Azure Virtual Desktop — Windows Desktops from Azure South Africa
Azure Virtual Desktop delivers Windows 11 multi-session desktops from Azure South Africa. OAS provides expert AVD deployment, FSLogix profiles, and ongoing management.
Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is Microsoft's native virtual desktop solution, built directly into the Azure platform. It delivers Windows 11 multi-session desktops, RemoteApp published applications, and FSLogix profile management — all managed through the Azure portal without additional management infrastructure.
For South African organisations, AVD provides a streamlined path to virtual desktop delivery. Host pools deploy into the Azure South Africa North region (Johannesburg), and the AVD metadata service is now generally available in South Africa North. Your desktop data and user profiles remain within the country's borders, supporting POPIA compliance requirements.
Key Capabilities
Windows 11 Multi-Session Desktops
AVD is the only platform that supports Windows 11 Enterprise multi-session — a version of Windows 11 designed specifically for virtual desktop environments. Multiple users share a single virtual machine while each receives a full Windows 11 desktop experience. This reduces infrastructure costs compared to dedicated single-session VMs.
Hybrid Deployment with Arc-Enabled Servers
AVD now extends beyond Azure. On-premises servers running Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, VMware vSphere, or bare-metal Windows Server can serve as AVD session hosts through Azure Arc-Enabled Servers. This hybrid model suits organisations that are not ready for full cloud migration but want unified desktop management through the Azure portal. Windows Server 2025 is now supported as a session host operating system.
FSLogix Profile Management
FSLogix profile containers store user profiles in VHD(X) files on Azure Files or Azure NetApp Files. Profiles attach at sign-in, providing a consistent user experience across session hosts. Profile containers eliminate the slow first-logon experience common with traditional roaming profiles and reduce storage costs through profile compaction.
South Africa Data Residency
AVD host pools deploy into the South Africa North region (Johannesburg) for local performance. The AVD metadata service — which stores workspace, host pool, and application group configuration — is now generally available in South Africa North. Desktop sessions, user data, and service metadata all remain within South African borders.
FIDO and Passkey Authentication
AVD now supports FIDO2 security key and passkey authentication on macOS and iOS clients. Users can sign in to their virtual desktops using hardware security keys or device-bound passkeys, reducing reliance on passwords and strengthening authentication security.
AVD Insights at Scale
AVD Insights at Scale is now generally available, providing monitoring and diagnostics for large AVD deployments. Administrators can track connection reliability, session performance, and host health across hundreds of session hosts from a single dashboard in the Azure portal.
AVD vs Citrix: When to Use Which
AVD and Citrix DaaS serve different segments of the virtual desktop market. OAS deploys both platforms and recommends based on each organisation's requirements.
Choose AVD when:
- Your organisation runs a straightforward desktop delivery environment without complex application compatibility requirements. - You want a cost-effective solution included with existing Windows E3/E5 or Microsoft 365 licensing. - Your infrastructure is primarily Azure-based or you are adopting a hybrid model with Arc-Enabled Servers. - You need a Microsoft-native solution that integrates directly with Entra ID, Intune, and Defender.
Choose Citrix when:
- You require multi-cloud support across Azure, AWS, and GCP simultaneously. - Your environment demands advanced session management, HDX protocol performance over constrained networks, or enterprise features such as Citrix Gateway and StoreFront. - You have complex application delivery requirements including published applications with granular policy control. - You need the Citrix Aidrien AI assistant for natural-language troubleshooting and monitoring.
OAS provides migration assessments to help you determine the right platform — or the right combination of both.
AVD Classic Migration Deadline
AVD Classic support ends in September 2026. Organisations still running AVD Classic deployments must migrate to the current AVD (Azure Resource Manager-based) platform before this deadline. OAS provides migration planning and execution to ensure a smooth transition without service disruption.
Why OAS for Azure Virtual Desktop
Microsoft and Citrix Expertise: OAS holds both Microsoft partnership status and Citrix Platinum Partner status. This dual expertise means we recommend the right platform for your requirements — not the one that suits a single-vendor relationship.
End-to-End Deployment: OAS handles discovery, architecture design, host pool configuration, FSLogix profile setup, networking, security configuration, user onboarding, and ongoing management. Our structured engagement process ensures nothing is left to assumption.
South African Presence: Based in Johannesburg with 40+ years of IT consulting experience across healthcare, financial services, government, mining, and professional services. We understand the local infrastructure landscape, connectivity challenges, and regulatory requirements.
Next Steps
- Schedule an AVD Assessment — OAS evaluates your current environment, licensing, and requirements to design the right AVD architecture. - Compare AVD vs Citrix — Not sure which platform fits? OAS provides a detailed comparison based on your specific use case.