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Citrix DaaS

Citrix DaaS
Formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops / XenDesktop & XenApp

Overview

What is Citrix DaaS?

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, or XenDesktop) is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and application virtualization solution from Citrix.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, previously known as XenApp and XenDesktop, have been widely adopted by organizations for a variety of …
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Honest Review

10 out of 10
July 12, 2022
Incentivized
We use Citrix as our preferred VDI solution to provide managed desktop to end users. With CItrix you get a complete siolution from Citrix …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

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Pricing

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Virtual Apps

$375

Cloud

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Demos

Service continuity support for Android devices

YouTube

Service continuity support for browsers (Workspace for Web)

YouTube

Instructional Demo - Steps to cloud migration

YouTube
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Product Details

What is Citrix DaaS?

To meet the needs of an increasingly flexible workforce, organizations are turning to desktop as aservice (DaaS) and VDI solutions to provide high-performing, adaptive workspaces. Citrix DaaS modernizes IT with a secure cloud solution to quickly deliver apps or desktops from any cloud or datacenter worldwide.

With Citrix DaaS, IT can seamlessly deploy and manage hybrid work environments to increase business agility and deliver an enhanced user experience at scale. Built-in Citrix high-definition HDX technologies increase productivity, providing real-time network and performance optimization for even the most demanding 3D, voice, or video applications. Enhanced security and policy controls protect sensitive data to securely deliver vital resources anywhere to any device.

Citrix DaaS Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Citrix DaaS (formerly Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, or XenDesktop) is a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and application virtualization solution from Citrix.

V2 Cloud, VMware Horizon, and Amazon WorkSpaces are common alternatives for Citrix DaaS.

Reviewers rate Implementation Rating highest, with a score of 9.

The most common users of Citrix DaaS are from Enterprises (1,001+ employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(154)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, previously known as XenApp and XenDesktop, have been widely adopted by organizations for a variety of use cases. Users have found that this software provides seamless access to virtualized desktops and applications across multiple satellite locations, enabling teams to work collaboratively and efficiently. It has also been deployed in data centers, supporting various clients and applications including published desktops and development applications.

One of the key benefits of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops is its ability to facilitate remote work. Many organizations have relied on this software to provide their employees with secure access to desktops and applications from anywhere, ensuring business continuity even in challenging circumstances such as during the Covid-19 pandemic. Call center agents, testing teams, and general remote workers have leveraged this solution to maintain a strong security posture while enjoying a good user experience. Contractors, consultants, and remote workers have also found secure remote access through Citrix Virtual Apps valuable for their specific needs.

Another noteworthy use case of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops is its ability to provide remote desktop access to applications and servers, reducing infrastructure costs and eliminating the need for a dedicated data center. By giving users the flexibility to connect to business applications, utilities, and production servers remotely, the software streamlines IT operations while cutting down on maintenance efforts. Moreover, it has proven beneficial for organizations handling sensitive data or those seeking to provide offshore developers with secure access to internal company resources.

Overall, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops have addressed the diverse needs of businesses across industries. From ensuring seamless collaboration between distributed teams to enabling secure remote access to critical resources, this software has become an integral part of many organizations' IT infrastructure. Its ability to provide fast connections, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance productivity has made it a preferred solution for various use cases within enterprises globally.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-3 of 3)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
February 28, 2017

