By naming the Newborn Windows 365, the aim is precise: While we have already adopted Microsoft 365 as our digital platform, Windows 365 will narrow the gap between having your Windows system available wherever you are, on whatever device you are using, and constantly online and synchronised: According to Microsoft’s announcement at this year’s Ignite, the PC is still the future — but it will be cloud-based.

Please, no more disruptions!

The last 18 months of the pandemic have demonstrated the critical importance of service and platform availability: While many of us left the office to work from home for an extended period, the hurdle of publishing services into home offices was one that customers and users needed to overcome.

Welcome to Windows 365!

Windows 365 enables the Cloud PC and builds on what Microsoft already provides with Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) by streamlining a tailored-to-your-needs Windows 10-client to your working computer (which will be followed by Windows 11 by the end of the year when it becomes available). Microsoft guarantees that the Cloud PC, built on Azure Virtual Desktop, can be easily customised and deployed to put your data, programmes, and personal settings at the centre of this experience – always-on, unrelated to Computing time, and scalable in a variety of ways. By listening to Microsoft, we have a unique perspective on personal computing, relegating it to a new shelf within the categories of modern computers and computing devices.

The scenario is not novel, as it follows in the footsteps of Citrix or VMware Horizon — complementary and well-positioned solutions for application consolidation. Windows 365 offers an instant-on boot experience that enables users to stream all their customised programmes, tools, data, and settings from the cloud to any devices, including Mac, iPad, Linux, or Android. According to Microsoft, the Windows experience will remain consistent regardless of the device used. Users can resume work immediately after switching devices, just as they would with a Remote Desktop connection terminated without signing off.

The complete solution

Microsoft says that customers will complete the same tasks using laptops in a hotel room, a tablet in their car between appointments, or a desktop at the workplace. Additionally, seasonal personnel can ramp up and down in response to business needs, allowing the organisation to scale for peak periods without the costly logistical and security problems associated with releasing new gear.

Microsoft also guarantees that with Windows 365, it will keep its promise of “app compatibility” by utilising App Assure. This programme assists clients with 150 or more users resolve any app difficulties that may arise at no additional cost. Although this should not be targeted at the smaller user base, Microsoft’s promise here might be a genuine deal, as we all know how tough it can be to combine apps, tools, and their specialised combinations with Windows at times.

There is no such thing as zero trust!

Customers can use Microsoft Endpoint Manager to combine MFA (Multi-factor authentication) with specialised Windows 365 conditional access settings to analyse the login risk for each session rapidly. Additionally, Microsoft asserts that the user and administrator experiences were built around the notion of least privileged access. For example, users can delegate capabilities such as licencing, device management, and cloud PC administration to specific roles, removing the requirement for users to be global administrators to control these settings.

Customers may now use the security baselines for Windows 10, Microsoft Defender for Endpoints, and Microsoft Edge (just as they do with physical devices). Microsoft is particularly delighted to have developed a cloud PC-specific security baseline to assist customers and users in getting started quickly.

Conclusion: It is time to embrace the Cloud PC!

Unbelievably, despite being trapped between the worlds of macOS (at home), Windows (at work), and Linux, I enjoy the concept of Windows 365 — and would welcome a macOS-derived version as well. I have already incorporated Microsoft 365 and a few services into my everyday digital life on both primary platforms. The ability to connect to a Windows 10-instance anytime I need it is convenient!

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