As more businesses embrace flexible work models, the need for reliable and efficient virtual desktop solutions continues to grow. IT teams are under pressure to deliver secure access to applications and data without adding to management and operational complexity or costs.
Therefore, it is no surprise to see many organisations rethink their approach to VDI/DaaS management with the rise of cloud-native alternatives like Nerdio. A recent CRN article even suggested that Nerdio paired with Microsoft AVD outperforms Citrix for virtual desktop and secure access deployments (no Bitcoins for guessing who sponsored this article!).
When you look beneath the surface, the story is far more nuanced, especially for MSPs building scalable, secure, and profitable services in the ANZ market.
The combination of Citrix’s modern platform with local enablement and support from CXANZ gives customers and partners an enterprise-grade foundation to deliver more value, more flexibility, and more control.
🔐 1. True Zero Trust Secure Access
Citrix Secure Private Access (SPA) delivers full Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) across SaaS, Web, and legacy apps, without requiring a VPN. Adaptive authentication, device posture enforcement, and contextual access policies are built in. SPA also includes Chrome Enterprise Premium browser to secure SaaS apps and web browsing, and supports session recording and analytics, capabilities not native to AVD or Nerdio.
By contrast, Nerdio relies on Entra ID’s Conditional Access and Intune for Zero Trust enforcement and dependent on how well these policies are configured. This can limit granularity and consistency especially with unmanaged or non-corporate (BYOD) devices.
🔄 2. Citrix Enhances AVD, Windows 365 & Hybrid Flexibility
This is where Citrix truly shines.
Citrix doesn't compete with AVD or Windows 365, it enhances them:
- On AVD, Citrix offers superior autoscaling, advanced image management, session policies, and the industry-leading Citrix High-Definition eXperience (HDX) protocol for better performance, even in high-latency environments.
- On Windows 365, Citrix adds richer access controls, security overlays, HDX optimisation, session recording, and support for non-Windows devices.
- Citrix’s unique Cloud-Native plus support for hybrid deployments, allows you to run workloads across Azure, AWS, GCP, or on-premises without rebuilding environments or retraining teams.
If you are a Citrix partner this gives you the power to:
- Support customers with on-premises app dependencies
- Maintain sovereignty and control for regulated industries
- Avoid cloud lock-in and optimise costs across infrastructure options.
Nerdio, by contrast, is bound to Azure-only models, limiting flexibility and introducing risk if infrastructure or commercial needs shift.
🏆 3. Built to Scale with Enterprise Trust
Citrix powers mission-critical environments across finance, healthcare, education, and government. Its ecosystem span’s identity, analytics, networking (via NetScaler), endpoint security, and more.
Citrix leads the way for MSPs and customers focused on long-term enterprise growth. While Nerdio may be attractive in some SMB Azure-only scenarios, Citrix delivers a mature, extensible platform built for hybrid and multi-cloud environments with a proven track record in complex, regulated industries.
📊 Citrix + CXANZ vs. Nerdio + AVD: Quick Comparison
|
Feature
|
Nerdio + AVD
|
Citrix + CXANZ
|
|
Secure Access
/ ZTNA
|
Entra ID + Entra ID Conditional Access
|
Entra ID + Entra ID Conditional Access + Okta/DUO/Google + Citrix SPA with adaptive ZTNA & browser security
|
|
AVD / Win365
Integration
|
Native AVD only
|
Citrix-enhanced AVD & Windows 365 features
|
|
Hybrid Cloud Support
|
Azure only
|
Multi-cloud + On-prem + Hybrid
|
|
Host machine
(VDA Support)
|
Windows
|
Windows, Linux, MacOS
|
|
Licensing
Model
|
Azure + Nerdio per-user fees
|
Flexible bundles, predictable pricing
|
|
AutoScale
Capability
|
AVD native + Nerdio wrapper
|
Citrix-native AutoScale with deep control
|
|
Partner
Support (ANZ)
|
Formative
|
Extensive
|
|
Enterprise UX
Protocol
|
RDP
|
HDX: industry-leading performance
|
🚀 4. Autoscaling That Actually Works
Citrix's native Autoscale™ engine delivers deep policy-based power management, responsive scaling, and real-time session load balancing across hybrid and cloud deployments.
Nerdio’s autoscaling builds on AVD’s native capabilities and offers a friendly user interface but remains confined to Azure. For MSPs and Enterprises who need deeper policy control, real-time load balancing, and multi-cloud flexibility, Citrix Autoscale™ is a more advanced and versatile solution.
💻 5. Better User Experience, Lower Network Overhead
Citrix High-Definition eXperience (HDX) continues to outperform Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), especially for complex or high-fidelity workloads. This includes smoother Teams and Zoom experiences, better printing and scanning support, and lower bandwidth usage.
For CTOs, this means happier users and reduced network egress costs.
⚙️ 6. Licensing That Scales with You
CXANZ now offers modern, flexible licensing bundles that cover DaaS, AVD and Windows 365 support, Virtual apps, Secure Access, Analytics, Endpoint management and Secure Application delivery via NetScaler, all without stacking third-party subscription costs.
No per-user Nerdio surcharges as seen in their premium tiers. No hidden egress fees (minimised by Citrix’s HDX protocol). Just clear, scalable licensing aligned to your growth.
🧠 7. Local Expertise That Goes Beyond Software
As Citrix’s strategic representative in ANZ, CXANZ provides extensive direct local support, onboarding assistance, and commercial guidance tailored for your organisation. It is a rare combination of enterprise-grade technology backed by regional and global expertise that understands local market demands, compliance expectations, and channel dynamics.
🚀 The Bottom Line
Customers and Partners do not need to choose between modern and mature. Citrix + CXANZ delivers both.
From enhanced AVD and Windows 365 capabilities, to unmatched hybrid flexibility and powerful Zero Trust security, Citrix is more relevant than ever. And with CXANZ’s local backing, you can deploy, support, and grow faster in the ANZ market.
Partners who want to build recurring revenue, differentiate services, and future-proof their stack, Citrix is still the platform of choice. Reach out to our team at CXANZ to find out more about how we can work with you.