What Is WVD? Windows Virtual Desktop Explained | Antivirus Software

Since its release last year, Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) has gained traction in many companies, especially those who want to offer their employees a better user experience, have the latest security and feature updates, and want to reduce the cost of their IT Want to lower the environment.




Especially since March 2020 (the first lockdowns of Corona), WVD has become a solution companies are considering for their needs as a large part of the global workforce suddenly has to work from home.

This demand for WVD has raised the same questions for these companies: What is WVD? How can I implement it? Will it work for my company? What other services do you need to work efficiently?

The purpose of this post is to answer these questions and clarify what Windows Virtual Desktop is and how it can benefit your company.


What Is Microsoft's Windows Virtual Desktop?

According to Microsoft, "Windows Virtual Desktop is a desktop and app virtualization service that runs in the cloud." The cloud Microsoft is talking about is Azure, and running WVD on Azure has the following advantages:


·         A scalable, multi-session Windows 10 deployment
·         Virtualization of Microsoft 365 apps for companies
·         Windows 7 Virtual Desktops with Free Extended Security Updates (for businesses that have not migrated to Windows10
·         Bring your existing Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Windows Server desktops and apps to any computer
·         Virtualization of both desktops and apps
·         Ability to manage Windows 10, Windows Server, and Windows 7 desktops and apps with a unified management function

In addition to the features listed above, running WVD on Azure also offers Microsoft's security protocols and elements to create a secure network that is always updated with the latest security improvements.


HOW DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION BENEFIT FROM WVD?

Productivity
One of the main advantages of WVD is that a user can access their desktop from anywhere they have internet access, be it on the device provided by the company, a shared work computer, or their own device. An employee who is at a remote location can dial in and have the same desktop experience with all of its functions and personalizations.

Costs
A company can achieve cost savings in several ways by using WVD. Firstly, hosting on Azure significantly reduces the infrastructure required, especially servers and the rooms in which they are housed. Also, because employees can work from anywhere, less office space is required, especially with shared workspace options like WeWork and Regus.

The labor cost savings are also significant, as you no longer need as many IT techs to maintain a large infrastructure. Part of the labor savings also comes from the fact that fewer help desk support staff are required. This is because the desktops are virtually created with the latest versions so there are no issues with installing or older versions.

Scalability and Security
A company that wants to grow quickly can do so with WVD. Massive hiring rounds need not be hampered by setting up new infrastructure or procuring equipment in a BYOD environment. The processes of image creation, app packaging, and app delivery are not necessary for company-owned devices. Conversely, a company going through a reorganization or layoffs can easily reduce the number of users on WVD, and if it is in a BYOD environment, it doesn't rely on devices and servers that will soon be out of date.

Because the desktop on WVD will always be up to date, it has the latest security features that Microsoft has to offer. Traditionally, a larger company would postpone security updates or take the time to roll them out completely, making IT systems vulnerable to attack.


PROBLEMS CONVERTING TO WVD


Before you can fully migrate your business to WVD, you must have all of your applications in a digital format with a correct signature. To do this, you need to convert all EXEs and MSIs to MSIXs.


One problem that could bring your company's workflow to a halt is the failure of the cloud in which you are hosting. This has already happened with Azure. However, Microsoft guarantees 99.9% uptime, and long outages are rare. If a user is in an area with no internet or with a slow/unstable connection, they will also not be able to access the applications they need.


There is also the problem of being heavily or completely dependent on Microsoft. You can certainly move the majority of your apps to a WVD environment, and many are already compatible with doing this. However, when you become a full part of the Microsoft ecosystem, the transition becomes easier, and adding each new app becomes more efficient.


CONCLUSION

As working from home and BYOD become the new norm, Windows Virtual Desktop will provide a familiar and efficient UX while ensuring high levels of security and cost savings for the business. Use antivirus software for windows to protect the latest internet threats.

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