After years of development and months of hype, Microsoft has finally announced the general availability of the Windows Virtual Desktop service, which includes support for virtual Windows 7 desktops.
Just in time too, as the classic OS is set for sunset January next year.
Thanks to the Windows Virtual Desktop service, users can deploy Windows desktops and apps on Azure anywhere and anytime. The service supports a multi-session Windows 10 experience, alongside optimizations for Office 365 ProPlus, and support for Windows Server Remote Desktop Services (RDS).
It was announced last year, and entered into preview in March of 2019.
Microsoft shared the good news in a blog post, revealing that thousands of customers have piloted the service during the preview period. Customers represented all major industries and geographies, and provided valuable feedback.
It was this feedback that allowed the company to launch the service worldwide from the word go.
Powering this solution are technologies that Microsoft got hands on through its acquisition of FSLogix, Â which allowed the company to make the technology available for Microsoft 365, Windows 10 Enterprise, and RDS customers.
As a result of this integration, WVD enables the smoothest, most performant Office virtualization experience available today.
Microsoft also confirmed that users can use legacy applications using the Windows Virtual Desktop service to virtualize Windows 7 desktops. The software titan will provide free extended security updates through this method.
Until January.
2023.
