Azure Virtual Desktop
Enable a secure remote desktop experience from virtually anywhere.
Access your desktop and applications from virtually anywhere
Set up Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly Windows Virtual Desktop) in minutes to enable secure remote work. Provide the familiarity and compatibility of Windows 11 with the new scalable multi-session experience for your end users and save costs by using existing eligible Windows licenses. Manage your end-to-end Azure Virtual Desktop deployment alongside other Azure services within the Azure portal.
Deliver Windows 11 desktops and applications virtually anywhere
Provide employees the best virtualized experience with the only solution fully optimized for Windows 11 and Microsoft 365.
Built-in intelligent security
Help keep your applications and data secure and compliant with security capabilities that can proactively detect threats and take remedial action.
Deploy and scale in minutes
Simplify deployment and management of your infrastructure and scale quickly based on your business needs.
Reduce cost using existing licenses
Use existing eligible licenses to reduce costs with a modern cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and pay only for what you use.
Access Windows 10 and Windows 11 desktop and applications from virtually anywhere
Bring your own device (BYOD) and access your desktop and applications over the internet using an Azure Virtual Desktop client such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or HTML5. Choose the right Azure virtual machine (VM) to optimize performance and leverage the Windows 10 and Windows 11 multi-session advantage on Azure to run multiple concurrent user sessions and save costs.
Leverage the seamless Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office experience
Provide employees with the same experience they'd have on a local desktop or laptop—whether they're managing their inbox with Outlook, sharing files in OneDrive, or collaborating with colleagues on Microsoft Teams.
Reduce costs
There are no additional license costs—Azure Virtual Desktop can be used with your existing eligible Microsoft 365 or Windows per-user license.
Reduce infrastructure costs by right-sizing virtual machines (VMs) and shutting them down when not in use. Increase utilization of VMs with Windows 10 and Windows 11 multi-session. Avoid upfront costs and align operational expenses to business usage.
Reduce management overhead by moving all your virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to the cloud with a managed service.
Deploy and scale quickly within the Azure portal
The Azure portal is your management hub for Azure Virtual Desktop. Configure network settings, add users, deploy desktop apps, and enable security with a few clicks. Set up automated scaling and manage your images efficiently with Azure Shared Image Gallery. Focus on your desktop apps and policies while Azure manages the rest.
Modernize your Citrix and VMware virtual desktop infrastructure
Maximize your investments and skills by integrating Azure Virtual Desktop into existing desktop and app virtualization environments with Citrix DaaS for Azure and VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure.
In addition to support for hybrid deployments, centralized management, and advanced tooling, Citrix and VMware customers have the ability to rapidly deploy Windows 10 and Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session on Azure Virtual Machines.
Choose the right option to fit your secure hybrid work needs
Azure Virtual Desktop
A flexible cloud virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform that securely delivers virtual desktops and remote apps with maximum control
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 personalized and multi-session desktops and remote app streaming
- Full control over management and deployment, plus options for Citrix and VMware integration
- Flexible consumption-based pricing
Optimized for flexibility.
Windows 365
A complete software-as-service (SaaS) solution that securely streams your personalized Windows experience – all your apps, content and settings - to any device
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 personalized desktops
- Management and deployment with familiar desktop tools and skills
- Predictable per-user pricing
Optimized for simplicity.
Remote app streaming
Remote app streaming allows you to run your app in Azure and stream it to a remote device. Use Azure Virtual Desktop for app streaming to create a low-latency, high-performance user experience from virtually anywhere on any device.
Access to Azure Virtual Desktop is now available for remote app streaming with monthly per-user pricing.
Get started with remote app streaming
Read an overview of remote app streaming on Azure Virtual Desktop.
Azure Virtual Desktop for industries
Modernize and help secure your remote work environment
Enable your employees to access FSI workloads from almost any device—with enterprise-grade security, compliance, and performance from virtually anywhere. Learn more about Azure for financial services.
Rapidly onboard and enable access
Provide remote access to company desktops and apps with an optimized Microsoft 3651 and Microsoft Teams experience for your new and existing dispersed financial employees, contractors, partners, and international workforce.
Improve risk management
Safely host applications, provide managed access to corporate data for international employees, and remain compliant with critical industry regulations including HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOX, SOC 1, and SOC 2.
Optimize costs and infrastructure
Increase business agility and scalability while optimizing cost savings on RDS licenses, hardware refresh, and IT infrastructure and management expenses.
1Microsoft 365 subscription is sold separately
Provide virtual desktops and apps for a mobile workforce
Give government employees the flexibility to work and collaborate securely from anywhere without compromising security. Learn more about Azure for government services.
