Citrix Systems and Microsoft are teaming up to enable firms in embracing more flexible work models that help in keeping employees safe and productive and engender greater agility across the enterprise.
To address this challenge, Citrix and Microsoft are partnering to help organisations accelerate the move to the cloud and speed adoption of digital workspaces and virtual desktops.
Under the terms of the multi-year deal, Microsoft will select Citrix Workspace as a preferred digital workspace solution, and Citrix will select Microsoft Azure as a preferred cloud platform to move existing on-premises Citrix customers to Microsoft Azure and enable people to work anywhere across devices.
Citrix and Microsoft will provide joint tools and services to simplify and speed the transition of on-premises Citrix customers to Microsoft Azure. The companies will also devise a connected roadmap to enable a consistent and optimal flexible work experience that will include joint offerings comprised of Citrix Workspace, Citrix SD-WAN, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 sold through their direct sales forces via the Azure Marketplace and a robust community of channel partners.
Microsoft will lead sales with Citrix Cloud to move existing on-premises Citrix customers to Azure.
David Henshall, president and CEO of Citrix, said that amid the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, hybrid-work models will become the standard for many customers, requiring a flexible infrastructure to support, secure and empower their teams.
“Together, Citrix and Microsoft can deliver a powerful digital workspace in a trusted and secure public cloud where employees can access everything they need to engage and be productive whether they are at home, in the office or on the road,” said Henshall.
As part of their new agreement, Citrix and Microsoft will develop a connected roadmap to simplify and accelerate the transition of application workloads to Azure and enhance the performance of Windows Virtual Desktops.
Together, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Citrix Managed Desktops and Windows Virtual Desktops will provide a complete and seamless way for customers to run all their application workloads on Azure and access Windows-based applications across devices or platforms.
Citrix will also invest in building a Microsoft-centric Citrix Workspace, providing deep integrations to optimise performance, functionality, and micro-apps for Windows Virtual Desktop and Microsoft 365, including Microsoft Teams.