What should you use to automate the deployment of host pools and session hosts in Azure Virtual Desktop?

Using an Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template to automate the deployment of host pools and session hosts in Azure Virtual Desktop is a strategic choice, as ARM templates provide a powerful and flexible method for managing Azure resources as code. With ARM templates, you can define the infrastructure and configuration of your Azure environment in a JSON format, enabling consistent deployment and version control.

ARM templates allow for the automation of complex environments, including the creation of host pools, session hosts, and the configuration of settings related to Azure Virtual Desktop. This ensures that deployments are repeatable, standardized, and can easily be managed and updated as necessary.

Furthermore, using ARM templates aligns with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) principles, facilitating integration into DevOps workflows, where you can automate deployments through CI/CD pipelines. This enhances operational efficiency and reduces the likelihood of configuration drift by ensuring that the environment is set up exactly as specified in the template.

In contrast, an Azure Virtual Desktop Scaling plan is focused on automating the scaling of session hosts based on demand rather than the initial deployment of the infrastructure. Azure workbooks are primarily used for visualizing metrics and logs, not for resource deployment. Azure Automanage simplifies the management of Windows Server virtual machines rather than providing a framework for deploying Azure