Question 1

Is Azure Virtual Desktop replacing VMware Horizon?

Accepted Answer

For Azure-first organizations, AVD is increasingly the preferred alternative. Many enterprises have migrated or are planning migrations from VMware Horizon to Azure Virtual Desktop, particularly following Broadcom's acquisition and associated licensing changes. However, organizations with significant on-premises infrastructure or multi-cloud requirements may continue to operate Horizon alongside or instead of AVD.

Question 2

How has Broadcom's acquisition of VMware affected Horizon?

Accepted Answer

Broadcom's acquisition of VMware in 2023 led to significant changes in VMware's product portfolio, licensing structure, and enterprise agreement terms. Many organizations have reported substantial cost increases at renewal and reduced flexibility in licensing options. This has accelerated evaluations of alternatives including Azure Virtual Desktop.

Question 3

Can I migrate from VMware Horizon to Azure Virtual Desktop?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Migration from VMware Horizon to AVD is a well-established path. The main considerations are application compatibility, profile migration (typically to FSLogix), network architecture changes, and user experience continuity. Atlas AVD supports the management of the post-migration AVD environment.

Question 4

Does Azure Virtual Desktop support GPU workloads?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AVD supports Azure NV and NVads GPU VM series for graphics-intensive applications including CAD, media production, and simulation. VMware Horizon also supports GPU workloads through NVIDIA vGPU technology, particularly in on-premises deployments.

Question 5

What does Atlas AVD add to Azure Virtual Desktop compared to Horizon?

Accepted Answer

Atlas AVD provides the enterprise management capabilities that close the operational gap between AVD and a mature platform like Horizon - specifically deployment automation, autoscaling, security posture tracking, multi-tenant orchestration, and built-in monitoring. This makes AVD operationally comparable to Horizon for most enterprise scenarios without the additional licensing overhead.

Question 6

Which platform is better for organizations already on Azure?

Accepted Answer

For organizations that are Azure-first, Azure Virtual Desktop is typically the more practical choice. It eliminates separate VDI licensing, integrates natively with Azure identity and security services, and benefits from the same Azure skills the team already has. Atlas AVD reduces the operational complexity gap further.

Question 7

Is VMware Horizon still worth investing in?

Accepted Answer

For organizations with significant existing Horizon deployments and on-premises infrastructure, continuing to operate Horizon may make sense in the near term. For organizations at a renewal or refresh decision point evaluating new investments, the combination of Broadcom's pricing changes and AVD's improvements makes a serious evaluation of Azure Virtual Desktop worthwhile.

Azure Virtual Desktop vs VMware Horizon: Which VDI Platform Is Right for 2026 and Beyond?