Question 1

Does Atlas AVD support GPU-enabled session hosts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Atlas manages standard Azure Virtual Desktop session hosts, including graphics-capable VM sizes, so CAD, BIM, rendering, and simulation workloads run on hosts sized for them. Adaptive SKU and idle host detection are particularly valuable here because graphics VMs are the most expensive hosts in most estates.

Question 2

Will large CAD and BIM models perform well?

Accepted Answer

Place the host pool in the same region as your model repository. The workstation then reads the model over the datacentre network rather than a VPN, which is usually the single biggest performance change teams notice.

Question 3

How do we stop paying for idle graphics workstations?

Accepted Answer

Idle Host Detection flags graphics hosts running with no users, Auto On/Off scheduling shuts pools down outside working hours, and Cost Intelligence prioritizes the recommendations by dollar impact — which puts GPU hosts at the top of the list.

Question 4

Can external consultants access a project without copying the model?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Give collaborators a scoped host pool with access to only the project data they need, governed by your Entra ID groups and conditional access. They work on the model inside your tenant rather than receiving a copy of it.

Question 5

How do we handle per-seat design application licences?

Accepted Answer

Image Management lets you maintain a validated image per design suite so licensing and dependencies stay consistent, and you assign users to the pool that carries the licence they hold.

Engineering & CAD Virtual Workstations