You’ll soon be able to run Windows on any device, including a Mac, Android/iOS smartphone or Linux machine, thanks to Microsoft’s new cloud PC platform: Windows 365.
The service can stream a Windows 10 session and the upcoming Windows 11 over the internet. The company plans on launching it on August 2nd to businesses and organizations of all sizes.
According to Microsoft, Windows 365 is designed to work as “an instant-on boot experience,” that’ll also save all your apps, data and settings. Users will be able to access the service via the Windows 365 web portal or over a dedicated remote desktop application. The internet connection on the machine, whether it be a laptop, tablet or phone, simply has to be fast enough to stream a movie.
“The Windows experience is consistent, no matter the device. You can pick up right where you left off, because the state of your Cloud PC remains the same, even when you switch devices,” the company said in Wednesday’s announcement. The service will also come integrated with office applications from Microsoft 365.
Redmond created Windows 365 for enterprises trying to provide secure and remote ways for employees to work online. Normally, a company would simply ship a corporate-issued laptop to the employee. But with Windows 365, the worker can potentially work on a variety of devices, including their own personal PC, tablet and smartphone.
“You can get the same work done on a laptop in a hotel room, a tablet from their car between appointments, or your desktop while you’re in the office,” Microsoft said. “Seasonal workers also can ramp on and off according to the needs of the business, allowing the organization to scale for busy periods without the complicated logistical and security challenges of issuing new hardware.”
Through Windows 365, a company can provision a cloud PC with a certain level of specs, including the number of CPU cores, RAM and storage. The cloud PC can also be preinstalled with custom applications and a secure connection to a corporate server.
In addition, companies can monitor and calibrate Windows 365’s performance across the various machines to ensure the best performance. If a cloud PC experience is failing to meet expectations, a company’s IT staff can offer recommendations.
Windows 365 also promises to be secure. All data saved over the service is encrypted. A company’s IT staff can also institute multi-factor authentication on employee login access.
How much Windows 365 will cost was left unsaid. But the new service will arrive in two forms: Windows 365 Business and Windows 365 Enterprise. Microsoft plans on revealing more details in the coming weeks.