Shared PCs have long been a practical way to extend digital access to frontline and shift-based workers, but they come with tradeoffs. Without individual logins, organizations struggle to maintain security, enforce compliance and streamline IT support. A new study by Forrester highlights how Windows 365 Link and Windows 365 address these challenges by providing a simple, secure and cloud-powered Windows experience for workers in shared spaces.Windows 365 Link, the first Cloud PC device purpose-built by Microsoft for Windows 365, became generally available in select markets in April 2025 and will expand to more markets later this year. The Forrester Consulting study New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact™ of Windows 365 Link, July 2025, commissioned by Microsoft, assessed how organizations can improve productivity, strengthen security and reduce costs with Windows 365 Link.Windows 365 Link contributes to a positive financial impactThe Forrester study provides a framework for evaluating the potential financial impact for organizations deploying Windows 365 Link with Windows 365 to frontline and desk-based knowledge workers in shared spaces. The projected results show a substantial return on investment up to 195% over six years for a composite organization with 2,000 employees, 500 contractors and $4 billion in annual revenue.Based on interviews with six IT decision-makers with experience using Windows 365 Link, along with surveys from 212 respondents, the study projects a net present value ranging from $2.6M-$4.6M, with the following financial benefits over six years for the composite organization. Total projected savings per category include: End-user productivity gains with 22%-30% of unproductive time saved due to more responsive experiences and fewer hardware issues: $2.4M - $3.3M Strengthened security with devices that have no local data, adminless users, passwordless authentication and automatic updates: $1.5M - $1.7M Hardware costs reduced when moving from traditional desktops to Windows 365 Link with a projected six-year lifecycle: $758K - $1.2M IT time saved when moving from traditional desktops, up to 90% on provisioning and decommissioning, up to 30% on maintenance tasks: $139K - $235K Accelerated onboarding time for new desk-based knowledge workers, up to one week faster: $102K - $537KWindows 365 Link improves efficiency for end-users and ITAfter using Windows 365 Link in preview with Windows 365 Enterprise or Windows 365 Frontline, the study participants reported employees were able to work more productively, securely and cost effectively. Here as some insights from study participants:“I’ve been doing this for a very long time and, previously, it would take us days or weeks to get a device image ready to do something like this. The Windows 365 Link device is very much a no fuss, clean experience. It’s easy for IT, and easy for users.”— Cloud Endpoint Solutions Lead, IT Services“Our device setup time went from 1.5 hours down to 10 to 15 minutes. It’s at least 60- 70% less time that IT here needs to invest to get Windows 365 Link devices from the box out to the field working.” — Head Of Workplace Design, Manufacturing“Get a device, clear a device, clean the device, prep the device, ship the device -- across all the different sites, that time adds up. With the Windows 365 Link device we save most of that time.” — Solutions Architect for End-User Services, Energy“We estimate Windows 365 Link will be a five to 10 times better for our end-users [than current thin clients]. It will provide faster connections, better web conferencing, will be flexible to use for new hires and compatible with various devices.”— General Manager, Corporate IT, Information Services“When we move to a Windows 365 Link device, then users don't get a device that they can mess around on in-store. I manage everything via Microsoft Intune and there are no local administrators, so it's a lot more secure.”— Modern Workplace Product Manager, Telecom“It’s security, cost efficiency and sustainability benefits in one little black box. The costs are already lower than a laptop or desktop and, with the extended life cycle time, it’s far less expensive even if you factor in the cost of the Windows 365 license.”— Global Service Owner, VDI, ManufacturingExplore how Windows 365 Link can benefit your organizationTo learn more about the benefits of deploying Windows 365 Link in shared spaces, read the Forrester study: New Technology: The Projected Total Economic Impact™ of Windows 365 Link, July 2025.To purchase Windows 365 Link for frontline or desk-based workers using Windows 365 in your organization, contact your Microsoft account team or select resellers in Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.We continue to expand availability to new markets, including Denmark, France, India, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland anticipated later this year.