Cloud-based Workspace Solution

 (simplified management with enterprise capabilities)

The increasing and fluctuating demand for remote work is incessant. The distributed workforce within the organization demands a more organized and structured workplace that would fit their work style. Also, enterprises enable new working methods without compromising security, productivity, and scalability. Microsoft offers a tailor-made solution for the digital workspace that leverages the deep technology ecosystem to elevate your enterprise’s security posture and simplify management by optimizing IT operations.

Azure Virtual Desktop, aka AVD, is a cloud-based workspace solution providing end users with secure access to enterprise apps and desktops on any network and device.

Benefits of moving from a traditional workspace to a cloud-based workspace solution on Azure.

  • Simplified management with improved performance
  • The administrator can get deeper insights by leveraging security integration at all levels.
  • Optimize performance and reduce manual intervention in managing your desktops and applications.
  • Better return on investment with cloud workspace solution.
  • Automatically create work items in an ITSM tool (ServiceNow) with easy integration.

The following are the few listed aspects where the organization, IT team (administrator), and end-users can take advantage of a cloud-based workspace solution.

User Experience:

Before implementing a cloud-based workspace solution organization, the IT team must know their users inside and out. Azure Virtual Desktops is not a one-size-fits-all solution; the solution must be specific to the user base or personas. It is recommended that you understand your personas and provide the apps and desktops to the users. These desktops and applications can be available at their nearest location to reduce latency and improve accessibility and desktop experience. Also, the end-user can benefit from Windows 10 and 11 multi-session desktops to deliver a true desktop experience.

Image Management:

Creating and deploying a base image to create multiple session hosts within the workspace is tedious for AVD administrators. The Azure cloud-based workspace solution can be made to handle most manual tasks by automation. Creating an image, installing the FSLogix profile container solution, and tweaking the registry settings per desktop pool made it easier than before. Updating regular security patches on the base image makes it easier through script-based actions.

Automation:

Automation helps administrators to reduce manual intervention in the Azure Virtual Desktops. Service enables you to focus on work that adds business value, reducing errors and furthering efficiency. Script-based actions not only elevate your operational efficiency but also help you to reduce consumption costs. The task performed in regular intervals of time can be reduced by automation. The PowerShell-based scripts are widely used in cloud-based workspace solutions. Also, an integrated module will help your session host auto-scaling functionality in the solution.

A few of them can be explained here:

  • Dynamic auto-scaling of your session hosts
  • Reduce the overall Azure Compute and Storage costs.
  • Deploying office and other applications automatically
  • Auto image update and patching of the session hosts.
  • Integration with ITSM tool for ease of operations

Security:

Azure Virtual Desktops includes many security features to keep user and organization data safe. The solution has built-in advanced security features, viz reverse-connect, reducing the risk of having remote desktops accessible from anywhere.

Azure Virtual Desktops are secure under the Azure platform. To strengthen the safety of end-user data, the infrastructure needs to be integrated with larger Azure ecosystems, including Microsoft Defender for cloud, multi-factor authentication, conditional access, network-level security through firewall and network security group, and so on. The administrator can encrypt the VM with a managed disk encryption option to protect end-user data at rest. Also, some group policies can minimize the risk of being exposed to bad actors. Applying zero trust principles to AVD to secure your environment is always recommended.

Cost:

Azure Virtual Desktops are desktops, and the application virtualization solution from Microsoft offers a compelling alternative to traditional virtual desktop infrastructure or end-user desktops; specifically, those continuing to work remotely through personal devices. The organization always considers that installing Windows OS on physical desktops or laptops would require Windows license costs, IT staff costs, and maintenance costs. Azure Virtual Desktops do not need an upfront cost. Still, the license cost associated with a Windows-licensed desktop running in Azure blended with the virtual machine’s cost.

Microsoft offered customized solution evolved with automation levers that save ~30% of your Azure compute and storage consumption cost compared to the traditional method. Also, the organization can benefit from reserved instances and save up to ~60% on the Azure Virtual Desktops compared to the pay-as-you-go model.

As per Forrester’s report, the organization can reap a few quantifiable and non-quantifiable benefits from adopting Azure Virtual Desktop. A few measurable benefits include reducing the VDI licensing and related IT infrastructure cost by ~34%; likewise, ~59% of IT deployment and maintenance expenses, and non-quantifiable expenses like user experience improvement, scalability, and organizational resiliency can be reflected post-adoption.

In summary, organizations aren’t required to invest upfront in the services, and there is no vendor lock-in for the service you opt for from Azure. Also, with the Windows 10/11 multi-session desktops, organizations can save up to 50% of cost compared with single-session desktops. The organization can consider Azure Virtual Desktops an operational cost rather than an upfront cost because pricing is based on monthly consumption. Hence, adopting Azure Virtual Desktops provides opportunities to reduce costs, optimize the infrastructure, innovate, and be nimbler and agile.

Delivery Approach

Your organization can benefit from a cloud-based workspace solution by procuring or using your existing Microsoft 365 E3/E5/A3/A5/F3 licenses. The organization need not invest or bear additional costs for those with Microsoft 365 licenses.

Below is a brief description of Azure Virtual Desktops delivery methodology:

  • Discovery & Assessment: Understand the business drives and identify risks, dependencies, and constraints. Also, validate the persona/application readiness for cloud workspace solution.
  • Solution Design and sizing considerations: Customize the solution based on the requirement and integrate security features that fit all the profiles. Additionally, a few optional components, viz Microsoft End-Point Manager, third-party solutions, and Microsoft Defender, are contemplated based on the demand.
  • Build & Configure: Building and configuring workspace solutions that include Identity and Access Management, creation of images, Azure DevOps pipeline, and GitHub integration for scripted actions.
  • Provisioning and testing: Provisioning static and dynamic host pool, publishing the applications, and optionally Intune enrollment for Azure Virtual Desktops.
  • Migrate and on-board users: Provisioning of virtual desktops and applications as the new requirement. Migrate users and their existing data to Azure Virtual Desktops.
  • Operations and Hypercare: Hypercare support for the existing environment. Monitor through Azure Monitor. Also, Monitor the AVD environment with industry-leading UX monitoring solutions.

In conclusion, Azure Virtual Desktops offers the best user experience to your end-users. It is much easier for administrators to manage these desktops through the Azure portal and deliver resources with enterprise capabilities. Organizations can also keep an eye on Azure expenses and need to bear additional licensing costs.