Session Abstract

Creating the perfect image is the foundation for a secure, scalable, and high-performance virtual desktop environment—but it’s rarely straightforward. In this deep-dive session, we’ll walk through the end-to-end process of building optimized, secure, and versatile images for Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365, using a "Golden Master" approach. You’ll learn how to: - Build lossless, reusable Golden Images tailored for both AVD and Windows 365 - Avoid common pitfalls with Intune, Entra ID, and Microsoft Defender onboarding - Leverage advanced image features like Trusted Launch, Confidential VMs, Hibernation, and NVMe storage - Incorporate security baselines using CIS-hardened plans for compliance-ready deployments Whether you're modernizing your image lifecycle or preparing your environment for enterprise-scale VDI, this session will provide you with practical tips, key considerations to avoid, and real-world guidance to elevate your image strategy.

Marcel Meurer

Marcel Meurer has a vast history in IT Consulting and the development of solutions and tools. Today, he is Vice President for Azure Solutions at LoginVSI and has a long history of doing and leading professional IT services. His technical focus is on Microsoft Azure platform services, and he has been recognized as a Microsoft Azure MVP since 2016, having also been honored with the Azure Virtual Desktop MVP award. Since 2021, Marcel has also run the company ITProCloud GmbH. The company focuses on delivering cloud-based solutions for all types of companies. The well-known solutions for managing Azure Virtual Desktop easily and automatically are Hydra for Azure Virtual Desktop or WVDAdmin. ITProCloud was acquired in 2025 by LoginVSI, which continues to create the right solution for the right purpose and make it available to customers. Marcel's journey in the IT industry began in the early 1990s, a time when personal computers were just emerging (and before that, the Commodore 64 was the norm). His focus on assembler and hardware-related programming, particularly in the context of the IoT of the 1990s, showcases his early dedication and passion for the field. In 1995, he began studying electrical engineering. During his studies, machine learning and neural networks were among his favorite topics. In addition to his studies, he worked for a small computer company in Aachen, where he developed operating systems and applications using automated methods on multiple computers. Marcel Meurer graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Aachen.