Cloud Desktop Services
Full desktop access, anywhere your team works — locked down, not loosened up. Secure, cloud-native virtual desktops built on Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365.
What Are Cloud Desktop Services?
Cloud desktop services replace the traditional model of tying users to physical machines by hosting Windows environments in the cloud. Users get a full, familiar Windows experience streamed to any internet-connected device — laptop, tablet, thin client, or personal computer — while data and applications remain centralized and secure in Azure.
Data Stays in the Cloud
A lost or stolen device contains nothing — no sensitive files, no application data, no credentials that can be used to reach your environment.
Consistent Access
Users get a full Windows experience regardless of what device they're connecting from, eliminating the productivity gaps that come with device-dependent infrastructure.
Unified Endpoint Management
Microsoft Intune manages Cloud PCs, virtual desktops, and physical endpoints from a single console — dramatically simplifying administration across a distributed fleet.
Zero Trust
Centralizing the desktop in Azure ensures that device compromise doesn't mean data compromise, aligning your infrastructure with the core principles of a Zero Trust architecture.
Why Cloud Desktop Management Matters
Organizations that delay modernizing their desktop infrastructure face compounding exposure.
Sensitive Data on Local Devices
Every laptop that leaves the office is a potential data loss event — and traditional endpoint security wasn't built to protect data that lives on hardware rather than in the cloud.
Legacy VDI Is a Liability
Aging Citrix and VMware deployments are expensive to maintain, difficult to scale, and increasingly hard to secure — and the longer they persist, the wider the gap between where your infrastructure is and where it needs to be.
Distributed Workforce Complexity
Users connecting across locations, time zones, and device types create management complexity that traditional desktop infrastructure wasn't designed to handle.
Uncontrolled Third-Party Access
Granting vendors or partners access to applications without a controlled, scoped environment is a risk most organizations don't fully appreciate until something goes wrong.
Don't wait for an incident to force action.
Get a Free Security AssessmentSecurity & Operational Challenges We Address
Ravenswood's cloud desktop services address the infrastructure and security challenges that arise when desktop environments can't keep pace with how and where your workforce actually operates.
Remote and Distributed Workforce Access
Employees, contractors, and partners working across locations and time zones need consistent, secure access to applications and data — but VPN complexity and device restrictions make that harder than it should be.
Our Solution: We deploy cloud desktop environments that deliver a full Windows experience to any Internet-connected device without requiring network integration or device enrollment.
Aging On-Premises VDI
Legacy Citrix and VMware environments are expensive to maintain, difficult to scale, and increasingly difficult to secure.
Our Solution: We migrate organizations off aging VDI platforms to modern, Microsoft-native cloud desktop solutions without rebuilding from scratch.
BYOD and Unmanaged Endpoints
Personal devices introduce security gaps that traditional endpoint management tools weren't designed to close.
Our Solution: We centralize the desktop in Azure so that the security posture of the device itself becomes largely irrelevant — data never touches the endpoint.
Third-Party and Contractor Access
Granting vendors or partners access to specific applications without exposing your internal network is a common and underappreciated risk.
Our Solution: We deploy scoped cloud desktop environments that give external users exactly what they need and nothing more.
Legacy Application Compatibility
Specialized or older applications that won't run on modern operating systems can hold back your entire environment.
Our Solution: We host legacy applications in isolated virtual machines with appropriate configurations, extending their useful life without compatibility trade-offs across the rest of your fleet.
Assessment-led Methodology
Ravenwood follows an assessment-led methodology that ensures every hybrid identity implementation fits your organization's unique needs, risk tolerance, and operational requirements.
Assessment and Strategy
We evaluate your business objectives, user personas, and existing pain points to determine whether AVD, Windows 365, or a hybrid approach is the right fit.
- Identify user groups, workload types, and access requirements
- Assess current desktop infrastructure and document gaps and technical debt
- Define the target architecture and build a phased roadmap with realistic timelines
Design and Planning
We develop detailed design documentation and work with your team to build a phased implementation plan and realistic budget.
- Design network topology, image management strategy, and security baselines
- Define user persona groups and map them to the appropriate desktop delivery model
- Produce a full design document your IT team can reference throughout the engagement
Implementation and Remediation
We build and configure your cloud desktop environment from the ground up — including migration from legacy platforms when applicable.
- Deploy and configure AVD or Windows 365 aligned to your approved design
- Migrate from Citrix, VMware, or other legacy VDI platforms with minimal disruption
- Remediate infrastructure deficiencies before cutover to ensure a stable foundation
Ongoing Support
Post-deployment, we offer flexible blocks-of-hours arrangements for continued access to our experts as your environment evolves.
- Onboard new user groups and expand the environment as your workforce grows
- Troubleshoot issues and optimize performance on an ongoing basis
- Adapt configurations as Microsoft releases new capabilities and your needs change
Measurable Improvements Across Security, Operations, and Compliance
Partnering with Ravenswood for hybrid identity strategy and implementation delivers outcomes you can measure and demonstrate.
