Octobits Blog – Have you ever wondered how Microsoft Azure virtual desktop pricing is calculated?
We all know Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a great solution for businesses looking for scalable and flexible virtual desktop options.
By allowing employees to access their work desktops from anywhere on any device, AVD is boosting productivity, enhancing security, and streamlining IT management.
What is the Pricing Structure for Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop?
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) has two main pricing components: user access rights and Azure infrastructure costs.
User Access Rights
The price here depends on the licences you need to access AVD. If your company already has eligible Microsoft licences, like Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or Windows 10 Enterprise, you can access AVD without any extra charges.
However, if you don’t have these licences, Microsoft offers a per-user pricing model.
This model is especially useful for external users who aren’t part of the organisation.
Azure Infrastructure Costs
These costs cover the virtual machines (VMs), storage, and networking you need to run AVD.
The cost of the infrastructure depends on a few things, like the size and type of VMs you use, the amount of storage you need, and the network bandwidth you use. These are the main things that make up the cost of the infrastructure.
For another Azure type reference, kindly check “Friendly Guide to Microsoft Azure Non Profit Pricing of Your Social Impacts.”
How Much Does Azure Virtual Desktop Cost?
The cost of deploying Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) can vary significantly based on your specific requirements and configurations.
Virtual machines (VMs) are typically the largest component of infrastructure costs.
For example, a D4as v5 VM, which includes 4 virtual CPUs and 16 GB of RAM, costs approximately $0.17 per hour.
This cost can accumulate based on the number of VMs and the duration of their operation. Businesses can optimise these costs by using reserved instances, which can save up to 72% compared to pay-as-you-go pricing.
Managed disks are another significant expense. Standard SSDs used for VMs cost around $38.02 per 64 GB SSD per month.
This storage is essential for operating system images, data disks, and user profiles.
To further optimize costs, organisations can implement strategies like auto-scaling disks, which automatically convert expensive premium SSDs to cheaper standard HDDs when VMs are not in use.
Outbound data transfers from Azure data centres are charged based on the volume of data transferred.
For instance, transferring 4000 GB of data can cost approximately $0.087 per GB.
This cost varies with the amount of data being transferred out of the Azure infrastructure and can be significant depending on the organisation’s data usage patterns.
Just to flag up ‒ the numbers and prices above are just for illustration purposes.
So, the prices above can still change depending on what you need, how you want it configured and what your business goals are.
Is Virtual Desktop a Monthly Subscription?
Yes, you can use Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) under a monthly subscription model, especially if you’re paying per user for external users.
This model is based on a monthly fee per user.
For employees, the costs are usually covered by existing Microsoft licences, such as Microsoft 365 or Windows licences.
But there are still extra Azure infrastructure costs to think about, like those for virtual machines, storage, and network usage.
For further information, please refer to the “Worried About Microsoft Azure VM Pricing? Take Control & Save Money!“
How to Optimise Costs for Azure Virtual Desktop?
There are a few key strategies you can use to make sure you’re getting the best value from Azure Virtual Desktop.
Firstly, you can use autoscaling to adjust the number of active virtual machines (VMs) based on demand.
This feature helps to cut down on idle resource costs by scaling down VMs during periods of low usage and scaling them up when demand increases.
Azure’s autoscaling capabilities help you only pay for the compute resources you need, when you need them.
Another great option is Azure Reserved Instances, which lets you lock in your Azure VM usage for one or three years.
This commitment can get you a pretty big discount, maybe even saving you up to 72% compared to the pay-as-you-go model.
Reserved Instances are a great option for stable, predictable workloads where resource needs are consistent.
Azure Savings Plans are another way to save money. You get discounts if you agree to use the same amount of resources for a set period of time.
These plans are great for long-term workloads and can save you a lot compared to on-demand pricing.
If you want to make sure you’re using resources efficiently and keeping costs down, it’s a good idea to use monitoring and management tools.
Tools like Azure Cost Management can help you keep track of your spending and make sure you’re not spending more than you should. These tools can spot inefficiencies and suggest ways to cut costs even more.
In addition, we advise you to familiarise yourself with a number of official Microsoft documents, such as Azure Virtual Desktop pricing and Microsoft Learn on costs for Azure Virtual Desktop
How Octobits Can Support Your Azure Implementation
Another tool you might want to try is Octobits. Octobits can help your business manage Azure subscriptions more effectively. So, how does it work?
Octobits gives you a single place to manage all your Azure subscriptions, so you can see how you’re using them, what you’re spending, and where you can save money.
The idea is simple: you can make your Azure operations more efficient, get a better handle on your resources, and make smarter decisions to optimize your Azure environment.
So, if you’re looking for a one-stop solution to manage your Azure subscriptions and control your costs, Octobits is worth a look.
In Closing
To get the best out of AVD, you need to have a plan to keep these costs down and know how much you will pay.
This helps your company get the most out of their AVD investment.
If you need help with this, getting advice from experts like Octobits can make your AVD journey easier and cheaper.
But at the end of the day, knowledge is power, and understanding Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop pricing is a crucial step in making the most of this powerful tool.