Deter unauthorized remote work
Provide remote employees with more secure access to government desktops and applications. Implement safe, adaptive identities to enable the right level of access.
Collaborate across agencies
Give government employees the ability to collaborate more securely and share essential data with other agencies to improve citizen services.
Improve security and compliance
Help keep your applications and data secure and FedRAMP compliant with security capabilities that proactively detect threats and take remedial action.
Remote access with optimal performance for manufacturing workloads
Enable your frontline and information workers to run any smart manufacturing workload more securely from anywhere, on any workstation, with enterprise-grade security, compliance, and performance. Learn more about Azure for manufacturing.
Run robust workloads and apps
Enable an optimized Microsoft 365 and Teams experience with support for heavy workload apps such as GPU intensive 3D applications for design—like digital twin 3D models—and engineering teams like AutoCAD.
Reduce costs and complexity
Optimize costs by saving on licensing, IT infrastructure, hardware refresh deployment, and maintenance of your virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Simplify IT management and easily onboard new users with minimal effort.
Increase security and scalability
Help protect corporate and financial data with built-in intelligent security. Add or remove instances immediately to scale with the changing needs of your business.
Access retail desktops and apps anywhere
Equip retail and first-line employees to work anywhere with improved functionality, seamless access, and best-in-class security. Learn more about Azure for retail.
Empower a globally distributed workforce
Enable remote office, store, and call center employees to access corporate assets more securely. Quickly onboard new employees without the expense or the shipping delays of a corporate device.
Improve security and data privacy
Keep your applications and data more secure, ensure compliance with PCI mandates, and protect customer payment data with built-in intelligent security.
Reduce costs and complexity
Increase cost savings on your infrastructure, licenses, hardware, deployment, and management expenses by paying for only what you use.
Secure and modernize access to healthcare data and apps
Enable care teams to work remotely without compromising care delivery. Help ensure security of health data while maintaining compliance with evolving health regulations. Learn more about Azure for healthcare.
Ensure business continuity
Expedite rollouts to support a remote workforce and ensure that vital services are never disrupted. Gain the agility to deliver new products and services for patients and care teams.
Modernize healthcare delivery
Provide HPC and GPU virtual machines for clinical analytics, genomics workloads, and app development. Simplify access to electronic health records with an optimized end user experience and reduced latency for optimal patient care.
Help remain secure and compliant
Safely host health apps for partners, contractors, and remote office workers while remaining compliant with HIPAA and FedRAMP certifications. Prevent theft of Protected Health Information (PHI), patents, technology, and test data with built-in intelligent security.
Why trust Azure Virtual Desktop?
Built-in security
- Help secure your employee and company data by storing in Azure rather than local desktops.
- Leverage Azure security offerings such as Azure Firewall, Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for end-to-end security from the endpoint to the applications.
Dynamic policy engines
- Use conditional access to manage risks before you grant users access to your Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
- Set up multifactor authentication for secure sign-in.
- Protect your Azure infrastructure by enabling role-based access control (RBAC) and detect threats using Azure Security Center.
Compliance
- Take advantage of Azure Virtual Desktop compliance certifications including ISO 27001, 27018, and 27701, plus PCI, FedRAMP High for Commercial, HIPAA, and more.
Learn more about Azure Virtual Desktop pricing
Optimize costs with your existing eligible Microsoft 365 or Windows licenses and use Windows 10 and Windows 11 multi-session support on Azure to reduce your infrastructure costs.
Azure Virtual Desktop resources and documentation
Get started
Customers using Azure Virtual Desktop
Hospitals reduce device management time by 60 percent, enable remote work in less than four weeks
Morne Beck, Head of IT, Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust"With Azure Virtual Desktop, it's all done for us in the cloud. Devices automatically get the latest and greatest updates, and we don't have to worry about it. Before, we were patching computers daily."
Story collection: Four Russell Group universities enable remote learning with Azure Virtual Desktop
Richard Goddard, Director of Technology Operations, Newcastle University"Previously, people had to come on campus to access computing power. Now, to get that same level of service, all they need is Azure Virtual Desktop and a device with a web browser."
Frequently asked questions about Azure Virtual Desktop
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The virtual desktop infrastructure, including broker, gateway, load balancer, and diagnostics, is managed by Azure Virtual Desktop.
You only need to focus on your virtual desktop and apps and any policies you need for governance.
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Azure Virtual Desktop supports Windows 10 multi-session, Windows 10 single-session, Windows 7 single-session, Windows Server 2012 R2, and newer operating systems.
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Partners such as Citrix and VMware deploy, integrate, and build on the Azure Virtual Desktop capabilities. Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers offer Azure Virtual Desktop to their customers. Software and service providers offer targeted solutions in the Azure Marketplace.