As of this week, Microsoft officially has rebranded its Windows Virtual Desktop service to Azure Virtual Desktop. This will reflect how Microsoft will expand this program’s capabilities to become a flexible cloud VDI platform for nearly any usage and make it accessible from virtually anywhere.  

Along with the new name, there will be new capabilities and new pricing for app streaming. Some of the new platform capabilities will include: 

  • Enhanced support for Azure Active Directory – Users will soon be able to join Azure Virtual Desktop virtual machines directly to Azure Active Directory and connect to the virtual machines from any device with basic credentials. You’ll also be able to automatically enroll the virtual machines with Microsoft Endpoint Manager.  
  • Manage Windows 10 Enterprise multisession virtual machines with Microsoft Endpoint Manager – Users can now enroll Windows 10 Enterprise multisession Azure Virtual Desktop virtual machines in Microsoft Endpoint Manager and manage them in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center the same way as shared physical devices. 
  • Deploy in mere minutes with new QuickStart experience – Azure Virtual Desktop in the Azure portal offers a streamlined onboarding experience. This new feature will validate requirements, kick off an automated deployment, and implement best practices.  

Also, Microsoft has announced a monthly per-user access pricing option for organizations to user Azure Virtual Desktop to deliver apps from the cloud to external users. The new per-user access pricing option will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. Pricing for monthly user access rights on this date will be $5.50 per user per month for apps and $10 per user per month for apps and desktops.  

Currently, Microsoft is offering promotion with no charge to access Azure Virtual Desktop for streaming first- or third-party applications to external users from July 14 to Dec. 31, 2021.  

To learn more about these changes as well as all aspects Microsoft Azure, contact 2W Tech. We are a Microsoft Gold Partner with IT consultants on staff who can help you with these changes to Azure Virtual Desktop or can get you started on your Azure hybrid cloud journey. Contact us today to learn more.  

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