GUIDE
Switching from Citrix to AVD with Nerdio
A business guide to making the move
Many enterprises are looking to Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) as a modern, enterprise- ready solution to future-proof their virtual desktop strategy and digital transformation. Faced with unsustainable Citrix cost increases, business leaders are feeling pressure to make the switch, but their IT departments may be hesitant due to a lack of experience with AVD. This guide takes a close look at the issues, making the business case for AVD in conjunction with Nerdio as the best answer to the Citrix challenge.
Citrix is a well-known vendor in desktop virtualization, but it is no longer the undisputed leader. We have reached an inflection point in the market, and Microsoft solutions such as AVD and Windows 365 have become leading virtualization contenders. According to a 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant report on desktop as a service (DaaS) solutions, Microsoft has clearly surpassed Citrix in its ability to deliver and its vision for the future of DaaS.
However, the reasons to move to Microsoft are not solely technology-related. The Gartner Magic Quadrant report specifically calls out Citrix licensing and pricing as an important source of customer dissatisfaction. Costs have risen, and the support experience has changed due to the evolution of the Citrix business model, putting pressure on the business to change course:
IT leaders may be hesitant to switch from the Citrix platform they know and have invested in over to AVD, questioning its suitability for their needs and what it will take to manage the new environment.
Microsoft has been actively developing its virtualized desktop solutions, including AVD and Windows 365. Today, these platforms are fully enterprise-ready, as evidenced by widespread adoption in organizations of all sizes.
Keeping desktops online is a key concern for any organization running virtualized environments. The ability to distribute workloads and keep them secure has long been a Citrix selling point—but it can be a high-cost way to achieve resiliency if a fully automated failover that transitions workloads in real time is needed.
The issue of cost has many dimensions. In addition to license subscription and support fees, there are the costs of cloud resource use and time spent managing the environment. The total cost of ownership needs to be considered to make a true comparison
Nerdio is built exclusively with and for Microsoft’s technology stack in partnership with Microsoft. Nerdio tools are highly automated, simple, and accessible, with low resource overhead and low cost—and they’re tightly focused on AVD configuration, management, and optimization. Nerdio also provides a better alternative to the costly, complex, and time-consuming use of DevOps pipelines that are the most common way of managing AVD natively. Nerdio delivers the best of both worlds: simpler than native AVD management and less expensive than Citrix.
Embarking on a journey from your current VDI solution to Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) can be a transformative move for your organization. This timeline serves as a strategic guide, ensuring you allocate ample time to take stock, deploy, and rigorously test your applications within AVD. Leverage our proven expertise and insights to empower your migration process, ensuring an efficient transition to a more agile and scalable desktop experience.
The business case is straightforward. AVD combined with Nerdio delivers exactly what both organizations and IT departments are looking for: efficient desktop virtualization at the lowest cost.
1. It’s less expensive
For many enterprises, changes to Citrix license terms and support policies are driving up costs to levels that are simply unsustainable. Nerdio costs start at $6 per user per month and top out at just $10 per user per month.
2. It’s fit for purpose
As evidenced by the Gartner DaaS report, Microsoft is actively innovating to address customer needs. AVD’s global infrastructure, especially combined with Azure Local for those who need hybrid environments, makes it a direct competitor for the Citrix model. Nerdio mirrors this drive, with the ability to move quickly to assist customers with feature updates.
3. It’s simple
Nerdio offers a highly evolved, comprehensive, and easy-to-use set of management tools designed to make the adoption, configuration, and management of AVD efficient, effective, and most of all, simple. This addresses a key concern for Citrix customers looking to make the switch.
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop
Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop