Imagine a not-so-distant future where all employees, contractors, and seasonal workers were no longer outfitted with full-powered laptops. Instead, all of their end-user computing (EUC) needs were fulfilled in the cloud, centrally managed, secured, and sized for individual computing needs.

As a StarCIO Digital Trailblazer and CIO, I’m deeply interested in how EUC changes will drive the future of work. Outfitting virtual desktops for low-end usage like call centers is not new. IT has been using VDI to rapidly deploy, easily reclaim, and securely manage computing capabilities for contract workers for some time.

What excites me is that as a CIO, I can do this a lot easier and cheaper today – and – I can extend these capabilities to employees and contractors with greater computing needs. This digital transformation is a force multiplier because it saves money, improves employee experience, and reduces security risks.  

Microsoft and Nerdio drive employee experiences and IT capabilities

I witnessed today’s opportunities and EUC’s future at NerdioCon 2025. The conference showcased Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 as two options for deploying virtual Windows machines in the Microsoft Cloud. Microsoft also showcased Windows 365 Link, a cloud PC that connects end-users directly and easily to Windows 365.

While Microsoft focuses on the end-user experience, Nerdio delivers the tools for IT administrators to deploy and manage virtual desktops. For Windows 365, Nerdio includes a Desktop as a Service (DaaS) modeler for selecting license types, tools for right-sizing cloud PCs, and dashboards for calculating a total cost of ownership (TCO). Their tools connect capabilities between several Microsoft products, including identity products (Entra ID or AD), Microsoft 365, Intune, and Defender. Nerdio offers two versions of its product: an Enterprise version and one for managed service providers (MSP) who simplify EUC for many SMBs.

Now many CIOs struggle with the cost, complexity, and customer service with their existing virtual desktop infrastructure. Microsoft and Nerdio highlighted their top ratings in Forrester, IDC, and Gartner reports.

CIOs should review Forrester’s Total Economic Impact of Windows 365 and AVD, highlighting several three-year, risk-adjusted cost-saving benchmarks. These include $700K – $1.5M in reduced IT infrastructure costs, $3M+ in end-user productivity gains, and security benefits.

When CIOs fully transition to virtual desktops

VDIs aren’t new. Most CIOs considered it an option to scale, reduce costs, and improve security for a part of their EUC landscape. Forward-looking CIOs can challenge assumptions on why software developers, data scientists, CAD users, and others with higher-end computing requirements need to carry around a brick of a laptop.

Windows 365 Link is a 4.72-inch by 4.72-inch by 1.18-inch black box, and all it needs is a keyboard, screen, and wifi settings to connect to a cloud PC. The highest Windows 365 GPU option scales to 16 vCPU, 110 GB RAM, 16 GB VRAM, and 1 TB storage. Microsoft offers Windows 365 at a fixed-price monthly subscription service with a single-user desktop assigned to each user. This configuration works best for full-time employees with high computing needs.  

The alternative is AVD, which is consumption-based pricing, but Windows 365 Link doesn’t support AVD yet.

Consider a future where the enterprise can connect to a cloud PC with an even smaller device. Maybe a watch or a wearable. I use Bluetooth to connect to any screen and keyboard in front of me. On the go, I carry a portable screen with a built-in keyboard.

Going 100% virtual desktop is no longer an if-question for enterprise and SMB CIOs. It’s a question of when.