Microsoft Windows goes hand in hand with the modern PC — being one of the most popular operating systems in the world, Windows has always been at the forefront of modern computing technology. Windows 365 is the next step in this, bringing the benefits of the Windows platform to the cloud.
However, it can be difficult to understand exactly what Windows 365 can bring to your organisation. After all, what is the difference between using Windows 365 and simply just installing Windows virtual machines into your business?
In this article, we will answer that question, as well as take a look at the four top use cases for Windows 365 for the modern business, to help you understand and take advantage of this vital modern offering.
What is Windows 365?
Windows 365 is a cloud-based Windows virtual machine service for end users. It provides a Cloud PC for your users — completely fitted with Windows and assigned to an individual user as their dedicated Windows device. Essentially, giving each end user their own personal computer in the cloud — letting them have their own workspace.
It’s similar to using an Azure VM PC, but is completely managed by Microsoft — removing all administrative overhead. On top of this, it’s far less customisable but gives an easy plug-and-play solution for businesses that want to simplify their business’s virtual machine implementation.
The key here is simplicity — Windows 365 is for companies looking for a simple solution without the technical knowledge or hassle of operating their own Azure implementation. Windows 365 is generally better for smaller businesses for whom implementing a full Azure setup isn’t worth the hassle.
Moreover, you can access your Windows 365 PC through a web browser or the app, meaning that it’s far simpler and more convenient for most people than having to go through the process of setting up RDP, and more suitable for mobile devices and other non-desktop devices.
Use Case 1: Enabling Remote Work in SMBs
Remote working has become a rapid new trend for businesses in the post-pandemic world. Businesses looking to enable hybrid or remote working generally use virtual machines to be able to let users access the same information and data no matter where they are, but this simply isn’t suitable for SMBs.
After all, platforms like Azure are very complex and are meant for larger organisations looking to scale and take advantage of the many benefits of the platform — a lot of SMBs just need to be able to have access to a basic computer with documents and files.
Windows 365 enables this, as it allows users to save files and store data without having to set up a whole Azure infrastructure and maintain it for a low number of employees.
Use Case 2: Simplified Short-Term Contract Devices
Windows 365 is great for short-term contracts, as it’s rapid to deploy and scale but doesn’t require the setup that a platform like Azure does. You simply need to just create a subscription and select the desktop, and your contractors will have access to their PC using their credentials.
This also makes offboarding way easier, as all you need to do is terminate the subscription to remove their workspace — rather than the lengthy and complex offboarding process of a cloud platform like Azure.
Use Case 3: Constant Access Requirements
Windows 365 is designed to give users constant access to their cloud-based PCs. It’s a simple way to ensure access at all times, without the cost and setup headache of implementing your own cloud-based platform for a low number of users.
You can access Windows 365 through your browser or an app, making it far easier to access wherever — Azure VMs generally need RDP, which is complex to set up and can be a pain to use at all times.
You also don’t need to worry about network configuration and the hassle of having to check all of your network settings to ensure that you’re able to connect, as connecting is far simpler due to it being on Microsoft servers and not your own.
Use Case 4: Reduce IT Overhead
IT costs can be expensive. After all, the cost of hiring personnel isn’t going down — the skills shortage and the rapid onset of IT in businesses means that even base-level IT skills are in demand. A lot of the time of IT employees goes into system management and administration, and making sure users can access their systems.
Windows 365 completely mitigates this, as it’s managed by Microsoft. This means that you don’t need to pay someone to do administrative tasks — as Microsoft handles all maintenance and management. All updates and patches are applied by Microsoft, and the PC is just ready to go.
However, there is also a drawback to this — the more complex your organisation’s IT and filesharing needs are, the harder it is to be able to reduce IT overhead by using Windows 365. After all, if your business just needs to be able to access a computer for basic applications and browsing capabilities, then Windows 365 works just fine.
But, if you’re a bigger organisation looking to take advantage of features such as collaboration and project management, or have more users that need to be able to access data at all times — Windows 365 simply just isn’t suitable, as it does just provide a personal computer.
How We Can Help
Windows 365 is a great solution for businesses to be able to provide cloud-based VMs to users without the means of implementing their own cloud infrastructure. It provides a basic Windows PC to users, meaning they can access and store work files from anywhere as well as simplifying the VM process.
If you’re looking to get started with Windows 365, but need additional support, reach out to us today. Our experts are here to help and will ensure that you have everything you need to get started.
Get in touch with us now and see how we can help.