Windows 365 Link
This guide explores Windows 365 Link, the first Cloud PC device, detailing its setup and configuration, benefits, technical specifications, and security features.
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Microsoft Windows 365
What is a Windows 365 Link?
Windows 365 Link is a device that connects you directly to your Windows 365 Cloud PC, giving you a secure and straightforward way to access your cloud environment. It’s the first Cloud PC device, offering features like passwordless authentication, secure boot, and high-performance functionality.
Its enterprise-oriented design streamlines IT management, enhances endpoint security, and offers compatibility with peripherals, ensuring a dependable and efficient workspace for businesses of all sizes.
How does Windows 365 Link work?
This section is a high-level overview of the key aspects. We cover each topic in more detail in the sections below.
The Link device is designed to integrate seamlessly with your Windows 365 Cloud PC—your personalized Windows desktop streamed securely from the Microsoft cloud, complete with your applications, data, and settings—offering an efficient and secure way to connect to the cloud. Understanding how it works will help you set it up, manage it effectively, and ensure it fits into your existing IT environment.
How does the device connect to my Cloud PC?
- Use your Microsoft Entra ID for authentication, ensuring secure access.
- Manage via Microsoft Intune, allowing streamlined IT control.
- The Link supports connection over Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet, providing flexibility based on your network setup.
What steps are involved in setting up Windows 365 Link?
- Prepare prerequisites: Ensure you have a valid Windows 365 license and verify compatibility with your network and existing systems. See the section below for a deeper dive into prerequisites.
- Plug and configure: Connect the device to power and network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Use Microsoft Intune to assign the device to your cloud environment.
- Run initial setup: Authenticate users via Entra ID and confirm the device’s connection to your assigned Cloud PC.
How does it integrate with your existing systems?
- Peripheral support: Compatible with USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort, HDMI, Ethernet, and Bluetooth 5.3 devices.
- Operating systems: Works seamlessly with Windows environments and can integrate alongside macOS and Chromebooks.
- Enterprise features: Designed to fit into secure, scalable IT infrastructures, reducing additional setup complexities.
How much is a Windows 365 Link?
The cost of a Windows 365 Link is currently around $349 USD per device. However, pricing may vary depending on availability, promotions, or updates, and this information could become outdated over time. It's always a good idea to check the latest pricing details on the official Windows 365 pricing page or consult with your Microsoft representative.
Know the TCO
This step-by-step wizard tool gives you the total cost of ownership for Windows 365 in your organization.
What are the benefits of using Windows 365 Link?
The device is designed to help you streamline IT management while providing reliable performance for your workspace needs. Here’s how it can add value for both IT professionals and desk-based employees.
How does Windows 365 Link simplify IT management?
- Centralized control: Manage all devices and settings through Microsoft Intune, reducing administrative overhead.
- Enhanced security: Features like secure boot, BitLocker encryption, and passwordless authentication help safeguard your environment.
- No local data storage: Minimize risk by keeping sensitive data in the cloud.
How does Windows 365 Link improve your workspace?
Windows 365 Link is engineered to enhance end-user computing by providing a dedicated, secure, and high-performance connection directly to your Cloud PC.
- Efficient setup: Plug-and-play simplicity reduces deployment time for new users or hot desk configurations.
- High performance: Supports 4K monitors, video conferencing, and multimedia tasks without lag.
- Sustainability: Built with ENERGY STAR certification and recycled materials for a reduced environmental impact.
What are some common use cases for Windows 365 Link?
- Hot desks: Quickly set up shared workspaces with secure access to Cloud PCs.
- Call centers: Provide employees with reliable, centrally managed endpoints.
- Hybrid work: Seamlessly transition between office setups and remote environments.
Know the TCO
This step-by-step wizard tool gives you the total cost of ownership for Windows 365 in your organization.
What are the technical specifications of Windows 365 Link?
The device is purpose-built to deliver reliable performance and seamless integration with your Windows 365 Cloud PC. Here’s a breakdown of its key technical features to help you better understand its capabilities and compatibility.
What types of ports are on Windows 365 Link?
The device is equipped with multiple ports to ensure connectivity and compatibility with your existing devices:
- USB-C: For high-speed data transfer and power connections.
- HDMI and DisplayPort: For connecting monitors, including 4K displays.
- Ethernet port: Provides a stable wired network connection, ideal for high-performance tasks.
What peripherals and accessories are compatible with Windows 365 Link?
The device is compatible with a wide range of peripherals to meet your workspace needs. These include:
- Monitors: Supports up to two 4K monitors for multitasking and visual clarity.
- Keyboards and mice: Works with both wired and wireless options.
