There's been quite a bit of buzz around Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD), a new offering from the Redmond giant that will allow organizations to provide their users with a true Windows 10 virtualized experience in the cloud, or more specifically, delivered on Azure.

One of the companies who has been involved with WVD early on is Liquidware.  To learn more and find out what they have been doing with Microsoft WVD and to find out how they work together, VMblog spoke with Jason Smith, Liquidware's VP of Product Marketing.

VMblog:  Microsoft Announced Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) back last year at Ignite, what's been happening since then?

Jason Smith:  As mentioned in this Microsoft blog published during Ignite, Liquidware has been named as a focused partner that Microsoft is working closely with. Since then, we've been working diligently with the Microsoft WVD team as we're hearing from many customers that they plan to deploy a pilot or proof of concept as soon as possible. Microsoft has a public review program in the works and you can now register here to apply for access to the program. We've tested WVD and are impressed. In turn, the WVD team has also tested our solutions and we're working with select joint partners and customers ahead of the public review. 

VMblog:  So, how is Liquidware and WVD "Better Together"?

Smith:  The Liquidware Essentials suite provides key Adaptive Workspace Management solutions for every phase of a Microsoft WVD deployment and production environment. 

Organizations interested in WVD can start preparing with Liquidware by downloading a free trial version of Stratusphere UX. Stratusphere UX provides an assessment of your current application usage, enables you to size your anticipated storage and compute on Microsoft Azure, and baseline your current Windows desktop user experience. A fully functioning trial version of ProfileUnity can also be downloaded free to lay the groundwork for a seamless migration to WVD (even from Windows 7 to 10) and works to extend the functionality of Microsoft's FSlogix profile solution with comprehensive User Environment Management features. FlexApp application layering is an integrated part of ProfileUnity and adds significant value and benefits to a WVD environment by greatly simplifying base image management and enabling applications to be layered at logon or by exclusive click-to-layer on-demand technology. Organizations can get started on the path to Microsoft WVD today by preparing for a clear on-boarding plan, migration planning, and user experience assurance with Liquidware.

And, as Clark Nicholson, Principal Program Manager, at Microsoft stated, "As a partner of the Microsoft WVD community, Liquidware's suite of solutions work with Microsoft WVD to benefit customers looking to properly plan for WVD, manage users and profiles and minimize base image management through layering."

VMblog:  What about channel partners?  How does this relationship affect them?

Smith:  We believe it's a huge opportunity for Microsoft partners! For years the industry has waited for a true turnkey cloud desktop solution. With WVD, Microsoft has stepped up to the plate and looks to be the desktop that millions of organizations will rapidly adopt. Partners can register to be a "Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider" to sell WVD and, just like RDS and on-prem VDI, there will be integration and consulting services that enterprise customers will require. Adding in the additional functionality from Liquidware also provides further license and PSO revenue opportunities. You can register on the Liquidware web site to become a partner of ours if you aren't already.

VMblog:  What next steps should readers take that are interested in learning more?

Smith:  We believe customers will be compelled to re-evaluate their desktops. Microsoft's WVD approach with modern infrastructure, like Azure Active Directory and all of the components you need for WVD turnkey ready in Azure, is a game changer. Organizations that leverage virtual desktops or want to move to virtual desktops will be compelled to give it a hard look. Essentially, Microsoft WVD will give the customer the opportunity to streamline the way they are delivering desktops by providing an end-to-end solution where customers can choose add-on vendors that meet their needs for their specific enterprise use cases.

We've just published a joint solution brief that is a great starting point to discover how Liquidware and WVD are better together. You can read it here.

Plus, we're holding a webinar on February 21 at 11am Central with Microsoft technology expert and MVP, Symon Perriman. You can register for it here.

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