Microsoft Ignite 2025: The Future of EUC and AI
After a week on the ground in San Francisco, it was obvious how much the landscape had changed since last year. From our exclusive dinner and time with Numecent to conversations on the floor, the same themes kept coming up: identity now sits at the center of EUC, hybrid models are becoming the default, and AI systems are moving from experimentation to actual operational responsibility.
Here are the updates that stood out to me.
News Highlights From the Week
Citrix DaaS + Entra ID SSO (Without FAS)
Microsoft and Citrix shipped native single sign-on to Citrix DaaS using Entra ID, without the need for Citrix FAS. This reduces authentication complexity, aligns with zero-trust models, and simplifies modernization efforts for Citrix environments.
New Hybrid Deployment Options for Azure Virtual Desktop
AVD gained a significant architecture upgrade with the limited preview, enabling Arc-enabled on-premises session hosts across Hyper-V, VMware vSphere, Nutanix AHV, and physical Windows Servers. It opens the door for true hybrid EUC models where compute remains local but orchestration stays in Azure.
Windows 365 & AVD External Identities
Microsoft added External Identities support for Windows 365 and AVD, allowing contractors and partners to authenticate with their own Entra tenants. Combined with FSLogix preview support, this closes a major operational gap for temporary-access VDI.
Microsoft Purview DSPM: Strengthened Data Security Posture Management
Microsoft announced its enhanced DSPM experience. Purview’s updated DSPM brings together stronger data visibility, classification, and AI-driven remediation. As AI systems gain more reach inside organizations, this type of built-in discipline becomes essential.
Microsoft Introduces the IQ Stack
Microsoft introduced the IQ Stack, a unified grounding layer that gives AI agents consistent, permission-aware access to enterprise data. By aligning Work IQ, Fabric IQ, and Foundry IQ, Microsoft is defining how agents will retrieve context and make decisions securely.
Microsoft’s Partner Ecosystem
Microsoft showcased real deployments from Insight, Blue Yonder, Infosys, and Arrow—demonstrating measurable outcomes like 70% faster documentation, 65% better forecasts, and 33% partner growth. These examples show where their AI agents are driving value.
Login VSI Announces New Hydra Feature to Support Hybrid Deployment of Microsoft Azure Virtual
Login VSI introduced a new Hydra feature to support hybrid Azure Virtual Desktop deployments, extending automated scaling and session host control across both on-prem and cloud environments. It is a practical update for teams running mixed AVD models who need tighter control over capacity and operational overhead.
Additional Announcements
It couldn’t be a recap without key partner news. Below are important updates and announcements from the week we are keeping our eyes on:
Citrix Showcases Secure Work Innovations
Citrix shared updates across secure connectivity, isolation, and modern app delivery. The direction aligns with what many organizations need: stronger security without sacrificing experience.
Nutanix Supports Azure Virtual Desktop for Hybrid Cloud Environments
Nutanix expanded support to allow AVD session hosts to run on Nutanix AHV hypervisors in hybrid cloud environments, giving customers another path to combine on-prem performance and cloud-based management. This provides hybrid flexibility and gives enterprises more control over where their EUC workloads live.
Arrow Electronics Named Microsoft Distributor Partner of the Year
Arrow earned Microsoft’s 2025 Distribution Partner of the Year award for the impact ArrowSphere AI is having across the channel, especially in helping partners identify opportunities and accelerate Copilot and cloud adoption. It’s a well-deserved win and another sign of how fast AI-first distribution models are maturing.
Veeam Extends Support for Microsoft Sentinel
Veeam added deeper Sentinel integration, improving detection and resilience across hybrid and cloud-first environments. It’s a valuable addition for organizations tightening their security posture as they expand AI and VDI workloads.
ControlUp Launches Free Tool to Accelerate Migration to Windows 365
ControlUp introduced a free Windows 365 migration tool designed to automate and streamline moves from Azure-based VMs and traditional VDI into Cloud PCs. It’s a practical addition to the EUC ecosystem, giving teams a faster, lower-friction path to modernize desktop delivery and take advantage of Microsoft’s cloud desktop platform.
Closing Thoughts
In the end-user computing field, it’s clear that change is the only constant. Our industry continues to broaden from the endpoint to the data center, bringing new customer and vendor directions, new challenges, new innovations, new trends in technology adoption, and, of course, new risks. Even with all of that, the community around it remains one of the strongest in enterprise tech, and the people behind it are what make this niche so rewarding to be part of.
That same sentiment carried into Microsoft Ignite. I saw a clear focus on hybrid execution, stronger identity foundations, and AI systems that are maturing quickly and beginning to establish real boundaries for governance and data architecture. The updates around AVD, Entra integrations, data security, and the early pieces of Microsoft’s agent framework all point to an operating model that will look very different from what most organizations are running today.
It was a productive week, and I’m looking forward to seeing how our partners turn these capabilities into something customers can fully leverage. If you want to talk through any of the announcements or how they fit into your roadmap, let’s connect.
