Citrix

What is Citrix?

Citrix is a software company founded in 1989 by Ed Iacobucci. The multinational company is known for developing and providing networking, virtualization, and cloud computing solutions. The company has played a significant role in creating and improving IT infrastructures by making remote access and centralized management of applications and desktops possible. 

Citrix's product, XenApp enables users to access and use applications on remote servers. Among the products and services that Citrix offers are XenDesktop, XenMobile, and NetScaler. Citrix is well-established company in the technology sector due to its constant product improvement.

Citrix Products

1. Citrix Workspace
2. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop)
3. Citrix ADC (formerly NetScaler)
4. Citrix Hypervisor (formerly XenServer)
5. Citrix Endpoint Management (formerly XenMobile)
6. Citrix Content Collaboration (formerly ShareFile)
7. Citrix Secure Web Gateway
8. Citrix SD-WAN (formerly NetScaler SD-WAN)
9. Citrix Application Delivery Management (formerly NetScaler MAS)
10. Citrix Analytics for Security
11. Citrix Intelligent Traffic Management
12. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Standard for Azure
13. Citrix Secure Browser
14. Citrix Virtual Apps Essentials
15. Citrix Managed Desktops
16. Citrix Virtual Desktops Essentials for Azure
17. Citrix ADC Essentials
18. Citrix Gateway

Please note that Citrix reserves the right to update and rebrand its services and products which can subsequently lead to changes in the naming of the products.

What is Citrix Workspace?

Citrix Workspace is a digital workspace platform that provides users with a secure access to their virtualized applications, desktops, files and collaboration tools. Some of the key features Citrix Workspace includes are desktop virtualization, Multi-Device Access and Application Access. See below. 

What are the main functions of Citrix Workspace?

Citrix Workspace is a platform through which users can access their applications and files regardless of their location or the device. Additionally, Citrix Workspace users can access SaaS (Software as a Service) applications such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or Salesforce, for example. The integration between Citrix Workspace and Microsoft’s productivity tools, like Microsoft Teams, facilitates the smooth communication and teamwork. With the Multi-Device Access feature of Citrix Workspace users can access virtualized and SaaS applications through any device and from any location. Citrix Workspace is not to be confused with Citrix Workspace App. The difference between the two is presented in the next section.

What is the difference between Citrix Workspace and Citrix Workspace App?

Citrix Workspace and Citrix Workspace App are both part of the Citrix ecosystem, however they differ from one another. Essentially, Citrix Workspace is a digital workspace platform, while Citrix Workspace App is the client-side application which accesses and interacts with Citrix Workspace. The Workspace Application ensures a smooth user experience with the virtualized applications and desktops. Citrix Workspace, on the other hand, is the platform that allows users to access virtualized desktops and applications, mobile apps and SaaS apps. What is more, Citrix Workspace integrates well with other collaboration and productivity tools such as Microsoft 365, Teams, etc. Users can also share files or synchronize their collaboration through the feature Citrix Content Collaboration (previously named ShareFile). 

Citrix Workspace App, on the other hand, is sort of a delivery mechanism for the virtualized desktops and applications. The App allows them to run on the user’s device while they are also being centrally managed by the Citrix infrastructure. Citrix Workspace App also supports HDX technology that improves the performance of the virtualized apps. Another evidence of Citrix’s good integration is the compatibility of Citrix Workspace App with multiple operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, etc.

Why do people use Citrix?

Citrix offers numerous and adapting solutions for enterprises, which is one of the main reason for its popularity. As the first company to facilitate remote desktops, Citrix continues to make remote access possible for companies worldwide. By using Citrix, companies can also manage their applications and desktop centrally, which also contributes to the simplified IT management and maintenance. By hosting desktops and applications on servers, Citrix can increase their responsiveness and performance. Additionally, Citrix products are compatible with various operating systems and are thus a good fit for companies with diverse IT environments. Regarding security, Citrix offers features like encryption, secure connections and access management, which in turn contributes to keeping sensitive information safe. Due to the centralization of applications and desktop, companies can cut on software expenses, as no additional hardware, licensing or IT management is required. As listed above, Citrix also offers a wide range of products that are meant to fit and adapt to the software requirements of various organizations. The solutions stretch beyond virtualization, as Citrix is also offering cloud services, security tools and networking solutions, for example. Lastly, Citrix is also adaptable to rapidly growing organizations as it easily meets the increased user demands

Collaboration between Microsoft Licenses and Citrix

Microsoft and Citrix have collaborated for multiple years now. The partnership is based on Citrix’ integration with Microsoft’s products and licenses. For example, Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) is a service that enables organizations to manage their virtualized Windows applications and desktops. Citrix enhances WVD’s capabilities by integrating Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. Moreover, Citrix has designed its solutions so that they would effectively work with the Azure cloud platform Microsoft uses. Another important integration of Citrix is with Microsoft Teams which enables users to access Teams, among other Office applications, through Citrix Workspace. Regarding scalability, Citrix offers a Single Sign-On which enables users to log in once to the virtualized Microsoft environment without needing to re-authenticate each time.