Azure Virtual Desktop is now also available for on-prem via Azure Stack HCI. In doing so, Microsoft is responding to the needs of customers in need of low latency and high compliance requirements for data residency. At the same time, it allows the tech giant to snatch users away from VMware and Citrix.
Microsoft says it is bringing the benefits of the cloud to on-prem with this new functionality. Those who need performance and/or need or want to keep data on-prem can now set up virtual desktops through Microsoft’s suite of services. As such, the new solution is simply a combination of the existing cloud-based Azure Virtual Desktop and Azure Stack HCI.
All requirements met
That means users can jointly get started with Windows 10/11 Enterprise multi-sessions, but without the latency that the cloud variant typically introduces. Also, the latency for the on-prem solution can be brought down even further with RDP Shortpath for Azure Virtual Desktop. Patched images are easily retrieved from the Azure Marketplace, so keeping up with Virtual Desktops should be relatively predictable.
According to Business Cloud Operations Manager at Commvault Ernie Costa, it’s exactly what that company was looking for. “Azure Virtual Desktop for Azure Stack HCI checked all the boxes and met our needs with its ease of deployment and management, network and storage performance, and its security integrations allowing for governed access policies. “
Alternative for departing VMware and Citrix customers
As the competition is in dire straits, Microsoft’s move seems well-timed. After all, VMware End-User Compute is in the shop window with its new owner Broadcom, which has kept only a small portion of the former VMware portfolio intact. In addition, it has moved away from perpetual licensing, as has Citrix. Plenty of reason for customers to look around, then.
The Register notes that the move shows a markedly different attitude from Microsoft than before. Last year, the tech company advised against benchmarking cloud PCs because Microsoft makes sure the hardware meets the requirements despite possible differences existing from one VDI to another. Cloud services abstract the underlying hardware, and their cloud-based nature means many more variables are at play than on-prem, so customers should trust Microsoft to ensure configurations meet requirements. Those who don’t feel like doing that – but still hope to run Virtual Desktops via Azure services – have a solution for exactly that now.
Incidentally, Microsoft does state that high compliance requirements shouldn’t have to prevent the move to the cloud. To that end, it has rolled out Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty, although it does not appear that it can address all data residency concerns.
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