In this guide, we look at how to undertake a move to WVD. It’s our ultimate checklist for a successful WVD migration.

Step 1: Check your Microsoft 365 subscription

To get started on WVD, you’ll need a Microsoft 365 Business Premium plan. WVD is included in this subscription as a Platform as a Service, so all the backend infrastructure you will need (including remote desktop services) is handle by Azure.

There is no minimum requirement for the number of employees covered by WVD. You’re able to pick whichever Azure virtual machine will meet your team’s needs and leverage the Windows 10 multi-session advantage offered in Azure. Just keep in mind, whether you have one employee or one-thousand, you will need to pay for a dedicated machine in Azure.

Step 2: Allow enough time to fully migrate

The good news is it won’t take long to get a user up and running in WVD – a few hours will suffice to set yourself up with the basic Windows 10 experience.

Setting your applications up can take longer, so give yourself time to configure all the add-ons needed (think Adobe, Firefox, and any other regularly used applications).

Step 3: Consider changing your security processes

While there are no particular security requirements for WVD (beyond those already in place for your IT) keep in mind that employees can now access their desktop from anywhere, on any device. This means you won’t be able to stop employees from recording or copying data out of your business environment without appropriate security checks and policies in place.

Before you release WVD into the wild, consider the following steps:

1. Secure your Azure AD properly. This is critical. You can do this by creating appropriate Azure AD Groups and Users with least privileges.
2. Make sure you control the Account Lifecycle Management process properly, so ex-employees aren’t able to use WVD after leaving the company.
3. Azure AD accounts must be configured with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) mechanism. Remember that WVD is exposed to the public Internet, so MFA will help to protect user logins even in the case of credentials leaked or have been stolen in a fishing attack.
4. Collect audit logs and store it in a SIEM solution. In the event of a security breach or a major legal battle, these audit logs will be key evidence.

Talk to us about your business’s specific security requirements – we can help set you up ahead of your WVD migration.

Step 4: Enjoy the benefits

There’s a lot to enjoy about WVD. For one, you won’t need to worry about a machine dying or being stolen any more. And if employees need to work remotely at short notice, they’ll be able to, because WVD is a desktop in the cloud. All that is needed to access the desktop is a device and an internet connection.

WVD is a better replica of your current day-to-day work environment because it’s Windows 10. With WVD, you’re not running on a server, and you’re able to optimise your Azure bill depending on users.

To summarise, we like WVD as a solution because it’s simpler to execute than any other virtual desktop infrastructure or cloud desktop, and you don’t need to be a big organisation to make the most of the benefits.

If you’re ready to embark on the WVD journey, we’re here to assist every step of the way. Get in touch to find out more.