NerdioCon 2025: April 7-9, Palm Springs, CA
NerdioCon 2025: April 7-9, Palm Springs, CA
As remote and hybrid work become more popular, bring your own device (BYOD) policies are
Properly quote and cost-predict Microsoft Azure.
Model and cost-predict Azure Virtual Desktop environments.
Deploy and manage Windows 365 Cloud PCs quickly, easily, and cost-effectively with Nerdio Manager.
Windows 365 is a Microsoft 365 virtual desktop product that offers organizations a monthly fixed-price subscription to a Cloud PC that is dedicated to a user and can be managed using the exact same tools as a traditional Windows PC. Making a Cloud PC available to a user (once the initial environment is set up) is a matter of assigning a Microsoft 365 license.
Each Cloud PC is a persistent VM that is dedicated to a specific user at a fixed price per user per month and is part of the Microsoft 365 cloud rather than Azure. The Cloud PC is based and built upon the existing global Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure as part of the Azure Cloud.
All security software agents, licensed applications or patches recognize the VM as a single-user, traditional Windows device running on the same Windows 10/11 Enterprise operating system. Windows 10 EVD (multi-session) is not currently supported. All this is important to make Cloud PCs behave and be managed together with and like physical devices, and over time replace physical machines with Cloud PCs.
Cloud PCs are delivered as a SaaS offering and managed through Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MEM) and the M365 admin portal, rather than through the more complex Azure portal like AVD – unless you are using Nerdio Manager.
Cloud PCs securely stream desktop apps, settings, and content from the Microsoft cloud to users’ devices to provide a personalized Windows experience. With cloud PCs, Windows evolves from a device-based operating system to hybrid personalized computing.
Each Cloud PC is a persistent VM that is dedicated to a specific user at a fixed price per user, per month, and is part of the Microsoft 365 cloud rather than Azure. The Cloud PC is based and built upon the existing global Azure Virtual Desktop infrastructure as part of the Azure Cloud.
Windows 365 license costs depend on the hardware specs that a user needs. Each desktop comes with a certain number of vCPUs, GB of RAM, and SSD storage. If we align the vCPU and RAM configuration of each cloud PC license with a comparable Azure VM size and managed disk, we can then compare their costs side-by-side. Windows 365 Cloud PCs are most cost-effective when users need dedicated, persistent desktops and will be using them more than 50 hours per week.
There are currently two Windows 365 Cloud PC versions that Microsoft offers: Enterprise and Business.
Enterprise Cloud PCs are designed for organizations who have invested into Microsoft Endpoint Manager and are using this powerful platform to manage their existing, physical Windows 10 desktops. Enterprise Cloud PCs require an Intune license for each user who is assigned a cloud PC M365 SKU.
Business Cloud PCs are designed for individual users and very small businesses who typically go to their local Best Buy when they need a new PC. Now, instead of visiting Best Buy, they can go to Microsoft and subscribe to a new Cloud PC and have it ready to use in an hour. Business Cloud PCs do not require an Intune license and are managed entirely by the user, similar to a standalone physical PC.
Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop and two virtual desktop products offered by Microsoft. Depending on you or your organization’s needs, one of these options should fit the bill.
Easily deploy and manage Windows 365 Cloud PC using Nerdio Manager for an affordable price. Save time and money by eliminating user errors and automate the process from start to finish.
Windows 365 and Nerdio Manager allows all users to be productive from anywhere, on any device with a cloud-powered, secure, and always up to date Windows experience. It also seamlessly allows MSPs and IT professionals to instantly provision Cloud PCs and manage physical and virtual devices through a unified portal and a fixed and predictable price.
Nerdio Manager is an Azure managed application deployed from the Azure Marketplace into your own Azure tenant, and can, connect to customers’ tenants if needed. Nerdio Manager deploys and manages Cloud PCs, applications and images, servers, networking, and identity (such as Azure Active Directory) across multiple environments, if applicable.
Nerdio Manager makes Windows 365 deployment faster, management easier, allows for cost-efficiency, and offers more flexibility than using native Windows 365 management tools. Nerdio Manager fully supports Windows 365 for Enterprise IT Professionals and the MSP community. It is a single platform that helps admins and MSPs manage multiple virtual environments in a seamless, integrated flow. It does this by managing and automating several Azure technologies, including identity, virtual machines, file storage, networking, and backup, which in turn helps with quick and easy deployment (as little as 10 minutes), management, and optimization.
Stand up the virtual environment, get the images in place, and set up the required networking and identity.
Enable application management, desktop updates, and monitoring, all from a single console.
Create a new all-PaaS environment of AVD supporting services + AVD hosts.
Create AVD supporting services leveraging existing components + AVD hosts.
Connect to existing Azure environment and extend with AVD.
Overlay on top of existing AVD deployment to enhance management and auto-scaling.
Microsoft 365 enhances efficiency, collaboration, and security for businesses of all sizes. Microsoft 365 for business offers a comprehensive suite of productivity tools, such as Word and Excel, which foster collaboration through cloud-based platforms, such as OneDrive and SharePoint. It provides business-class email with Exchange Online and facilitates seamless communication with Teams. Robust security features ensure data protection, and tools like Power BI enable data-driven decision-making. With automatic updates, businesses stay current effortlessly, and the flexibility of plans allows scalability to meet varying organizational needs.
Microsoft 365 is versatile and beneficial for a wide range of businesses, regardless of size or industry. Small businesses can leverage its cost-effective solutions for essential productivity tools and communication, while large enterprises benefit from its scalable and robust infrastructure. Remote or distributed teams find its cloud-based collaboration features invaluable, promoting seamless work regardless of location. Industries with stringent security and compliance requirements, such as finance or healthcare, appreciate the platform’s strong security features. Essentially, any business looking to enhance productivity, streamline collaboration, and ensure data security can find value in adopting Microsoft 365.
The cost of Windows 365 will depend on the size of your organization and your business needs. Visit the Windows 365 pricing comparison page to learn more.
Windows 365 is licensed on a per-user subscription model, where users pay for access to a virtualized Windows desktop based on their chosen configuration and performance level. This licensing approach provides flexibility and scalability, simplifying management by associating the virtual desktop with individual users. The subscription covers the Windows license, compute resources, and includes Microsoft Endpoint Manager for streamlined administration.
While there is no obligatory minimum purchase for Windows 365 access, certain licensing channels, such as the Enterprise Agreement, might entail specific minimum purchasing requirements.
A virtual machine (VM) is software that acts like a physical computer. It runs its
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