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January 1, 2025

  Roadmap

Desktop and Client Roadmap

My Atlas / Roadmaps

453 wordsTime to read: 3 min

Poster PDF Roadmap

Summarizes current and future versions of 100+ Microsoft on-premises software products for enterprises and developers.

The Desktop and Client Roadmap provides information about Microsoft’s desktop and client software and services, including details about each product and service, and major changes that are expected to these products and services. Desktop and client software and services run on a local device to allow secure access to local, server, and cloud-based applications and services.

Desktop

Desktop means the GUI-based OS, such as the Windows client OS, where icons represent applications such as a word processor and a browser; folders, which can store applications and documents; and services, including a trash can or e-mail inbox. Desktop also means devices, such as a traditional PC and external monitor or a docked laptop that is rarely moved from a user’s physical desktop.

Products and services in this roadmap can be thought of as existing in a hierarchy starting with an OS (closest to the device hardware) and extending beyond the OS to an organization’s line-of-business applications (see Fig. 1).

Client

The term “client” derives from client server architecture, which is a common model for commercial and line-of-business applications such as databases and e-mail services, where work is split between service consumers (clients) and service providers (servers). In contrast, server software can run on specialized devices in a local datacenter (on-premises) or in the cloud (a remote datacenter).

Endpoint

Desktops and clients are sometimes referred to as endpoints, particularly with system management, antimalware, and advanced security software.

This roadmap contains the following chapters:

The Windows Client OS chapter covers Microsoft’s family of OSs designed for devices including desktops, laptops, tablets, and all-in-one devices, so the user of these devices can access productivity and other applications.

Products and services in this chapter include:

The Microsoft 365 Apps and Office chapter covers Microsoft’s family of document-editing and collaboration applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. This chapter summarizes the roadmaps for two suites of Office client applications.

Applications discussed in this chapter include:

The Cloud Desktops chapter covers virtualized desktop infrastructure (VDI) used to provide remote session- or VM-based desktops.

Products and services included in this chapter include:

The Systems Management chapter provides information about Microsoft 365 systems management-related services, including information about each service, and major changes expected to be made to these services. Microsoft 365 Systems Management refers to the family of Microsoft 365 hosted systems management services, all of which fall under the Microsoft Intune brand. 

Services included in this chapter include:

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