Secure
Anywhere AccessSecure Remote Access From Any Device
Data stays in Azure, not on hardware — so a lost or stolen device is an inconvenience, not a breach. Users get a full, consistent Windows experience from any Internet-connected device without relying on endpoint-level security to protect sensitive information.
Zero Trust
By DesignZero Trust Alignment
Centralizing data and applications in Azure ensures that a compromised device can't become a compromised environment. Cloud desktops are one of the most direct ways to enforce the Zero Trust principle of keeping data off the endpoint.
One
Management ConsoleUnified Endpoint Management
Microsoft Intune manages Cloud PCs, virtual desktops, and physical endpoints from a single, unified console — dramatically simplifying administration across a distributed, multi-device fleet.
Lower
Infrastructure CostsCost Efficiency
AVD's autoscaling and multi-session capabilities reduce consumption costs for variable workloads, while Windows 365's predictable per-user pricing makes budgeting straightforward for organizations that want simplicity.
Extended
App LifespanLegacy Application Support
Specialized or older applications are hosted in isolated virtual environments with appropriate configurations, extending their useful life without holding back the rest of your environment or forcing premature migration.
Controlled
External AccessControlled Third-Party Access
Vendors and partners get scoped, auditable access to the specific applications they need — without requiring full network integration or exposing your internal environment to uncontrolled external connections.
Organizations Whose Desktop Infrastructure Has Outgrown Their Workforce's Needs
Industries We Serve
Commercial Enterprises
Managing distributed workforces and multi-cloud environments
Educational Institutions
Supporting diverse user populations with varying access needs
Regulated Industries
Finance, healthcare, and the defense industrial base
Roles That Benefit
CISOs & Security Leaders
IT Directors & Administrators
Finance & Operations Leaders
Microsoft Cloud Infrastructure Experts You Can Trust
Ravenswood Technology Group is comprised of internationally recognized Microsoft consultants with deep expertise across identity, security, and cloud infrastructure. We've been trusted by international brands, major universities, and organizations operating in highly regulated industries to deliver complex deployments with precision.
We don't take a one-size-fits-all approach. We engage closely with your team to understand your environment, your risk tolerance, and your goals — then build a solution designed to last.
Deep Microsoft Expertise
Our team includes Microsoft MVPs and Microsoft Certified Masters with decades of experience delivering enterprise identity programs. We don't just know the technology - we've shaped best practices.
Assessment-Led Methodology
We don't apply templates. Every engagement begins with a thorough assessment of your current environment, ensuring our recommendations address your specific challenges and risk profile.
Proven Results
Our clients report measurable improvements: faster user provisioning, significantly reduced infrastructure overhead, and consistent, secure desktop access across distributed workforces that previously relied on legacy VDI.
Microsoft Solutions Partner
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner with certified Entra ID and Active Directory consultants, we maintain direct access to Microsoft resources and stay current with the latest platform capabilities.
Industry Standards Alignment
Our services align with Microsoft and CISA guidance, ensuring adherence to industry-leading security standards and frameworks.
Frequently Asked Questions
AVD vs. Windows 365 — which is right for my organization?
It depends on your user personas, preferred cost model, and the level of management complexity your team can support. AVD offers more flexibility and control; Windows 365 is simpler and more predictable. Ravenswood helps you evaluate both during the assessment phase.
Can you migrate our existing Citrix or VMware environment?
Yes. Ravenswood assesses your current infrastructure, identifies deficiencies, and remediates them as part of the migration process to ensure a stable foundation before transitioning workloads.
How does this integrate with our existing Microsoft environment?
Both AVD and Windows 365 integrate natively with Microsoft Entra ID for identity and authentication, and are managed through Microsoft Intune — making them a natural fit for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Is this suitable for regulated industries?
Yes. Cloud desktop deployments can be architected to meet a range of compliance requirements, including federal and defense frameworks. Ravenswood has experience working with organizations subject to strict regulatory requirements.
Have more questions? Contact Ravenswood Technology Group for expert answers.
Microsoft Products We Use for Cloud Desktop Management
We leverage the full power of Microsoft's identity and security platform to deliver enterprise grade cloud desktop solutions.
Microsoft 365 Defender
Unified threat protection across endpoints, email, identity, and cloud applications — detecting and responding to attacks across your entire Microsoft 365 environment.
Microsoft Intune
Cloud-based endpoint management platform for enforcing security policies, managing device compliance, and controlling access across mobile, desktop, and remote devices.
Azure Virtual Desktop
Cloud-hosted desktop and application virtualization that delivers secure, scalable remote work experiences while keeping sensitive data off unmanaged endpoints.
Windows 365
Cloud-hosted Windows experience that streams a full, personalized desktop to any device — keeping data secure in Azure while enabling flexible, anywhere access for your workforce.
Get Started with Ravenswood Technology Group
Your desktop infrastructure should enable your workforce, not constrain it. Whether you're evaluating cloud desktops for the first time or ready to migrate off a legacy VDI platform, Ravenswood is ready to help.
Take the first step toward Zero Trust-ready identity.