Microsoft Licensing Update: Windows 365 Cloud Apps Now in Preview

Microsoft’s Windows 365 Cloud Apps, now available in public preview, introduces a new way for organizations to deliver only the applications users need.

By streaming apps directly from the cloud, businesses can simplify management, reduce costs, and optimize resources for seasonal staff, contractors, and task-based roles. Organizations gain the flexibility to modernize application delivery while maintaining control.

Windows 365 Cloud Apps Deliver Secure, Flexible Application Streaming

In this episode of the Demystifying Microsoft podcast, Wade Walker (VP, Microsoft Alliance at Sourcepass MCOE) explores how Windows 365 Cloud Apps enable organizations to deliver only the applications users need, streamed securely from the cloud. This approach reduces infrastructure costs, simplifies endpoint management, and optimizes licensing for seasonal staff, contractors, and task-based roles. Security and management are handled through Microsoft Intune, with identity and access controlled by Microsoft Entra ID. Organizations benefit from flexible app delivery, robust governance, and the ability to scale resources as needs change.

Timestamped Key Moments

• 00:00 — Introduction and episode overview
• 01:20 — What are Windows 365 Cloud Apps?
• 02:10 — Why stream apps instead of full desktops?
• 03:49 — How does app provisioning work in Intune?
• 04:08 — Licensing, limitations, and future enhancements
• 04:48 — Getting started with the public preview
• Outro — How to learn more and connect with experts

What makes Windows 365 Cloud Apps Valuable for Organizations?

Windows 365 Cloud Apps allow organizations to stream individual applications such as Outlook, Teams, or custom line-of-business apps directly from the cloud. Unlike traditional virtual desktops, users access only the apps they need, reducing resource consumption and simplifying management. This approach is ideal for organizations with task-based roles, seasonal staff, or contractors who don’t require a full desktop environment.

How Windows 365 Cloud Apps Deliver Streamlined Management and Security

• Streamlined App Delivery: By provisioning apps through Microsoft Intune, administrators can publish only the required applications to users’ devices. This reduces infrastructure overhead, eliminates the need for full desktop management, and enables rapid onboarding for new or temporary staff. 
• Security and Management: Security and app management are configured within Microsoft Intune. Identity and access controls are managed via Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), ensuring robust authentication and governance. Additional controls allow for redirection, idle timeout, and concurrency limits based on license counts.

How Organizations Implement Windows 365 Cloud Apps for Specific Roles

• Healthcare: Stream EMR software to shift workers without provisioning full desktops.
• Retail: Provide seasonal staff with secure access to point-of-sale applications.
• Government: Deliver secure apps to contractors, maintaining compliance and control.
• Frontline and Task-Based Roles: Optimize licensing and resource usage for intermittent or rotating staff.

Which Requirements and Limitations Affect Windows 365 Cloud Apps?

• Licensing: Requires Windows 365 Frontline licenses and Windows 10/11 Enterprise, plus appropriate Microsoft 365 licensing for each user.
• Concurrency: Only one user per license can access an app at a time.
• Custom Apps: Currently, custom apps require custom images; tighter Intune integration is planned for future releases.
• Management: All provisioning, updates, and access controls are handled through Intune and Entra ID.

How to Get Started with Windows 365 Cloud Apps

Organizations can join the public preview by configuring Cloud Apps in shared mode using Windows 365 Frontline licenses. Admins create provisioning policies in Intune, select “Access only apps,” and publish the required applications. End users access these apps through the Windows App interface, where they appear as local applications. 

Ready to Simplify App Delivery and Reduce Overhead? Connect with Sourcepass MCOE

Windows 365 Cloud Apps give IT teams a practical way to deliver only the applications users need without the complexity of full desktop environments. By streaming apps securely from the cloud and managing them through Intune and Entra ID, organizations can lower infrastructure costs, optimize licensing, and maintain strong governance. The model enables flexible app delivery for seasonal staff, contractors, and task-based roles where security and scalability matter most.

For ongoing insights on Microsoft solutions, subscribe to the Demystifying Microsoft podcast.

If you have questions about implementing Windows 365 Cloud Apps or want to explore options for your organization, connect with a Sourcepass MCOE expert today.