Transition from Citrix to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) for a Future-Ready IT Environment

Relying on outdated Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can feel like trying to run a business in the past while technology moves forward. Many organisations are still using legacy systems like Citrix for their virtual desktops, but these systems become increasingly costly, rigid, and inefficient as technology evolves.

Consider a global data centre provider that had relied on Citrix for years. As their business expanded, so did IT costs. The rising expenses from licensing fees, hardware refreshes, and maintenance made the Citrix environment unsustainable. The company decided to transition to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), a cloud-native solution that promises scalability, cost-efficiency, and improved performance

The Challenge of Legacy Citrix Environments

Managing a Citrix environment comes with a variety of challenges, especially as the system ages:

• Rising Costs: From expensive licensing fees to frequent hardware refreshes, maintaining a Citrix infrastructure can become prohibitively expensive, especially for growing businesses.
• Inflexible Licensing: Traditional Citrix solutions often come with rigid, fixed licensing models, making it hard for businesses to scale or adjust their infrastructure as needed.
• Operational Complexity: As the system ages, maintaining and troubleshooting Citrix environments becomes more complex, consuming valuable IT resources and time that could otherwise be used for innovation.

Why Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is the Future

Migrating to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) offers numerous advantages that legacy systems like Citrix can’t match:

• Flexible, Consumption-Based Pricing: With AVD, businesses move away from fixed costs to a pay-as-you-go model, which means you only pay for what you use. This results in significant cost savings, especially when scaling up or down based on actual needs.
• Cloud-Native Scalability: AVD offers scalable infrastructure that grows with your business. You can easily scale up or down without having to invest in expensive hardware. Additionally, AVD provides geographic redundancy, ensuring high availability and consistent performance for your global workforce.
• Simplified Management: Centralised management through tools like Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra ID allows businesses to manage devices and enforce policies more efficiently. Automated scaling and the intuitive Azure admin console also reduce the administrative burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Enhanced Security: AVD provides built-in security features like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and conditional access policies, offering stronger protection compared to legacy on-premise solutions. This makes it particularly valuable for businesses managing sensitive data or working in regulated industries

The Wavex Advantage: Helping You Migrate to AVD

At Wavex, we specialise in guiding businesses through the process of migrating from Citrix to AVD. Our expert team ensures a smooth, cost-effective transition with minimal disruption to your operations. We begin by assessing your current Citrix environment, identifying areas for optimisation and improvement. Based on this assessment, we create a tailored migration strategy that minimises downtime and maximises your return on investment (ROI).

Once the plan is in place, we handle the deployment of AVD, ensuring seamless integration with your existing Microsoft tools for simplified management. Beyond the initial migration, we provide ongoing support to continuously optimise your AVD environment as your business grows and evolves.

Migrating to AVD requires careful planning and execution, but with Wavex’s expertise, you’ll experience a seamless transition to a more scalable, secure, and cost-efficient virtual desktop infrastructure. Contact us today to learn how AVD can transform your IT environment and set your business up for success in the cloud-first era.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD)?
   Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) is a cloud-based desktop and app virtualisation service from Microsoft. It allows businesses to securely deliver Windows desktops and applications to users from the Azure cloud, enabling employees to work remotely, from anywhere, on any device.

2. How does AVD compare to traditional Citrix VDI?
   While Citrix requires on-premise infrastructure and is associated with fixed licensing and maintenance costs, AVD runs entirely in the cloud, offering a flexible, consumption-based model with better scalability and simplified management. AVD’s cloud-native design allows businesses to scale efficiently and reduce operational costs.

3. What are the security benefits of AVD?
   AVD leverages Azure’s built-in security features, such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and compliance with industry standards (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.), ensuring that your virtual desktops and applications are secure. Azure’s robust security framework also provides seamless integration with Azure Active Directory for identity and access management.

4. Can AVD support remote and hybrid workforces?
   Yes, AVD is ideal for remote and hybrid work environments, enabling employees to securely access virtual desktops and applications from anywhere in the world, on any device. This makes it a perfect solution for businesses that support a distributed workforce.

5. What are the cost advantages of migrating to AVD?
   AVD offers cost savings through its pay-as-you-go model, which eliminates the need for expensive upfront hardware costs and fixed licensing fees. Businesses can scale resources as needed, reducing unnecessary expenses. Additionally, AVD reduces the total cost of ownership (TCO) by replacing legacy systems with a more efficient, cloud-native solution.

6. How does AVD handle scalability?
   AVD’s cloud-native architecture provides seamless scalability, allowing businesses to easily adjust resources based on demand. As your team grows or fluctuates, AVD scales accordingly, without the need for costly infrastructure changes or manual interventions, ensuring that businesses only pay for what they use.

7. How is AVD managed and monitored?
   AVD can be managed through the Azure portal, where administrators can easily monitor and control virtual desktops and applications. With centralised management tools like Microsoft Intune and Entra ID, IT teams can enforce policies, manage devices, and control access in a seamless manner, streamlining overall administration.

8. Is AVD compatible with existing Microsoft tools?
   Yes, AVD integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 and Azure services. This ensures smooth collaboration, allowing businesses to continue using their existing Microsoft tools for productivity, communication, and security within their virtual desktop environment.

9. How can Wavex help with Citrix-to-AVD migration?
   Wavex offers end-to-end migration services for businesses looking to transition from Citrix to AVD. Our expert team guides you through the entire migration process, from initial assessment and planning to deployment and ongoing optimisation. We ensure a smooth and secure transition, minimise disruption, and help you maximise ROI while modernising your IT infrastructure. For more information, reach out to us through wavex.co.uk/contact to discuss a strategic migration plan.