Microsoft has introduced Windows 365 Reserve, a service designed to provide businesses with temporary, pre-configured Cloud PCs to ensure continuity during device unavailability. This offering allows employees to access a Cloud PC from virtually any device via the Windows App or a web browser, maintaining productivity during disruptions such as device loss, breakage, or delivery delays.
Windows 365 Reserve Cloud PCs come pre-loaded with Microsoft 365 applications, corporate settings, and security policies, ensuring a seamless transition for users. Managed through Microsoft Intune, these Cloud PCs are intended for temporary use, with each user allocated a 10-day annual usage allowance, which can be utilized in a single instance or across multiple incidents throughout the year.
This service is particularly beneficial during events like device theft, loss, or system outages, enabling employees to continue their work without interruption. Administrators can also leverage Windows 365 Reserve to test new configurations without affecting primary devices.
Stefan Kinnestrand, Microsoft's Modern Work VP, highlighted the necessity of such a service, citing research indicating that 76% of customers have experienced device theft incidents in the past two years.
While specific pricing details have not been confirmed, Windows 365 Reserve is slated to become available in preview soon, with an online application process for customers seeking early access.
In related developments, Microsoft has also announced Windows 365 Disaster Recovery Plus, an advanced disaster recovery solution designed for users requiring high performance during regional outages. This service replicates Cloud PC disk snapshots to an alternate, fully reserved region, offering enhanced features such as a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) within 60 minutes and a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) within 30 minutes. (blogs.windows.com)
Additionally, Microsoft has introduced the Windows 365 migration API, simplifying the transition to Windows 365 by allowing organizations to create migration tools that take a snapshot of an existing virtual machine and import it into Windows 365 as a new Cloud PC. (blogs.windows.com)
These innovations underscore Microsoft's commitment to enhancing business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities, providing organizations with flexible and secure solutions to maintain productivity in the face of device-related disruptions.
Source: Nokiamob Windows 365 Reserve Unveiled: Temporary Cloud PCs for Business Continuity
