I have some queries for those of you out there that have implemented Microsoft Dev Box.

I've been asked to implement it to reduce the reliance on user laptop specification (SSD size, RAM). I won't get into the weeds about OpEx costs vs CapEx. I just deliver what's asked.

Are people using a preset Microsoft disk image? The benefit I see for this is that I don't have to keep updating it every month with security updates, ensuring that a new Dev Box spun up is already fairly compliant. However the downside is that I have a list of additional apps I need to install through Intune, including SSMS, a second version of VS, Power BI Desktop, to name but three.

If I create a custom image I can bake all of these in, but I'd need to update the image every month with security and application updates. It's a headache and a doubling of effort that I don't want to be burdened with. As it stands I would have to keep the Intune installers up to date if I go the other route.

What are you guys doing or are your software requirements a lot simpler?