ISC rate increases are generally aligned with University increases.
Overview
The Virtual Desktop service provides the necessary infrastructure to host a desktop operating system in a virtual machine. The service has multiple classes of offerings based on the following Microsoft Virtual Desktop products:
- Windows 365 Cloud PC Enterprise: A fully dedicated, persistent virtual desktop for each user, providing consistent performance. It’s designed for personalized, secure, always available virtual desktops.
- Windows 365 Frontline – Shared: A Cloud PC where multiple users share a pool of Cloud PCs, each getting their own profile and session when logged in.
- Windows 365 Frontline – Dedicated: A dedicated Cloud PC assigned to a specific frontline user but licensed under the Frontline model for cost efficiency. It gives consistent performance and a persistent state while still optimizing licensing for shift-based roles.
- Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD): A flexible, fully customizable virtual desktop and app streaming platform running in Azure. It supports both pooled and personal desktops, as well as multi-session Windows 11. GPU options are available.
- Azure Lab Services (Deprecated): This managed service offers preconfigured virtual laboratories designed for instructional, training, and testing activities. The service is scheduled for retirement in June 2027, and new lab subscriptions will not be available after 2025.
This allows IT organizations to rapidly deploy and maintain Windows desktops and Applications by providing a unique toolset that streamlines desktop and application deployment. Client costs are based on actual consumption of resources associated with selected offerings.
To effectively utilize this service, a client organization would need the following skillset as part of your IT support team responsibilities:
- Intermediate level Network Management
- Novice or higher level Nerdio - Management
- Intermediate level Endpoint Management
- Intermediate level Group Policy Administration
- Intermediate to expert level Windows OS Administration
Penn Virtual Desktop is available for faculty, staff, and students. End users are required to have a PennKey account that is eligible for Office 365 access. End Users may be physically located anywhere with an active broadband internet connection.
Image
Benefits
- The service enables users to log on to a secure Windows desktop from a personal computer, mobile device, tablet or thin client via the network. Giving users the ability to access a Penn desktop and the applications they need anytime, anywhere and on any device. Academic fieldwork, administrative computing and work-from-home scenarios become highly accessible, secure, and stable.
- Desktop Support via the IT Service Desk becomes scalable in a way that’s not possible with physical computers. Upgrading Operating Systems and Business Productivity software becomes a coordinated event rather than an upgrade process spread out over several months.
- Security is enhanced when working with confidential and sensitive information. Virtual Desktops and their respective data can be confined to the datacenter; therefore, dramatically reducing the risk of data loss through lost or misplaced hardware. Data from virtual desktops is never cached nor stored on the endpoint device.
Target Audience
University faculty, staff, students
Funding Type
Rates
Standard Desktop
FY2026
$27.54
Per Month
2 CPU 4 GB RAM, 25GB personal storage available, non-persistent, single location
High Availability Desktop
FY2026
$34.67
Per Month
2 Standard desktops per user, one in each location, non-persistent
Desktop Memory Increases
FY2026
$2.10
Per Block Per Month
2 GB blocks