Dave, the unflappable engineer at TechWave Solutions, had just wrapped up the deployment of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) based on a Small Cloud (Entra ID/Cloud only identities). The success of that project left him more confident, but it also taught him a valuable lesson: work smarter, not harder. So, when the time came to deploy AVD for TechWave’s medium to large hybrid cloud environment, Dave was ready—with a more relaxed approach and a new set of tools in his arsenal.
A New Challenge, A New Mindset
TechWave Solutions had grown significantly, and with that growth came the need for a more complex IT environment. This time, the deployment wasn’t just about setting up a few virtual machines; it was about integrating hybrid identities, ensuring seamless access to on-premises and cloud resources, and maintaining security across the board. But instead of diving headfirst into manual configurations, Dave had a different plan.
Fresh off his success with the small cloud setup, Dave decided it was time to put his AI and automation skills to the test. He’d learned from the previous deployment that while manual work could get the job done, it wasn’t always the most efficient approach—especially when scaling up.
Staging: Automated and Ready
With a smirk on his face and a cup of Irish coffee in hand, Dave kicked off the deployment by automating the staging process.
This time around, Dave used an AI-powered script to create the Resource Group, Virtual Networks, subnets, and Storage Account. The script was designed to optimize network configurations automatically, reducing the risk of human error. What use to be a cumbersome task, now took Dave only 5 minutes, freeing up more time for Dave to focus on the bigger picture.
Deploy & Configure: Learning from the Past
Next, Dave turned his attention to the deployment and configuration phase. Here’s where he really leaned into automation.
This hybrid scenario that Dave had conjured up required more than just AVD bits and pieces. Dave needed to set up a VM to host Active Directory (AD), install the ADDS role, and promote the server to a Domain Controller. The AI script was already on it, handling the DNS configurations and setting up hybrid identities with Entra Connect. What used to be a labour-intensive process was now just another line of code.
Continuing with Dave’s ethos of doing more with less, Dave set up a pipeline that automated the deployment of AVD components. The pipeline not only deployed the Host Pool, Session Hosts, App Groups, and Workspace but also automatically assigned users and configured role permissions based on predefined templates. The deployment, which could take hours, was now completed in just 51 minutes. The automation process even took care of those pesky deployment wait times, queuing tasks intelligently to maximize efficiency.
Profile Storage: Smarter Than Ever
For user profiles, Dave knew he needed something more robust than local disk storage. He turned to FSLogix, but this time, with a twist.
Dave’s automation tools joined the Storage Account to AD and assigned RBAC roles without him lifting a finger. The script even mounted the file share, set NTFS permissions, and enabled FSLogix on the Session Hosts, all while Dave sat back and monitored the process from a far. This phase, which could have taken hours of manual work, was done in 28 minutes flat.
Advanced Authentication: Dave’s automation took care of setting up SSO with AD, creating the necessary Kerberos Server objects, and configuring MFA with Conditional Access. It even installed PowerShell modules in the background while Dave caught up on the latest tech blogs. This process was now done in just 26 minutes.
Basic Authentication: For the non-SSO scenarios, Dave had his automation processes handle the custom RDP property configuration and MFA setup. It was all done in a mere 5 minutes, thanks to his automated approach.
Optimise: The Power of AI
Optimisation was where Dave truly saw the benefits of his AI-powered approach.
Dave’s AI generated scripts ran the Virtual Desktop Optimization Tool, enabled Azure Backup on the file share and setup Autoscaling for the VMs, reducing costs while maintaining performance. The entire optimization process, which previously required careful planning and execution, was now handled in 26 minutes.
The Results
With the help of AI and automation, Dave had turned what could have been a stressful, time-consuming deployment into a smooth, efficient process. The entire deployment, from staging to optimisation, was completed in record time of around 2 and a half hours (140 minutes).
Dave’s relaxed demeanour and new reliance on AI and automation didn’t just make his life easier—it also set a new standard for IT deployments at TechWave Solutions. The success of this medium to large hybrid cloud deployment proved that with the right tools and mindset, even the most complex tasks could be handled with ease.
But Dave’s journey is far from over, stay tuned as Dave’s story unfolds, showing us all that with a little innovation and a lot of Irish coffee, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
