Windows 365 Government vs. Azure Virtual Desktop

Start with ownership and operating needs

For a team seeking dedicated Cloud PCs, enclave email, and document collaboration in one managed subscription, start with Castilix Secure Enclave. Standard and Premium combine Windows 365 Government with Microsoft 365 GCC High, Castilix management, user support, and provider documentation.

If your organization needs desktops in its own Azure Government environment, start with managed Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). Castilix scopes the deployment, applications, capacity, and ongoing operations around your workload. Microsoft describes AVD as a platform for delivering desktops and applications, including personal and multi-session configurations; suitability and availability must be reviewed for your government environment.

Already have a Microsoft 365 tenant and need an enclave deployed there? Secure Enclave Enterprise is a separate custom engagement. It is distinct from managed AVD and from the Standard and Premium subscription plans.

What does a Castilix Secure Enclave subscription cost?

Standard is $349 per user per month. Premium is $449 per user per month and adds memory and video conferencing. Both require at least five users, a $2,500 one-time setup fee, and a 12-month commitment billed monthly. Applicable taxes are additional.

The minimum Standard subscription is $1,745 per month. Its 12-month subscription and setup total is $23,440, before taxes or separately scoped services.

Compare these subscription costs with an internal GCC High build using your own licensing and labor estimates.

Calculation: users × monthly plan price × 12, plus the $2,500 setup fee. These examples describe the commitment total, not an annual upfront billing requirement. Calculate your team's subscription and request a quote.

Compare the full service scope

A desktop price alone does not define the whole engagement. Ask whether each proposal includes migration, custom applications, physical-device management, customer-specific documentation, and ongoing governance. Castilix scopes these services separately from Standard and Premium.

For managed AVD, review implementation, recurring management, Azure consumption, and licensing as separate cost categories. User count, application requirements, capacity, operating hours, and support coverage shape the proposal. The Standard and Premium setup fee, term, and activation estimate do not automatically apply to an AVD engagement.

CMMC readiness includes your applicable requirements, system boundary, people, policies, devices, and other systems, along with the cloud workspace. Your organization completes the applicable assessment process. CMMC readiness services can connect the workspace to that wider work.

Bring these details to your planning discussion

1. Users and workflows: total users, who needs the enclave, expected working hours, and conferencing needs.
2. Applications: required software, licensing ownership, integrations, and any unusually demanding workloads.
3. Current environment: your Microsoft 365 and Azure Government arrangements, devices, internal IT support, and migration needs.
4. Responsibilities: who approves access, manages physical devices, owns policies, and maintains the customer-specific SSP.
5. Timing: your target start date and dependencies. Subscription activation is estimated at 3–5 business days only after payment, a signed agreement, Castilix approval, and all required onboarding information.

Send general requirements through the public inquiry form. Arrange an appropriate channel before sharing sensitive information.