Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a cloud-based service that delivers secure virtual desktops and applications from Microsoft Azure. It enables employees to access their work environment from any device, anywhere.

Sometimes you might hear the term VDI whihc means virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

Why would a business use it?

• People work from home or travel and you want a consistent setup.
• You need tighter control over company data.
• Your software is fussy, slow, or doesn't have cloud version yet.
• You want to keep older/lower-spec laptops in service for longer.
• You want faster onboarding/offboarding for staff and contractors.
• Your team can work from anywhere, using almost any device, while the business keeps control of data, access, and setup.
• Its very secure because the files and applications can stay in the cloud environment, rather than being stored on the laptop.

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What’s the difference between this and “remote access” to an office PC?

‍Remote access relies on a physical PC sitting in your office and can be fragile (power, updates, internet, someone turning it off). Azure Virtual Desktop is purpose-built for this and designed to be managed, secured, and scaled properly.

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Will it be slower than a normal PC?

If it’s designed properly, it feels like a normal work PC. The two big factors are the:

• The speed and reliability of your internet connection or network/wifi your devices connects to.
• The right size of setup.

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Is it a big project to set up?

It doesn’t have to be, if you follow this plan.

1. Pilot on pay-as-you-go (first 4–8 weeks)
2. Start small (e.g., 3–10 users) on a pay-as-you-go model – tweak for user experience and demands
3. Perfect the right-size, then commit for better value (month 2 onward)
4. Lock in longer-term savings where appropriate (Azure supports discounts when you commit vs pure pay-as-you-go).

This approach keeps risk low, avoids overbuying, and usually lands you on the most cost-effective setup long term.

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Do we still need Microsoft 365?‍

Yes — Microsoft 365 is not Microsoft Azure, it remains your email/Teams/files. Azure Virtual Desktop is the “work computer” people use to run apps and work securely.

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What does Azure Virtual Desktop cost?

Azure Virtual Desktop is mainly priced on what you actually use, because the “desktop computers” are running in Azure (plus storage for user profiles and any extras like VPN). Microsoft’s own guidance is to estimate using the Azure Pricing Calculator because usage patterns drive the bill.

Budget guidance (per user / per month, 2026):

• Light use (email, Office apps, a couple of business apps): £25–£50
• Typical office user (multiple apps, bigger spreadsheets, heavier browser use): £50–£100
• Power user (large datasets, specialist software, high performance needs): £100-200

What pushes cost down:

• “Shared pool” desktops (most people don’t need a dedicated machine)
• Switching capacity off out of hours (autoscale)

What pushes cost up:

• 24/7 availability, dedicated desktops, heavy apps, extra security/networking (e.g., VPN connectivity)

These ranges are for budgeting and depend on your usage and design. A quick pilot (See Big Project question) gives a real-world number fast.

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