New Citrix XenDesktop release extends virtualization

Gordon Peters
Sunday, 29 August 2010 23:33

IT Industry - Market

Citrix has released a new version of its XenDesktop that it says extends the benefits of desktop virtualisation to millions of enterprise laptop users with the addition of two new technologies - XenClient and XenVault.

According to Citrix, together, these two technologies 'make it easy for IT to incorporate mobile laptop users into a unified enterprise desktop virtualisation strategy with unparalleled security and simplicity,' including corporate-owned laptops managed by IT, as well as user-owned devices brought in by contractors or employees in a BYOC (bring your own computer) program.

Announcing the new release, Citrix said desktop virtualisation is rapidly growing in popularity as a more secure, flexible way to deliver Windows desktops to business users in any location, and it claims that with this new release, companies of all sizes can now deploy a single desktop virtualisation solution that seamlessly supports both desk-based and laptop users in just about any scenario.

With laptop users representing half of the workforce in many companies, Citrix reckons its announcement represents a major milestone that significantly expands the reach of desktop virtualisation to millions of new users.

'Most mobile employees today do the majority of their work on company-owned laptops. For these workers, the best solution is a virtual desktop that runs directly on their laptop. This approach gives IT all the central management and security benefits of server hosted virtual desktops (VDI), combined with all the flexibility and ability to be disconnected from the network that come with traditional, locally installed desktops.'