Azure Virtual Desktop Reviews

Name: Azure Virtual Desktop
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 3.9 (5 reviews)

3.9 out of 5

5 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Azure Virtual Desktop?

Azure Virtual Desktop enables remote work by allowing employees to access their desktops and applications from anywhere, centralizing management, ensuring data security, and supporting collaboration.

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Azure Virtual Desktop is the #12 ranked solution in top Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions. PeerSpot users give Azure Virtual Desktop an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. Azure Virtual Desktop is most commonly compared to Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service): Azure Virtual Desktop vs Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service). Azure Virtual Desktop is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 69% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 51% of all views.

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Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

February 2025

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Featured Azure Virtual Desktop reviews

Makarand-Shrikhande

Sr. Architect at LTI - Larsen & Toubro Infotech

The use cases include providing application access to users through Azure Virtual Desktop using MSIX App Attach or remote app, enabling remote users like BPO or contact center resources to connect and work on applications, and allowing vendors to access specific applications securely without a…

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Peter West

Director at Pesaro IT

Originally, I used Azure Virtual Desktop for disaster recovery, and then I also used it for remote working options. Those are the main aspects of it The ability to spin up virtual machines quickly and speedily in Azure has been really valuable. I could make value with using the virtual desktop…

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AndrewTaylor1

Freelance Cloud Architect/Consultant at AndrewSTaylor.com Ltd

The scalability is probably the most valuable feature since I can quickly add or remove machines or increase or decrease the size depending on resources to manage the cost better. It is a useful way of accessing my more complicated applications without having to install them on every device, especially when I have people working from home.

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Valuable Features

Azure Virtual Desktop offers scalability, allowing users to adjust machine resources efficiently. It enables quick virtual machine deployment without distributing physical laptops. Features like auto-scaling and hybrid work ensure flexibility and secure access from various locations. Leveraging existing Microsoft licenses reduces additional costs. Users find it cost-effective, managing resources efficiently through cloud shutdowns. Azure's global control plane simplifies management while tools like Nerdio add flexibility and minimal manual effort in deployment.

"Azure pricing is quite cheap due to licensing benefits with Microsoft."
"The biggest advantages are the price and flexibility."
"Scalability is very straightforward with Azure Virtual Desktop."

Room for Improvement

Azure Virtual Desktop requires improved cost predictability, as users find it challenging to give accurate pricing to clients. Adding a built-in internet proxy and internet filtering is desired. Companies seek Entra ID access to ensure only tenant user access, removing on-premises needs. Users find scalability limited and depend on third-party solutions like Nerdio for enhancements. Better uptime and intelligent scaling are requested for more efficient performance.

"Azure could improve its uptime and the scaling aspect, as it lacks intelligent scaling."
"The primary area for improvement is around the scalability of Azure, specifically on the desktop side."
"My overall rating of Azure Virtual Desktop is five out of ten. While the stability and cost-effectiveness are commendable, there is room for improvement in technical support."

Pricing

Azure Virtual Desktop offers competitive pricing with flexible options, including monthly, one-year, and three-year reserved instances, benefiting most from the latter with auto-scaling. Users appreciate cost-effectiveness by utilizing and shutting down resources as needed. It allows enterprises to leverage virtual desktops over physical laptops. Azure pricing is deemed reasonable with notable savings due to licensing benefits with Microsoft. High-configured VMs can be costly, but the platform offers significant value in use-with-care scenarios.

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily use Azure Virtual Desktop for accessing resources from various machines, facilitating disaster recovery, and supporting remote work. It enables users to access applications via MSIX App Attach or remote app, allowing remote workers like BPOs or contact centers to connect securely. Vendors can access specific applications using their own devices. Entities employ Azure Virtual Desktop to manage endpoints and collaborate with distributors for Azure platforms, offering internal desktop access to users.

Service and Support

Many customers find Azure Virtual Desktop's customer service satisfactory, with some receiving good assistance due to being Microsoft preferred partners. However, managed services teams note that Microsoft's support often involves repeating basic troubleshooting steps, indicating a need for more knowledgeable personnel. There are frequent shifts among technicians, which impacts the consistency of service. Satisfaction ratings range from five to eight out of ten among users who have interacted with Microsoft's support team.

Deployment

Users find Azure Virtual Desktop's initial setup straightforward, especially within Microsoft Azure portal. Experienced users complete it in hours, while beginners may take longer. Guided by Microsoft's documentation and Terraform scripts, selecting subscription, region, VM size, OS configuration, and creating network security groups forms the core process, often done in 15 minutes. Automation tools like Nerdio Enterprise Manager enhance simplicity, making host pool and work group creation with session host assignments easier.

Scalability

Azure Virtual Desktop is highly scalable, suitable for organizations of any size, from small to enterprise levels. Many find it flexible, enabling easy provisioning of virtual desktops as demand increases. For those expanding quickly or needing enhanced server performance, scaling is easier compared to some other cloud services. While some in certain areas face challenges, additional tools effectively improve its scalability. Overall, users rate Azure Virtual Desktop's scalability favorably.

Stability

Azure Virtual Desktop is described as highly stable by most users, achieving ratings like ten out of ten for stability. When properly set up and distributed across regions, there are no major issues. A well-planned and designed environment is crucial for smooth operations. Some, however, rate it an eight out of ten, noting the need for more experience to explore further optimizations. Generally, users find it to be fully stable in most cases.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

51%

Outsourcing Company

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

Government

Logistics Company

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Insurance Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Energy/Utilities Company

University

Wholesaler/Distributor

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Learn more about Azure Virtual Desktop

Azure Virtual Desktop is essential for remote work, offering centralized management of desktops, a secure environment for accessing sensitive data, and facilitating collaboration. It reduces hardware costs, supports scalability, and simplifies IT tasks. The platform is scalable, integrates with Microsoft 365, and provides robust security features. Fast deployment, efficient management tools, reliable remote access capabilities, and cost-effective pricing make it versatile for diverse requirements. However, users report slow performance during peak hours, connectivity issues, difficulty managing virtual machines, high scaling costs, a complicated setup process, and compatibility issues with specialized software.

What are the most important features of Azure Virtual Desktop?

Scalability: Adjust resources seamlessly to match demand.
Microsoft 365 Integration: Enhance productivity with deep integration.
Security Features: Protect sensitive data with robust security measures.
Fast Deployment: Quickly set up and deploy virtual desktops.
Efficient Management Tools: Streamline IT tasks with advanced management tools.
Reliable Remote Access: Consistent performance for remote access.
Cost-Effective Pricing: Competitive pricing that suits different needs.
Azure Services Integration: Leverage existing Azure infrastructure.

What benefits and ROI should users expect?

Cost Reduction: Minimize hardware and operational expenses.
Enhanced Productivity: Boost productivity with seamless integration.
Security Assurance: Ensure data safety with advanced security features.
Operational Efficiency: Simplify IT operations and management tasks.
Scalable Resources: Easily scale resources based on requirements.
Flexible Accessibility: Access desktops and applications from anywhere.

Azure Virtual Desktop is widely implemented across industries like finance, healthcare, and education. Finance companies use it to securely access sensitive financial data remotely. Healthcare providers use it to offer secure access to patient records and applications, ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. Educational institutions leverage it for virtual classrooms, enabling students and faculty to access resources and collaborate from various locations.