Windows 365 is a totally new way of using your computer. It sounds familiar and most might confuse it with Microsoft 365, but the Windows 365 is quite different with many benefits. Microsoft introduced their new Windows 365 back in July 2021. In recent years we are seeing the company focus as much on software as hardware in this exciting move. In this article we explain exactly what their plans are.
What Is Windows 365?
Windows 365 is a new service offered by Microsoft which streams a cloud hosted Windows 10 PC. All applications and files are available from any device that you choose to use. Therefore, you are not tied to a specific endpoint to remain productive.
Windows 365 Cloud PCs are accessible on many platforms. These include Windows laptops and workstations, Apple macOS and iOS platforms, and Android via dedicated apps; Linux support is also coming soon. Otherwise, you can stream your Windows 365 desktop directly in a web browser. As all your files applications remain consistent in the Cloud PC, you can start working on your laptop and pick up on your iPad, so long as you have an internet connection.
Windows 365 Cloud PCs are configurable depending on the computational resource requirements that your role needs. They can be scaled up to provide additional power for more intensive tasks and applications. Connectivity is vastly accelerated by Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure; network performance will seldom be the bottleneck in Cloud PC.
Is Windows 365 Available?
Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 365 on July 14th, 2021, followed by a general release on August 2nd, 2021.
Microsoft initially offered a free trial for Windows 365 so that IT Administrators and decision makers could test the new platform, but due to high demand and popularity, Microsoft suspended new trial subscriptions.
As Windows 365 is now widely available, it can be configured in your Microsoft 365 & Azure tenant as a proof of concept which you can then scale up to production.
What Are The Costs?
The cost of Windows 365 is dependent on the specification of Cloud PC that each of your team requires. Plans range from £20.50/user/month for a 1 core vCPU, 2GB RAM, and 64GB storage configuration. To as much as £138.00/user/month for an 8 core vCPU, 32GB RAM, and 512GB storage configuration.
The benefit is that you can assign different Cloud PCs to any one user dependent on their requirements at the time which eliminates the cost to provision a high specification laptop or workstation for an application which may only be occasionally utilised.
If your team are already utilising Windows 10 Pro for their endpoints in the workplace, then you may be eligible for Windows Hybrid Benefit which lowers the license cost for each user. Email us today to see how we can help.
Will My Company Need This?
The company culture and where employees are based will influence if a business needs Windows 365. Microsoft has released Windows 365 at a good time because the global pandemic has changed many aspects of our society including how we work. A new way of working is emerging with virtual processes and remote working. This means employees need increased access to online recourses across various locations and devices.
Jared Spataro, corporate vice president, Microsoft 365 says the following,
“With workforces more disparate than ever before, organizations need a new way to deliver a great productivity experience with increased versatility, simplicity and security. Cloud PC is an exciting new category of hybrid personal computing that turns any device into a personalized, productive and secure digital workspace.”
Hybrid working has meant that employees expect greater flexibility when it comes to technology. Microsoft seem to be meeting market expectations and providing a service that many businesses will find they need. Microsoft are providing is organisations the power, simplicity, and security for hybrid work.
How We Can Help You With Windows 365
Cambridge Support have decades of experience in IT consultancy and support of a wide range of products and services, specialising in Microsoft technologies. We can help determine the suitability of Windows 365 in your IT infrastructure and how best to deploy this exciting new service.
Please contact us and we will be more than happy to discuss Windows 365 with you.
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