Your Work PC Relaxin’ in the Cloud
Hey, mates, your upcoming work PC could be soaring in the cloud rather than crowding your workspace. A few years ago, those Cloud Software Group folks—who merged Citrix with Tibco—developed a tool to figure out the perfect desktop configuration for users. It was all aimed at saving money and steering clear of splurging on under-used devices.
The Genesis of Citrix DaaS Flex
Recently, the smart people over at Citrix decided to label it and offer it as “Citrix DaaS Flex”. It’s essentially a stylish guise for their desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) and application publishing antics.
Beginning with an Endpoint Review
Embarking on Flex involves giving your organization’s endpoint lineup a thorough examination. Shawn Bass, their top dog for the DaaS portfolio, mentioned to GadgetLad that many users have machines that are about as useful as a chocolate kettle. A lot don’t realize what kind of cloud PC suits their users, leading them to waste cash on virtual machines with way more power than required. Some unfortunate users can be taken aback by their bills if they opt for pay-as-you-go pricing.
Taking It Easy with Personas
Once Citrix understands what your users genuinely require, they propose “personas”—a collection of templates for different user types. Bass believes that most organizations only need three personas: one each for task workers, knowledge workers, and those power-hungry individuals. A persona may require a full cloud PC, a managed browser, or just some app access. Whatever the solution, Citrix handles it all. Users simply receive their endpoints, no messing around with the tech details.
Credits and Cloud Expenses
Citrix manages the billing using a credits model. They might charge, for instance, 60 credits a month for a power user’s virtual PC. After assessing your users’ requirements, they suggest a credit budget for a three-year-plus agreement, billed monthly. You can conserve some credits for peak periods—like when retailers increase their staff for the holiday rush—without exceeding your total credits for the contract term. Citrix covers any costs if users pull an all-nighter and incur extra Azure charges, allowing you to rest easy.
Looking Beyond Azure? Yes, Please!
Bass revealed that Citrix intends to expand Flex to other major cloud platforms and make it functional on-premises as well. Nutanix and other long-standing partners may get an opportunity, and a channel version is also on their agenda.
Don’t Get Riled Up
Some individuals complain that cloud PCs still require an actual PC or device for access, which seems a bit inefficient. But Bass believes the high costs of memory make refreshing a PC fleet pricey enough to make cloud desktops appear as a smart upgrade. Not surprising, as Citrix offers its lightweight OS—eLux from Unicon—that works seamlessly on older PCs. And rumor has it that more people are considering it.
Summary: Devices in the Cloud – Why Not, Mate!
So, there you go. Your next work PC could be thriving in the cloud. It’s all about cutting expenses and maximizing value. And if anyone’s going to reveal whether it’s worthwhile, it’s your buddy GadgetLad. Cheers!
