Azure Virtual Desktop (short AVD) is a desktop and app virtualization service hosted on the Azure cloud. It allows users to securely access their desktops and applications from anywhere, on any device. AVD provides the flexibility to use either personal or pooled virtual machines (short VMs), enabling companies to offer a scalable and efficient remote work solution. It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services and offers built-in security and compliance features.
Terminology
- Host Pools: Collections of VMs that serve remote desktops or applications to users.
- Session Hosts: The VMs within a host pool where the desktops and applications run.
- Application Groups: Groups of applications that are managed together and published to users.
- Workspace: A grouping of application groups and remote desktops that users access.
Service architecture and resilience
AVD’s architecture is designed for high availability and resilience. It leverages Azure’s global infrastructure, allowing deployment across multiple regions for redundancy and closer proximity to users. The service architecture includes:
- Azure’s Global Network: Ensures low latency and high performance by hosting VMs in regions close to the users.
- Storage: Utilizes Azure Blob storage for user profiles, leveraging FSLogix to ensure profiles are quickly accessible and follow users across sessions.
- Load Balancing: Automatically distributes user sessions across available session hosts to optimize resource utilization and user experience.
Understanding and estimating costs
The cost of Azure Virtual Desktop depends on several factors, including the type and size of VMs, storage, networking, and the number of users. Microsoft offers a pricing calculator to help estimate the costs associated with AVD deployments. It’s important to consider both the fixed costs (e.g., storage) and variable costs (e.g., consumption-based pricing for VMs) when planning a deployment.
Azure Virtual Desktop represents a powerful solution for organizations looking to provide a secure, flexible, and efficient remote work environment. Its integration with Azure’s global infrastructure and services makes it a compelling choice for businesses of all sizes.
Licensing
To use Azure Virtual Desktop, organizations must have licenses for Azure and for the Windows operating system. The specific licensing requirements can vary based on the deployment scenario, but generally, Microsoft 365 E3, E5, A3, A5, F3, Business Premium, or Windows 10/11 Enterprise E3, E5 licenses are required. Additional costs apply for Azure resources consumed, such as VMs, storage, and networking.
Prerequisites
Before deploying AVD, certain prerequisites must be met:
- Azure Subscription: Needed to create and manage resources.
- Azure Entra ID (AD): For identity and access management. A synchronization with an on-premises AD may be required for hybrid environments.
- Virtual Network: To connect VMs to the internet and optionally to an on-premises network.
Source: What is Azure Virtual Desktop? – Azure | Microsoft Learn