Tech giant Microsoft on Wednesday launched Windows 365, a cloud service that creates a new way businesses can experience Windows 10 or Windows 11. Windows 365offers a new way to access a full-fledged Windows OS from anywhere using a desktop, laptop, or even a mobile phone. This new offering takes the concept of cloud PC one step closer to reality and stars as Microsoft’s latest offering for the remote and hybrid work environment that has become the new normal since the pandemic struck last year.
Windows 365 is specifically designed to offer a comprehensive computing experience through native app or Web browser on any device that can seamlessly connect to the Internet. Microsoft announced that Windows 365 would be available to organizations and businesses of all sizes from August 2, 2021. It can be accessed through any device including Mac, iPad, Linux, and even Android phones. Windows 365 will have two cloud PC configurations; Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise. Dubbed as Cloud PC during its announcement in the Inspire Conference, Windows 365 is the first subscription-based Windows license. This solutions will make it easier for large companies to assign its employees enterprise-level security and organizational policies related to the operating system. The “Cloud PC” will allow users to store apps, files, and documents and provide them access anytime on all kinds of devices. Although Azure Virtual Desktop is already out there, Windows 365 aims to offer a cloud service to provide virtualization that does not need a dedicated IT expert team. Windows 365 will also support business apps – such as Microsoft 365, Dynamic 365, and Power Platform, among others. Microsoft Endpoint Manager can also work with Windows 365 to enable IT teams to efficiently manage cloud PCs that are available in their organizations and apply management and security policies remotely from the devices. Windows 365 is also equipped with Endpoint Analytics dashboard to provide analytical insights and give access to assess the health of the Internet connection across the enterprise network.
Moreover, Windows 365 is also designed in a way that address the growing challenges of security and data safety using a Zero Trust architecture. The service is equipped with a multi-factor authentication (MFA) to verify login or access attempts to the cloud PC by leveraging Microsoft Azure Active Directory. According to Jared Spataro, Corporate VP, Microsoft 365, this latest announcement of Windows 365 is a first step in what will blur the boundaries between the device and the cloud.