- Headsets: Compatible with Bluetooth 5.3 and wired headsets for audio and video calls. Ensures further compatibility with wireless peripherals, including keyboards, mice, and headsets.
- Other accessories: Supports external drives, printers, and other USB-connected devices via USB-C and USB-A.
- Ethernet port for a stable wired connection.
What are the dimensions of the Windows 365 Link?
The dimensions of the device are 120mm x 120mm x 30mm (4.72 x 4.72 x 1.18 inches).
What kind of performance does Windows 365 Link deliver?
- Monitor support: Capable of powering up to two 4K monitors for multitasking and visual clarity.
- Video conferencing: Designed to handle high-quality video calls without lag, supporting tools like Microsoft Teams.
- Local processing: Handles multimedia tasks such as streaming and presentations with minimal latency.
- AI capabilities: Leveraging its advanced hardware, the Link device will join Microsoft’s Copilot Plus lineup, a brand previously exclusive to its series of Copilot Plus laptops, bringing enhanced AI capabilities to cloud-based workspaces.
How is Windows 365 Link designed for sustainability?
- Certifications: ENERGY STAR certified, ensuring energy efficiency.
- Recycled materials: Built using sustainable materials, reducing environmental impact.
- Repairable design: Hardware designed for easy maintenance and longevity.
How does Windows 365 Link enhance security?
The device incorporates advanced security features to protect your data and ensure compliance with enterprise standards. These built-in measures are designed to safeguard your cloud environment while simplifying IT management.
What built-in security features protect your environment?
- Secure boot: Ensures the device loads only trusted software during startup to prevent unauthorized access.
- Trusted Platform Module (TPM): Provides hardware-based security by securely storing cryptographic keys and verifying system integrity.
- Microsoft Defender EDR Sensor: Delivers endpoint detection and response capabilities to identify and address security threats in real time.
- Hypervisor Code Integrity (HVCI): Protects against malware by ensuring that only verified, trusted drivers and code are executed.
How does Windows 365 Link protect your data?
- BitLocker drive encryption: Secures data during transit to and from your Windows 365 Cloud PC by encrypting it at the disk level.
- No local data storage: Prevents data loss or breaches by keeping all files and information securely in the cloud.
- Adminless user accounts: Reduces security risks by limiting access to administrative privileges, minimizing attack surfaces.
How does it comply with enterprise security standards?
- Integration with IT tools: Works seamlessly with Microsoft Intune to enforce security policies and monitor device compliance.
- Continuous updates: Security patches and updates are automatically delivered, ensuring your device stays protected against new threats.
- Data protection compliance: Aligns with industry standards for secure data handling and regulatory requirements.
What are the prerequisites for deploying Windows 365 Link?
Before you deploy your Link devices, it’s essential to understand the requirements for a successful setup. These include licensing, infrastructure readiness, and user preparation to ensure a smooth rollout.
To begin, a fundamental prerequisite is licensing for Windows 365, the cloud service that provides you with Cloud PCs, delivering a complete and secure Windows experience, including personalized desktops, apps, and data, streamed directly from the Microsoft cloud.
What licenses do you need?
| Requirement | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Windows 365 license | Access to Windows 365 Cloud PC |
| Azure services | Cloud network and identity management |
| Microsoft Intune subscription | Required to manage and configure the device settings centrally. |
What infrastructure is required?
Successfully deploying Windows 365 Link relies on a properly configured VDI infrastructure, the foundational IT framework that hosts and delivers your Cloud PCs, which is essential for ensuring consistent user access and optimal performance.
- Network compatibility: Ensure your environment supports Wi-Fi 6E or Ethernet for stable and fast connectivity. And, provide bandwidth that meets the demands of high-performance applications like video conferencing.
- Peripheral readiness: Confirm compatibility with external devices such as monitors (up to 4K), keyboards, and mice.
- Power sources: Ensure adequate outlets for powering devices at desks or shared workspaces.
How can you prepare your users?
- Communication and training: Inform your users about the device’s purpose and usage through quick guides or tutorials. Highlight key features like passwordless authentication and the absence of local data storage.
- User access setup: Pre-configure users in Microsoft Entra ID for easy onboarding. And assign Cloud PCs to users via Microsoft Intune before deployment.
How do I set up and configure Windows 365 Link for my organization?
To effectively deploy Windows 365, which encompasses the provisioning of Cloud PCs and granting users secure access to their personalized cloud-based Windows desktops, it’s crucial that endpoint devices like the Windows 365 Link are configured correctly from the outset for a smooth rollout.
