Windows Virtual Desktop

Windows Virtual Desktop is a comprehensive desktop and app virtualization service running in the cloud. It’s the only virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that delivers simplified management, multi-session Windows 10, optimizations for Office 365 ProPlus, and support for Remote Desktop Services (RDS) environments.

Windows Virtual Desktop Essentials: Intro and Full Tour

In this video, Jeremy Chapman, Director at Microsoft, walks you through Windows Virtual Desktop and showcased its native app capabilities on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android along with support for HTML5.

Forget about provisioning your own VMs on Azure, setting up your networking, security, auto-scaling, resource pools, images, users, licenses, backups, integration with your Active Directory etc.. because Windows Virtual Desktop simplifies all of that. That means IT has more time on their hands and with less things capable of breaking, all while delivering an end user experience with the look and feel of Office 365 and Windows 10, which your users are already familiar with.

Windows Virtual Desktop Replaces Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Remote Desktop Services (RDS) is an old technology and Microsoft has created WVD, which has virtually no maintenance associated with it, has better security, can be accessed via any device, even a web browser. It's pretty cool.

Windows Virtual Desktop Cost Estimator

Build out an estimate below for a Windows Virtual Desktop plan that meets your business' technology and budget needs. And remember, this will replace your cost of licensing and maintenance that you are spending on Remote Desktop Services (RDS).

Windows Virtual Desktop Comparison Table

Use the comparison table below to see the extensive list of features to determine which Microsoft 365 plan works best for your WVD and business needs.

Priced for 25 users and up.

	WVD Microsoft 365 F1	WVD Microsoft 365 Business	WVD Microsoft 365 E5
Per user/month	$69	$99	$135
Core features
Multi-session Windows 10 virtual desktop experience
Enterprise Mobility + Security
Auto-scaling
Free extended security updates for Windows 7
Optimized for Office ProPlus
Apps and Services
Web version of Office apps
Exchange Online, Teams, OneDrive for Business, Stream, Yammer, Planner, SharePoint Online, Power Apps and Flow (see note 1)
Desktop and mobile version of Office with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access
Bookings and StaffHub
Power BI Pro, Dial-in audio conferencing, Phone System (Cloud PBX)
Threat Protection
Windows Defender Antivirus and Device Guard
Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection P2
Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics, Device Guard, Credential Guard, App Locker, Enterprise Data Protection
Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection
Identity & Access Management
Azure Active Directory, SSPR Cloud Identities, MFA, SSO > 10 Apps, Conditional Access, SSPR for Hybrid Identities, Azure MFA
Azure Active Directory Premium 1
Windows Hello, Credential Guard and Direct Access
Azure Active Directory Premium 2 with PIM
Device & App Management, Information Protection & Compliance
Microsoft Intune
Windows AutoPilot
BitLocker
Azure Information Protection P1
Office 365 data loss prevention
Windows Information Protection
Azure Information Protection P2
Cloud App Security
Advanced eDiscovery, Customer Lockbox, Advanced Data Governance, Service Encryption with Customer Key, Privileged Access Management

Additional Resources...

Here are two additional videos on the topic of Windows Virtual Desktop for further explanation of features and end user experience.

The Windows Virtual Desktop Admin Experience

In this demo, Jeremy Chapman and Scott Manchester go over how easy it is to manage Windows Virtual Desktop. WVD reduced the amount of images IT needs to manage, reduces image sizes, and no more video latency that has plagued us for years with Remote Desktop (RDP)!

Why trust Windows Virtual Desktop?

+1 billion USD

Microsoft invests more than 1 billion USD annually on cybersecurity research and development.

Thousands of experts

Microsoft employs more than 3,500 security experts completely dedicated to your data security and privacy.

Compliance

Azure has more compliance certifications than any other cloud provider.
View the comprehensive list.

What is Windows Virtual Desktop?

Did you know that with WVD you can actually get a full Windows 10 experience using your smartphone? It's crazy, you don't even need to bring a laptop anymore when you travel, you can just plug your smartphone into a monitor and Bluetooth mouse! It's just one of the many cool features of Windows Virtual Desktop.

Note 1: Windows 10 Enterprise included in Microsoft 365 F1 is the full Windows 10 E3 edition and does not include virtualization rights, downgrade rights, and other version/edition rights. Outlook in F1 includes Office for Web and mobile apps only. Office mobile is limited to devices with integrated screens, 10.1" diagonally or less. Exchange online in F1 includes 2GB inbox only, no Outlook integration, no voicemail. Microsoft Teams in the F1 sku: calls are supported, meeting rights are limited to join only, cannot create/initiate. In the F1 sku there is only 2GB of OneDrive storage per user and does not include desktop sync functionality. In the F1 sku, Stream is consumption only, and cannot publish or share. There are also limits on PowerApps and Flow for Microsoft 365 F1 users.