Citrix launches a new desktop virtualization program for SMEs

Dynamic virtualization solutions provider Citrix has developed VDI-in-a-Box 5, that strengthens a strategy that extends into a new specialization of the channel, an ecosystem of partners and a solution for the SME market.

Citrix offers a complete and varied new set of products, solutions and programs designed to help small and medium-sized businesses move from the PC era to the cloud era, Capitalizing on the benefits of desktop virtualization.

Central to the SMB initiative is the new version of Citrix VDI-in-a-Box, the simple virtual desktop solution, accessible and comprehensive designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. VDI-in-a-Box 5 is Citrix's first release of its market-leading desktop virtualization product following its acquisition of Kaviza in May 2011.

Besides, Citrix has announced a new solution that combines Citrix VDI-in-a-Box and the Citrix GoToManage cloud-based support offering., making it easier for managed service providers and IT staff to monitor and remotely support virtual desktops across multiple sites or customer locations.

To help further drive penetration in this fast-growing market segment, Citrix has also announced a new channel partner specialization for the Citrix Solution Advisor Program, called SMB Specialist (SME Specialist). SME specialists will have access to a wide set of sales tools, Free online training and pre-sales support focused specifically on helping them convince and assist SME customers.

The new Citrix SMB initiative also includes support for thousands of Citrix Ready products from leading technology partners such as Dell and Wyse that will offer a variety of hardware and software solutions that are easy to use for small and medium-sized businesses.. The Citrix VDI-in-a-Box combination 5, Citrix GoToManage, Support from a robust Citrix Ready ecosystem and a new SMB specialist program will help extend the benefits of “going virtual” on the desktop to tens to thousands of small and medium-sized businesses around the world.

One solution does not fit all
As the industry transitions from the PC era to the cloud era, Cloud service providers and large enterprises are using desktop virtualization to centrally manage and deliver virtual desktops and applications as a service to any user., on any device and in any location. Small and medium-sized businesses want to adopt desktop virtualization for the same reasons as large enterprises (to reduce desktop management costs, improve security and streamline business), but often consider enterprise-class solutions overkill for smaller environments.

Citrix acquired Kaviza in May 2011 because it shared the vision of its founders that the SME market has unique IT challenges that cannot be addressed with a “one size fits all” approach.. Citrix VDI-in-a-Box 5 is tailored for SME clients. Its simple and complete architecture eliminates the 60 percent of VDI costs without compromising features such as user experience, security and high availability needed for customers of all sizes.

Con VDI-in-a-Box 5, Citrix offers the best virtual desktop solution for SMB customers, along with specially designed solutions, channel programs and technology partners that ensure success for customers of all sizes. New Citrix SMB Initiative Includes Simple, Cost-Effective Virtual Desktops: Citrix VDI-in-a-Box 5, is the all-inclusive virtual desktop solution, simple and profitable for SMEs. Deployed from a single server and includes everything Windows administrators need to quickly deliver centrally managed virtual desktops to any location, anytime, on any device – for less than the cost of new PCs.

VDI-in-a-Box 5 Delivers a high-definition user experience with Citrix HDX Technology, supports more than one billion consumer and enterprise devices through the Citrix Receiver software client and ensures high availability. Its greatly simplified design eliminates more of the 60 percent of traditional enterprise VDI infrastructure (including shared storage and management servers, known as SAN) by creating a turnkey server farm with direct attached storage perfect for SMB environments.

The latest version adds new features that aim to greatly simplify virtual desktops (New wizards to further simplify and speed up virtual desktop management for Windows administrators, an open and expanded architecture that includes support for all three major hypervisors (Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer y VMware vSphere, ESX and ESXi). Delivered as a fully integrated Citrix solution, Backed by hands-on experience and globally recognized support from the market leader in desktop virtualization.

VDI-in-a-Box 5 also provides remote support and administration: to help channel partners, Managed service providers and IT administrators support SMB customers, Citrix GoToManage has new job boards and alerts that make it easy to remotely support and monitor Citrix VDI-in-a-Box servers and virtual desktop deployments at any time, from anywhere. GoToManage continuously records key health and performance data across physical and virtual infrastructure, and thus helps users always be productive. Alerts can be configured to provide an “early warning system” that gives IT professionals time to resolve issues and make configuration changes before users are affected. With the GoToManage Remote Support module it's easy to set up and securely access (via internet) to all VDI-in-a-Box servers from one PC, Mac or iPad.

The application also provides a channel focused on SMEs: Citrix invites partners to join the Citrix Solution Advisor program as an SMB Specialist to help SMB customers realize the full benefits of desktop virtualization. The training, which is done online, it's fast and free. SMB Specialists can quickly launch and develop an evaluation for customers using the free trial, in addition to taking advantage of videos and customer testimonials, Key marketing resources and online forums with tips and best practices.

It also has an ecosystem of partners to facilitate virtual desktop deployments: A key component of Citrix's SMB strategy is working with an ecosystem of partners to develop validated end-to-end solutions., that customers can easily buy and consume. The VDI-in-a-Box solution from Dell and Citrix, currently available through Dell, combines Dell-validated server configurations and Citrix VDI-in-a-Box software into easy-to-use reference architectures, helping SMEs adopt desktop virtualization while addressing implementation complexity and removing capital cost barriers.