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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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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, Omnissa Horizon, and Amazon WorkSpaces are common alternatives for Citrix DaaS.

Reviewers rate Usability and 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 From Top Reviewers

Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
(1-4 of 4)

Citrix VDI

Rating: 7 out of 10
February 28, 2017
KT
Vetted Review
Verified User
Citrix DaaS
10 years of experience
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
Cons
  • 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

If XenDesktop wasn't required by a customer, I would use something else

Rating: 1 out of 10
June 13, 2019
Vetted Review
Verified User
Citrix DaaS
3 years of experience
Citrix XenDesktop is utilized at our Datacenter to provide our third-party offshore developers access to internal company resources while maintaining a good security standing. XenDesktop prevents customer data and/or proprietary code from being downloaded external to the company and leaked to competitors or our customer's competitors.
  • All Management resources can now be installed on a single server. Reducing the overhead required to maintain a citrix environment.
  • Granularity of the Delivery groups allow you to define allowing a remote user to connect to a random XenDesktop VM or individually assigning VMs to users.
  • HDX RealTime Optimization Pack has stabilized some of the issues of utilizing all of the features of Skype for Business in a ZenDesktop VM.
Cons
  • Product documentation is bloated with information and lacks documentation on assisting with first time setup.
  • Customer service offers very little assistance when it comes to using your support contract.
  • Default Policy, out of the box, allows Clipboard, File Share, Printer Sharing, Drive redirection, and others security risks that should be disabled by default.
  • Screenshots are not prevented, other products blank a screenshot or sniping tool image. Watermarks are the only security citrix offers and are disabled by default.
  • Renewal cost of support contract is 80% of initial purchase price. Other companies renewal cost is significantly less.
  • End users who do not properly log off can leave a hung connection, and requires manual deletion of the connection for users to re-connect.
Citrix XenDesktop is useful when your company utilizes third party offshore developers that need to access internal resources with restrictions. And useful when you need to provide contractor or support technician temporary access to resolve an issue.

It can prevent customer data and/or proprietary code from the unsanctioned removal of company premise.
External auditors have been quicker to approve (and sometimes mandate) the use of Citrix as a trusted tool for external access.
  • Performing windows and ESXi updates have had to be delayed because of conflicts with Citrix code. This required time consuming justification, memos, and approvals from customers.
  • Developers installing packages on their VMs to test new code have caused a VM to lose connectivity with Delivery controller and sometimes unregister the VM.
  • Security Audits from a majority of our customers approve the use of Citrix without much scrutiny, as it is trusted to be a secure solution. Expediting over that section of the audit.
Other products were more cost efficient, offered a better support contract, were much simpler to configure, and had better documentation.

We chose Citrix over the alternatives, because one of our customers required the use of Citrix for the connection of third-party vendors.
XenDesktop app on the VM requires very little resources to maintain itself and does not appear to have much of an impact on the utilization of the VM. Even with HDX RealTime Optimization Pack, Skype for Business still has issues with screen share, audio pass through, conference rooms. Microsoft Teams requires some custom configuring to make it work in XenDesktop.
Getting the environment setup took me three months of off and on work, with 3 complete rebuilds of the environment.
Utilizing the WebUI to access the environment had presented so many random issues that we had to require end users to use the Citrix Reciever App. As it was the only stable solution.
Aside from that, it hasn't required much admin intervention since the stand-up was completed.
One of the most challenging obstacles of setting up this environment was making the Citrix XenDesktop accessible from the Citrix Netscaler. As both products are owned by Citrix, I expected to find an admin guide or some level of documentation on how to make these communicate.
While configuring the Application Pool in Citrix Studio, I spent much time on third party site obtaining information on how to configure. I couldn't gain any useful information on from Citrix support and Citrix user community on how to integrate apps with Application Pool.

XenDesktop - A cut above the rest

Rating: 9 out of 10
September 23, 2016
JP
Vetted Review
Verified User
Citrix DaaS
4 years of experience
We utilize XenDesktop to provide seamless access to virtualized desktops and applications across our 16 satellite locations.
  • Ease of Management
  • Scalability
  • Ease of Use
Cons
  • Integration with third party server and storage vendors
From a small business to an enterprise, XenDesktop's flexibility lends itself to a broad audience for adoption.
  • Better customer service
  • Ease in troubleshooting
Easier to utilize, implement and manage.
300
All aspect of Legal sevices
5
Help-desk, 2nd level and senior technicians.
  • Ease of Use
  • Managability
  • Scalability
  • Deliver access to personal desktops through storefront
  • Not sure
Have been using Citrix, either XPa/e, Presentation Server, XenApp or XenDesktop exclusively for the last 10 years.
No
  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Prior Experience with the Product
  • Vendor Reputation
I would not.
  • Implemented in-house
No
  • staging
  • training
No
  • Self-taught
Achieved goals
Easy to understand and learn at my own pace
Yes. Very easy to learn
just right
not really
No - we have not done any customization to the interface
No - we have not done any custom code
storefront rebranding
No
Quick, courteous and reliable support.
No
Support ticket for Netscaler for use with XenDesktop. Support team understood and resolved problem quickly.
  • deployment
  • catalog and delivery group creation
  • Intregration with vmware
  • integratioj with netscaler
Yes, but I don't use it
Ease of use and device compatibility
Easily scalable
Next to zero downtime

Fast response times


  • netscaler
  • vmware
relatively easy
  • No
no
vmware
Easy to integrate
Use it. Its great
Easy to work with
Did not have post sales contact
Xendesktop licensing and support
no
Yes
Went smoothly, not unexpected impacts or downtime.
  • Advanced features of XenDesktop and support for multiple OS's
  • Not sure
No
No

High performance and ease of management

Rating: 8 out of 10
January 25, 2019
Vetted Review
Verified User
Citrix DaaS
20 years of experience
We use XenDesktop across the organization to bring high performance to an application whose client would otherwise operate far too slowly across the WAN link from our central data center. The management of the solution is the biggest reason we continue to use it because it requires low effort to maintain and the support is very good.
  • Management of the entire solution is central and intuitive.
  • Printing is simple and easy to manage.
Cons
  • Deploying the client and updating it are a challenge at times.
Xendesktop makes the most sense in larger environments where multiple servers are needed to support the end users.
  • We have yet to hire another person because the demand on staff to support the product is not too high.
We needed our application vendor to support our solution and Citrix was their main choice. The other choice was Microsoft RDS/RDP but we wanted the higher management functionality that Citrix brought.
The performance of XenDesktop is the best in the industry because of the fine-tuned protocol and years of updating. Overall, I don't think there is a better performer on the market. The question is if the added complexity of running XenDesktop is really worth the performance gain. While the latest version of XenDesktop is the easiest to deploy so far, it is still more challenging than the competitors.
High performance, ease of management, and great support.
Far more widely adopted in the industry than Horizon.
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