Why Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops?

Exploring The Basics

You have probably come across the new name for XenApp and XenDesktop, now known as Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. This is virtualization technology that offers administrators total control of security, applications, and virtual machines (VMs). It facilitates remote access to Linux, web, and SaaS applications along with Windows applications and desktops from any device, across any network.

Product installation, deployment, configuration, upgrades, and monitoring are simple processes. Besides being guaranteed great end UX, companies get to maintain complete control of their policies and applications.  

Components

How do Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops work? Before we get to this, let’s study their components to better understand how they work towards benefitting businesses. There are four integral elements, including:

Apps and Desktops

As established, these are the key elements of Citrix’s offering. Administrators can centrally manage and globally deliver them on-demand to users who regularly move between internal and external networks.

Citrix Receiver

This is the universal client software through which users access applications and desktops. It runs on practically every operating system, such as Linux, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

HDX Technology

This optimizes the desktop virtualization experience by offering a high-definition end UX of desktops and applications. IT teams can facilitate the process through any device over any network. The technology is built on top of the ICA protocol with other features that contribute to desktop virtualization practicality and scalability. This is possible even over low bandwidth and high latency WAN connections.

Citrix Gateway

This offers single sign-on (SSO) across all applications whether in a cloud, datacenter, or facilitated as SaaS. Users are given secure and remote access to apps from any location, any device, and through one URL.

StoreFront

Essentially, this is an enterprise app store which facilitates an interface for users to access their Citrix workspaces remotely. It eases deployments, enhances security, and provides quality end UX over the Citrix Receiver on all platforms. Its core purpose is to help IT teams easily manage Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops setups of different flavors.  

Controller

This is the server-side component which manages user access, brokers, and optimizes connections. Through user and computer-based policies, it centrally oversees access to virtualized apps and desktops in the data center.

Studio

This is the principal management console which intuitively controls Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops setups. It includes service design wizards that develops and manages resources which IT can then use to deliver apps and desktops.

Director

This is the second of the two purpose-built consoles, the first being Citrix Studio. Apart from monitoring and troubleshooting, Director performs a variety of functions. It views and controls routine sessions, identifies system failures, and outlines users who need assistance. Companies can also use a single instance of Director to connect to multiple sites.

Benefits

1. Versatile

Every business needs a solution that helps them quickly adapt to changing needs in today’s unpredictable and fast-paced landscape. This is where Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops comes in. The technology caters to several use cases and applications based on a single user’s device or role. It facilitates consistent end UX irrespective of devices and screen size, even in the case of a ChromeOS-based machine.

Let’s take the example of a software house where power users can especially benefit. Engineers and architects receive quality, real-time access to 3D graphics applications on the device of their choice. What’s more, the virtual apps and desktops integrate solid graphics acceleration support for NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD GPUs. Users demanding heavy graphics duty can carry out tasks without sacrificing performance. The company also receives an automated client configuration which offers employees an ideal connection path without requiring them to manage settings.

1. Secure

Crimes such as fraud and theft are committed against businesses almost every day. More often than not, they are geared towards stealing important information that should never be compromised. As a result, implementing cyber security best practices is no longer a choice for organizations.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops fulfill an important role in this situation. It facilitates granular access control, advanced system monitoring, and an integrated secure architecture. This is done by establishing remote access to Linux and Windows apps and desktops in the data center. IT teams are also given total control data security and they can set user roles and responsibilities accordingly. This, in turn, ensures that employees are provided access to only system areas and functions that are relevant to their work.

It is common for malware, ransomware, and other malicious software to penetrate an enterprise network via internet browsers. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ensure data integrity by isolating web browsing activities from the internal network. In this scenario, users can still access internet browsers without exposing the network to security vulnerabilities.

Remote users also benefit through the reduction of unwanted intrusions and data loss risk. With intellectual property safe in the datacenter, IT can develop policy controls that enable secure, real-time collaboration between geographically dispersed teams. In any case, Citrix uses mechanisms which fulfill the highest security standards by being certified to Common Criteria and FIPS 140-2.

1. High ROI

The Citrix offering streamlines management processes and minimizes training needs through centralized administration of multiple resources from a single platform. Studio and Director simplify the learning curve through easy site setup, machine provisioning, app and desktop publishing, and troubleshooting. This reduces tech investment and increases business revenue.

Hosted shared Linux virtual desktops also boost ROI by providing more users access to the same infrastructure. Mobile workers can use non-Linux devices to access specialized, time and mission-critical Linux VDI, allowing businesses to boost productivity. IT teams are given the flexibility to manage both Linux and Windows apps and desktops using a single console. This boosts ROI of infrastructure investment as businesses need not buy new hardware to deliver Linux Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops.

1. BYOD Administration

Today, employees are no longer bound to on-premises PCs as they are almost always on the go. Users must be able to work from anywhere with complete access to apps and information. At the same time, they need great end UX to be able to demonstrate satisfactory performance. As a result, companies are designing BYOD policies that effectively meet the diverse needs of a mobile workforce.

Citrix’s offering delivers Linux, Windows, SaaS, and web apps to Linux and Windows desktops, Thin Clients, Macs, smartphones, and tablets. A login process guides employees to the StoreFront where they can choose the apps or desktop they wish to use. They are only one touch away from launching applications similar to a native app installed on a Linux, Windows, Mac, Blackberry, or iOS device. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops optimizes the network traffic for the remote connection by caching video traffic to decrease retransmitting. It also prioritizes interactive traffic such as voice and video over bulk print tasks and file transfers.

Pricing Structure

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop cost is divided into three levels of enterprise pricing with two user modes. They are concurrent user or user/device.

The prices mentioned in the following table are based on a single license.

VDI Edition	Enterprise Edition	Platinum Edition
Concurrent User  $210.00/one-time payment	Concurrent User  $535.00/one-time payment	Concurrent User $750.00/one-time payment
User/Device $102.00/one-time payment	User/Device $240.00/one-time payment	User/Device $375.00/one-time payment

 

Disclaimer: to the best of our knowledge, all prices are accurate as of February 2019. Product availability and pricing plans may be subject to change anytime.

A Trusted Partner

ClearCube, in collaboration with Citrix, now incorporates the tech giant’s Virtual Apps and Desktops into our centralization and virtualization range.

1. Centralized Desktop Infrastructure (CDI)

With CDI, clients receive VDI benefits minus the intricate and time-consuming layering, adjustments, verification, and administration processes. This clears the cube and eliminates electricity expenses, security threats, desk-diving, duplicate software licensing, and manageability hassles of PC setups. The CDI offering is perfect for fast-paced environments where employees implement mission-critical apps and graphics-intensive rendering.

By including the Citrix range in our solution, companies benefit from dynamic infrastructure promising unparalleled IT performance at all times.

1. Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

The ClearCube way of virtualization is simple, smart, and efficient. Our solution range has all the makings of smart IT practices that demand security and easy manageability. It delivers end-to-end VDI efficiencies such as speedy OS patches, rapid scalability, and quick disaster recovery.

Paired with the Citrix offering, our clients receive nothing but the best virtualization experience one can get in the industry.

1. Centralized and Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure (CVDI)

Together with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, the CVDI solution offers IT infrastructure completeness in more ways than one. Citrix and ClearCube work together to combine the capabilities of traditional hardware with the control, flexibility, and resource consolidation of VDI. Performance is highly proactive and resilient at all touch points. IT infrastructure lifecycle is generous, and enterprise systems can hold their own even in the most demanding circumstances.

Concluding Remarks

Virtualization is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and businesses must opt for tailor recommendations to meet their unique needs. For an in-depth discussion, please visit our website to see what works best for your organization. You can also get in touch with a Citrix expert for further information on their offering.