In a clear similarity to the recent strategy of Broadcom after its acquisition of VMware, Citrix has announced a significant change in its licensing model, introducing the exclusive “Citrix Platform License” available only by invitation. Additionally, it has ceased the independent sale of some of its products, opting for packages that encompass a wide range of solutions for the delivery, security, and management of enterprise applications, data, and network access. This approach may open the field to alternative virtualization solutions like Proxmox or KVM, especially for those looking to avoid vendor lock-in.
Citrix justifies this move towards packages as an effort to simplify the customer experience, eliminating the complexity of navigating through a variety of editions and add-ons to access essential features. The “Citrix Platform License” spans from application and desktop virtualization to application delivery and security with NetScaler, promising a unified platform that offers zero trust access, top-notch application and desktop virtualization, and high-performance application delivery with comprehensive security.
This strategic change also sees the introduction of the “Citrix Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud,” a package that adds full NetScaler and Citrix Endpoint Management capabilities to the previously introduced Citrix Universal subscription. The offering is designed for environments of 250 users and above, highlighting Citrix’s intention to directly compete with solutions like VMware Horizon, particularly after its acquisition by KKR, offering a robust and unified alternative.
However, the cessation of independent product sales such as Citrix Analytics, uberAgent, and Citrix Secure Private Access (SPA) marks a significant shift in how customers can access these solutions, pushing them towards broader adoption of the Citrix platform. This decision echoes Broadcom’s practices, which also limited the independent sale of VMware products, focusing on subscription licensing.
The acquisition of uberAgent by Citrix and its integration into the platform further strengthens Citrix’s observability capabilities, allowing for deeper monitoring and performance and security analysis. Despite these benefits, the transition to an exclusive, invitation-only licensing model, combined with product consolidation into packages, may concern some customers who value flexibility and the ability to choose specific solutions according to their needs.
As Citrix seeks to simplify and enhance its offering for customers, this shift towards multicloud and package strategy highlights a growing trend in the industry towards more closed business models. However, it could also incentivize companies to explore alternatives like Proxmox or KVM, which offer flexible and open virtualization solutions, avoiding the risk of dependence on a single provider.