Citrix is right in the middle of it all
IT is going through massive transformation inside the data center, on the desktop, and in its consumption of services and applications. Citrix is in the middle of it all and turning up the volume this week at Citrix Synergy 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Many IT shops still only view Citrix as the company that helped them deploy and manage a troubled application, but the company continues to invest in technology and has been able to successfully integrate the technology, sales, and marketing into the company to produce an impressive line up of solutions that cast a wide net across the market. The company has also taken its natural affinity and expertise in delivering applications to validate its potential for success, spreading its roots deeper in the data center and proliferating out to the desktop. As Citrix continues to strengthen its portfolio, you also have to keep in mind that Citrix has been at this for years and is led by an enthusiastic executive team focused on simplifying IT, lowering IT costs, and delivering an improved end-user computing experience. Citrix is demonstrating a healthy financial trend (CTXS), but is also faced with the reality that:
- This isn’t a one horse race. VMware and Microsoft are top of mind and they are not companies you can just run over. Granted, Citrix and Microsoft seem to have worked out a magic formula that enables the two companies to dance, but Microsoft will continue to strengthen its success with Windows 7, application platforms, and cloud platforms such as Azure. VMware has had great success inside the data center and this shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. The company also put forth its most impressive strategy of the desktop to date this year at VMworld 2010.
- Product sprawl. Citrix’s customers have always been challenged with the company’s wide range of products and features. Customers may have purchased a product or feature and might not even know about it. It can be challenging for customers to navigate through the different Citrix solutions and as they do, there is risk that customers get overwhelmed with what’s included in certain products, what’s free, and what’s not–and even just simply finding ways to get started.
- Consulting and Services. As companies build next generation data centers, transform the desktop, and modify the application lifecycle, they are recognizing they can’t do it alone. Consulting and services will play a critical role as companies continue to make investments. Businesses will turn to trusted, reliable, industry proven organizations that have expertise, technical depth, and can efficiently turn a vendor vision into a fruitful investment.
Citrix’s XenServer momentum is impressive, XenDesktop transformation strategy is well thought out, and the overall company vision is nothing to shake a stick at. Read more of Mark’s blog entries at Liquefying IT.
