Microsoft continues to harden the security of cloud desktops with the introduction of Windows Cloud I/O Protection, now available in Public Preview. This new capability is designed to protect input and output paths in cloud-hosted Windows environments, adding another important layer to Microsoft’s Zero Trust strategy.

This post explains what Windows Cloud I/O Protection is, why it matters, and what AVD and Windows 365 customers should know today.

🔐 What Is Windows Cloud I/O Protection?

Windows Cloud I/O Protection is a security feature that protects keyboard, mouse, and display I/O paths in cloud desktop environments. Its goal is to ensure that user interaction with a Cloud PC or AVD session is:

• Trusted
• Protected from tampering
• Resistant to automation or injection-based attacks

By securing how input and output are handled, Microsoft reduces the risk of advanced attack techniques that attempt to manipulate user sessions without exploiting traditional authentication paths.

❓ Why This Matters for Cloud Desktops

As more organisations rely on Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 for sensitive workloads, attackers increasingly target user interaction layers, not just identity or network access.

Windows Cloud I/O Protection helps mitigate risks such as:

• Input injection attacks
• Keystroke manipulation
• Automated interaction with privileged sessions
• Session hijacking techniques that bypass identity controls

This complements existing protections like:

• Microsoft Entra Conditional Access
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Endpoint security and compliance checks

Key takeaway: Identity security is no longer enough on its own — protecting how users interact with cloud desktops is now part of the security baseline.

🖥️ Where Windows Cloud I/O Protection Applies

In this public preview, Windows Cloud I/O Protection is targeted at:

• Windows 365 Cloud PCs
• Azure Virtual Desktop environments (where supported)

Microsoft is clearly aligning security investments across both platforms, reinforcing that AVD and Windows 365 share a common security direction.

🧠 How This Fits into Zero Trust

Windows Cloud I/O Protection strengthens Zero Trust by addressing a previously under-protected area:

Instead of assuming user input is trustworthy once authenticated, Microsoft now verifies and protects the session interaction layer itself.

🚧 Public Preview Considerations

As this feature is in Public Preview, organisations should be aware that:

• Behaviour and scope may change before GA
• Documentation and configuration options may evolve
• Not all environments or scenarios may be supported yet

Best practice: Evaluate Windows Cloud I/O Protection in test or pilot environments before considering production rollout.

🧭 What Organisations Should Do Now

Recommended next steps:

1. Review current AVD and Windows 365 security posture
2. Identify high-risk or privileged user scenarios
3. Track Windows Cloud I/O Protection preview updates
4. Align this capability with Conditional Access and PIM strategies
5. Plan pilot testing once configuration guidance becomes available

🔗 Install Windows Cloud Input Protect: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-365/enterprise/windows-cloud-input-protection#steps-to-install-windows-cloud-input-protect-msi

🔗 Configure Cloud Input Protection on AVD\W365: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-365/enterprise/windows-cloud-input-protection#steps-to-configure-windows-cloud-input-protection

🚀 Final Thoughts

Windows Cloud I/O Protection represents an important shift in how Microsoft secures cloud desktops — moving beyond identity and device trust into session-level protection.

For organisations running Azure Virtual Desktop or Windows 365, this is a clear signal of where Microsoft’s security roadmap is heading:
defence in depth, end to end, from sign-in to user interaction.

🔗 Learn More

• Microsoft KB https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-365/enterprise/windows-cloud-input-protection