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Citrix HDX Option Coming to Windows 365 Subscribers

Citrix's "high-definition user experience" (HDX) technologies will be available as an option for Windows 365 desktop-as-a-service users, according to a joint announcement by Microsoft and Citrix.

The two long-time partners announced HDX support for Windows 365 in a Wednesday Microsoft announcement and Citrix announcement. The integration is expected to happen "later this year," and Citrix has published this sign-up page for interested parties to get notifications.

Microsoft, for its part, is promising that IT pros will have access to "streamlined Citrix user licensing" with the coming Citrix HDX option. Moreover, it'll be possible to carry out a "seamless switch to Citrix clients through Microsoft Endpoint Manager and windows365.microsoft.com," Microsoft promised.

Citrix described the kind of improvements that HDX technology will bring to Windows 365 as follows:

  • High-end graphics technology;
  • Support for a broader range of endpoint devices and peripherals;
  • Advanced security and policy controls; and
  • Third-party identity integrations.

HDX is Citrix's suite of technologies, built on top of the Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) remoting protocol, that supports high-definition experiences for virtual desktop users, including 3D graphics applications support, according to this Citrix HDX description. HDX is the central component in Citrix's virtual apps and desktops offerings, including Citrix Workspace.

HDX decreases bandwidth consumption, while also increasing user density on hosting servers. It features adaptive compression for multimedia displays. It uses ICA traffic prioritization and supports branch-office caching. Deduplication of network traffic is used to reduce bandwidth for streaming media. HDX has support for "the largest variety of peripheral devices," Citrix claimed.

IT pros get access to "predefined HDX policy templates" to set up the "best possible experience for their connection scenario," Citrix explained.

Citrix's HDX is currently being used by Microsoft's Azure Virtual Desktop virtual desktop infrastructure service users, as mentioned in this recently published industry study.

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

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