtual Desktops?
The list is endless.
AVDs are ideal for organisations with employees who need to be able to work remotely, such as in the case of a pandemic. They can also be used by organisations with shift workers or field workers who need to be able to access their workstations from any location. AVDs are also well suited for organisations that have mobile workers, such as salespeople or field service technicians. In addition, AVDs can be used by educational institutions to provide students with access to their school’s resources from home. Lastly, AVDs can be used by companies that provide software as a service (SaaS) to give their customers access to their applications from any location. As you can see, there are many different types of organisations that can benefit from using Azure Virtual Desktops.
Which Is The Best Virtual Desktop Solution?
There are a number of virtual desktop solutions available on the market: Amazon Workspaces, Evolve IP, Horizon Cloud, Itopia Cloud Automation Stack, Citrix Workspace, and Azure Virtual Desktop (our personal favourite ). Each of these solutions has its own unique set of features, drawbacks and benefits.
Therefore, when choosing a virtual desktop solution, it all boils down to the unique needs of a business or service. This can be done by asking yourself a few basic questions that will lead you toward the right path.
The first is the number of users who will be utilising the service. If you have a large number of users, you’ll need a solution that can accommodate them all. Is the plan Scalable? Can you add or remove users? Second, you’ll need to consider the hardware and software requirements. What type of hardware and software do you need in order to use the service? Third, you’ll need to consider your budget. How much can you afford to spend on a virtual desktop solution? Fourth, you’ll need to consider the performance requirements. What are your performance goals? What features and functionality do you expect from this service? Finally, you’ll need to consider the level of support needed. Do you need 24/7 support?
Once you have answered these questions, you will be able to narrow down your options and choose the virtual desktop solution that is best for your organisation or business.
If you’re still not sure which one is right for you, our team at CloudTech24 can help. We will assess your current infrastructure and usage patterns and make recommendations based on your specific goals. We can also provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure that your virtual desktop runs smoothly and efficiently.
What’s The Difference Between Azure Virtual Desktop And Windows 365?
While both Windows 365 and Azure virtual desktop provide virtual desktop solutions, there are some differences. Windows 365 is a fully managed service by Microsoft, while Azure virtual desktop gives customers control over management. Windows 365 has a fixed licensing cost per user monthly, but Azure Virtual Desktop has more flexible billing options. Another key difference is that with AVD, you can deploy the desktop as a personal or pooled desktop, while Windows 365 offers a cloud desktop for a single user.
How Much Do Azure Virtual Desktop Solutions Cost?
The pricing of Azure Virtual Desktop solutions depend on user access and Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure costs. There’s no extra cost for those with eligible Windows, Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Remote Desktop Service Client Access License. You may also opt for the per-user access pricing option, which is billed monthly for external users only.
Azure infrastructure costs include virtual machines and storage, which includes operating systems storage, user profile and data disk for personal desktops. You might also need to factor in networking costs. The cost of Azure Virtual Desktop solutions depends on your needs. You might need the services of a Microsoft-managed service provider like Cloudtech24 to help you navigate the pricing.
Can You Integrate Azure Virtual Desktops With Existing Infrastructure?
Yes, you can integrate Azure Virtual Desktop with Citrix virtual apps and desktop and VMware Horizon Cloud. Additionally, users of Citrix and VMware can also deploy Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-sessions using Azure virtual machines. The integration helps you maximise your resources, while reducing costs that you’d have otherwise spent on virtual desktop infrastructure.
Are Azure Cloud Desktop Services Available Worldwide?
Yes, with Azure having data centres in many locations across the globe, you’re likely to find a data centre near you. This would facilitate hosting, and you can make decisions based on your budget and location.
Do You Provide Azure Virtual Desktop Management Services?
Yes, CloudTech24 provides management services for Azure Virtual Desktop. We’ll help you set up and manage your network settings, storage configurations, users, and access controls. Our team also helps you with desktop and remote app deployment and management. Additionally, CloudTech24 has IT experts who provide consultation, implementation and management services in all IT areas.
IS AZURE VIRTUAL DESKTOP SUITABLE FOR HIGH-PERFORMANCE APPLICATIONS?
Azure Virtual Desktop can be used for high-performance applications, as you can choose the type and size of the VM that best meets the needs of your workload. However, you may want to consider other options, such as Azure HPC Cache or Azure Batch, for more demanding workloads.
