Toronto Police Service: Setting Up Azure Virtual Desktop With Security-First Control

Toronto Police Service (TPS) set out to introduce Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) as part of a broader IT modernization effort. The goal was straightforward: create a secure, scalable way for staff to access a consistent desktop experience, without increasing risk or creating a support burden.

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However, Toronto Police Service operates in a compliance-heavy environment where access controls, security review, and clear accountability are non-negotiable.

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At the same time, AVD had to fit within TPS’s existing Azure standards, not work around them. And because virtual desktops touch how people do their jobs day to day, the rollout could not be based on guesswork.

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TPS needed a partner who could turn that complexity into a controlled plan and a tested foundation, without creating disruption or leaving behind a setup that would be hard to manage later. That’s where BITSUMMIT, working in conjunction with OnX, stepped in.

BITSUMMIT structured the engagement in deliberate phases designed to reduce risk, secure alignment, and validate decisions before broader rollout. The objective was not simply to deploy AVD, but to establish a foundation that would meet security, operational, and governance expectations from the outset.

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Phase 1: Align on Operational Reality and Constraints

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Before moving into design, BITSUMMIT focused on eliminating assumptions and aligning stakeholders.

• Brought security, operations, and technical teams together early to avoid siloed decision-making
• Assessed how staff work in practice, not just in documented processes
• Identified adoption risks including access controls, device variability, and network dependencies
• Documented the current state and developed practical, risk-aware recommendations

This ensured that the AVD design reflected real operational conditions and existing governance controls.

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Phase 2: Design Within Established Governance

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BITSUMMIT translated discovery findings into a detailed AVD architecture aligned with TPS’s Azure standards.

• Facilitated working sessions to confirm architectural direction and resolve open questions
• Defined access control models aligned with compliance requirements
• Established structured testing pathways prior to production exposure
• Delivered a comprehensive design package and secured formal approval

By the end of this phase, TPS had a clearly documented and approved AVD design that met both security and operational expectations.

Phase 3: Build, Validate, and Prepare for Rollout

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Following design finalization, BITSUMMIT implemented the AVD foundation with validation embedded into the process.

• Created a standardized desktop baseline to ensure a consistent user experience
• Architected the environment for scalability without manual reconfiguration
• Implemented profile management to maintain user continuity across sessions
• Conducted controlled pilot testing (up to 10 devices), addressing functional and performance findings prior to expansion
• Guided TPS through structured production-readiness checkpoints

The result was an AVD environment built methodically and validated before broader rollout, reducing the likelihood of post-deployment adjustments and governance gaps.

TPS now has a governed Azure Virtual Desktop foundation designed for secure expansion within its existing Azure environment.

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Key outcomes include:

• Cross-functional alignment on requirements prior to deployment
• A formally reviewed and approved AVD design aligned with governance standards
• A standardized and scalable desktop baseline ready for phased rollout
• Preserved user continuity through structured profile management
• Functional and performance validation completed in a controlled pilot phase
• Reduced risk of rework by resolving issues before production deployment

The engagement established a structured, governance-aligned path to scaling AVD within a high-control environment.

 Built for High-Control Environments

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Implementing Azure Virtual Desktop in regulated or compliance-heavy organizations requires more than technical configuration. It requires alignment with governance frameworks, operational sustainability, and structured validation before expansion.

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BITSUMMIT supports organizations through discovery, governance-aligned design, and controlled validation so AVD can be introduced with clarity and long-term manageability in mind.