Edit

What is Windows 365 Enterprise?

  • Article

Windows 365 Enterprise is a cloud-based service that automatically creates a new type of Windows virtual machine (Cloud PCs) for your end users. It provides the productivity, security, and collaboration benefits of Microsoft 365. Windows 365 Enterprise uses:

  • Microsoft Intune to manage the Cloud PCs.
  • Microsoft Entra ID for identity and access control.
  • Azure Virtual Desktop for remote connectivity.

Each Cloud PC is assigned to an individual user and is their dedicated Windows device. Assigning a Cloud PC to a user is just like assigning an Exchange Online mailbox to a user. When a Windows 365 license is assigned to a user:

  • Provisioning of a new Cloud PC automatically starts.
  • The Cloud PC is enrolled into Microsoft Intune.

With the Windows 365 service, you can:

  • Automatically provision on-demand Windows Enterprise Cloud PCs for your users. Provisioning is the automatic creation of Cloud PCs for your end users. After you set up Cloud PC support in Microsoft Intune, a Cloud PC is automatically provisioned whenever you assign a user with a Cloud PC license to an appropriate Microsoft Entra user group. To set up Cloud PC support, you’ll:

    • [Optional] Create Azure network connections, which are links between the Cloud PCs and your on-premises resources.
    • Choose a built-in, optimized Windows image (or create your own) to use as the basis for each Cloud PC.

  • Manage your Cloud PCs like your organization’s other devices in Microsoft Intune. Based on your configuration, Cloud PCs are either:

    • Joined to your enterprise Active Directory domain and synced to Microsoft Entra ID.
    • Directly joined to Microsoft Entra ID.

    Regardless of the join type, your Cloud PCs are fully managed by Microsoft Intune. Windows 365 is fully integrated into the Microsoft Intune admin center. Cloud PCs are seamlessly managed in Microsoft Intune like any other supported device, including configuration, apps, and updates.

  • Configure provisioning policies to create custom Cloud PC configurations.

  • Use device groups, policies, and security baselines to customize your Cloud PC configurations to support different user needs.

  • Pre-install apps in your custom Cloud PC image and push more apps to them through Microsoft Intune.

Other versions of Windows 365

There are other versions available for Windows 365. For more information, see What is Windows 365?.

What is a Cloud PC?

A Cloud PC is a highly available, optimized, and scalable virtual machine providing end users with a rich Windows desktop experience. It’s hosted in the Windows 365 service and is accessible from anywhere, on any device.

End users have a 1:1 relationship with their Cloud PC. It’s their own personal PC in the cloud. Users can connect to their Cloud PC by using windows365.microsoft.com. Browser and app-based access is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

Creating a Cloud PC

Cloud PCs are created automatically by the Windows 365 service when an end user in an appropriate Microsoft Entra user group is assigned a Windows 365 license.

Admins don't manually create Cloud PCs.

Billing

Cloud PCs are billed in a per-user per-month cost model. This model means your organization doesn’t have to manage the variability of compute and storage costs of a traditional hosted desktop model.

By default, Cloud PCs are joined to your enterprise Active Directory domain, synced to Microsoft Entra ID, and fully managed by Microsoft Intune.

Microsoft 365 Lighthouse

Managed Server Providers (MSPs) can manage Cloud PCs in Microsoft 365 Lighthouse for their customer tenants. For more information, see Windows 365 (Cloud PCs) page overview.

Next steps

Plan your Cloud PC deployment.

If you're looking for Windows 365 Business documentation, see Get started with Windows 365 Business and Cloud PCs.