Windows 365 Frontline is expanding its capabilities with the public preview of “shared mode.” The new mode offers organizations even more options by providing Cloud PC access to multiple users with a non-personalized desktop experience, while simplifying the management experience for IT admins and improving end-user productivity.
Since its launch in 2021, Windows 365 has changed the way organizations manage end-user computing and provided employees with a new way of working with the flexibility and security of Cloud PCs. In July 2023, Microsoft continued its Cloud PC innovation by releasing Windows 365 Frontline, expanding the power of Cloud PCs to more users by providing a flexible model, with one license providing Cloud PCs for up to three employees to use during their staggered working hours. This experience—called “dedicated mode”—has already helped enhance productivity for shift workers and part-time information workers across organizations of all sizes and industries.
The new Windows 365 Frontline shared mode offers an alternative to Windows 365 Frontline dedicated mode, which continues to offer a personalized desktop experience for up to three employees non-concurrently per license.
What are the differences between dedicated and shared modes in Windows 365 Frontline?
Both Windows 365 Frontline modes provide a full Windows experience, accessible from any device via the Microsoft Cloud.
In dedicated mode, this experience is personalized, with the desktop, data, and apps following users across devices. We recommend dedicated mode for scenarios where employees require prolonged and consistent access to a device and can benefit from a personalized experience, such as contact center employees, or part-time staff with staggered schedules.
In the new shared mode, Cloud PCs support specialized task-based work and are intended to be accessed only on an intermittent basis. These Cloud PCs are non-personalized, which means user profile data is deleted after the user signs out. They can be shared across a group of employees, one at a time. During public preview, we are evaluating the potential limits for assigned users for shared Cloud PCs. More information will be shared at general availability.
Both modes of Windows 365 Frontline can help reduce IT costs, are easily scalable and managed with Microsoft Intune, and are designed with security in mind. Organizations can benefit from the flexibility of choosing the mode based on their employees’ needs and from the ability to change modes as their staff requirements change.
When is it best to use Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode?
Windows 365 Frontline shared mode helps organizations provide employees quick access to the specialized or productivity tools they need.
There are many ways organizations can use shared Cloud PCs. Here are some key examples:
- For organizations onboarding employees, new hires can be given access to a "training Cloud PC” where they sign in and immediately find training they need to complete.
- For retail organizations with multiple locations, floor staff can be provided with an "inventory Cloud PC" where they sign in briefly and are able to quickly check inventory while assisting customers.
- For organizations with contractors in their directory, a “vendor Cloud PC” for ad-hoc use can provide access to company resources.
With these new shared capabilities, Windows 365 Frontline removes the challenges IT admins experience in traditional nonpersistent virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or shared physical device deployments. It optimizes Cloud PCs for intermittent use so employees can quickly be productive—from faster sign ins due to optimization of the Windows operating system and connectivity to simple, quick setup for IT admins— with a few clicks for onboarding.
The employee experience—ease of access and immediate productivity
Shared Cloud PCs help organizations balance the cost of managing IT resources with providing employees with the tools they need to be productive, especially for employees needing to complete tasks on the go.
Let’s consider an example: Adele is a retail store employee. Her role includes managing the store and assisting customers on the sales floor. As a manager, Adele has access to a Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PC in dedicated mode, which is personalized to her and follows her wherever she is at work. Since she often assists customers on the floor, she also has access to a “retail station” Cloud PC in shared mode. This retail station Cloud PC is available to all retail staff in her region, regardless of which store they are accessing it from.
Adele accesses these Cloud PCs through Windows App, which is available across all platforms and on the web. Upon accessing the retail station Cloud PC, she can quickly check a few items for a customer. She also can launch Microsoft Edge and use Outlook on the web to quickly send an email about missing inventory. The Cloud PC experience makes it easier for her to complete her tasks from a secure and familiar environment.
If she needs to move to another physical device elsewhere in the store, Adele can keep her session active in shared mode. Or she can sign out, knowing that her user profile data will be removed, and that the device will be reset for the next user to be immediately productive.
Windows App gives Adele access to both a dedicated and a shared Cloud PC.The IT admin experience—deployment
Deploying Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode is simple and familiar for IT admins who already have used Windows 365. Admins can complete deployment by establishing a provisioning policy. When selecting a Windows 365 Frontline license, admins can choose between dedicated and shared modes. Each Windows 365 Frontline license provides one shared mode Cloud PC. With shared mode, admins can provision a collection of identical devices—specifying the number of devices in a collection, the group of users with access to the collection of devices, and the friendly name that employees will see when they access the Cloud PC in Windows App (such as “retail station” in the above scenario).
In preview, Windows 365 Frontline in shared mode will only be available in a subset of regions. As the product reaches general availability in the coming months, regions will expand. See region support here.
For some organizations and roles, it’s important that shared Cloud PCs have specialized apps ready to go upon sign in. With traditional VDI and in Windows 365, admins may include these critical apps as part of a custom image; however, it requires additional time and effort to maintain these “golden images.” With the new deployment preparation profile capabilities in shared mode, device-targeted apps can be pre-installed on the shared Cloud PCs, reducing overhead and complexity and speeding processes for admins.
Autopilot device preparation for Cloud PCs is coming to private preview soon, with public preview planned for early 2025. Read more about how device preparation for physical devices works here: Windows deployment with the next generation of Windows Autopilot.
The IT admin experience— reporting and monitoring capabilities
Many employees accessing a shared Cloud PC will do so on an infrequent or intermittent basis. To enable organizations to monitor and adjust Cloud PC deployments, we have built enhancements into the existing Connected Frontline Cloud PCs report, which monitors the use of Windows 365 Frontline Cloud PCs. Admins will soon be able to dynamically adjust the size of the collection of shared Cloud PCs deployed, so the right number of Cloud PCs are available. Or, they can modify the default idle time limit settings to keep employees productive and Cloud PCs available when not in use.
Introducing Windows 365 Link, available now in preview
Microsoft is expanding its Cloud PC solution by introducing the first in a new class of devices, purpose-built to connect securely to Windows 365— including Windows 365 Frontline in both dedicated and shared mode— in seconds. Windows 365 Link is a compact and lightweight device with no local apps or data—ideal for shared workspaces, such as call centers, manufacturing facilities, and more. Learn about Windows 365 Link and how to enroll in the preview programs.
Getting started with Windows 365 Frontline
We’re always looking to simplify IT operations and enhance the employee and IT admin experience. In the coming months, we will continue to build on shared mode capabilities within Windows 365 Frontline.
Here are resources to help on a Windows 365 Frontline journey, and to get started with dedicated and shared modes:
- Visit the Windows 365 Frontline page.
- Read about our latest updates in our documentation.
- Check out our newest Microsoft Mechanics video about the shared mode in Windows 365 Frontline.
- Connect with your Microsoft account team or contact the Windows 365 Sales team.
Hear more about what's new with Windows and Windows 365
Bookmark our guide to Windows at Microsoft Ignite 2024, then dive into the Microsoft Ignite announcements that reinforce our commitment to getting you and your organization future-ready:
- Windows 365 Link—the first Cloud PC device for Windows 365
- New AI experiences transform productivity on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs
- Hotpatch for client comes to Windows 11 Enterprise
- Elevate security in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop
- Streamlined, AI-powered update management: Windows Autopatch
- Two new features make Universal Print truly "universal"
- Administrator protection on Windows 11
Continue the conversation. Find best practices. Bookmark the Windows Tech Community, then follow us on LinkedIn or @MSWindowsITPro for updates. Looking for support? Visit Windows on Microsoft Q&A.
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