Azure Virtual Desktop Roadmap

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is an Azure cloud service for virtual desktop management. Virtual desktop systems present a Windows graphical UI to a remote client, enabling users to work with a Windows application remotely, without running the application on a local PC. The model improves security and compliance by keeping critical data in the remote datacenter, and allows workers to access applications from shared or home PCs, phones, or other devices. Cloud services like AVD reduce capital investment and ongoing management burden of virtual desktops, and AVD is Microsoft’s most advanced and rapidly improving virtual desktop technology.

Service Overview

AVD provides Microsoft-managed hosts (called session hosts) to run Windows and applications, and implements supporting services such as gateways, diagnostics, load balancing, and user profile storage. It can offer end users a variety of virtual desktop types including the following:

Dedicated personal VMs with persistent storage, for typical information workers, or for software developers and support personnel who need a personalized environment and long-running sessions.

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