Ivan Galea
Jan 31, 2022
Ivan Galea
Jan 31, 2022
Microsoft has created the first managed Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) product, Windows 365, which is included under the Microsoft 365 suite of online services.
And their message is simple “A Hybrid Windows for a Hybrid World”, positioning their new product for the sudden increase in remote working and targeting businesses who are adopting a Hybrid Workplace.
Hybrid Workplace is simply a strategy an organisation takes up, defining how and where its employees deliver their work/productivity. To most organisations Hybrid Work is simply a division of time between the organisation’s office and remote, where the employee needs to deliver their work. This strategy is set and bound by policies and agreements between employer and employee.
Splitting your workdays between two or more locations requires the necessary technical resources to be available, to retain the same level of productivity throughout.
Some of these challenges may not apply to every business or employee. So, let’s start with the first challenge; the users must have adequate if not similar hardware & consistent productivity tools and applications between the two (or more) locations. Employees who use multiple devices (usually because one out-performs the other), face certain productivity challenges such as data and application synchronisation issues, and re-loading time.
This also increases the IT administration tasks and headaches to discover and secure unknown devices.
The most prioritised challenge for any organisation is security. BYOD or non-organisational devices increase business risks for data theft, malicious attacks, and other intrusion activities. Phishing and other methods targeting remote workers have increased during the last two years as more vulnerabilities and IT security weaknesses are exposed.
Microsoft has created two new versions but in total have 3 products to address these challenges. The first one, Windows 365 Business, is aimed at SMBs (up to 300 users) that face technical challenges to deploy and maintain Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
Therefore Windows 365 Business is a pure DaaS solution which enables businesses to simply purchase and assign a user license. With a 1 to 1 model, a virtual machine with a pre-loaded Windows desktop and Microsoft native apps is assigned to a single user. This allows the user to stop and start their work wherever, whenever and from which ever device they like, as long as they have an adequate internet connection and browser.
Windows 365 Enterprise provides organisations some control over the network resources to be able to assign IP addresses, create VPN tunnels and configure firewall rules. It also provides the ability to deploy and manage the virtual desktops through Microsoft Endpoint Manager. IT admins can distribute security policies and manage both known and unknown devices more easily. However, the Enterprise version requires the organisation to have an Azure subscription and the users must have an Intune license.
The biggest advantage with Windows 365 is the security element. The physical device becomes of no consequence so whether it is stolen or passed around the household, the organisation data remains secure in the cloud. With policies, IT admins can also restrict transfer of data between the virtual desktop and the local device.
Every client we work with requires different solutions. So, we tackle each need with our expertise in technology, business strategy and innovation.
We propose and develop intelligent, secure infrastructure solutions, help build your internal capabilities and identify opportunities to enhance your business potential through the application of innovative technologies. This ensures a greater level of business management and progression.
Want to learn more about how Windows 365 enables a hybrid workplace? Contact us and one of our experts will reach out and guide you accordingly
