Windows Virtual Desktop provides virtualized Windows 7 and 10 desktop on Azure

Microsoft has announced the Windows Virtual Desktop service. Windows 10 Enterprise customers can run on Azure virtualized Windows 10 and 7 environments. Included are security updates for Windows 7.

With Windows 10 on Windows Virtual Desktop, there is integration of the Microsoft Store and different people can use the operating system on Azure. Office 365 ProPlus can also be used in scenarios with different users.

Support for Windows 7 is primarily intended to allow businesses to run their legacy apps as they transition to Windows 10, Microsoft said. The security updates are free as part of Windows Virtual Desktop. Microsoft announced last month that customers with volume licenses for Windows 7 Professional and Enterprise will have to pay on a per-system basis for Windows 7 Extended Security Updates. They will then be able to receive security updates until January 2023.

The virtualization service will not only be available for Windows 10 Enterprise, but also for Windows 10 Education. Furthermore, customers only need to have an Azure subscription to deploy virtualized desktops. A public preview will follow later this year.