Overview

AWS WorkSpaces Core is a managed virtual desktop infrastructure designed to work with third-party VDI solutions such as Citrix DaaS. It is the compute layer of AWS workloads that the Citrix DaaS control plane can help orchestrate and manage to deliver HDX-optimized apps anywhere. AWS WorkSpaces Core and Citrix improve cost savings, simplify cloud management, and provide a superior user experience.

Citrix DaaS treats AWS WorkSpaces Core as another Resource Location option to leverage within your deployment. It helps your IT teams manage and provision WorkSpace Core desktops directly from the Citrix platform, reducing application delivery complexity and simplifying operations. With security features like Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), contextual access policies, and secure browser redirection, Citrix protects your business from cyber threats and data leaks.

Citrix improves the WorkSpaces Core experience with advanced HDX graphics, Unified Communication optimizations, USB redirection, and support for 3D workloads, ensuring smooth performance on any device or network. With centralized management, automated patching, and streamlined updates, Citrix optimizes your budget by reducing IT costs and complexity.

Why Citrix DaaS for AWS WorkSpaces Core?

Citrix DaaS for AWS WorkSpaces Core combines the best of everything, merged with Citrix, Amazon, and Microsoft, to build the most cloud-friendly virtual desktop solution. With Citrix’s proven technologies, enterprises can improve scalability, reduce costs, maintain a strong security posture, and enhance user productivity.

Improve Scalability

Use your existing Citrix management software to provide users with the highly scalable AWS WorkSpaces Core solution without dealing with the long lead times associated with procuring new on-premises infrastructure. Manage the entire solution with your existing Citrix DaaS entitlement.

Reduce Costs

AWS WorkSpaces Core offers flexible billing options and pay-as-you-go pricing, allowing you to only pay for resources used. Eliminating the need for capacity planning frees internal resources to focus on higher ROI initiatives. Citrix DaaS additionally helps reduce costs with its Autoscale feature by automatically scaling resources up and down with demand and without over-provisioning infrastructure.

Maintain a Strong Security Posture

Running Citrix DaaS on WorkSpaces Core bolsters security by leveraging highly secure, fully managed AWS Cloud infrastructure. Additionally, you can secure your enterprise with Citrix Secure Private Access, which integrates single sign-on, remote access, and content inspection into a single solution for end-to-end access control. Network and end-user devices can be protected from malware and data leaks, and access security policies for secure access to SaaS and Web applications can be enforced. Additionally, printing, downloads, and clipboard access can be restricted.

Enhance User Productivity

Citrix DaaS and AWS WorkSpaces Core allow resources to be placed in close geographic proximity to end users. At the same time, data is transmitted through the high-speed AWS backbone, minimizing latency and optimizing end-user experience. User productivity is further enhanced with the globally deployed Citrix Gateway service, which provides highly available, secure remote access; end users are optimally routed to the closest Gateway service POP location.

Citrix DaaS for AWS WorkSpaces Core Architecture

Citrix DaaS interacts directly with AWS WorkSpaces Core via APIs. In appearance, AWS WorkSpaces Core is another resource location for Citrix DaaS, but communication happens at the API level between the services.

• Citrix Workspace app provides users with secure, self-service access to documents, applications, and desktops from any device, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs. It also provides on-demand access to Windows, web, and Software as a Service (SaaS) applications. For devices that cannot install Citrix Workspace app software, the Citrix Workspace app for HTML5 provides a connection through an HTML5-compatible web browser.
• Citrix Workspace is a service that provides secure access to your desktop from a web browser or Citrix Workspace app.
• Citrix Gateway service enables secure, remote access to desktops without deploying Citrix Gateway in the DMZ or reconfiguring your firewall. The infrastructure overhead of using Citrix Gateway moves to Citrix Cloud.
• Citrix DaaS is a cloud-based service managed by Citrix that provides application and desktop virtualization. Citrix manages the user access and management services and components in Citrix Cloud. The applications and desktops you deliver to users reside on machines in one or more resource locations. In a Citrix DaaS deployment, a resource location contains components from the access layer and resource layers.
• Cloud Monitor enables IT support and help desk teams to monitor an environment, troubleshoot issues before they become critical, and perform support tasks for end user
• Citrix Cloud Studio is a web-based, central portal that lets administrators configure, manage, and monitor their DaaS deployments to deliver virtual apps and desktops.
• Cloud Connectors are the communications channel between the Citrix Cloud and resource location components. They are proxies for the Delivery Controller in Citrix Cloud in the resource location. Once the Cloud Connectors are installed, the software is managed and updated. Enterprises are responsible for Windows updates and patching.
• Microsoft Active Directory is used for authentication and authorization. It authenticates users and ensures that they are getting access to appropriate resources. A subscriber’s identity defines the services to which they have access in Citrix Cloud. This identity comes from Active Directory domain accounts provided from the domains within the resource location.
• Citrix Virtual Delivery Agents (VDA) are virtual machines hosted in AWS WorkSpaces Core that must have a Citrix VDA installed. VDAs establish and manage the connection between the machine on which they’re installed and the user device and apply policies configured for the session.
• AWS AD Connector provides a gateway within AWS WorkSpaces Core to your on-premises Microsoft Active Directory without needing to cache any information in the cloud.
• HDX is the Citrix proprietary high-definition HDX technology that delivers high-quality voice, video, multimedia, and 3D graphics applications even over low bandwidth. HDX technology makes cloud-hosted virtual applications and desktops perform as if installed locally on the user’s device for seamless experiences.

Citrix DaaS for AWS WorkSpaces Core Onboarding

Information on the Citrix DaaS for AWS WorkSpaces Core prerequisites and supported configuration can be found here.

To configure Citrix DaaS for AWS WorkSpaces Core, follow these steps in order:

1. Create a resource location
2. Connect your AWS account
3. Create a directory connection
4. Import an image
5. Create a deployment

After completing the configuration, end users can access their Citrix-enhanced AWS WorkSpaces Core desktop through the Citrix Workspace app alongside other Citrix-provided content.

References

Citrix DaaS for Amazon WorkSpaces Core