Item: Citrix DaaS
Rating: 9
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) to deliver virtual apps and desktops to our whole organization. We have a subset of employees who work entirely remotely from our corporate office, and they use the system for all access to our on-premise apps. We have another subset of employees who work at the Corporate office, and they use Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) to access a few apps that are only available via virtual access as well as remote access when away from the office. It solves a lot of business issues, including letting us share Apps to older machines, centralizing applications for better management, and allowing users to have common desktops regardless of what device they are using to access our apps.

Pros and Cons

Using Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) allows you to do a one to many deployments with apps. Whether you stream them to desktops or host them via web protocols, you can install it once and allow many to use.
If you want to minimize IT resources, you can use this program to produce virtual desktops that can be static or allow users to change as needed. There is no need to go to each desk to fix issues with their desktops when they are all centralized and managed via Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop).
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) has a great protocol (HDX) that minimizes bandwidth needs allowing you to use Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) to offices or devices with slower internet connections.
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) has a great management interface that allows granular control over all your apps and desktops.
Users can bring their own device, whether a mobile or PC type.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Formerly XenDesktop) does have a bit of a learning curve and can get complex at times.
Pricing on the system can be a little steep for large deployments considering it is an add on to MS Terminal Services/RDS.
An issue that is probably not Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) specific, but since these are virtual apps if used on a connection that has high latency or frequent internet drops users can become frustrated. Unlike true web services, users do require a solid internet connection. Slow is ok; latency is not.

Return on Investment

It allows us to save IT Support costs by centralizing the management of our apps.
Since the majority of the processing power being used is centralized to servers, you can extend the use of desktop hardware regardless of age in most cases.
If you have Apps that no longer run on modern desktop OS's, you can use Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) to keep them alive by running them in a virtual instance on older OS and share them with the newer desktop OS machines.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection Manager (RDCMan)

We have tried two alternates, one of which is not listed in this web sites database. Normal MS Remote Desktop Services/Terminal Services and 2X Applications Services. Both had similar offerings to Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop), but both had the same flaw. Their protocols were not as slim-lined when it came to network traversal; thus, to our users who were used to Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) noticed slower performance when using either of the alternates. Also, the alternates management interfaces were much capable of custom configurations limiting admin abilities. So it all came down to whether we wanted to pay the somewhat hefty extra price for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) or give our users a lesser experience. We went with a better experience and stayed with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop).

Support Rating

When you finally get to support, it is usually fairly good and consistent, but Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) does make it hard and time-intensive to get to someone who can help. With that said their only KB's are quite good and many times you can solve issues by looking stuff up yourself vs. fighting to get a competent support rep on the phone,

Key Insights

Do you think Citrix DaaS delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Citrix DaaS's feature set?

Yes

Did Citrix DaaS live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Citrix DaaS go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Citrix DaaS again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Remote Desktop Services, Windows Server Failover Clustering, Hyper-V, Veeam Backup & Replication, Windows Server, PlanGrid, Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate, Microsoft Exchange, Veritas Backup Exec

Likelihood to Recommend

In most cases, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) is most suited for larger deployments and shops that have dedicated IT Staff. Trying to use it with just on and off MSP support can be a little questionable as the system does need daily babysitting as to dealing with users who get stuck, profile issues, and just general user education. Also, it is not optimal for situations where a lot of the apps are high-end graphic intensive as this not only requires more memory and processing power but usually GPU's for video as well. But for shops that want to make their more common apps or MS Office type stuff available in a virtual environment, this is the best at doing it.

You cannot go wrong picking Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) to be the base of your virtual offering. Just make room in your budget for it.

Overall Satisfaction with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenDesktop)