Microsoft's Windows 365 Cloud PC service is now generally available, allowing businesses to deploy Windows 10 desktops in the cloud for prices ranging between $24 and $162 per device.
At the Inspire 2021 conference, Microsoft revealed their new Windows 365 cloud-based virtual desktop experience that allows businesses to deploy Windows 10 Cloud PCs, with Windows 11 later, on the cloud.
This service runs on top of Azure Virtual Desktop but includes a redesigned interface making it easier to manage and access a Cloud PC.
The new service comes in two flavors, Windows 365 Business (up to 300 users) and Windows 365 Enterprise, which have significant differences in features, as listed in the table below.
| Windows 365 Business | Windows 365 Enterprise | |
| Click –to-provision directly from product page | X | |
| "No-domain" set up | X | |
| Self-serve troubleshooting – reset | X | |
| "Cloud Save" (minimal Azure storage and potentially OneDrive for Business) | X | X |
| Self-serve upgrades | X | |
| Universal Print integration | X | |
| Partner/programmatic enablement (Graph APIs, MSP tooling) | X | |
| Custom images | X | |
| Image management [store, replicate, deploy] | X | |
| Microsoft Endpoint Manager policy-driven provisioning, management and guided scenarios | X | |
| Endpoint analytics reporting and monitoring | X | |
| Service health, operational health alerts | X | |
| Connection to on-premises [networks, apps, resources] + diagnostics | X | |
| Advanced Microsoft Endpoint Manager-based troubleshooting and device management | X |
Windows 365 currently allows you to deploy 12 different hardware configurations, ranging from a 1vCPU/2GB RAM/64GB storage for $24 to 8vCPU/32GB RAM/512GB storage for $162 per device per month.
For those who wish to test the Windows 365 service, Microsoft is currently allowing free trials of the 2vCPU/4GB RAM/128GB storage,2 vCPU/8 RAM/128 storage, 4 vCPU/16 RAM/128 storage Cloud PCs.
When purchasing licenses, the Cloud PC will be assigned to a particular user in your Active Directory. The user can then access their Cloud PC from https://windows365.microsoft.com/.
In our tests, initializing our free Cloud PC took quite a long time. However, once initialized, you can connect to your Cloud PC via the browser or a Remote Desktop client for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
With the lowest tier Cloud PC costing $288 per year and the highest tier costing $1,944, Window 365 is more expensive than purchasing/building your own hardware from purely a hardware perspective.
However, the service does reduce the cost and workforce hours required to properly set up security, VPN devices, and management software for an increasingly remote workforce.
Comments
TsVk! - 2 years ago
Even the cloud PC's will still require some sort of client to access the machines as well.
I can see the whole proposition being outrageously expensive for many companies, but for those with a very mobile workforce and high tech budgets it could be the thing they were dreaming of.
Would be interesting to know if the cost of Enterprise Windows and Office licensing is included in the price.
doriel - 2 years ago
Those prices are ridiculous.
Question above froms TSVK! - I dont think the price includes Microsoft 365 (I mean Office 365). This is Windows 365, its a different service.
I bet you can purchase some bundle for 50 USD per month for the basic cloud PC and basic office package.
This is real-time thievery.
Im not surprised, that Microsoft, Alphabet and Apple do have record breaking incomes in this era.
Quote: "However, the service does reduce the cost and workforce hours required to properly set up security, VPN devices, and management software for an increasingly remote workforce."
Yes, it was Microsoft that introduced this nightmare called W10. Now he is hero, that he will solve the problem he caused in the first place?
Give MSTF voluntarilly all my data and be a slave? :) no thanks, Im too smart for that.