Setting up and configuring Link devices for your organization ensures seamless access to Cloud PCs for your team. Follow these steps to get started:
- Meet the requirements. Ensure you cover the prerequisites outlined in the previous section. Most importantly, make sure you have a Windows 365 Cloud PC subscription and verify that your organization’s Microsoft Entra ID and Intune environments are properly configured.
- Initial setup:
- Connect the Link device to a monitor, USB keyboard, and mouse.
- Power on the device and connect it to a network.
- Follow the Out of Box Experience (OOBE) to join the device to Microsoft Entra ID and enroll it in Intune.
- Onboarding devices:
- Choose between admin-driven or user-driven onboarding:
- Admin-driven onboarding: Ideal for shared devices. Use a Device Enrollment Manager (DEM) account to enroll multiple devices.
- User-driven onboarding: Suitable for individual users. Users can complete the setup process themselves using their work credentials.
- Choose between admin-driven or user-driven onboarding:
- Configure policies and settings:
- Use Microsoft Intune to create provisioning policies for Link devices.
- Assign these policies to user groups to ensure proper access and configuration.
- Validate and test:
- Confirm that the devices are enrolled and functioning as expected.
- Test access to Cloud PCs and ensure all necessary apps and settings are available.
- Ongoing management:
- Use Intune to manage updates, deploy applications, and monitor device performance.
- Adjust settings as needed to optimize the user experience.
How can Nerdio help with Windows 365 Link?
Nerdio provides tools and expertise to simplify the deployment and management of Windows 365 Link within your organization. By leveraging Nerdio Manager, you can streamline processes, optimize resources, and ensure a smooth integration with your existing IT infrastructure.
How does Nerdio simplify deployment?
- Provisioning policies: Nerdio Manager helps you create and manage provisioning policies for Windows 365 Cloud PCs, ensuring consistent configurations across devices.
- Automated setup: Automates tasks like enabling Intune, configuring network connections, and assigning Cloud PCs to users, reducing manual effort.
- Centralized management: Allows you to manage all Windows 365 devices, including the Link, from a single interface.
How does Nerdio optimize resource management?
- Cost tracking: Provides insights into licensing and usage costs, helping you manage budgets effectively.
- Scalability: Makes it easy to scale deployments up or down based on your organization’s needs.
- Custom configurations: Supports tailored setups for specific use cases, such as hot desks or hybrid work environments.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Cost tracking | Manage budgets and reduce waste |
| Scalability | Adjust deployments as needed |
| Custom configurations | Meet unique business requirements |
How does Nerdio support IT teams?
- Simplified troubleshooting: Offers tools to monitor and resolve issues with Windows 365 devices, including the Link.
- Comprehensive documentation: Provides detailed guides and resources to assist with deployment and management.
- Expert support: Access to Nerdio’s team for guidance on best practices and advanced configurations.
How does Windows 365 Link compare to other devices?
When evaluating the Link, it’s important to understand how it differs from other devices like thin clients, mini PCs, and traditional workstations. These comparisons can help you determine if it’s the right choice for your enterprise needs.
For organizations exploring a shift from traditional VDI solutions such as Citrix DaaS, understanding how Windows 365 Link compares to various alternatives can highlight its specific advantages in seamless virtual desktop integration and simplified management through Microsoft Intune.
How does Windows 365 Link differ from thin clients and mini PCs?
- Purpose-built design: Unlike thin clients or mini PCs, Windows 365 Link is specifically designed to connect to the Windows 365 Cloud PC for seamless integration.
- Security features: Includes enterprise-grade features like secure boot, BitLocker encryption, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM), which are not always present in thin clients.
- Simplified management: Managed centrally through Microsoft Intune, making deployment and updates more streamlined than many mini PCs.
| Feature | Windows 365 Link | Thin Client | Mini PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose-built for Cloud PC | Yes | No | No |
| Enterprise-grade security | Yes | Limited | Varies |
| Centralized management | Yes (via Intune) | Partial | Varies |
What compatibility advantages does Windows 365 Link offer?
- Cross-environment support: Works alongside macOS, Chromebooks, and other Windows endpoints, ensuring compatibility in hybrid IT setups.
- Peripheral flexibility: Includes USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Bluetooth 5.3, supporting a wide range of devices like monitors, headsets, and keyboards.
How does Windows 365 Link prepare you for the future?
- Cloud-first approach: Windows 365 Link supports a cloud-first strategy by connecting to Windows 365, a Desktop as a Service (DaaS) solution where virtual desktops are hosted and managed in the cloud, offering you the benefits of simplified IT management, predictable costs, and enhanced user flexibility.
- Scalability: Ideal for businesses looking to adopt or expand cloud-based IT solutions.
- Sustainability: ENERGY STAR certification and sustainable materials contribute to long-term environmental goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about Windows 365 Link
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