Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Desktop, formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop, is a Microsoft Azure-based system for virtualizing its Windows operating systems, providing virtualized desktops and applications securely in the cloud using the Remote Desktop Protocol. It is aimed at enterprise customers rather than at individual users.
Azure Virtual Desktop with Windows 10/11 Enterprise Multi-Session is a cloud-based alternative to an on-premise Remote Desktop Server. AVD is deployed in Azure Cloud as a virtual machine. License costs are already included in several Microsoft 365 subscriptions, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft 365 E3.

History

Azure Virtual Desktop was first announced by Microsoft in September 2018, available as a public preview in March 2019, and generally available at the end of September 2019.

Client software

Azure Virtual Desktops can be accessed with the Remote Desktop client for Windows, also called Azure Virtual Desktop, on Windows and with Microsoft Remote Desktop on other platforms, including the web. Other non-Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol clients can also be used to connect to Azure Virtual Desktops.

Availability/compatibility

Azure Virtual Desktop supports Windows 10/11 multi-session, Windows 10/11 single-session, Windows Server 2012 R2 and newer operating systems.