Microsoft 365 G3 and G5 Now Eligible for Azure Virtual Desktop for Windows

It's a brand-new era in Microsoft 365 world with exciting news rolling in July 2023: The Microsoft 365 G3 and G5 plans are now eligible for Azure Virtual Desktop for Windows.

The G3 and G5 Government Plans

Microsoft 365 G3 and G5 are special plans exclusive to qualified government entities within the United States, including federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government entities, as well as other entities managing data as per government requirements.

Essentially, these are the governmental versions of the standard E3 and E5 plans. While the feature sets are nearly identical to their E3 and E5 counterparts, the key distinction lies in data handling. G3 and G5 plans ensure compliance with United States government data handling requirements.

About Azure Virtual Desktop for Windows

The Azure Virtual Desktop for Windows (AVD) is a virtual Windows desktop running in Azure. This service allows users to access their desktops remotely from any device, anywhere in the world. It's important to note the 'for Windows' suffix as there is a separate product, Azure Virtual Desktop for Windows Server, which has different licensing needs.

The newly eligible plans, according to the compliance view, don't need any extra licenses to run Azure Virtual Desktop for Windows.

The Hidden Costs of AVD

Rolling out AVD? Time to consider the hidden costs associated with the Cloud – think compute, storage, network, and more. Remember, the more processing power, memory, storage, and time you need, the higher the cost escalates.

Azure offers diverse pricing options, including pay-as-you-go, Azure savings plan for compute, and Azure reservations, catering to various needs and budgets.

To get a better understanding of the total cost, use the Azure Pricing Calculator.

Further Learning Opportunities

If you're looking to enhance your understanding of Microsoft licensing and cost management in Azure, check out our series of training videos. We delve into the nitty-gritty of Microsoft's licensing world and help you navigate the sometimes-confusing landscape of Azure cost management.

And if you have any business challenges with Microsoft Cloud and licensing, don't hesitate to message us using this form.