In today’s ever-changing world, the global workforce has changed significantly.  Many employees are now more mobile and dependent on technology to deliver secure, efficient access to business information from anywhere at anytime.  To meet this increasing need, current IT infrastructures must be equipped to handle multiple users while providing instant, easy and secure access to applications throughout an organization.

Microsoft Terminal Services is a component of Windows that allows a user to access applications and data on a remote computer over virtually any type of network.  This is similar to PC Anywhere or Gotomypc with the exception that multiple users can connect to a single computer to run applications.  They do not directly access the console of the server so no one can see what the users are doing.

With Windows 2003, when you connect, you typically are given a desktop just like you would see when you log onto a Windows XP workstation and you run applications on that desktop.  This can be confusing for users as they have their own local desktop and the server desktop. You can run the server desktop in a full screen mode, but then the local desktop is semi-hidden.

Citrix provides a solution with XenApp, formerly Citrix Presentation Server, an application virtualization solution for providing any user with secure access to applications from anywhere using a variety of devices and connections.

XenApp is software that is installed on top of Windows Terminal Services.  Like terminal services alone, it provides rapid application deployment and convenient access for the users. One of the advantages of XenApp is that the application can be published so it appears as if it is installed and running on the client computer, but in reality, the application is running on the Citrix server, hosted in a corporate office or even a co-location facility.

Citrix began to evolve when Microsoft agreed to license Citrix technology for Windows NT Server 4.0, resulting in Windows NT Terminal Server Edition.  Citrix agreed not to ship a competing product but retained the right to sell an extension to Microsoft's products, initially under the name MetaFrame. This relationship continued into the Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 eras, with Citrix offering MetaFrame XP then Presentation Server, now called, XenApp.

There are many advantages to utilizing Citrix with Terminal Services:

One of our clients, McEwan & Associates, a San Jose accounting firm, had both the terminal and Citrix server installed over a year ago and has been quite pleased with the results.

“We have a remote office in Monterey and also connect remotely at home,” stated Maureen Vanderzwaag.  “This allows us more flexibility while also minimizing some of the IT overhead since we don’t have to install applications on every employee’s computer.  And since we operate using accounting applications such as QuickBooks, Lacerte, and Peachtree, we needed something that would also provide peace of mind knowing there was secure access.  We also have our system maintained on a monthly basis by INS to ensure consistent optimum performance.”

Combining Citrix with the Windows Terminal Services provides added functionality and an exceptional foundation on which to build highly scalable, flexible, secure, manageable access solutions that reduce computing costs and increase the benefits of any information system.