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Yes. Employees can use a Windows 365 Cloud PC from home, the office, and other supported locations by connecting from a compatible device or the Windows 365 web client. For most organizations, Microsoft recommends its managed Hosted Network. Choose an Azure Network Connection (ANC) when requirements such as Microsoft Entra hybrid join, direct access to on-premises domain controllers, or customer control of Azure networking call for it.
What Windows 365 provides for hybrid work
Windows 365 delivers a hosted Windows desktop called a Cloud PC. A person’s laptop, desktop, or other supported device is the endpoint used to connect to that Cloud PC; it is not itself the Cloud PC. This distinction lets an employee reach the same work environment from different supported locations without making the physical endpoint the place where that desktop is hosted.
Microsoft says a Cloud PC can be accessed from anywhere on any device through the service. In practice, the available client and platform support vary by edition and can change. Microsoft recommends Windows App; consult Microsoft’s user access documentation for current access options. Do not rely on Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) as a routine Windows 365 connection method: Microsoft does not support it for daily access.
Choose a network model before provisioning Cloud PCs
The key architecture decision is whether Microsoft manages the Cloud PC network or the organization connects Cloud PCs to its own Azure network. Microsoft’s guidance is explicit: “Microsoft Hosted Network is the recommended deployment option for most scenarios.” The deployment options documentation also says organizations can use both options side by side for different users or scenarios.
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| Decision point | Microsoft Hosted Network | Azure Network Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Network ownership | Microsoft manages the underlying network, reducing customer network setup. | The organization supplies and operates the Azure networking connection. |
| Join model | Supports Microsoft Entra-joined Cloud PCs. | Supports Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined Cloud PCs when the environment meets Microsoft’s requirements. |
| Direct domain-controller access | Does not provide direct connectivity to on-premises Active Directory Domain Services. | Can provide network line-of-sight to domain controllers and legacy services through the customer network. |
| Azure network requirement | Does not require the customer to configure an Azure virtual network for the Hosted Network deployment. | Requires customer Azure networking and the expertise and operational ownership to maintain it. |
| When it fits | Most scenarios where a cloud-joined Cloud PC meets application and identity needs. | Specific needs such as hybrid join, private connectivity, direct access to legacy systems, or customer control of the virtual network. |
Use Hosted Network when domain dependencies are not required
A hybrid work schedule does not, by itself, require a hybrid-joined Cloud PC. “Hybrid work” describes where a person works; Microsoft Entra hybrid join describes how a device is joined to identity and domain infrastructure. If employees can use Microsoft Entra-joined Cloud PCs and reach required applications through an appropriate VPN or private-access design, the managed network may avoid unnecessary customer network setup. Follow Microsoft’s network requirements guidance to assess connectivity needs.
Use ANC when a specific dependency calls for it
Choose ANC when Cloud PCs need Microsoft Entra hybrid join, network line-of-sight to enterprise domain controllers, private access to on-premises or legacy services, or customer control of the virtual network. That flexibility comes with the responsibility to provide and operate Azure networking and to ensure the required DNS and routing work. An ANC is not automatically the better choice merely because employees work partly in an office and partly at home.
When is Microsoft Entra hybrid join necessary?
Hybrid join is an architecture choice, not a synonym for hybrid work. Microsoft Entra hybrid-joined Cloud PCs join the organization’s Windows Server Active Directory domain and, when configured, synchronize to Microsoft Entra ID. Microsoft Entra-joined Cloud PCs join Microsoft Entra ID directly. Microsoft’s identity and authentication documentation describes the join models and their management implications.
