Microsoft Introduces Windows 365, a Web-Streamed Virtual Desktop Service for Hybrid Work.
Windows 365 has recently promised to offer a new way to access a full-fledged Windows operating system from anywhere you want. You can access the OS from a desktop, laptop, or even a mobile phone. Microsoft introduced Windows 365 to the market at a recent partner-focused online conference Inspire 2021 on Wednesday. This new debut brings the theory of a cloud PC to life. Windows 365 is Microsoft’s latest product to enable a suitable remote working environment which has become the new norm lately because of the coronavirus pandemic last year. This operating system is manufactured to provide a surreal computing experience through a native app or Web browser on any device which has an active Internet connection.
The Availability of Windows 365
Microsoft has stated that Windows 365 will be made available to any organization- small or big from August 2. Anyone can access this operating system from any device possible which includes a Mac, iPad, Linux, or even an Android phone. Windows will have 2 cloud PC configurations- Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise. Any announcement related to the pricing has not been announced yet.
Features of Windows 365
With the introduction of Windows 365 to the public, Microsoft aims to provide an experience of any older operating system they released but with the extra benefit of accessing it from any device. It will offer the same looks, feels, and security as a traditional Windows PC. It will allow users full access to Windows 10 or 11(when available) directly from an application or Web browser. Users will also have the benefit of accessing their apps, tools, information, and settings from the PC cloud.
Accessibility
With a special thanks to the Microsoft Cloud integration, users will now be able to access Windows 365 while they switch between multiple devices. It does not matter what device you are using; you will get the same experience. This service will run on the cloud and hence, will not display any distinction even when you shift from a top-class device to a more basic device, for instance, an Android phone.
Even though Microsoft already came out with Azure Virtual Desktop to introduce Windows through the cloud to business clients, Windows will offer a whole new way to implement digitalization without tedious IT support. If a corporation has its own IT admins, Microsoft stated that the admins could manage and deploy cloud PCs based on Microsoft Windows by using tools similar to the ones they use to manage physical PCs.
“Windows 365 is really going to make a huge difference for organizations that wanted to try virtualization for various reasons but could not — maybe it was too costly, too complex or they didn’t have the expertise in house to do it,” said Wangui McKelvey, General Manager of Microsoft 365.
Source: gadgets.ndtv.com
Microsoft also mentioned that this operating system will support any business applications including Microsoft 365, Dynamic 365, and Power Platform, among others. IT teams can also use Microsoft Endpoint Manager to work with Windows in order to manage cloud PCs provided by the corporations. They can apply management and security policies remotely from any device.
Windows 365 also come with the Endpoint Analytics dashboard to provide analytics access to look at the health of the Internet connection across the business network. IT teams can also run diagnostics using Watchdog Service.
Security
Windows 365 is designed to address most of the security challenges using a Zero Trust architecture. It comes with a Multi-Factor Authentication(MFA) for the verification of login or access attempts to the cloud PC using integration with the Microsoft Azure Active Directory. Specific permissions like licensing, Device Management, and Cloud PC Management with certain rules can also be delegated. In addition, for increased security, you can use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
Microsoft further argued that all managed Microsoft Windows cloud-based discs were encrypted, all data stored remained encrypted, and all network traffic to and from PCs also encrypted. Windows 365 has been developed prior to the pandemic, with references to initial work begun in 2014. But the outbreak of coronavirus contributed to a wider Cloud testing for Microsoft than previously. The company had also decided to pitch its new service with a Microsoft Office 365 replacement last year by Microsoft.
