💻Microsoft Makes Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid GA
Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid is live, but the pricing is still a mystery
TL;DR
Microsoft has made Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid generally available, allowing session hosts to run on-premises while management stays in Azure. However, the pricing details remain unclear, leaving many questions unanswered.
Microsoft has made Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid generally available, allowing session hosts to run on-premises hardware while management and brokering stay in Azure. This hybrid model is designed to reduce cloud costs by keeping compute, storage, and networking on-premises. However, the pricing model is still unclear, with users asking how to calculate the difference in cost compared to running Azure Virtual Desktop in the cloud. The requirement for RDS Client Access Licenses with Software Assurance limits the potential customer base, as it excludes 90% of potential deployments. The service does not manage virtual machine state, power management, or autoscale, leaving these tasks to the customer or partners.
Key Points
Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid allows session hosts to run on-premises hardware, connected through Azure Arc, starting now.
Session brokering and management remain in Azure, with per-user licensing for the service and on-premises compute costs.
The architecture is unchanged at general availability, with all communication outbound over HTTPS.
Creating VMs, installing Azure Arc, and configuring session hosts can now be done from the Azure portal.
Windows Server 2016 through 2025 with RDS Client Access Licenses carrying Software Assurance are supported.
Why It Matters
If you're running Windows Server on-premises with RDS Client Access Licenses carrying Software Assurance, Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid might reduce cloud costs by keeping compute, storage, and networking on-premises. However, the lack of detailed pricing information and support for Windows 11 and Windows 10 multi-session limits its appeal for many organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're running Windows Server on-premises with RDS Client Access Licenses carrying Software Assurance, Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid might reduce cloud costs by keeping compute, storage, and networking on-premises. However, the lack of detailed pricing information and support for Windows 11 and Windows 10 multi-session limits its appeal for many organizations.
What happened?
Microsoft has made Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid generally available, allowing session hosts to run on-premises while management stays in Azure. However, the pricing details remain unclear, leaving many questions unanswered.
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