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Azure Virtual Desktop

Enable a secure remote desktop experience from virtually anywhere.

Access your desktop and applications from virtually anywhere

Set up Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly Windows Virtual Desktop) in minutes to enable secure remote work. Provide the familiarity and compatibility of Windows 11 and Windows 10 with the new scalable multi-session experience for your end users and save costs by using existing eligible Windows licenses. Manage your end-to-end Azure Virtual Desktop deployment alongside other Azure services within the Azure portal.

Deliver Windows 11 and Windows 10 desktops and applications virtually anywhere

Provide employees the best virtualized experience with the only solution fully optimized for Windows 11 and Windows 10 and Microsoft 365.

Built-in intelligent security

Help keep your applications and data secure and compliant with security capabilities that can proactively detect threats and take remedial action.

Deploy and scale in minutes

Simplify deployment and management of your infrastructure and scale quickly based on your business needs.

Reduce cost using existing licenses

Use existing eligible licenses to reduce costs with a modern cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and pay only for what you use.

Access Windows 10 and Windows 11 desktop and applications from virtually anywhere

Bring your own device (BYOD) and access your desktop and applications over the internet using an Azure Virtual Desktop client such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or HTML5. Choose the right Azure virtual machine (VM) to optimize performance and leverage the Windows 10 and Windows 11 multi-session advantage on Azure to run multiple concurrent user sessions and save costs.

A person working at their desk with a laptop and desktop monitor.
A person participating in a Teams video call at their desk.

Leverage the seamless Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office experience

Provide employees with the same experience they'd have on a local desktop or laptop—whether they're managing their inbox with Outlook, sharing files in OneDrive, or collaborating with colleagues on Microsoft Teams.

Reduce costs

There are no additional license costs—Azure Virtual Desktop can be used with your existing eligible Microsoft 365 or Windows per-user license.

Reduce infrastructure costs by right-sizing virtual machines (VMs) and shutting them down when not in use. Increase utilization of VMs with Windows 10 and Windows 11 multi-session. Avoid upfront costs and align operational expenses to business usage.

Reduce management overhead by moving all your virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to the cloud with a managed service.

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Deploy and scale quickly within the Azure portal

The Azure portal is your management hub for Azure Virtual Desktop. Configure network settings, add users, deploy desktop apps, and enable security with a few clicks. Set up automated scaling and manage your images efficiently with Azure Shared Image Gallery. Focus on your desktop apps and policies while Azure manages the rest.

Modernize your Citrix and VMware virtual desktop infrastructure

Maximize your investments and skills by integrating Azure Virtual Desktop into existing desktop and app virtualization environments with Citrix DaaS for Azure and VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure.

In addition to support for hybrid deployments, centralized management, and advanced tooling, Citrix and VMware customers have the ability to rapidly deploy Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session on Azure Virtual Machines.

People working in an office.

Choose the right option to fit your secure hybrid work needs

Azure Virtual Desktop

A flexible cloud virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform that securely delivers virtual desktops and remote apps with maximum control.

  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 personalized and multi-session desktops and RemoteApp streaming

  • Full control over management and deployment, plus options for Citrix and VMware integration

  • Flexible consumption-based pricing

  • Optimized for flexibility.

Windows 365

A complete software-as-service (SaaS) solution that securely streams your personalized Windows experience – all your apps, content and settings - to any device.

  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 personalized desktops

  • Management and deployment with familiar desktop tools and skills

  • Predictable per-user pricing

  • Optimized for simplicity.

RemoteApp streaming

RemoteApp streaming allows you to run your app in Azure and stream it to a remote device. Use Azure Virtual Desktop for app streaming to create a low-latency, high-performance user experience from virtually anywhere on any device.

Access to Azure Virtual Desktop is now available for RemoteApp streaming with monthly per-user pricing.

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Azure Virtual Desktop for industries

Modernize and help secure your remote work environment

Enable your employees to access FSI workloads from almost any device—with enterprise-grade security, compliance, and performance from virtually anywhere. Learn more about Azure for financial services.

  • Rapidly onboard and enable access

    Provide remote access to company desktops and apps with an optimized Microsoft 3651 and Microsoft Teams experience for your new and existing dispersed financial employees, contractors, partners, and international workforce.

  • Improve risk management

    Safely host applications, provide managed access to corporate data for international employees, and remain compliant with critical industry regulations including HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOX, SOC 1, and SOC 2.

  • Optimize costs and infrastructure

    Increase business agility and scalability while optimizing cost savings on RDS licenses, hardware refresh, and IT infrastructure and management expenses.

1Microsoft 365 subscription is sold separately.
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Why trust Azure Virtual Desktop?

Built-in security

  • Help secure your employee and company data by storing in Azure rather than local desktops.

  • Leverage Azure security offerings such as Azure Firewall, Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for end-to-end security from the endpoint to the applications.

Dynamic policy engines

  • Use conditional access to manage risks before you grant users access to your Azure Virtual Desktop environment.

  • Set up multifactor authentication for secure sign-in.

  • Protect your Azure infrastructure by enabling role-based access control (RBAC) and detect threats using Azure Security Center.

Compliance

  • Take advantage of Azure Virtual Desktop compliance certifications including ISO 27001, 27018, and 27701, plus PCI, FedRAMP High for Commercial, HIPAA, and more.

Comprehensive security and compliance, built in

Get started with an Azure free account

1

Start free. Get USD200 credit to use within 30 days. While you have your credit, get free amounts of many of our most popular services, plus free amounts of 55+ other services that are always free.

2

After your credit, move to pay as you go to keep building with the same free services. Pay only if you use more than your free monthly amounts.

3

After 12 months, you’ll keep getting 55+ always-free services—and still pay only for what you use beyond your free monthly amounts.

Frequently asked questions about Azure Virtual Desktop

  • The virtual desktop infrastructure, including broker, gateway, load balancer, and diagnostics, is managed by Azure Virtual Desktop.

    You only need to focus on your virtual desktop and apps and any policies you need for governance.

  • Partners such as Citrix and VMware deploy, integrate, and build on the Azure Virtual Desktop capabilities. Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers offer Azure Virtual Desktop to their customers. Software and service providers offer targeted solutions in the Azure Marketplace.

Ready when you are—let’s set up your Azure free account

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