Is Microsoft 365 a virtual desktop?

Microsoft launches Windows 365

Image Credits: Microsoft

Microsoft today launched Windows 365, a service that gives businesses the option to easily let their employees access a Windows 10 desktop from the cloud [with Windows 11 coming once its generally available]. Think game streaming, but for your desktop. Itll be available for business users [and only business users] on August 2, 2021.

Announced through a somewhat inscrutable press release, Windows 365 has been long expected and is really just an evolution of existing remote desktop services.

But hey, you may say, doesnt Microsoft already offer Azure Virtual Desktop that gives businesses the option to let their employees access a Windows PC in the cloud? Yes, but the difference seems to be that Windows 365 is far easier to use and involves none of the complexity of setting up a full Azure Virtual Desktop environment in the Azure cloud.

But couldnt Microsoft have made Azure Virtual Desktop easier to use instead of launching yet another virtual desktop service? Yes, but Azure Virtual Desktop is very much an enterprise service and by default, that means it must play nicely with the rest of the complexities of a companys existing infrastructure. The pandemic pressed it into service in smaller companies because they had few alternatives, but in many ways, todays launch is Microsoft admitting that it was far too difficult to manage for them. Windows 365, on the other hand, is somewhat of a fresh slate. Its also available through a basic subscription service.

Microsoft also continues to innovate in Azure Virtual Desktop for those organizations with deep virtualization experience that want more customization and flexibility options, the company says. At least we know why the company renamed Windows Virtual Desktop to Azure Virtual desktop now. That wouldve gotten quite confusing.

This also gives Microsoft the opportunity to talk about a new hybrid personal computing category its CEO Satya Nadella calls a Cloud PC. Its a bit unclear what exactly thats supposed to be, but its a new category.

Just like applications were brought to the cloud with SaaS, we are now bringing the operating system to the cloud, providing organizations with greater flexibility and a secure way to empower their workforce to be more productive and connected, regardless of location, Nadella explains in todays press release.

But isnt that just a thin client? Maybe? But were not talking hardware here. Its really just a virtualized operating system in the cloud that you can access from anywhere and thats a category thats been around for a long time.

Hybrid work has fundamentally changed the role of technology in organizations today, said Jared Spataro, corporate vice president, Microsoft 365. With workforces more disparate than ever before, organizations need a new way to deliver a great productivity experience with increased versatility, simplicity and security. Cloud PC is an exciting new category of hybrid personal computing that turns any device into a personalized, productive and secure digital workspace. Todays announcement of Windows 365 is just the beginning of what will be possible as we blur the lines between the device and the cloud.