Cloud Desktop FAQ

Questions about Cloud Desktops.

Pricing, delivery, security, support and billing. If it is not here, ask us.

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What is a Talos Cloud Desktop?

A Windows 11 Pro desktop that runs on its own virtual server in a data center. Your employee connects to it from any laptop, tablet or PC using the Remote Desktop app, and works inside it as if it were a normal office PC. The work and the data stay on the desktop, not on the employee's own device.

Who is it for?

Businesses with remote or offshore employees who need a secure, US-based (or EU-based) Windows PC: recruiting and staffing agencies, software teams, consultants, finance and back-office teams. Individuals can order too.

How is the price set?

Each preconfigured desktop is priced 25% below the closest Windows 365 Business plan, using Microsoft's published prices as of October 25, 2026, and includes more cores and more storage than that plan. Upgrades beyond a preconfigured plan are priced at the same ratio to our cost. All prices are in US dollars, per desktop, per month.

Is there a setup fee or a contract?

No setup fee and no contract. Desktops are billed monthly. Rush delivery (faster than our standard 24 hours) is a one-time $20 fee.

Will my price go up?

Not while you keep the desktop. Your monthly rate is locked for as long as the subscription is active. If our list prices change, only new orders are affected.

How quickly is a desktop ready?

Within 24 hours of a confirmed order, usually sooner. Rush orders go to the front of the queue.

What do I receive at handoff?

The desktop's address, the client admin and employee account details, the drive encryption recovery key delivered through a one-time link, and a document listing every configuration choice we made and why.

Can I pick where the desktop is located?

Yes: Los Angeles, Dallas or Ashburn in the US, or Eygelshoven (FFM), Germany for the EU. A desktop cannot be moved to another location after it is built. If you need a different location later, we build you a fresh desktop there and help you plan the transfer of your files.

What is the difference between the locked-down and standard builds?

Locked-down blocks clipboard, drive and printer sharing between the desktop and the employee's own device, so data cannot be copied out casually. Standard allows them. Pick locked-down for client data, source code or anything regulated; pick standard for everyday office work. You choose when you order.

Can I upgrade or downgrade later?

You can upgrade vCores, RAM or storage at any time for the difference in price. Downgrades are not possible on an existing desktop. If you need a smaller one, we build it fresh and help you plan the transfer of your files.

Is there a bandwidth limit?

Each desktop has a 1 Gbps connection and 33 TB of transfer per month. That is far more than a desktop user can realistically use, even with constant video calls, and it is a hard limit that cannot be increased.

Do you back up my desktop?

Yes. Every desktop is backed up automatically each night, and the most recent 14 nightly backups are kept on separate storage in the data center. It is included in the price and needs no setup. Because a backup is the whole desktop, we still recommend keeping copies of irreplaceable files somewhere else, the same way you would with any PC.

How do I restore from a backup?

Open a ticket naming the desktop and the night you want it returned to. We shut the desktop down, restore that backup and start it again; everything changed since that night is lost, and the desktop is offline while the restore runs. One restore per desktop per month is included. We cannot restore individual files, only the whole desktop.

Do you offer MFA for remote sign-in?

Not currently. Desktops are protected by strong passwords, account lockout and automatic banning of attacking addresses. Full details are on the security page.

What do you mean by removing the bloat?

A fresh Windows 11 install comes with a lot that has no place on a work PC: preinstalled games, promoted third-party apps, widgets and news feeds, advertising and app suggestions in Start and Settings, and repeated prompts to set up consumer services. We remove all of that before handoff. The result is a cleaner Start menu, less running in the background, and a desktop that feels faster. It is still a normal Windows 11 Pro: Windows Update, your own software and your management tools all work as usual, and anything we removed can be installed again if you want it.

Who manages the desktop after handoff?

You do, or your IT team, including through any MDM you connect. We keep the server running and reachable and keep an admin account for support, which your admin can remove. Custom configuration work beyond our standard build is available and billable.

What does support cover?

The server being up and reachable, and the initial configuration we delivered. Tickets can be opened 24/7 and are worked 9 AM to 5 PM Central. Admins also receive an emergency phone number for outages. We can also reinstall the original image as a factory restore. Windows how-to questions, software you install and account problems created after handoff are outside support.

What is the uptime commitment?

We monitor every desktop every two minutes and target 99.9% monthly availability. If a desktop falls short, you receive up to one month of that desktop's fee as credit, which is the full remedy.

What happens if I stop paying?

A desktop is suspended 3 days after a missed payment and deleted 14 days after, with a warning before deletion. If you want to keep a desktop you are not using, we can park it for $10 per month, suspended but safe, and reactivate it whenever you like.

Can I get a refund?

Within 3 business days of the start of your first month, yes. After that, no refunds on Cloud Desktops; cancel any time and the desktop stays active until the end of the month you have paid for.

Do you offer volume or annual pricing?

Yes. For 5 or more desktops, or for annual billing with a discount, contact us.

Is Windows licensed?

Yes. Each desktop runs a licensed copy of Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft 365 or other software licenses are not included; bring your own.

Are Cloud Desktops lifetime like your web hosting?

No. Web hosting is priced once for life. Cloud Desktops are billed monthly per desktop, with your rate locked for as long as you subscribe.

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