Five ways Azure Virtual Desktop could benefit your business

Desktop as a Service is fast becoming a necessary enabler for a robust remote working strategy.

Virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) have been around for some time, but with the pandemic causing a spike in remote working, cloud-based VDIs are now in high demand. Over the first quarter of 2020, the use of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) tripled with businesses deploying virtual desktops to enable secure remote working. With many of us still splitting our time between home and the office, it’s worth considering whether AVD is right for your business long term. Here are some key benefits…

1. Facilitate cost-effective flexible working
The first and most evident benefit is flexibility. With AVD, users can access a full Windows 10 desktop through any device and operating system — all they need is access to the internet and a Microsoft 365 account, meaning they can work from anywhere, at any time. If you’re already using Microsoft, the likelihood is that you already have licenses available within your 365 subscription, and you only pay for the licences you use. And in addition, Windows 10 multisession enables you to cut costs even further. Multiple users can access one virtual machine (VM) at the same time, ultimately saving on single VM consumption and maintenance costs.

2. Power high-performance users
Agility is necessary for both business continuity and competitive edge. For that reason, AVD is becoming increasingly popular with architects, designers and other industries that have high compute and GPU requirements. Where once, users were limited to their office desktop, this is no longer the case. Leveraging Microsoft Azure, AVD provides the necessary GPU power, and instead of upgrading expensive devices every three to five years, AVD means your employees can work productively on any device — and it doesn’t have to be top of the range.

3. Enable ease of management
Traditional VDIs had a reputation for being costly, complex and resource intensive to install, configure and manage. With AVD being delivered in the Azure cloud, Microsoft manages the service infrastructure, such as brokers, gateways and load balancers as part of the service. Once set up, adding and removing users is quick and simple — ideal for onboarding new starters, welcoming seasonal employees or for businesses undergoing mergers and acquisitions. The idea of providing a ‘desktop-in-a-box’ service makes this process simple to manage, freeing up IT resources to focus on other business requirements.

4. Comply with security regulations
For law firms, financial services, healthcare providers, and many other industries, upholding strict compliance standards while securely storing highly confidential data is a prerequisite. With AVD, the operating systems, data and apps are hosted on the remote VM, meaning no confidential information is stored on the local device itself. Company data can be managed effectively in Microsoft’s intelligent and secure environment, while limiting the possibility of information ending up in the wrong hands.

5. Support legacy applications
AVD can also be used to virtualise your Windows 7 desktops with free extended security updates until January 2023. With extended support for Windows 7 having ended in January 2020, this will provide organisations constrained by legacy app compatibility with crucial additional time as they transition to Windows 10.

Committed to delivering the best possible virtual desktop experience, AVD successfully combats the challenges traditional virtual desktops bring. Those who adopt AVD as their choice of virtual desktop infrastructure will benefit from easier management, lower costs and inherent security features — all of this combined with the necessary flexibility to meet any future business demands.

At Bistech, we have a wealth of knowledge in delivering AVD-based solutions that enable secure, flexible and remote working capabilities. Our expert team is here to guide you through developing your IT strategy and roadmap, helping you make informed decisions on what is right for your business. For more information, call the team today on 03330 11 22 55.