PC in the cloud (Windows 365): for whom it is worth it and for whom it isn't

7 min read · DataRoad

The PC in the cloud (Windows 365) It is one of the simplest ways to give an employee a company computer without handing them a computer. The person opens an application, logs in, and has their Windows front and center with the company's applications, files, and settings — whether they are on a personal laptop at home, a Mac in a client office, or a tablet in a hotel. When the session ends, nothing remains on the local device.

The question that interests an administrator is not “is it modern?”, but “for whom does this save money and problems—and for whom does it not?”. It is to this question that we answer.

How it works, without the jargon

The computer still exists, just inside a Microsoft data center. What reaches the user’s screen is the image; what comes out of the keyboard and mouse travels over the internet to the PC in the cloud. Access is via the Windows App, available for Windows, macOS, iPhone and iPad, Android and the internet browser.

How much it costs: official prices

Microsoft publishes three Windows 365 Business plans for companies with up to 300 users. Table values for Portugal, per user and per month, excluding VAT, as of October 2026:

Two points that often get missed in the accounts:

• The Windows 365 license gives you the PC, not the Office. The Office applications are installed, but they are activated with the license Microsoft 365 from each user — the same one that gives the email and Teams.
• The user still needs equipment to connect — but it can be simpler, older, or even more personal.

Example — five consultants on the Standard plan: 5 × 33.70 € × 12 months = 2,022 € per year, excluding VAT. Assumptions: above-table prices, excluding discounts; existing Microsoft 365 licenses. The value should be compared with the total cost of the laptops that would have to be purchased, configured, repaired, and recovered when someone leaves.

For those who benefit

Consultants and teams in client's homes

They work on equipment that isn’t owned by the company, or change clients every quarter. With a PC in the cloud, the data never leaves the controlled environment, and the entry or exit of a project is resolved in minutes.

Seasonal and temporary workers

Peak workloads, campaigns, stages. Instead of buying and preparing laptops for three months, a license is assigned and then withdrawn at the end. For teams on a rotating basis, Microsoft also has a mode (Windows 365 Flex) where one license allows up to three PCs in the cloud to be used at a time.

Companies without an office or with scattered teams

There is no server room, no equipment locker, or a place to deliver a broken laptop. The PC in the cloud fits well into a model of remote IT support for companies without an office.

International companies in Portugal

Teams that work between countries, with employees who come and go, gain an equal job anywhere, managed centrally.

Mixed Mac and Windows Parks

A team in Mac that needs an application that exists only on Windows (accounting, ERP, industry software) uses it through Windows 365, without a second computer.

For those who don't get it

• Video, CAD, 3D and heavy image: The published Business plans go up to 4 vCPU and 16 GB of memory. For these profiles, a good local host continues to be faster and often cheaper.
• Weak or unstable internet connections: Without internet there is no PC. Microsoft indicates, for example, around 100–150 Kbps for working in Word, but 7.5–8.5 Mbps for full-screen video in normal mode. An unstable connection is noticed with every click.
• Teams in the office, full-time, with good computers: Two things are paid for twice — the local equipment and the monthly license — with no clear gain.
• Demanding video calls: Microsoft indicates that Full HD (1920×1080) is not a resolution supported in Teams on PCs in the cloud.

A real case: a mixed Apple and Windows park

A Reltio, DataRoad, an American data software company based in Redwood City, California, has delivered the maintenance, technical consulting and network management of the Lisbon office to DataRoad under an IT Unlimited contract. The park includes 35 Dell equipment and 40 MacBook Pro computers, with 125 structured network points and Cisco Meraki equipment.

It is the portrait of many international companies in Portugal: two operating systems, teams that change and security requirements from the parent company. It is in this type of park that it is worth calculating, profile by profile, instead of deciding for the entire company — a decision in which our experience as Apple Technical Partner it helps to balance the two worlds.

How to decide in three steps

1. Separate people by profile, Not by department: where they work, what programs they use, how long they stay.
2. Test with three to five real users for two weeks, in the internet connections they actually use.
3. Some of the total costLicences, equipment, support, security and the time lost when a laptop breaks down or disappears.

For the profiles that are worth it, security improves: the data stays in the cloud and access is done with identity and MFA, instead of an open VPN to the network — the topic of our article a VPN is no longer enough.

How DataRoad helps

We design and manage remote work solutions, This includes PCs in the cloud, with the right licensing for each profile, configured security, and user support. For teams that work primarily remotely, the IT Unlimited Essential It includes remote and telephone support; travel to the site is budgeted separately. Annual contract, automatic renewal, 60 days notice and no lock-in period.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Windows 365 cost in Portugal?

The Windows 365 Business pricing table published by Microsoft for Portugal is €26.20, €33.70 and €52.40 per user and per month, excluding VAT, depending on the plan. The Microsoft 365 license, which activates Office and gives you the email and Teams, is paid separately.

Can I use Windows 365 on a Mac?

Yes. Access is via the Windows App, available for macOS, Windows, iPhone and iPad, Android and the internet browser.

What happens if the internet fails?

Without the internet, there is no access to the PC in the cloud. The data does not get lost — it stays on Microsoft’s servers — but the work has to be done until the connection returns. Therefore, anyone who relies on Windows 365 must have backup internet access.

Will Windows 365 replace the company's server?

Not by itself. It replaces the user's computer. Shared files and management applications still need their own place — a server, a cloud, or a combination of the two.

Analysis of PC profiles in the cloud in 5 working days

We analyze your team profile by profile and deliver a written recommendation — who moves to Windows 365, who stays with the laptop — with the annual cost of each option. For companies with more than 10 seats · support contract · remote, on-site, and phone support.

Sources

• Microsoft — Windows 365 Business: compare plans and prices (Portugal)
• Microsoft Learn — Pre-installed apps on PCs in the Windows 365 Business cloud
• Microsoft Learn — Windows App overview
• Microsoft Learn — Windows 365 network requirements
• Microsoft Learn — Windows 365 Flex (formerly Frontline)