Last Updated on February 14, 2025 by Oktay Sari
Mastering Windows 365 by Christiaan Brinkhoff, Sandeep Patnaik, and Morten Pedholt
Introduction
After days of exploring Mastering Windows 365, I can confidently say this book offers more than technical guidance alone. It’s a complete roadmap to mastering Windows 365. Christiaan Brinkhoff, Sandeep Patnaik, and Morten Pedholt deliver practical knowledge, real-world experience, and step-by-step strategies that transform complex concepts into actionable skills. I found new insights, best practices, and advanced tips that have expanded my knowledge. This is my second book review. The first one was Mastering Microsoft Intune.
What Makes This Book Stand Out
The authors’ deep expertise from the Windows 365 product team and MVP community shines through. The book combines technical deep dives with practical solutions. Each chapter ends with summaries, assessments, and links to online resources, creating a rich, hands-on learning experience.
My Favorite Sections
Windows 365 Architecture & Azure Network Connection (ANC)
Chapter 2 provided one of my biggest ‘aha’ moments. The breakdown of reverse connect transport was eye-opening—showing how Windows 365 uses outbound-only connections to enhance security by eliminating exposed RDP ports. The Azure Network Connection (ANC) walkthrough was also insightful, detailing hybrid join, health checks, and best practices.
Backup, Restore, and Disaster Recovery Best Practices
The section on backup strategies and point-in-time restores had me taking notes (Chapter 4). The detailed guide on backup strategies—covering short-term, long-term, and on-demand restore points—was incredibly practical. I found the walkthrough on bulk restores and Azure storage sharing particularly valuable for managing large-scale deployments. The disaster recovery scenarios were a great reminder that it’s not a matter of if something goes wrong, but when—and this book ensures you’re prepared.
The Intune Suite: A Must-Know(have) for Endpoint Managers
And then there was the Intune Suite. Chapter 5 felt like a treasure chest of advanced tools. The authors cover everything from Endpoint Privilege Management (EPM) to Remote Help and Enterprise App Management. What stood out most was how clearly they outlined practical use cases such as using EPM to grant just-in-time administrative access without compromising security and leveraging Remote Help for swift end-user support. The book provides step-by-step guidance for integrating Intune Suite features into your Cloud PC management strategy. I liked this expanded focus on Intune Suite, offering insights that apply beyond Windows 365.
Security, Compliance, and Data Protection: Triple the Insight
If security is your jam, Chapter 9 delivers! The authors cover Intune security baselines, watermarking, screen capture protection, Purview Customer Key encryption, and RDP redirection management with a lot of detail. I liked the deep dive into configuring Conditional Access policies and using PIM to enforce just-in-time access. The step-by-step guides on watermarking and screen capture protection explain how to deter data leaks without disrupting productivity. Plus, the section on integrating Purview Customer Key encryption ensures you remain in control of your data.
What I Loved
- Real-World Scenarios: Practical insights from actual enterprise implementations.
- Learn-as-You-Go Style: Chapter-end assessments and links to online resources.
- From Zero to Hero: Perfect for both beginners and experts.
Areas for Improvement?
- More Automation Examples: Additional Graph API use cases would enhance the book’s value for advanced users but that’s just my opinion.
- Links and other online resources: A simple webpage with all the links to online resources, MVP’s communities would have been nice 😉
Who Should Read This Book?
This book is a must-read for IT admins, endpoint managers, and consultants. It’s also a valuable companion for those preparing certification.
Final Verdict
Mastering Windows 365 blends expert insight, real-world scenarios, and step-by-step guidance into a resource you’ll return to again and again. Whether you’re new to Cloud PCs or a seasoned pro, you’ll find this book invaluable.
You can get a copy here:
