Which service is used to manage and deploy Azure Virtual Desktop?

The Azure Portal is the web-based interface that allows users to manage and deploy resources within Azure, including Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). Within the Azure Portal, administrators can create and configure host pools, assign users to virtual machines, and manage applications available in the Azure Virtual Desktop environment. The portal provides a centralized dashboard that makes it easy to monitor resources, set up networking configurations, and apply policies necessary for the operation of AVD.

Using the Azure Portal significantly simplifies the process of deploying virtual desktop infrastructures, as it provides a user-friendly interface to carry out these tasks without requiring extensive scripting or command line knowledge. This makes it accessible for IT professionals and administrators who work with Azure services daily.

In contrast, the other options serve very different purposes within the Azure ecosystem. Azure SQL Database is primarily a managed database service, Azure Functions focus on serverless computing by executing code in response to events, and Azure DevOps is designed for managing software development lifecycles, including version control and CI/CD pipelines. None of these services specifically target the management and deployment of Azure Virtual Desktop, establishing the Azure Portal as the correct choice for this particular task.