Businesses are constantly seeking ways to optimise their IT costs without compromising on performance or security. One solution that has gained significant traction is Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). As a comprehensive desktop and app virtualisation service running in the cloud, AVD offers scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness unparalleled by traditional on-premises infrastructures. In this blog, we will explore what AVD is, why it is so popular, its cost-effectiveness, and implementation and management.
What is Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)?
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution that provides users with a Windows 10/11 desktop experience from anywhere, on any device. AVD allows organisations to securely access on-premises servers and remote applications with security controls defined through their policies. It simplifies desktop and application management while providing the flexibility to scale user growth while addressing rising infrastructure costs.
Why is AVD so popular?
The pandemic and the adoption of hybrid working practices have accelerated the demand for remote access to desktops, servers, and applications. AVD's popularity has also increased due to the high level of security it provides, ensuring that confidential information remains secure. Additionally, AVD is cost-effective as it eliminates the need for expensive on-premises hardware and maintenance costs, giving complete control to businesses to customise AVD setups to their specific requirements.
How can AVD optimise IT costs?
AVD is based in Azure, which means that it is highly scalable as there is no hardware to maintain, which makes it a fantastic option for businesses that have fluctuating workloads. The cost of using AVD is pay-as-you-go, which means that businesses will only need to pay for the resources they are using. This leads to substantial cost savings as there is no need to spend money on expensive servers and infrastructure maintenance.
Here are some key strategies and benefits:
Right-sizing resources: by properly configuring and scaling AVD virtual machines (VMs) to match user demands, organisations can avoid overprovisioning and reduce unnecessary costs. Optimising VM sizes based on workload requirements ensures efficient resource utilisation.
Dynamic scaling: AVD allows for dynamic scaling of resources, enabling organisations to automatically adjust VM capacity based on user demand. This flexibility ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, reducing costs during low usage periods.
Shutting down VMs: implementing a strategy to shut down VMs when they are not in use can significantly reduce costs. This approach is especially beneficial for non-continuous workloads, such as seasonal or part-time employees.
License optimisation: understanding and optimising licensing models can help organisations lower AVD costs. Ensuring that the appropriate licenses are assigned to users can prevent unnecessary expenses.
Hybrid Azure deployment: leveraging a hybrid deployment model by integrating on-premises infrastructure with AVD can lead to cost savings. Organisations can extend existing investments and leverage on-premises resources while benefiting from the scalability and flexibility of AVD.
Cloud cost management: utilising tools and services for cloud cost management, such as Azure Cost Management and Billing, can help organisations monitor, analyse, and optimise AVD costs. These tools provide insights into cost drivers and enable proactive cost optimisation.
AVD licensing is already included within Microsoft 365 and Windows 10/11 Enterprise Licences, therefore the only costs to consider are Azure VMs, Networking and Storage.
The future of the Azure Virtual Desktop is looking bright. Microsoft has made continued efforts to improve the platform's functionality and performance, with the latest offering, Windows 365, which is built on the AVD infrastructure. AVD is also flexible and supports various applications, with an increasing number of integrations and features that make it more intuitive and user-friendly to deploy.
What about AVD implementation and management?
Organisations are increasingly outsourcing AVD to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) for their expertise in delivering professional, reliable, and cost-effective AVD services, allowing organisations to focus on their core business objectives while benefiting from the convenience, efficiency, and specialised knowledge of an experienced partner. Here are some advantages of partnering with an MSP for managed AVD services:
Expertise and experience: MSPs specialise in managing AVD deployments and have extensive experience working with the platform. They possess in-depth knowledge of AVD best practices, optimisation techniques, security protocols, and troubleshooting procedures. By leveraging their expertise, organisations can ensure a smooth and efficient AVD implementation.
Cost savings: Partnering with an MSP eliminates the need to hire and train an in-house team dedicated to managing AVD. This significantly reduces staffing costs and training expenses. MSPs often offer flexible pricing models tailored to the organisation's needs, allowing cost-effective management of AVD infrastructure.
24/7 support and monitoring: MSPs provide round-the-clock support and monitoring for AVD environments. This ensures that any issues or disruptions are promptly addressed, minimising downtime and maximising user productivity. MSPs also proactively monitor performance, security, and availability, enabling timely resolution of potential problems.
Scalability and flexibility: MSPs have the resources and infrastructure to scale AVD environments quickly. They can accommodate fluctuating user demands, seasonal spikes, or business growth seamlessly. With an MSP, organisations can easily add or remove users, adjust resource allocation, and adapt to changing requirements without the need for extensive internal adjustments.
Enhanced security and compliance: MSPs specialise in implementing robust security measures and compliance frameworks for AVD environments. They stay up to date with the latest security threats and implement proactive measures to safeguard data and protect against unauthorized access. MSPs can help organisations meet industry-specific compliance requirements by implementing appropriate controls and monitoring solutions.
Focus on core business: Outsourcing AVD management allows organisations to focus on their core competencies rather than investing time and resources into AVD infrastructure management. By offloading the management responsibilities to an MSP, organisations can redirect their efforts towards strategic initiatives, innovation, and business growth.
Continuous optimisation: MSPs constantly monitor and optimise AVD environments to ensure optimal performance and cost-efficiency. They proactively identify areas for improvement, implement necessary updates and patches, and fine-tune resource allocation to deliver an optimised AVD experience for end-users.
Not sure if AVD is right for you? Advanced are currently offering an AVD workshop to provide you with a greater understanding of the features of AVD and how it could benefit your organisation. Simply contact managedit@oneadvanced.com today to get started.