Virtual desktop architecture design
Migrating end-user desktops to the cloud helps improve employee productivity and enables employees to work from anywhere on a high-security cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure.
Azure provides these virtual desktop solutions:
- Azure Virtual Desktop is a desktop and application virtualization service.
- VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure is a VMware service that simplifies the delivery of virtual desktops and applications on Azure by extending Azure Virtual Desktop.
- Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops for Azure is a desktop and app virtualization service that you can use to provision Windows desktops and apps on Azure with Citrix and Azure Virtual Desktop.
- Azure Lab Services provides computer labs in the cloud.
- Microsoft Dev Box Preview is a service that gives developers access to ready-to-code, project-specific workstations that are preconfigured and centrally managed in the cloud.
Introduction to virtual desktop architecture on Azure
If you're new to virtual desktops on Azure, the best way to learn more is Microsoft Learn training, a free online platform. Here's a learning path to get you started:
Path to production
Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure provides an end-to-end scenario to guide you through your virtual desktop migration or deployment. Start with Migrate or deploy Azure Virtual Desktop instances to Azure, and check out the other articles below that one in the table of contents.
These are two more key Cloud Adoption Framework articles:
See Understanding Azure Virtual Desktop network connectivity for a high-level overview of the network connections used by Azure Virtual Desktop.
Best practices
- Security best practices for Azure Virtual Desktop
- Azure security baseline for Azure Virtual Desktop
- Session host virtual machine sizing guidelines
- Configure device redirection
- Set up scaling tool using Azure Automation and Azure Logic Apps for Azure Virtual Desktop
More virtual desktop resources
The following sections, organized by category, provide links to example scenarios and other articles.
Identity
- Authentication in Azure Virtual Desktop
- Deploy Microsoft Entra joined virtual machines in Azure Virtual Desktop
- Multiple forests with AD DS and Microsoft Entra ID
- Multiple forests with AD DS, Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft Entra Domain Services
Azure Virtual Desktop for the enterprise
FSLogix
FSLogix is designed for roaming profiles in remote computing environments like Azure Virtual Desktop. It stores a complete user profile in a single container. At sign-in, this container is dynamically attached to the computing environment. For more information, see these resources:
- FSLogix configuration examples
- FSLogix profile containers and Azure Files
- Storage options for FSLogix profile containers in Azure Virtual Desktop
Stay current with virtual desktop technologies on Azure
Get the latest updates on Azure Virtual Desktop technologies.
Additional resources
Example solutions
These are some additional articles about Azure Virtual Desktop:
- Azure Virtual Desktop RDP Shortpath for managed networks
- Multiregion Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) for Azure Virtual Desktop
- Deploy Esri ArcGIS Pro in Azure Virtual Desktop
AWS professionals
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