Windows 365 – what is it and what are the benefits?

Among the plethora of business applications and tools that have migrated to the cloud, the latest addition is an entire Operating System – Microsoft’s Windows 365 – which operates solely from the cloud. This new service brings with it very interesting implications, particularly the benefits it offers to business users.

What is Windows 365?

Windows 365 is Microsoft’s brand new OS which runs exclusively in the cloud. The main purpose of this cloud OS is to allow you to connect your Windows 10 or 11 devices from anywhere, no matter which device you use: from Mac and iPad to Linux, Android, or a Windows PC. The great thing is you can enjoy all the powerful applications, data, or settings remotely from any location which you otherwise use or access from your home or work PC.

Windows 365 has taken direct inspiration from Azure virtual desktops, and the key idea behind it is to simplify the virtual desktop experience, allowing users to control all aspects of their home or work PC from the cloud in a very easy, intuitive, and straightforward way. All you need is an HTML5 browser to access your work or home PC from anywhere.

Benefits of Windows 365

Unprecedented scalability and flexibility

Remotely configure the file size, CPU, and RAM usage of your PC as per your needs, thanks to virtualised sessions on Microsoft’s secure servers. This versatility will offer numerous benefits to home and office workers, particularly, IT departments, who can expand or scale back their processing and storage capacity requirements on an ongoing basis.

Secure storage in the cloud

Windows 365 supports the principles of Zero Trust, which integrates the maximum security measures and guarantees when using any cloud-based service. All current security solutions offered by Azure can be availed by Windows 365 users, as well as multi-factor authentication for the best possible security assurance.

The migration to an in-the-cloud OS means organisations can stay safe from cyber security breaches, which otherwise is easy to fall victim to when data and resources are hosted on local computers.

Simplicity and ease-of-use

Super-easy management and an instant start-up or boot-up enables users to pick up exactly where they left off on their home of office workstation. This means IT departments can continue managing and deploying the configuration of any workstation no matter where they are. This also makes W365 very effective for onboarding new employees remotely.

Typical business use case and how we can help

Where a normal user would require a fairly powerful PC for, say, graphic intensive tasks or server management – with Windows 365, all you need to do is sign in and enjoy the same great features of a powerful PC or hardware, without actually investing in it.

OPENSHOP is a certified Microsoft and Azure partner – our team can help you manage the deployment of Windows 365 cloud PCs from start to finish, including everything from configuration and setup to ongoing support whenever you need it.