Windows 365: An Inside Peek Into Microsoft’s Next Big Push In Cloud Computing

Microsoft announced Windows 365 Cloud PC in its Microsoft Inspire conference in July, enabling Windows users to work from anywhere, using any device. Here’s an inside peek into Microsoft’s latest foray in the competitive cloud computing space, the top features in Windows 365, its security credentials, and what’s in it for enterprises. 

Microsoft used its annual conference, Microsoft Inspire, to announce Windows 365 Cloud PCOpens a new window , describing it as a new category of PC for the hybrid world – for people who work from the office and work from home or anywhere. What exactly does that mean? Basically, users get a complete Windows experience (and that can be Windows 10 or Windows 11 later in the year) with everything coming to them from the cloud. And by everything, I mean the operating system, data, applications etc.

The idea of running a desktop from the cloud is not entirely new. Amazon has its Workspaces Desktop as a Solution (DaaS) product that users might choose. I would assume that Microsoft is hoping that the familiarity of a Windows environment will encourage people looking for the flexibility of cloud-based operating systems etc, to use their new option.

And there is a need for this kind of option. Many people may want to continue working in their office environment while traveling home from work or even after arriving home. And not all those people will be able to take a work laptop with them to do that. That’s one area where Windows 365 scores because users can create the same virtual desktop environment on whatever device they wish and carry on working from the same place that they stopped.

Windows 365 Cloud PC also aims to solve the problem people face after losing their devices. No matter what they were working on, no matter how business-sensitive the information, none of it is stored on the device. So, thieves will not be able to steal any data or sell business information to corporate rivals. All the data is stored in the cloud.

Learn More: Windows 11 Roundup: Top Productivity and Security Features in Microsoft’s New OS 

Windows 365: What’s On Offer? 

Microsoft announced that Cloud PC provides a powerful, simple, and secure Windows experience that can empower a workforce, regardless of their location or the device they are using. The company said that Windows 365 provides an instant-on-boot experience enabling users to stream all their personalized applications, tools, data, and settings from the cloud to any device. These devices include PCs, Android devices, Linux devices, Macs, and iPads. 

The company claims that the Windows experience is consistent across all devices, and they confirm that users can pick up right where they left off because the state of a user’s Cloud PC remains the same, no matter what device they are using when they log in. It also suggests that seasonal workers can start work easily because organizations can scale up when they need to and scale down afterwards. There’s no need to source new laptops for those workers.

So, what exactly do people get when they use Windows 365? Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 365 will support business apps like Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Power Platform (a line-of-business intelligence, app development, app connectivity software applications), and other line-of-business applications. In addition, Microsoft is confident about application compatibility and has announced App Assure. This service helps customers with 150 or more users make appropriate modifications so that the applications they use run successfully on the new platform. And Microsoft will do that at no extra cost.

Not surprisingly, it works by virtualization – in this case, the Azure Virtual Desktop. Windows 365 is built on top of it, and the virtualization process is as simplified as possible.

What Are the Benefits for Organizations?

Any organization moving to Cloud PC will still need to ensure that its employees have devices that support Windows 365. Putting that to one side, how they can benefit is better control over budgeting because they choose the size of the Cloud PC that fits their needs, and this affects the price. Currently, there are two options available – Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise.

Your organization’s IT team can manage Windows 365 the same way other physical devices are managed. Sites using Microsoft Endpoint Manager will see Cloud PCs right next to their current physical devices, enabling organizations to apply appropriate management and security policies to both. Using the Endpoint Analytics dashboard, it is possible to identify any Cloud PC environments where the performance needs of a user are not being met. The built-in analytics can make recommendations, and the Cloud PC can be upgraded – which comes into effect immediately. The Watchdog Service continually runs diagnostics, which ensure users stay connected. If a check fails, alerts are issued, and suggestions are made for rectifying the situation.

For an individual, the benefits are that they can log in from any device at any time, carry on working from exactly where they left off, and have all their data and applications instantly available. They can scale the processing power as well. So if a user needs more (or less), this can be easily managed by the IT team.

Learn More: Hybrid Cloud Adoption: 7 Ways To Overcome Data Security Challenges in the Cloud

What’s Missing?

In an ideal world, every device has a working Wi-Fi connection that connects to the Internet. Users can send and receive messages to and from wherever they want, including the cloud. In real life, we’ve all found ourselves at some time without an Internet connection. What can you do with a Cloud PC in such a situation? Seemingly, if you’re the first kid-on-the-block to use Windows 365, there’s not much you can do. However, Microsoft is meant to be working on a way for people to continue working in a disconnected mode that’s container-based.

In the days of Zoom calls and extended video editing work, you might have thought that Microsoft would have something up their sleeve for people who would be using a graphics processing unit (GPU) for 3D modeling etc., as part of their day’s work. It seems Microsoft also has plans to configure GPUs.

While Windows 365 can be streamed on other platforms, the user experience on a Windows device will probably be better. So, if you don’t have one, you won’t be able to access Windows. 

Pricing

For organizations looking at the Business edition, they can have up to 300 users and no more. Those users can access Windows 365 through the URL: windows365.microsoft.com. There can be as many subscribers as needed with the Enterprise edition, and Windows 365 is integrated with Microsoft Endpoint Manager.

Microsoft is also offering a ‘Windows Hybrid Benefit,’ which is basically a discount for sites that already have licenses. Here are some examples of pricing. For $24 per month ($20 per month with the discount) a Business user gets a Cloud PC with a single virtual core, 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. If you want four virtual cores, 16GB RAM, and 128GB of storage, that ‘premium’ plan costs $70 per month ($66 with the discount). And, top of the range, for $162 per month ($158 with the discount) you get eight virtual cores, 32GB RAM, and 512GB of storage.

Learn More: Windows 11: Microsoft Office Gets a Fluent-Design Makeover

Security

Let’s look at the big issue facing organizations these days: Security. How can you ensure that your data is safe and that the people accessing it are authorized, and who they say they are? Microsoft’s answers are encryption, multi-factor authentication, and zero trust access.

Both data at rest and data in motion are encrypted. Every managed disk running Cloud PC is encrypted, and all stored data is encrypted. All data being sent over the network to and from a Cloud PC is encrypted.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is used to verify every login or access attempt to the Cloud PC. It can do this through integration with Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD). In Microsoft Endpoint Manager, MFA can be linked-to Windows 365 access policies to assess login risk for a session.

Windows 365 uses a Zero Trust Architecture, which assumes that end-point security can fail and continually verifies identities, devices, and services used. It does this by never storing information on the device and keeping the data securely in the cloud.

Bottom Line

Not everyone is going to be working from their office all the time. This is just a fact of life following the pandemic. There needs to be an easy and manageable way for organizations to allow employees to work successfully in such an environment. Because those employees are familiar with Windows, a Windows-based Cloud PC seems the obvious answer. Security appears to be in place, the manageability (by IT) is in place, the installation appears to be very straightforward, and upgrading seems to be very simple (if users need more resources to be allocated to them). 

We still need to get the first end-user reports about Windows 365 PC Cloud to gauge how suited the new technology is for enterprise use. The big question will be around the price. Will a cost-benefit analysis make the Cloud PC offering Windows 365 an affordable choice for already overstretched IT budgets?  It certainly seems like an exciting new option from Microsoft.

Do you think Windows 365 will enable Windows users to switch to remote work forever? Comment below or tell us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!