Microsoft continues to listen to Windows users

Microsoft has added a new service to its Windows 365 Cloud PC for enterprise, making it easier for admins to onboard users through its cloud identity platform, Azure Active Directory (AAD).

Microsoft describes it as a cloud-native desktop experience and is targeted at remote workers. It was made as part of the company’s efforts to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

The new service lets admins set up new AAD-only or hybrid AAD users by uploading an Excel file. It’s meant to help organizations quickly add employees working from home for the first time.

Microsoft says the update will make it easier for employees to work remotely or switch devices while on the job.

Feature on demand

Microsoft Azure Active Directory (AAD) is a crucial part of Microsoft’s identity and security services, as well as its join feature for controlling access to devices. 

Now, AAD is coming to the company’s Windows 365 Cloud PC—the monthly-subscription version of Windows 11 it launched recently.

The ‘join’ feature means your organization can use AAD to control access to devices in the same way it manages application and service access today.

The new feature, called Azure AD Join, is designed to work with Windows 365 Enterprise and gives organizations more flexibility in how they manage their employee’s devices.

Microsoft says that its Azure Active Directory (AAD) Join feature has been the most requested addition to Windows 365 Enterprise, a version of the company’s cloud-based software.

 As AAD Join is integrated with the on-premise variant of Microsoft’s Active Directory, it provides a way for admins to enroll devices without using the on-premise software.

Microsoft’s announcement of Azure AD Join is the latest in its efforts to give enterprises cloud-based options for managing user access.

When you select the Azure AD join type, you do not need an existing Azure infrastructure to use the service.

Cloud ID is a public preview currently available to administrators of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center, who may provision Cloud PCs for users via their subscription-free Azure accounts. 

Improving configuration process

Microsoft is improving configuration options for Cloud PCs so that they will always be available in the user’s preferred language upon login. Currently, there are many different local language options available for Microsoft Cloud PC clients.

Increasing the number of languages for Cloud-based computers will ensure that users accessing the new service from around the world are able to use it in their native tongue.

To help streamline the process of pre-configuring and deploying Windows client images, administrators can now set a Language Pack and a Region to be installed on Cloud PCs as part of the provisioning policy.

Administrators who deploy Windows 11 with language packs can configure the operating system to install those language packs automatically. The feature saves time and effort.

Microsoft’s Windows 365 managed PC service is gaining a new feature: the ability to configure software updates to be installed on a schedule. Microsoft says this is the most-requested feature for Windows 365, so hopefully, it’ll make some admins very happy.

In addition to scheduled updates, there are a number of other new features that have been added. There’s now the ability to enforce network access controls and upload logs to Azure Monitor, which can be used by admins to monitor devices in real-time.

Microsoft’s Windows 365 managed PC service has added two new regions, US Central and Germany West Central. These regions allow admins to create a virtual network in the cloud that provides access to an on-premise network.

Has the new feature in windows 365 been of help to you and your organization in this time of covid? Let us know from the comments section.