Supercharge Azure Virtual Desktops with ControlUp and Nerdio

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the needs for end-user computing are constantly changing. With distributed employees, remote work, and BYOPC (Bring Your Own PC) becoming the norm, organizations must adapt to ensure seamless and secure operations. This is where Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) comes into play, offering a cloud VDI platform that delivers hosted desktops and apps with maximum flexibility and control.

The Challenges of Modern End-User Computing

Organizations face several challenges when migrating from on-premises VDI to AVD. One major challenge is managing a distributed workforce, as employees are now working from various locations, including home offices, field roles, and branch locations. Ensuring compliance with industry standards, government regulations, and IP security is another critical concern. Additionally, companies must manage an elastic workforce, which includes managing short-term and seasonal workers, contractors, and partner access. Furthermore, distinct roles within the organization require specialized workloads, such as line-of-business (LOB) applications, customer service tools, software development environments, and design workstations. Addressing these challenges is essential for a successful migration to AVD.

Azure Virtual Desktops: An Attractive, Flexible Solution for Modern End-User Computing

Migrating from an on-premises VDI to AVD offers numerous advantages. AVD provides exceptional flexibility by supporting Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server multi-session or personal desktops, and offers full control over configuration and management, including remote app streaming. Cost efficiency is another significant benefit, as AVD operates on a consumption-based model, ensuring you only pay for what you use.

Considerations for Migrating to Azure Virtual Desktops

When considering a move from on-premises VDI to AVD, it is crucial to address several key questions to ensure a smooth transition.

Evaluate the current logon times to understand the efficiency of the existing environment.
Identify the applications that employees are currently using and assess their workstyles to ensure the new setup meets their needs.
Check VDI utilization and determine what types of devices employees are connecting.
Conduct a cost analysis to estimate the expenses involved in moving to AVD and identify the appropriate machine sizes required.
Pinpoint which applications are resource-hungry and gather feedback on how employees feel about the new workspace.

Continuous optimization of AVD is essential to maintain performance and ensure a positive user experience. This involves regularly monitoring and adjusting the environment to meet evolving needs. Ensuring that employees experience better-than-on-premises performance is a key goal, by leveraging tools like ControlUp and Nerdio for enhanced monitoring and management. By addressing these questions and focusing on continuous improvement, organizations can make informed decisions and create a more efficient, flexible, and satisfying virtual desktop environment for their employees.

Nerdio and ControlUp Make the Migration to AVD Easy and Less Risky

Migrating to AVD involves several stages, each with its own set of considerations and best practices.

Pre-Migration

Before transitioning to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), it’s crucial to address any issues with your current VDI setup. Identifying problems like slow logins and app crashes, along with providing cost-based recommendations, can make a substantial difference. Predicting AVD costs and finding savings can also help ensure a smoother and more cost-effective transition.

Identifying employee experience issues such as slow logon times, poorly performing apps, and app crashes.
Understanding machine metrics, comparing them to actual usage, gathering sizing recommendations, and connecting to Azure for cost-based recommendations.

Nerdio helps customers analyze the current VDI environment to predict AVD costs by:

Understanding the cost benefits and additional optimization of moving to AVD.
Utilizing ControlUp telemetry to understand additional savings through the Nerdio Modeler and advisor.

The Migration

Transitioning to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) can be seamless with the right support. Effective tools can help set up and manage the AVD environment, control costs, and enhance user experience. Additionally, monitoring and troubleshooting during the migration process ensures everything operates smoothly from the beginning.

Nerdio assists customers moving to AVD by:

Deploying the AVD environment with the necessary configurations.
Managing Azure costs, AVD machines, and connecting devices.
Optimizing by identifying and addressing employee experience issues early on, gathering user sentiment through surveys, and ensuring continuous optimization.
Deploying ControlUp agents to monitor the new AVD environment.

ControlUp helps troubleshoot and remediate issues during the migration by:

Identifying employee experience issues during the migration.
Monitoring Azure costs and AVD machines.
Seeing connecting devices and locations.
Identifying issues early and gathering user sentiment with employee surveys.

Post-Migration

Managing Azure Virtual Desktop can be challenging, but the right tools can simplify the process. Automated updates and streamlined setup can ease the burden, while real-time security and troubleshooting ensure everything runs smoothly. These tools also help reduce costs and facilitate a seamless transition from older systems to Azure Virtual Desktop.

Improve Azure Virtual Desktop Security

Patching Azure Virtual Desktop images takes time away from senior administrators to do other important tasks.

Nerdio automatically patches and updates Azure Virtual Desktop images.
ControlUp provides real-time detection and remediation of vulnerabilities.

Remove Azure Virtual Desktop complexity

Azure Virtual Desktop takes expertise to configure, troubleshoot and maintain.

Nerdio reduces Azure Virtual Desktop complexity by automating deployments, configurations, and management tasks.
ControlUp provides real-time end-to-end visibility with actionable insights, and automated troubleshooting.

Cost Optimization

Businesses are worried about Azure Virtual Desktop cost overruns.

Nerdio continuously optimizes Azure Virtual Desktop costs by using auto-scaling and resource allocation strategies.
ControlUp optimizes Azure Virtual Desktop costs by reducing session timers, logging off idle users, and managing deallocated VMs.

Transition to Azure Virtual Desktop

Transition from legacy VDI to Azure Virtual Desktop takes time and expertise.

Nerdio facilitates the transition from legacy VDI solutions to Azure Virtual Desktop by automating onboarding and enhancing the Azure admin experience.
ControlUp supports Azure Virtual Desktop with real-time monitoring, troubleshooting, and automation, ensuring a seamless transition and peak performance.

Adapting to modern technologies like Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is essential. Moving from traditional VDI to AVD can be challenging, but with the right approach, it becomes manageable. Addressing current issues, predicting costs, and continuously optimizing the environment are key steps. By focusing on these areas, organizations can ensure a smooth transition and provide a better experience for their employees.

Schedule a ControlUp and Nerdio Azure Virtual Desktop demo today!

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Jeff Johnson

Jeff is a product marketing manager for ControlUp. He is responsible for evangelizing the Digital Employee Experience on physical endpoints such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. Jeff has spent his career specializing in enterprise strategies for client computing, application delivery, virtualization, and systems management. Jeff was one of the key architects of the Consumerization of IT Strategy for Microsoft, which has redefined how enterprises allow unmanaged devices to access corporate intellectual property.