Microsoft’s Windows 365 Cloud PC service is now available to everyone, allowing businesses to deploy Windows 10 desktops in the cloud for prices ranging from $ 24 to $ 162 per device.
At Inspire 2021, Microsoft unveiled its new Windows 365 cloud-based virtual desktop experience that allows businesses to deploy Windows 10 Cloud PCs, with Windows 11 later, in the cloud.
This service runs on Azure Virtual Desktop but includes a redesigned interface for easier management and access to a Cloud PC.
The new service is available in two versions, Windows 365 Business (up to 300 users) and Windows 365 Enterprise, which have significant differences in functionality, as shown in the table below.
| Windows 365 Enterprise | Windows 365 Enterprise | |
| Click to supply directly from the product page | X | |
| “No domain” configuration | X | |
| Self-service troubleshooting – reset | X | |
| “Cloud Save” (minimal Azure storage and potentially OneDrive for Business) | X | X |
| Self-service upgrades | X | |
| Universal printing integration | X | |
| Partner / programmatic activation (API Graph, MSP tools) | X | |
| Custom images | X | |
| Image management [store, replicate, deploy] | X | |
| Microsoft Endpoint Manager Policy-Based Provisioning, Management, and Scenarios | X | |
| Endpoint analysis reports and monitoring | X | |
| Service health, operational health alerts | X | |
| On-site connection [networks, apps, resources] + diagnosis | X | |
| Microsoft Endpoint Manager-Based Advanced Device Troubleshooting and Management | X |
Windows 365 currently allows you to deploy 12 different hardware configurations, ranging from 1 vCPU / 2 GB RAM / 64 GB storage for $ 24 to 8 vCPU / 32 GB RAM / 512 GB storage for $ 162 per device and per month.
For those who wish to test Windows 365 service, Microsoft is currently allowing free trials of 2 vCPU / 4 GB RAM / 128 GB storage, 2 vCPU / 8 RAM / 128 storage, 4 vCPU / 16 RAM / 128 Cloud PC storage.
When purchasing licenses, the Cloud PC will be assigned to a particular user in your Active Directory. The user can then access their Cloud PC from https://windows365.microsoft.com/.
In our testing, it took a long time to initialize our free Cloud PC. However, once initialized, you can connect to your Cloud PC through the browser or a Remote Desktop client for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
With the lowest tier Cloud PC costing $ 288 per year and the highest tier costing $ 1,944, Windows 365 is more expensive than buying / building your own hardware from a purely hardware perspective.
However, the service cuts down on the costs and man-hours required to properly configure security, VPN devices, and management software for an increasingly remote workforce.
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