1. A system for providing virtual desktop extensions on a client desktop, comprising: a virtual desktop extension manager in communication with a client machine having a desktop interface, and in communication with a cloud computing environment, wherein the virtual desktop extension manager is configured to: receive a request from a local application executing on the client machine; receive the authentication credentials for the client machine; determine, based on the received authentication credentials, at least a first virtual desktop extension from a first virtual machine instance and a second virtual desktop extension from a second virtual machine instance as available virtual desktop extensions to the client machine from a plurality of virtual desktop extensions in the cloud computing environment; and cause the cloud computing environment to make available to the client machine the virtual machine instances that host the available virtual desktop extensions, wherein information related to the available virtual desktop extensions is displayable by the local application.