Windows 365 Cloud PC vs Azure Virtual Desktop: The Cloud War

In this article, we’ll be comparing two of the most popular options: Azure Virtual Desktop vs Windows 365 Cloud PC and help you determine which one is best for your business. It also gives examples of when each solution might be useful for your business.    

So, let’s get started!

What Is Azure Virtual Desktop?

• Allows you to run Windows and Office applications on any device, anywhere.
• It is a great option for businesses that want to move to the cloud, or that need to provide remote access to their applications and data. 
• Azure Virtual Desktop has two core licensing options: Single User and  Multi-User (pooled).

What is a Windows 365 Cloud PC?

• Allows you to run Windows  applications on any device, anywhere. 
• It is a good option for businesses that are already using Office 365 and want to extend the benefits of Office 365 to their users’ desktops. 
• Windows 365 has two core licensing options: Business and Enterprise. 

Differences Between Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PC

1. How they are delivered

Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PCs are delivered through the Azure services, a cloud-software and cloud-services platform.

This can be accessible across multiple devices and platforms, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops and more. 

Both services are managed and supported by Microsoft. 

• Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based service that is accessed via the internet, and It’s fully customizable, runs on Azure.
• Windows 365 Cloud PC is a new feature of the Windows 365 subscription that is accessed via the internet.  

2. Security for Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 Cloud PC 

Comparing security features and keywords can be a daunting task, but there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud-based service, so security is more important than ever. The service offers two-factor authentication and encrypted data storage, so you can be sure your data is safe. Windows 365 Cloud PC is a bit different, as it is a desktop-based service. However, it still offers a number of security features, including password protection and data encryption.

Azure Virtual Desktop is the infrastructure that Windows 365 Cloud PC security is built on and provides customers with additional security and compliance features.

Azure Virtual Desktop 

• Uses a multi-layered approach to security, with features like network security groups and virtual machine isolation to help protect your data and resources. 
• In addition, Azure provides comprehensive auditing and logging capabilities to help you track and monitor activity in your environment. 
• Uses Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to authenticate users and provide them with single sign-on (SSO) access to their virtual desktop. 
• Provides Azure Virtual Desktop with the ability to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) and Conditional Access policies.
• Uses industry-standard encryption technologies to protect user data in transit and at rest.

Windows 365 Cloud PC security is a cloud-based desktop virtualization service that provides users with a secure, remote desktop experience. 

Windows 365 Cloud PC 

• Uses a multi-layered approach to security, with features like secure boot and BitLocker encryption to help protect your data. 
• Offers security through its built-in security features and advanced security features.

Azure Virtual Desktop offers more granular control over security settings, while Windows 365 Cloud PC offers more integrated security features.

3. Performance and Stability

Performance and stability are the most important features of a virtual desktop, since they help you get work done faster and more effectively. To find out which cloud solution will give you the best performance, it’s important to consider your business needs.

Azure Virtual Desktop 

• provides a more seamless and integrated user experience. 
• offers better performance and stability.
• more secure and more scalable.
• more affordable and flexible.
• dedicated or shared desktops. 

Windows 365 Cloud PC 

• can be quite jarring for users as it requires them to switch between multiple apps and tabs.
• can be quite slow and unreliable, particularly when there are a lot of users accessing it at the same time. 
• less secure as it is hosted on the public cloud and less scalable. 
• more popular and compatible with other Microsoft products.
• dedicated personal desktops. 

You’ll be a big fan of Windows 365 cloud, with its robust performance and effective management tools. It’s also a great choice for businesses looking for less expensive ways to work on the go. But Azure virtual desktop—with its superior image quality and superior performance—might be the better bet if you have more money on the line (and have more powerful hardware) than you do on-the-go convenience.

Key Features of Azure Virtual Desktops and Windows 365 Cloud PCs for Businesses

Azure Virtual Desktop vs Windows 365 Cloud PC is a topic that has been debated among many people.   They’re both powerful services and offer businesses a way to provide employees with virtual desktops, improving the productivity of employees and reducing the cost of assets, but which one is best for your business? 

There are many features and purposes for buying a virtual desktop. There is no one recommendation for a virtual desktop for every business. 

However, there are a few key factors to consider when deciding between Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 Cloud PC and other Azure Virtual Desktop alternatives.

• Azure Virtual Desktop is more expensive but offers more customization options.
• Windows 365 Cloud PC is less expensive but has less storage space. 
• Azure Virtual Desktop is a good option for small businesses, while Windows 365 Cloud PC is better for larger businesses. 
•  Azure Virtual Desktop is best for businesses that need more customization and control, while Windows 365 Cloud PC is best for businesses that want an easy-to-use solution that is built into their existing infrastructure. 

Conclusion

Both services have a variety of features that can help businesses get the most out of them but they are all hard to deploy and need to hire external cloud consultants. 

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of which is better, Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365 Cloud PC.  All depends on what you need.