Windows 365 was designed to make Windows available to anyone from any device. It has been out for over a year and we have seen many improvements to the service, as well as more improvements to come. I wrote about where the Cloud PC (Windows 365) would fit in your organisation (see here), today I want to write about the benefits of Windows 365 and why it is a service that should be looked in to further and to help you do more, with less.
A Secure Desktop
Windows 365 is the most secure version of Windows available. This is not in relation to what is available within Windows, of course Defender is included and can be configured. This in relation to where the desktop lives. It is secured in Microsoft’s own datacentres and it integrates fully with Azure Active Directory. This allows you to put controls in place using Conditional Access and benefit from risk-based access control. Want to put MFA in place for accessing the desktop? No Problem. Want a user whose risk level is raising suspicion in Azure AD to be blocked from the desktop. Sure thing!
With an increase in security attacks and compromise since hybrid working was introduced being confident in ensuring the desktop is secured and accessed in only the way you want is a must. Even the content stored locally on the device is secured behind Microsoft’s firewalls and other physical security. All of this security, and it can still be accessed from any device type (should you choose to allow it).
Simple Management
Windows 365 is fully integrated with Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Defender and Azure Active Directory. If you use Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender already, then your Cloud PCs can be targeted to deploy your existing policies and applications. This device type can simply slot into your existing management methods, making it so easy deploy quickly for users to consume.
The ability to manage Cloud PCs with existing configuration enables IT admins to deploy a new endpoint type quickly with hardly any effort. Hundreds of Cloud PCs can be deployed at the click of a button all properly configured straight out of the box.
Reduce VDI Costs
Windows 365 is not a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. There is no underlying infrastructure for you to manage. It is a SaaS service. However, Windows 365 can help you reduce VDI costs by allowing you to potentially eliminate the complex infrastructure required to host a VDI platform.
Deploying and managing Windows 365 is simple. It does not require knowledge above or beyond using Microsoft Intune. This can reduce training costs as no new specialized skills are required.
Get Access to a Device Quickly
Starting a new job in a hybrid world can be trickier than it used to be, pre pandemic. People are able to work with companies that are further away than a normal commute and many people now prefer the comforts of working from home. When starting new this now adds some logistical challenges to get physical hardware delivered. And then when it is delivered, if there is a problem with it (hardware or software) it can take time to get it resolved.
With Windows 365, a cloud device can be provisioned for your users quickly and they can use their own personal devices to access it too. No more logistical challenges and accessing the Cloud PC is as simple as typing windows365.microsoft.com into a browser. From an IT point of view, it can be made even easier by allowing introducing automation into the mix. Configured appropriately and you can have a Cloud PC provisioned just by completed a New User process. You can have someone in HR provision a Cloud PC for them, without even needing IT to be involved with new builds.
Work from Anywhere and Pick up where you left off
Flexibility is a core component of hybrid working. To be able to work from anywhere is now a core requirement for people. Windows 365 allows user to be able to work from anywhere with an Internet connection. Many will argue that most organisations can do this now with their laptops or other devices. I see the major benefit here is that the same experience can be provided from any modern device, such as a Windows laptop, iPhone or iPad, Android device or Mac. A user could access their desktop from their home PC and then travel somewhere and use their iPad to continue working.
And the best bit, the session resumes from where you left it. If you’re working on a document and leave it open when you disconnect, you can reconnect on another device and that document will still be open. The productivity from Windows 365 can help people reach another level!
Summary
How and where we work has changed a lot since the pandemic. Businesses are having to adapt to this new way of working, recent surveys say that 52% of workers are considering going hybrid or remote in the next year and 38% of workers say that flexible work hours are ‘very important’. Windows 365 can help organisations with the hybrid working challenge. I can see these numbers going up even more and Windows is adapting to help:
- It’s secure and controls can be put in front of accessing the desktop
- It’s simple to manage, use your existing profiles if already managing devices in Intune
- It can help to reduce complex VDI infrastructure costs
- Provision devices quickly, even without IT involvement
- Allow users to embrace hybrid working by working from anywhere
- Empower the productivity of users allowing them pick up where they left off from multiple devices
Would you like to deep dive into NextGen Windows and discover transformational end user computing experiences?
Register for our NextGen Windows workshop and benefit from:
✅ A better understanding of when and how to leverage Cloud PCs with Windows 365.
✅ How to best manage virtual endpoints across Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop.
✅ Leveraging Windows 11, the most secure OS yet, to enable hybrid work for all employees.
✅ Implementation of best practices for endpoint management with Microsoft Endpoint Manager.
