Windows 365 is Microsoft's Cloud PC service, providing each user with a dedicated, cloud-hosted Windows desktop accessible from any device. Rather than running Windows and applications on local hardware, a Windows 365 Cloud PC streams a full desktop experience from Microsoft's data centres, with the same applications, files and settings available wherever a user signs in, often managed alongside Microsoft Intune.
How Windows 365 works
Each user is assigned a Cloud PC with a defined amount of processing power, memory and storage, priced as a fixed monthly subscription. Users connect to their Cloud PC through a web browser or the Windows app, with the experience feeling like a normal Windows desktop regardless of the underlying device used to connect. IT teams manage Cloud PCs through Microsoft Intune alongside physical devices, applying the same security and configuration policies.
How UK businesses use Windows 365
- A business provides contractors and temporary staff with a Windows 365 Cloud PC rather than issuing physical laptops, simplifying onboarding and offboarding.
- An organisation extends the life of older physical laptops by using them only to access a Windows 365 Cloud PC, where the actual processing work happens in the cloud.
- A business with strict data security requirements uses Windows 365 to ensure company data never resides directly on a local device, since everything is processed and stored in the Cloud PC, managed through Microsoft Intune policies.
- A company supports a sudden increase in remote working by provisioning Windows 365 Cloud PCs quickly, without needing to source and ship physical hardware.
How Advantage helps businesses deploy Windows 365
Advantage advises on where Windows 365 fits within a wider device strategy, and configures Cloud PC provisioning and management alongside existing Microsoft 365 and Intune deployments for businesses that need flexible, secure access to a Windows desktop from any device.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Windows 365 and a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)?
Traditional VDI requires significant infrastructure to set up and manage, with variable performance depending on usage levels across all users. Windows 365 provides a dedicated Cloud PC for each user with predictable, fixed monthly pricing, removing most of the infrastructure management overhead associated with traditional VDI.
Can a Windows 365 Cloud PC be accessed from any device?
Yes. A Windows 365 Cloud PC can be accessed from a web browser or the Windows app on practically any device, including older laptops, tablets, or even a personal device, since the actual processing happens in Microsoft's cloud rather than on the local device.
Is data stored locally when using Windows 365?
No, by design. All applications and data run within the Cloud PC in Microsoft's data centres rather than on the local device being used to access it. This means if a physical device is lost or stolen, company data on the Cloud PC itself is not directly exposed.
