Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) now supports Azure Arc-enabled on-premises servers as session hosts, enabling hybrid desktop virtualisation. This advancement benefits organisations with strict compliance, variable networks, or entrenched VMware/Nutanix deployments, allowing desktops to operate closer to data while leveraging Azure for management, identity, and brokering services.
Session hosts can now include physical servers and multiple hypervisors, given the Azure Arc agent is installed, with lifecycle management handled independently. The public preview supports Windows Server and Windows 11 (single session only). Enterprises can retain session and data residency on-premises yet benefit from centralised Azure controls, accommodating operational flexibility and staged cloud migration.
New capacity planning, cost management, and reliability strategies are essential, demanding robust coordination across IT disciplines and refreshing operational practices.
Azure Virtual Desktop Hybrid with Arc-enabled On-Prem Hosts: Operational Benefits and Considerations
