Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)
What is Azure Virtual Desktop?
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that allows organizations to deliver virtual desktops and applications to users over the internet. It is built on the same technology as Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) and it allows organizations to leverage existing Windows-based applications and infrastructure.
Some key features and benefits of Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop include:
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Scalability: Azure Virtual Desktop can be easily scaled up or down to meet the organization’s changing needs, making it a cost-effective solution for organizations looking to deliver virtual desktops and applications to their users.
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Security: Azure Virtual Desktop provides advanced security features such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and access controls to help protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.
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Performance: Azure Virtual Desktop is optimized for virtual desktop environments and can help to improve the performance and user experience of virtual desktops and applications.
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Management: Azure Virtual Desktop provides a centralized management console that allows administrators to easily provision, update, and manage virtual desktops and applications.
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Integration: Azure Virtual Desktop integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, such as Active Directory and Microsoft 365, to provide a complete solution for delivering and managing virtual desktops and applications.
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Flexibility: Azure Virtual Desktop can be deployed on-premises, in a hybrid environment, or in the cloud and it allows users to access virtual desktops and applications from any device.
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Compatibility: Azure Virtual Desktop supports a wide range of devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
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Cost-effective: Azure Virtual Desktop is a cost-effective solution for organizations looking to deliver virtual desktops and applications to their users without the need to maintain their own infrastructure.
See it in Action
Below you can watch a short demonstration of how Azure Virtual Desktop can be accessed by your users. In this demo the users device is installed with IGEL OS, the Virtual Desktop is located in Microsoft Azure.
Azure Virtual Desktop can be integrated with IGEL OS to provide a secure and reliable endpoint for virtual desktops and applications delivered by Azure Virtual Desktop. IGEL OS can also help to improve performance and ease of use for end-users.
To find out more about IGEL click the hedgehog:
Technology Feature Comparison
Here is a sample table comparing some of the key features of Citrix DaaS, VMware Horizon, Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop, and Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS), this is designed to help you evaluate which product would be best fit for your virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) implementation:
| Feature | Citrix DaaS | VMware Horizon | Microsoft AVD | Microsoft RDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtualization technology | XenApp and XenDesktop | Horizon | Windows Virtual Desktop | RemoteFX/RDP |
| Cloud deployment options | Cloud-hosted, on-premises, hybrid | Cloud-hosted, on-premises, hybrid | Azure-hosted | On-premises, hybrid |
| Management and administration | Citrix Studio, Citrix Cloud | VMware vCenter, Horizon Console | Azure Portal, Windows Virtual Desktop | Remote Desktop Services Manager, Group Policy |
| User experience | High-definition audio and video, multimedia redirection | High-definition audio and video, multimedia redirection | High-definition audio and video, multimedia redirection | RemoteFX/RDP |
| Security | End-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, access controls | End-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, access controls | End-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, access controls | Network Level Authentication, Remote Desktop Gateway |
| Scalability | Can scale to handle thousands of users | Can scale to handle thousands of users | Can scale to handle thousands of users | Can scale to handle thousands of users |
| Cost | Based on a per-user or per-device basis | Based on a per-user or per-device basis | Based on usage and number of users | Based on number of CALs (Client Access Licenses) required |
Please note that this table is just a sample and it's not exhaustive, there are other features and capabilities that each product can offer. This table is focused on the most common features that are used to compare these products.