Exploring Application Delivery Options in Azure Virtual Desktop

Introduction: Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop) has revolutionized the way organizations deliver applications and desktop experiences to their users. With its robust infrastructure and flexibility, Azure Virtual Desktop offers various application delivery options to meet diverse business needs. In this blog post, we will delve into the different application delivery options available in Azure Virtual Desktop and discuss their benefits and use cases.

1. Remote App: Azure RemoteApp enables organizations to deliver individual applications from the cloud to user's devices. It allows for a seamless and secure remote application experience, where users can access specific applications without the need to access an entire desktop environment. RemoteApp offers benefits such as centralized management, scalability, and simplified application updates. It is an ideal option for scenarios where users require access to a specific set of applications on different devices.

2. Hosted Applications: With Azure Virtual Desktop, organizations can deliver full desktops or individual applications to users by hosting them on virtual machines in the Azure cloud. This option allows users to access a complete desktop experience with all the necessary applications installed. Hosted Applications provide flexibility and control, as administrators can manage and configure the virtual machines to meet specific requirements. It is suitable for scenarios where users need access to a complete desktop environment with multiple applications.

3. MSIX App Attach: MSIX App Attach is a modern application delivery method that simplifies application management in Azure Virtual Desktop. It enables administrators to dynamically attach applications to virtual machines during runtime, rather than pre-installing them on the virtual machine images. This approach reduces image management complexity and allows for easy application updates and rollbacks. MSIX App Attach is particularly useful for organizations with a large number of applications or frequent application updates.

4. Containers: Azure Virtual Desktop also supports application delivery through containers,

leveraging Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and Azure Container Instances (ACI). Containers offer a lightweight and scalable approach to application delivery, allowing for easy deployment, management, and isolation of applications. Containers provide the advantage of consistent application behavior across different environments and reduce dependency conflicts. This option suits scenarios where organizations require rapid application deployment and scalability.

5. Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH): For legacy applications that are not yet compatible with modern application delivery methods, Azure Virtual Desktop supports Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) deployments. RDSH allows multiple users to access a shared server, running applications in a multi-session environment. This option offers resource efficiency, as multiple users can utilize the same server, and simplifies application management. RDSH is suitable for scenarios where legacy applications need to be accessed remotely by multiple users.

Conclusion: Azure Virtual Desktop offers a wide range of application delivery options, allowing organizations to choose the most suitable approach based on their specific requirements. Whether it's delivering individual applications with RemoteApp, providing full desktop experiences with Hosted Applications, simplifying application management with MSIX App Attach, leveraging containers for scalability, or supporting legacy applications with RDSH, Azure Virtual Desktop provides the flexibility

and tools needed to optimize application delivery.

By utilizing these application delivery options, organizations can enhance productivity, reduce infrastructure costs, and provide a seamless user experience in a secure and managed environment. As Azure Virtual Desktop continues to evolve, it is essential for businesses to explore these options and leverage the power of the cloud to transform their application delivery strategies.