Windows 365 Frontline
In 2022, I published an article regarding Windows 365.
In its simplest form, Windows 365 is a Cloud PC (AKA Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) service. However, it has some unique advantages for enterprise businesses, specifically the unified user experience as part of Office 365 and full integration with Microsoft Intune.
At work, we have successfully deployed Windows 365 at scale, which has proven to be highly effective, outperforming equivalent services from VMware and Citrix.
Unfortunately, the initial licensing model offered by Microsoft was not optimised for shift workers (e.g., service desk agents, support teams, etc.) Therefore, we were forced to retain legacy capabilities for these use cases.
Thankfully, Microsoft recently improved this situation with Windows 365 Frontline, which makes it easy and affordable to extend the power of Windows 365 to shift workers, allowing them to securely access their personalised Windows experience on any device without the hassle of sharing physical PCs.
Key advantages include:
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Increase efficiency for frontline workers by providing personalised Windows 365 Cloud PCs that retain their apps, data, and settings whenever they sign in on any device, from any location.
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Cloud PCs enable Bring Your Own PC (BYOPC) and remote work scenarios, so your frontline workers are not limited by the constraints of sharing physical, on-premises PCs.
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To start a shift, employees sign in to Windows 365 from the web or the Windows 365 client. When they sign out, a personalised Cloud PC automatically becomes available for the next employee.
We have been partnering closely with Microsoft on this rollout and my colleague Mike Henry (Executive Director, TechOps) was recently featured by Microsoft as a customer reference.
In summary, we continue to be impressed with Windows 365, with Frontline providing improved flexibility, productivity and cost-efficiency for shift workers.