Horizon Cloud on Google Cloud Platform is now in Beta

As organizations expand across multiple clouds, virtual desktop strategy is no longer just about adopting the cloud—it’s about choosing the right cloud for the right workload. And we’ve seen a lot of organizations looking to extend their digital workspace into Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to take advantage of its world-class data services, industry-leading AI initiatives, and high-performance global fiber network. Which is why we are pleased to announce Horizon Cloud on Google Cloud Platform, which allows IT to deliver virtual desktops and apps on GCP in a secure and consistent way. It combines the centralized management of Horizon Control Plane with the scalability and performance of Google’s global infrastructure, all without introducing new tools or complex operational models.

Automate Windows licensing

One of the biggest hurdles to running Windows in the cloud is the complexity of licensing for Windows 11 desktops. Horizon Cloud on GCP is built specifically to solve this. By natively orchestrating Google Cloud Sole-Tenant Nodes, we’ve removed the manual effort of managing dedicated hardware.

IT teams can now easily create Sole Tenant Node Groups directly through the Horizon Universal Console. By defining the Group Name, Node Template (CPU/RAM/GPU), and Share Type, administrators can ensure their virtual desktops run on dedicated physical servers. This allows organizations to meet strict Windows BYOL (Bring Your Own License) requirements and regulatory compliance, while maximizing hardware utilization through automated VM placement and CPU overcommit.

Enhance security for the hybrid workforce

With Horizon Cloud on GCP, security is not an add-on. It’s built into the very foundation of our solution. The integration starts with a secure handshake between the Horizon Control Plane and your Google Cloud project. By configuring GCP Identity and Access Management (IAM) details—including the Service Account Client Email and Private Key—Horizon Cloud programmatically manages your infrastructure with the principle of least privilege.

Beyond resource orchestration, security is enhanced through:

• Secure access: Omnissa Unified Access Gateway (UAG) virtual appliances act as hardened proxy hosts in your GCP DMZ. They discard unauthenticated traffic and proxy the encrypted Blast display protocol sessions directly to authorized VMs without the need for a traditional VPN.
• Identity federation: Support for SAML-based SSO and integration with Microsoft Entra ID or Omnissa Access allows IT to enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and conditional access policies based on user risk and device posture.
• Infrastructure isolation: Using dedicated Management VPCs and subnets ensures that management of traffic between the Horizon Edge Gateway and the control plane is isolated from user desktop traffic, reducing the attack surface.

The Omnissa platform brings modern management with Workspace ONE UEM

Managing virtual desktops shouldn't be a siloed task. By integrating Workspace ONE Unified Endpoint Management (UEM), you unleash the power of the Omnissa platform. IT teams can achieve a single-pane-of-glass view across their entire fleet of physical and virtual devices at scale.

With UEM and Horizon Cloud on GCP, IT can deliver:

• Consistent patching: Provide a unified patching and software deployment experience for Windows 11 persistent desktops, ensuring that both your physical laptops and cloud-based VDI are always up to date. 
• Real-time support: Leverage Workspace ONE Assist for Horizon to provide remote support. Help desk staff can view or control user sessions in real-time to resolve issues quickly, regardless of where the user is located.
• Advanced analytics: Use Omnissa Intelligence to monitor the Digital Employee Experience (DEX). Combine telemetry from GCP (CPU/memory usage) with employee sentiment data to proactively remediate performance bottlenecks.

Consistent experience with built-in resilience

Horizon Cloud delivers a responsive experience, even over variable networks, thanks to the Blast Extreme protocol. On Google Cloud, this is enhanced by support for high-performance NVIDIA GPUs, enabling high-definition graphics for demanding 3D rendering or scientific workloads. With built-in support for cross-region disaster recovery, IT teams can quickly identify and resolve issues as environments scale, ensuring business continuity during outages.

How to join the Beta

• Demo of the solution: Horizon Cloud on GCP Demo 
• Register for the Preview: Visit beta.omnissa.com/enter/ to sign up. 
• Contact your rep: If you have questions or want a preview briefing, reach out to your Omnissa account representative. They can provide guidance and discuss how this new offering fits your roadmap. 

We’ll also be in Las Vegas at Google Cloud Next on April 22. If you’ll be there, we’d love for you to stop by booth #6604 for live demos of the deployment workflow, roadmap insights, and guidance on how to integrate GCP into your broader VDI strategy.