Microsoft announces Windows 365 Cloud PC, the new virtualized cloud OS offering

After nearly a year of rumors, Microsoft yesterday officially announced Cloud PC, which is part of a new Windows 365 cloud offering from redmond firm, at its Inspire conference. The company says Cloud PC is a “hybrid personal computer category” that “uses both the power of the cloud and the device’s capabilities to provide a full, personalized Windows experience,” delivering Windows 10 and – ultimately – Windows 11 remotely to users across platforms from the cloud.

Microsoft says Windows 365 Cloud PC provides an “instant-on boot experience” that delivers the apps, settings, tools and data you want from any device thanks to the cloud. This means users can access their desktops from remote locations without having to carry physical hardware, further helping the “hybrid” form of work that the company says is becoming ubiquitous. Other benefits the company cites include the ability for businesses to easily scale up based on seasonality or “busy periods” without purchasing physical hardware, security benefits of virtual deployment, and more.

The service is built on Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), but offers prices per user and per month, and “simplifies the virtualization experience,” the company says. It gives businesses flexibility to scale as well, depending on their needs, and take advantage of other Microsoft offerings, such as the Microsoft 365 suite of apps, Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and more from the cloud. Organizations have the option to choose between two editions – Windows 365 Business or Windows 365 Enterprise, based on the configuration requirement. The service allows businesses to quickly adapt performance to the needs of users.

Source: neowin