Citrix VDI

Khanh Thai | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use XenDesktop for the whole organization. The business problem it address is that we are in the process of using XenDesktop for remote access with NetScaler Access Gateway so we can shutdown our VPN. The reason [for this] is so we don't have to open a hole into our network with a VPN. Since XenDesktop is just a screen refresh it solves the security issue on that front. We also use XenDesktop for fast roll out since upgrading and patching is done on one master image. On the client side we use Wyse Zero client. Using all these technologies helps streamline IT as a whole to cut costs in the long run. We can focus on backend projects instead of fixing physical computer issues.
  • Remote access. Even with high latency, HDX helps with working no not so ideal situations
  • PVS server lower IOPS and faster image management
  • USB redirection is a nice for remote users
  • Technical support is lacking.
  • Flash or HTML Videos lag with Zero clients.
  • Support cost is expensive when their support is really poor.
I gave it a 7 because support is lacking.
  • Saves on help desk FTEs since we only need one - since we use Zero clients which has no moving parts and goes right to storefront.
  • Going from physical to VDI helps on speed of not having to re-image a system. With VDI we just have to log off and back on.
  • The up front cost is expensive compared to physical, but once you start expanding VDI it's easier to roll out vs. physical. The cost will go down over time with more users.
HDX and access gateway are the reason We picked Xendesktop.
300
All departments, but one use XenDesktop - our internal developers
2
We have 2 Citrix engineers. One is fully certified CCP-V
  • Remote access speed
  • Secruity
  • Roll out and repair
  • We are using Xendesktop to roll out to a business we acquired
  • We use it for external vendors
  • We will use it for our DR plan
I would of given it a 10 but Citrix tech support is lacking.
No
  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Prior Experience with the Product
  • Vendor Reputation
  • Existing Relationship with the Vendor
  • Third-party Reviews
Price is a big concern and they use to offer good deals, but of late the price is really up there.
None since I been working with Citrix product for over 10 years.
  • Implemented in-house
Yes
We did it by department one at a time.
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled
  • Profile
  • PVS write cache IOPS
It went smooth since I'm a CCP-E that knows how to install and deploy the software.
  • Self-taught
I was self trained.
Online training isn't bad just an over view more then anything else.
The product is easier to install, but to learn I would say no. Training will cover the basics, but it won't cover all the tuning you will need to do to make it run smoother. There is a lot of resource on the web for anyone to get started, but the best way is to build an environment and start playing whit it.
For the most part you can do what you need to do to make it work in your environment. I like saying with the basic because once you start doing custom work it gets too complex.
Get an expert to help deploy and configure the environment.
No - we have not done any customization to the interface
No - we have not done any custom code
None
Yes
I pay since I'm force to to be able to get upgrades.
Since support is lacking I gave it a 7
Yes
usb redirction bug and outlook bug.
Most of the time CItrix product just works. I can't remember a time I gave them an good review for support since it's lacking.
  • Install is now easier
  • Storefront is easier now
  • remote access is easier when using Netscalers with Xendesktop
  • Understanding how everything works as a whole isn't easy
  • Can't just know Xendesktop also have to know how windows and GPO work
No
Lack of support
Xendesktop can scale well using PVS.
Xendesktop did a great job with HA of all the components.
If designed right its could be faster than physical computers.
  • NetScaler
  • VMware
Integration was right out the box. It was really easy.
  • Third party patching software
  • Security devices
Not that I know of.
  • Single Signon
None.
Vmware and netscaler was easy to integrate.
None.
Vendor relationship is poor. If you are not an enterprise account they do not care and kill you on price.
They will only call you when support renewal is coming.
It was very hard to negotiate with the vendor if you are a small shop.
Make sure you buy more license and more product to get the discount %.
Yes
The upgrade process is easy just make sure you have a dba on the side just in case you don't have permissions to upgrade the db.
  • HTML5
  • FrameHawk
  • New storefront
  • Faster storefront access
  • Remote access without having Citrix receiver using HTML5
  • Bug fixes
No
No
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
XenDesktop is used to manage internet bandwidth at our remote locations as well as creating a standard set of applications, which are centrally managed and maintained. Our remote locations generally have T-1 or less connections, so bandwidth has to be carefully used. By keeping their applications and desktops on our data center end, it has lowered the amount of bandwidth used at the locations.
  • XenDesktop does a very great job at load balancing our applications and desktops across servers. It uses a load evaluator index to gauge the load on the server and sends new connections to the server in the group with the lowers LEI.
  • The integration into our VMware environment has been critical. Using Machine Creation Services, I am able to create an image and all machines created from that image are reset to it upon reboot. No more worrying about a user corrupting one server and having to rebuild it or deploy again from a VMware template. Creating a new server in a group is easy and fast.
  • Management of user sessions within XenDesktop's Director is simple and straight forward. Finding and managing a user's session is without complication.
  • The Director leaves a lot to be desired. I have had to resort to scripts and a custom page to get the information I need to properly manage our environment. The previous EdgeSight had detailed information that this just seems to leave out. There is no way to customize views, add or remove content, or otherwise customize for our brand.
  • One thing left out from this version that was in previous versions, was the ability deploy applications from all servers, not just those in a delivery group. As it is set up now, you can only deploy an app to a specific set of servers in a delivery group. If I have Group A running SAP and Group B running Office, only Group B can host Office for the users, even if Group A has Office installed. It would make better use of my servers if I could have on application run from both groups and still load balance properly. It is possible to have it run from both delivery groups, but the load balancing functionality appears to not work correctly.
  • A new functionality in the Feature Packs (1 and 2) was session recording. The functionality is useful, but is still clunky and uses a large amount of storage space. I have yet to see a way to auto purge old recordings without manually deleting them. Storage may be cheap now, but it still needs to be managed and used wisely. Being able to purge old recordings would go a long way.
A key question in the selection process is whether this product will have enough return on investment. For a large company, such as ours, the ROI is quite good. We have a lot of remote sites, a large amount of users, and a large VM environment to handle the loads. Smaller environments can run editions lower than Platinum, but you do lose functionality within the EdgeSight component of the Director. If you have a group of users where maintaining desktop applications is time consuming, this is definitely a product for you. The cost will be less than hiring additional staff to keep up with applications and desktops, as well as keeping the overall bandwidth needs down. If you have remote sites and applications hosted in a data center, this is the product for you.
  • Our ROI has come primarily from costs of network services to our remote sites. Most have T-1 services and 10+ users. Connection to Exchange, using remote applications, and general internet usage would put these sites over the bandwidth available on those circuits. Using Citrix to host the applications and only send minimal packets to the end user, has kept us from needing to order bonded circuits.
  • We are now able to provide better customer service by being able to remote control the user's session and able to go back and watch a previously recorded session to see exactly what was happening.
  • Our third ROI is increased employee productivity. With applications and desktops centrally managed, we can perform updates without impacting the user experience. Updates are done on the template and then deployed to the server on its next scheduled reboot. Servers can be put into maintenance mode and not in group usage while maintenance is performed. It has increased our helpdesk productivity, by decreasing the amount of individual desktop maintenance needed.
We briefly looked at VMware Horizon View and its integration into our current VMware environment, but experience with XenDesktop and common usage overcame any potential savings with Horizon View.
800
Our users are spread across the board in Accounting, Information Technology, Warehouse, Sales, and Service.
6
One Engineer/Architect maintains the servers and infrastructure of XenDesktop. The remaining five are helpdesk support personnel who manage user sessions and any application issues they may encounter.
  • Usage of SAP for our remote users and centrally managing updates
  • Desktops deployed for some remote locations for running multiple applications where deploying apps would be less practical.
  • Microsoft Office usage across the company to standardize and simplify management of the software.
  • Deploying our web based time clock in a central location.
  • PowerShell scripting for the product is available. I have built scripts that look for common issues and initiates actions to resolve the issues.
  • We may begin using thin clients and deploy desktops via XenDesktop solely.
XenDesktop has become so integral to our operations that we will continue using it for the foreseeable future.
No
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Prior Experience with the Product
Product usability for the end user was the most important factor. The user had to be able to function daily without the need for technical assistance. If the product was too complex, the users would struggle, the concept would fail, and overall views of our infrastructure would be degraded.
I believe I got the selection process done right the first time. I may take a longer look at alternatives and pricing, but the selection process was done well and the product functions for us exactly as we need it to .
  • Implemented in-house
Yes
The initial phase was the installation and proof of concept with a small IT group. Once PoC was established, servers were deployed by functions. For example, the SAP servers were built and users were slowly added on to the system until the full group of users was using the application. Once complete, the next application was set up and users were slowly added until it was complete. This continued until all users were using the system.
Change management was a minor issue with the implementation
Add users in small, but diverse groups to ensure there are no issues before deploying to the larger set of users.
  • Ensuring users had the most recent version of the Citrix Receiver and connecting to the server was the most significant issue. This took a lot of help desk man hours to complete.
  • A minor issue was the configurations of the StoreFront servers with the correct secure certificates. StoreFront will not work insecure (HTTP) if you are using NetScalers (which we are.)
Take it slow and read the directions each step of the way. If you are not familiar with Citrix products, use a reseller or other experienced engineer to assist you in the setup of your environment.
Yes
Premium support comes with our annual subscription.
Support is very knowledgeable, but the time for support to arrive can be a bit slow. It also comes with engineers who do not have English as a first language and can become hard to understand.
No
I was struggling with an issue in StoreFront where the certificates were installed, but kept getting error messages on the user side. The engineer assisted and found the root of the problem to be in the NetScaler.
  • The deployment of applications to the user are easy and without complication.
  • The end user experience is also without issue. After launching the Citrix Receiver, the users simply need to choose their application and it launches and connects automatically.
  • Initial setup of StoreFront and Netscalers take a large amount of work.
  • Configuring XenDesktop with delivery groups can take some time to sort out.
  • All of the policies available take a great deal of time to go through. While there are defaults, there are no starting policies which are industry standard to maximize the efficiency.
Yes
The interface works well, but it does become a little difficult to control a remote application on a small screen.
It has proved usable for both the experienced and inexperienced technology user.
September 28, 2015

DoD deployment works well.

Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
XenApp is deployed in a data center supporting Department of Defense clients. It supports multiple clients with a broad use base. The environment consists of developmental (sandbox), production, and test. Some clients are leveraging XenApp exclusively for published desktops and others are hosting workhorse development applications for SQL development. The goal is to allow effective consolidation of resources for multiple customers by leveraging shared resources.
  • Application hosting: Citrix has been doing this for a long time, and they overcome the complaints and issues in the previous release with the return of XenApp in this newest version.
  • Resource monitoring and load balancing.
  • Administration: Application management is greatly improved in XenApp 7.6. Everything is consolidated into a single console and deploying groups of applications to users has continued to improve.
  • More intuitive installation instructions, better documentation.
  • Adding additional Delivery Controllers post initial configuration is a bear. It requires a complex series of steps to add each additional Controller if they are not configured during initial setup.
  • Name changes to known products continues to be a problem for Citrix.
The environment in which we deploy this solution spans multiple operating systems and requires special security requirements. XenApp scales well and overall has a great set of features that no other competition can compete with. They also price well at the corporate level which makes dynamic environments work well as they scale up.
  • Efficient deployment of individual licensed applications to multiple users. Reduces resource requirements and licensing fees.
  • 6 is significantly lighter than previous versions. More users per dollar spent on hardware.
  • Platinum support delivers great results.
Issues with overlapping settings caused troubleshooting to be a problem during the early stages of deployment.
  • Implemented in-house
No
Change management was a minor issue with the implementation
XenApp has a lot of options that can conflict with one another when not configured properly. Make sure that you understand what each function does before flipping the switch.
  • Kerberos Constrained Delegation
Functions well in a Department of Defense environment, particularly when paired with a physical NetScaler that is FIPS compliant.
  • Virtualized application hosting
  • Hosted/shared desktops
  • Basic server replication (deploying more XenApp servers based off a master image)
  • Adding additional Delivery controllers
Yes, but I don't use it
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