Companies can now use Windows 365 Cloud Apps in public preview. This allows them to offer specific applications via the cloud without providing a full virtual desktop environment for each user.
Microsoft has designed Windows 365 Cloud Apps for organizations that want to offer applications via the cloud without setting up a complete virtual desktop infrastructure.
The apps run on Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs in shared mode. This allows one license to support multiple users, with only one active session at a time. This model is primarily aimed at part-time or shift work in sectors such as retail, healthcare, or government services.
Word or Outlook via Streaming
Instead of a full desktop, Cloud Apps only streams the necessary applications, such as Outlook or Word. According to Microsoft, this approach reduces complexity and costs for IT management. Users gain access to published apps through the Windows App, where they can automatically launch OneDrive and see a new Cloud Apps filter.
Currently, organizations need to create custom system images to offer their own business applications via Cloud Apps. Microsoft has found, based on tester feedback, that this approach is cumbersome. In response, the company is working on integration with Intune, allowing administrators to publish applications directly through Intune. The use of Intune Autopilot to replace custom images is also planned.
No Teams
For now, Cloud Apps only detects executable files that are visible in the Start menu and are not packaged in Appx or MSIX format. As a result, Microsoft Teams, for example, is not yet supported. Organizations can manage apps through a provisioning policy, allowing them to publish, modify, or remove applications. The settings of the underlying Frontline Cloud PC remain in effect, including session management and access control.
IT teams wanting to start with Windows 365 Cloud Apps must have a Windows 365 Frontline license.
Microsoft has been trying to play a role in the VDI landscape for some time. With its Cloud PCs, Redmond launched a VDI solution to stream Windows PCs. Microsoft hopes to retain customers and incorporate them into its own ecosystem, without the need for intermediaries such as Citrix or Omnissa. The ability to stream Microsoft apps directly fits into the offering and the associated low entry threshold.