Organisations have shifted to a hybrid remote working model. As we move on from COVID-19 restrictions, it is clear hybrid remote working is here to stay. Now there is a growing need to support hybrid and flexible work policies. Businesses are dealing with expansion and change every day, while reacting quickly to global economic shifts. Now it must be done amid a complex cybersecurity landscape.
The client PC is known and loved, and is what people are most familiar with. Many larger organisations have also added traditional virtualisation if they need more scale for app streaming and remote access.
These solutions help address common commercial needs, but they are not always suitable for all scenarios or resources. Virtualisation has been around for decades and was a game-changer for many organisations, but it requires IT to have a level of experience that many companies either don’t have or don’t want to invest in.
Desktop as a Service
Windows has been the heart of Microsoft for decades and stands as the most fundamental and innovative platform for work, learning, creativity and development. To unlock modern work scenarios for customers, Microsoft announced a new category of hybrid personal computing that delivers Windows 10 – and soon Windows 11 – from the Microsoft cloud with Windows 365 Cloud PC. Desktop as a Service (DaaS) is a newer concept that offers a cloud-based operating system.
Cloud PC offers a personalised desktop, apps, settings and content streamed securely from the Microsoft cloud to any device. It delivers a distinctive interaction between the Microsoft cloud and the end-user experience, providing:
- Persistent integration between the cloud and PC operating system for a fluid and consistent experience
- Unified security and identity management from the cloud to the device, even on a personal device
- Seamless compute and storage hand-offs that can rapidly scale to meet your needs
- And, in the future, the ability to work offline and instantly re-sync when connected.
Microsoft end-user virtual computing choices
Microsoft cloud solutions for end-user computing includes Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Endpoint Manager and Windows 11 Enterprise.
- Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop unlock enterprise hybrid work scenarios.
- Windows 11 improves productivity and helps to be more collaborative. It is ready for Zero Trust security and its consistency makes it easy for adoption.
- Unified management with Microsoft Endpoint Manager provides security, flexible management and deep Microsoft 365 integration.
The difference between Cloud PC and Cloud VDI
| Cloud PC: Windows 365 is a complete Software as a Service (SaaS) that securely streams your personalised Windows desktop, apps, settings and content from the Microsoft cloud to any device. | Cloud VDI: Azure Virtual Desktop is a cloud Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) platform that delivers hosted desktops and apps with maximum flexibility. |
Choosing the right cloud solution
Windows 365 provides a DaaS solution completely facilitated by Microsoft. No VDI skills are required for the management team.
Azure Virtual Desktop provides a VDI platform with full control, allowing the VDI and allowing the VDI and management team that is skilled in Azure IT to take control of their virtual environment.
Choosing a solution for personalised, persistent desktops will depend on the required business model, IT skills and VDI experience.
Windows 11 designed for hybrid work
Underpinning the drive to Microsoft’s next generation endpoint is Windows 11. Microsoft released Windows 11 to empower employees, enabling them to be more efficient by working smarter, not harder. Windows 11 is adept at helping employees achieve what they need to do in smart ways. Consistency has been a focus for IT professionals who need to deploy and support employees. They will find many of the same technologies they have been using on Windows 10 continue to work with Windows 11. It is easier to work with but more secure – and we all know how important security and protection are today.
Windows 11 has been designed for hybrid work. It empowers employees, is familiar for IT and is secure for all. Windows 11 provides the following advantages to business and users:
- Productivity: Improve productivity and focus with a simple, powerful user experience.
- Collaboration: A smarter way to collaborate with Microsoft Teams integration.
- Security: Ready for Zero Trust to protect data and secure access, anywhere.
- Consistency: App compatibility and cloud management make adoption easy.
IT teams can continue to deploy and service the installed base of Windows PC through the following process:
- Plan: Collect data and generate insights to plan the path forward.
- Prepare: Use your device refresh cycle to bring in new Windows 11-ready devices.
- Deploy: Deploy Windows 11 devices alongside Windows 10 devices.
How Zetta can help
Our team has experience and proven success designing, architecting, implementing and managing solutions, and has successfully aided Perth customers with its endpoint management solutions.
Zetta can help your organisation get ready for the next generation endpoints by working with you to navigate the requirements and prerequisites to adopt these services. If you’d like to discuss any of the topics mentioned in this article or want to explore what it might look like for your organisation, please reach out to the team at Zetta.