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| Consideration | Microsoft Entra hybrid join | Microsoft Entra join |
|---|---|---|
| Directory relationship | Joins the supplied Windows Server Active Directory domain; synchronization to Microsoft Entra ID is configured as part of the organization’s identity setup. | Joins directly to Microsoft Entra ID. |
| Domain connectivity | Requires Azure networking with DNS resolution for Active Directory Domain Services and network access to an enterprise domain controller in Azure or on-premises. | Does not require those domain-controller dependencies. |
| Policy management | Can use Group Policy Objects or Intune management. | Uses Intune MDM policy management. |
| Infrastructure dependency | Requires domain-join readiness, synchronized user identities, suitable permissions, and an appropriate Microsoft Entra and Intune tenant. | Avoids the hybrid-join domain dependencies; tenant and management configuration still apply. |
For hybrid join, Microsoft also requires infrastructure that automatically hybrid-joins devices that are domain-joined to on-premises Active Directory. Microsoft Entra Domain Services is not supported for this Windows 365 hybrid-join use case. Check Microsoft’s overall requirements alongside the network and identity guidance before selecting ANC. If the required DNS resolution, domain-controller line-of-sight, identity synchronization, or permissions are absent, hybrid join is not ready to deploy.
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Do you need an Azure subscription?
Not for every Windows 365 deployment. Microsoft’s managed Hosted Network avoids the need to configure a customer Azure virtual network for that deployment model. ANC, by contrast, depends on customer-provided Azure networking and the operational capability to maintain it. A separate Azure subscription is also among the dependencies associated with the hybrid-join architecture. Confirm current licensing and prerequisites with Microsoft’s Windows 365 requirements and network requirements before provisioning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose an endpoint: existing device or Windows 365 Link
Many employees can connect using supported existing hardware and a supported app or browser client. Windows 365 Link is an optional compact, purpose-built endpoint for a desk-based setup: it connects directly to a Windows 365 Cloud PC. It does not replace the Cloud PC service or its license, and it is not a stand-alone PC for running local apps.
| Consideration | Existing supported device | Windows 365 Link |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Reuse an employee’s supported laptop, desktop, or other supported endpoint. | Provide a dedicated endpoint for a desk-based Cloud PC setup. |
| Cloud PC license | Required for the Windows 365 Cloud PC. | Required for the Windows 365 Cloud PC; Link is not a substitute for that license. |
| Organization management | Depends on the endpoint and the organization’s management setup. | Requires management through the organization’s Intune tenant. |
| Display capability | Depends on the endpoint and connected equipment. | Microsoft specifies support for up to two 4K monitors. |
Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link product documentation lists Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A, USB-C, and a 65 W power adapter. The device measures 120 mm by 120 mm by 30 mm and weighs 418 g, according to Microsoft. Supported peripheral classes include keyboards, mice, headphones, cameras, and FIDO2 passkeys. Check Microsoft’s tested peripheral list for particular displays, docks, hubs, and cables; matching connector types alone do not establish that an accessory has been verified.
Microsoft says Windows 365 Link is available in select markets. Regional and retailer availability can change, so verify local availability before planning a purchase.
Quick Recap
A practical deployment sequence
- Identify application and identity dependencies. Establish whether users need domain-controller line-of-sight, legacy services, private connectivity, or Group Policy, or whether Microsoft Entra join and Intune management meet the requirement.
- Select the network model by requirement. Start with Hosted Network for the typical deployment. Select ANC for a concrete hybrid-join, network-access, or virtual-network-control need; different user groups can use different models.
- Validate prerequisites before provisioning. For ANC and hybrid join, confirm Azure networking, DNS resolution for the AD DS environment, domain-controller access, identity synchronization, permissions, and tenant readiness against Microsoft’s current requirements.
- Choose the user’s access path. Use Windows App where supported or check Microsoft’s current client and web-access documentation for the user’s platform and edition.
- Decide whether a dedicated desk endpoint is useful. Reuse supported existing devices where that suits the workflow; consider Link for a purpose-built desk setup, and verify its license, Intune management, regional availability, and accessory compatibility.
Common planning mistakes
- Equating hybrid schedules with hybrid join: work location does not determine a Cloud PC’s join model.
- Choosing ANC by default: customer networking is useful when a requirement calls for it, but it adds setup and operational ownership.
- Assuming Hosted Network directly reaches on-premises AD DS: Microsoft says it does not; plan an appropriate VPN or private-access approach for needed resources.
- Treating Windows 365 Link as the Cloud PC: Link is an endpoint, while the hosted desktop still requires its own Windows 365 license.
- Assuming every peripheral will work because the connector fits: check the current Microsoft-tested compatibility list for the specific accessory.
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