Microsoft Azure, you may have heard of it but have no idea what you can do with it. Once properly set up for your organisation, it allows you to use a range of cloud services. And then there is AVD, or Azure Virtual Desktop, a service within Microsoft Azure. In this article, we explain to you in a simple way what Microsoft Azure and AVD mean, and what their features and benefits are.
What is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure, what is it? It is a cloud computing platform and service from Microsoft with a wide range of cloud services. Think computing, storage, databases, AI, IoT and much more. Microsoft’s Azure allows companies and developers to build, deploy and manage applications on Microsoft’s global network of data centres.
Benefits Microsoft Azure: Azure offers flexibility, scalability and reliability, helping organisations cut costs and increase productivity.
Microsoft Azure fundamentals: over 40 solutions!
Microsoft Azure can be deployed for numerous purposes, offering more than 40 solutions, each falling within a specific category.
- Application development: testing, development, DevOps and E-commerce.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): predictions and models based on data.
- Cloud migration & modernisation: Linux and SAP on Azure, server migration.
- Data & analytics: business intelligence for (cloud) in-depth analytics.
- Hybrid cloud & infrastructure: from backup to high-performance solutions.
- Internet of Things: making systems secure, sustainable and scalable.
- Security & governance: optimal network and cloud security.
- Industry solutions: for government, healthcare, energy, gaming and more.
What to use Microsoft Azure for?
Microsoft Azure is fairly complex and is best set up to perfection once by a specialised data migration specialist. After that, you as an organisation can start using it yourself.
The specialist can give you a Microsoft Azure training course that focuses on what is important for you to know. After all, it is an extensive tool package and it is relevant to dive deep especially into what is really needed. Basically, Microsoft Azure is mainly used for the following.
1. Application development and deployment
Azure provides development platforms and development tools to build, deploy and manage applications. Developers can use various programming languages and frameworks to build their applications and then deploy them on the Azure infrastructure.
2. Data storage and data management
Azure offers various storage and database solutions, such as Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, and more. These allow companies to store and manage structured and unstructured data in the cloud.
3. Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Azure offers several Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning services, including Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Machine Learning and Azure Bot Service. These services enable developers to add intelligent features to their applications, such as language, image and speech recognition.
What is Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)?
Azure Virtual Desktop, formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop and today also known by its acronym AVD, is a dedicated service within Microsoft Azure.
Azure Virtual Desktop makes it possible to host virtual desktops and applications in the cloud and make them accessible to users on different devices. With Azure Virtual Desktop, organisations can deploy and manage virtual Windows desktops at scale, without having to maintain physical hardware.
Difference between Microsoft Azure and Azure Virtual Desktop
As mentioned, Azure Virtual Desktop is part of Microsoft Azure. Whereas Azure focuses on cloud services in the broad sense, AVD focuses specifically on hosting virtual desktops and applications in the cloud. To deliver and manage these virtual environments, AVD does use Azure’s infrastructure and resources.
Why use Azure Virtual Desktop?
There are several advantages to Azure Virtual Desktop over physical hardware, for example, provided of course it is perfectly tailored to the organisation’s needs.
- Cost-effectiveness: With AVD, organisations can optimise their IT costs by hosting virtual desktops in the cloud. This reduces both initial investments (such as in hardware) and maintenance and management costs.
- Flexibility and scalability: With AVD, users can access their desktop and applications from anywhere, from any device with an internet connection. It is also possible to scale up quickly and easily if the business is growing.
- Security: Several security measures are built into AVD, such as advanced authentication and data encryption. This ensures your business is AVG compliant and also ensures that sensitive business data does not end up in the wrong hands.
Does Azure Virtual Desktop suit my organisation?
You may still be wondering if Azure Virtual Desktop suits your organisation. If you plan to scale up in the future and if you want to get rid of those hardware investments, it is fundamentally a good choice. Moreover, they offer features for numerous industries.
For example, for governments, foundations and other agencies, it can simplify collaboration. Access per person is easily arranged. In healthcare, you focus on better patient engagement.
Companies focusing on (increasing) profits also come out well with AVD. Besides improving customer experience by better tuning services, you can also use deep data analytics to draw conclusions to improve the business.
Another thing that is very nice, especially in a time when work is increasingly time- and location-independent, and various devices are used, is that everyone can always go online securely. With the right security, access control and settings, there is access from any device at any time.
TIP: get a free AVD migration scan done!
Is Azure Virtual Desktop a good choice for your organisation? And how can migrating environments contribute to your business goals and outcomes? To find out, have a free AVD migration scan done. This will give you more insight, and you can always decide afterwards whether to hire a migration specialist to transfer your systems.
Cloud360 as an independent data migration specialist
From Microsoft Azure Cloud and AVD to network and hardware migration, the scan will reveal which solutions are a good fit for your business. After all, that can vary from one company to another! At Cloud360, we work independently, without vendor commissions. This has the great advantage that we always give you honest advice and look for the best solution.
We do not have to favour specific tools and solutions, but go for customisation based on your needs and organisation! Contact us for more information or a no-obligation migration scan.