Benefits of Deploying Citrix XenApp Profiles
AdminStudio 2022 R2 | 24.0 | Automated Application Converter
Converting a Windows Installer package to a Citrix profile and deploying it on a Citrix XenApp offers the following benefits:
| • | Reduces Application Conflicts |
| • | Enables Rapid, Low Cost Application Deployment |
| • | Enables Automatic Software Updates |
| • | Centralized Application Management Provides Controlled Access and Security |
| • | Enables User-Based Application Access Rather Than Machine-Based Access |
Traditionally to deploy an application throughout an enterprise, the application was installed on each user’s desktop. Therefore, prior to installation, each application had to be tested for conflicts against each target desktop image (operating system with existing applications). After resolving conflicts that were found during testing, each application then had to be installed on each desktop. This process was very time consuming not only during initial installation, but also when applying patches or upgrading.
Citrix profiles run within isolation environments, which separate the interaction between an application and the underlying operating system’s resources in order to prevent the applications from interfering with others running on the same machine. Because applications do not interact, the need to perform any conflict analysis and regression testing prior to deployment is eliminated. This not only results in rapid application deployment, but it also reduces the total cost of application delivery, due to decreased labor by IT.
Also, because users running applications in an isolation environment encounter no conflicts with other applications, user calls to the help desk are decreased.
Enables Rapid, Low Cost Application Deployment
Deploying Citrix profiles on Citrix XenApp simplifies the deployment of new applications, updates and patch deployment, regardless of the diversity of the access devices, software languages, computing architectures, and networks that are involved.
| • | Only a single instance of the application is installed—Instead of deploying, managing, updating and securing a vast array of heterogeneous client software on each individual user's access device, a single instance of the application is installed on Citrix XenApp. The IT department only has to test for one environment, and deploy and update in one place. This reduces the cost of application installation and support. Also, you can deploy a Citrix profile once on a Citrix XenApp and replicate it to other Citrix XenApps within the existing enterprise infrastructure. |
| • | Prevents application-specific server silos—Deploying applications on Citrix XenApp prevents the build-up of application-specific server silos because you can safely install and reliably run multiple application versions and incompatible applications on the same server. |
| • | Enables you to quickly install and update software throughout your enterprise—Because you can manage the delivery of all of your Windows-based applications from one centralized location, there is no need to go from desktop to desktop, travel from office to office, or wait for laptops to return to headquarters in order to install or update software. With Citrix XenApp, you can deliver applications and updates instantly anywhere, any time—to offshore employees, outsourcers, new branch offices, new mergers and acquisitions, and mobile workforces. |
Enables Automatic Software Updates
When an upgrade or patch needs to be deployed, you would only need to update the Citrix profile on Citrix XenApp, which will then automatically update all of the instances of that Citrix profile throughout the enterprise. This means that users always have the latest application updates and patches, automatically.
Centralized Application Management Provides Controlled Access and Security
With Citrix XenApp, you can centralize applications and data in secure data centers, which increases data security and ensures fast, reliable performance. Centralized application management using Citrix XenApp provides the following benefits:
| • | Enhances security—Enables you to control, protect, and retain intellectual property centrally to reduce the chance for data loss and theft. Citrix XenApp helps you prevent data from leaving the data center without your explicit permission, which supports regulatory compliance and security objectives. You can provide authorized access to appropriate users—such as employees, customers, and partners—while verifying the ongoing security of the environment. |
| • | Can provide managed access to applications to users outside of your organization—You can standardize the use of applications, without having to standardize the machines that the applications use. This enables you to provide managed access to applications from computers that are not your own corporate assets, such as from contractor or consultant computers. |
| • | Monitors application usage and performance—Citrix XenApp gives you end-to-end visibility into application usage and performance. It gives IT administrators the power to understand who is using what, how often, and to what extent. They can observe, monitor, measure, audit, report and archive all the dimensions of information flow throughout the computing environment. This enables informed decisions regarding application consolidation and retirement, capacity planning, service level agreements and departmental charge-back. |
| • | Enables identity-driven access—Citrix XenApp enables you to provide identity-driven access tailored to any user environment. It automatically analyzes the user’s permissions and then delivers the appropriate level of access to applications without compromising security. Depending on who and where users are and what device and network they're using, they may be granted different levels of access. You can also easily “decommission” applications by simply turning off a user’s permission to it. |
Enables User-Based Application Access Rather Than Machine-Based Access
Users can access their applications anywhere on the network, regardless of where they are or what device they are using.
See Also
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