We’ve attended many events over the years, but something about NerdioCon feels different. Maybe it’s the focus. Maybe it’s the people. Or perhaps it’s that when you’re interested in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 (W365), you find yourself surrounded by hundreds of others who care just as much as you do. Whatever the reason, we’re genuinely excited to attend NerdioCon in Palm Springs from May 4-6.
We cover End User Computing (EUC), virtualization, and increasingly, the intersection of AI. AVD and W365 are central to this convergence. These are no longer niche solutions; they are strategic platforms for organizations aiming to modernize their desktops without sacrificing control or user experience. Over the past few years, Nerdio has positioned itself at the heart of this transformation, and NerdioCon represents the peak of that momentum. Since we have not attended this event in the past, we reached out to recognized EUC experts for more information for this article.
Bernhard Tritsch captured it perfectly when he said, “AVD and Windows 365 knowledge in perfect combination with a spectacular venue – that’s NerdioCon in Palm Springs. This is the place to be if you want to learn how to provision, manage, and optimize Windows desktops on Azure.” We feel that the combination of deep technical knowledge and a destination that encourages real conversations is hard to replicate. Palm Springs is not just a backdrop; it creates an atmosphere where people are likely to linger, talk shop, and go deeper and more truthfully than they might in a rather sterile convention center ballroom.
Niall Jennings seemed to agree with Bernhard when he reflected on his time at NerdioCon. “I last attended NerdioCon in 2023 when it was still in Cancun, and it’s great to see it has only grown bigger and better since moving to Palm Springs. The sales and technical streams were clearly signposted, so it was easy to choose the sessions most relevant to me. I found the technical breakout sessions especially valuable from both an education and networking perspective. It’s a great opportunity to learn new things and connect with vendors across the virtual desktop space. The all-inclusive resort certainly helped with the networking! Overall, great event, hoping to get back soon.” We totally agree with Niall’s view on how transparent the topics are, which makes it easier to pick sessions relevant to your interests.
There is also the people factor. Tom Dodds from 10ZiG put it this way: “I’ve been to the past two NerdioCon in Punta Cana and Palm Springs. It’s fair to say that Nerdio really knows how to put on an event. It is the perfect balance of great people, great content, and great solutions, which all come together to make a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding event.” That balance is critical; too much marketing and you tune out. Too much deep technical content without context, and you lose part of the audience. NerdioCon seems to walk that line intentionally.
Trentent Tye from ControlUp adds another layer to why this event matters. “You know what you get when you bring together a bunch of top-tier talent that really knows their AVD stuff? NerdioCon! If you’re ever looking for inspiration, knowledge, or ideas for your AVD environment, the people who attend NerdioCon will have your back! We agree with Trentent that an IT community is not about dispersing marketing fluff; it is about a deep understanding of the technology, and with cloud-based desktops, the technology can move quickly. Best practices evolve. Microsoft introduces new capabilities. Cost shift. Having a gathering of practitioners who deal with and understand this makes such gatherings invaluable.
Chantelle Morales Smith, Alliance and Channel Manager at Numecent, builds on this and summarizes NerdioCon when she said, “My role at Numecent is centered on collaboration. NerdioCon is the perfect venue to celebrate and explore that. I’m excited to dive in with my peers at Nerdio, Microsoft, and other strategic partners. Just as important is connecting with our customers and the MSP community to understand the challenges they face and how we can better support their evolving needs. It’s all about building a stronger, more connected community together.”
NerdioCon is about perspective. It’s easy to get lost in daily testing, writing, benchmarking, and lab work. At StorageReview.com, we dedicate a lot of time and energy to evaluating platforms, trying out different configurations, and considering how emerging technologies like AI will intersect with desktop virtualization. Events like this give us a chance to step back, talk with others outside our usual circle, and see the bigger picture. To do our job well, we need to understand what customers are struggling with, what people in the ecosystem are building around AVD and Windows 365, and where the market is headed in the coming year.
We look forward to hallway conversations almost as much as the keynotes. Some of our best ideas for articles and projects come from informal chats at events like these. A casual comment about image sprawl can turn into an in-depth discussion on automation. A quick demo of a monitoring tool can ignite a broader conversation about observability in cloud desktops. Those accidental moments are hard to plan, but they are often the most valuable.
Yes, we are excited to be heading to NerdioCon. We’re eager to learn about the latest technology in cloud-based desktops. We’re also looking forward to reconnecting with people we’ve met before and meeting new ones who share our passion for AVD and Windows 365. Most of all, we’re excited to see how Nerdio has evolved its platform and matured its ecosystem. We believe we’ll return with new ideas, contacts, and a clearer understanding of where the cloud desktop industry is headed next.
NerdioCon 2026 will be held at the La Quinta Resort & Club. 49-499 Eisenhower Drive in La Quinta, near Palm Springs, California, from May 4-7. You can register for the event here.
Amazon