Last year was not without its challenges, that’s for sure! Many of our customers spent 2020 adjusting their original priorities to focus on providing secure, flexible work options for an inaugural set of remote workers.

We were happy to see our customers leveraging Citrix technology (and specifically our Business Continuity Program) to rapidly scale support for a new, distributed work model.

For 2021, we expect to see continued growth in secure, flexible work with a emphasis on maximizing employee experience against a growing number of work variables such as location, device type, device profile, line-of-business (LOB) technology requirements, and more.

For the month of January, we added additional functionality to our Citrix Workspace solutions. A large number of feature additions came from a new release Citrix Endpoint Management, so that’s where we’ll start.

Citrix Endpoint Management Updates

IDP (Identity Provider) support for Android Enterprise — This functionality will enable customers to choose a centralized identity provider including Okta, Azure AD, and Citrix Gateway for users to enroll their Android Enterprise devices, improving the overall employee experience. Learn more.

Reporting Service API now available — The new Citrix Endpoint Management Reporting Service provides customers with the ability to pull cloud data securely through available APIs, providing the same flexibility as an on-premises database without the security concerns. This feature helps to close the gap and supports customers as they migrate to cloud.

Global App Configuration Service — The new Global App Configuration Service for Citrix Workspace allows a Citrix administrator to deliver Workspace service URLs and Workspace app settings through a centrally managed service. It removes the need for ADMX or GPO management and provides a true BYOD configuration, regardless of the device management state. (Now GA for iOS and Android, and Windows 10 is now in Public Tech Preview.) Learn more on the Citrix Cloud developer page. 

Mobile Application Management SDK — With the move away from the MDX Toolkit, the MAM SDK replaces areas of MDX functionalities not covered by the iOS and Android platforms. Rather than wrapping third-party apps using the MDX Service or the MDX Toolkit, you instead create apps using the MAM SDK. This method of developing apps enables you to call on the APIs directly instead of relying on a wrapper. It’s now available for iOS Objective C/Swift and Android Native Java, Xamarin, and Cordova. Learn more about Mobile Application Management SDK, and for more information about the MAM SDK APIs, see the developer documentation for Device Management.

FIPS 140-2 (Public Tech Preview for new customers) — Citrix Endpoint Management instances can now take advantage of FIPS 140-2 complaint encryption modules.

Enhanced Delivery Group Deployment Rules — Citrix Endpoint Management now provides even more granular control with Enrollment Profiles, increasing flexibility between BYO and Corporate Enrollment modes. Admins can combine user and device properties. Learn more about Enhanced Delivery Group Deployment Rules.

Additional Support for macOS Endpoint Policies

  • Wi-Fi Settings Configuration
  • Deployment of enterprise applications
  • Removal of applications remotely
  • Advanced FileVault features
  • OS updates control
  • Admin account creation for DEP devices

Learn more here.

Enhanced Automated Device Enrollment (Zero Touch enrollment or DEP) — This feature enables admins to customize the setup assistant to simplify MDM enrollment and device setup. You can also get to the Home screen without using the setup assistant.

New LOB Technology Innovations Using Citrix Microapp Technology

When we talk to our customers, we often hear about the importance of IT supporting line-of-business (LOB) technology requirements and requests. The Citrix Workspace platform approach to workspace delivery centers on flexibility. Supporting any app, any device, any location, and any cloud, Citrix Workspace removes common limitations associated with integrating LOB technology requests into the greater IT infrastructure and security framework. In addition to enabling secure, flexible work for LOB workers, Citrix Workspace also boosts employee experience for LOB workers with streamlined application workflows.

In January we added to new microapp workflows that LOB workers will find useful for staying productive and engaged.

Leverage Citrix Workspace as a system of record: This new microapp integration enables Citrix Workspace to be a system of record for select use cases by using the flexibility and adaptability of Podio. With this integration, organizations can better support employee communications and HR/IT self-service functionalities directly within Citrix Workspace’s intelligent feed. Workflows include broadcast communications, FAQs, and employee surveys. Connect our out-of-the-box microapps on Workspace to the corresponding Podio apps readily available on the Podio App Market, or your customized apps on Podio. For more information, see our Integrate Podio documentation.

Sell more of your products and services with Citrix Workspace, using the latest microapp workflows: The Citrix Workspace product team is excited to announce the availability of new sales productivity workflows to improve productivity and efficiency for sales teams.

The new sales workflows are available via our out-of-the-box template integrations with SalesForce and Microsoft Dynamics. Customers will need Workspace Standard, Premium, or Premium Plus to deploy these, creating a great opportunity for you to sell more Workspace! Our product team will keep adding more use cases, which will be posted to the Citrix Ready Marketplace. Our use-case-driven approach will resonate well with customers, allowing them to configure and achieve business value quickly.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service integration template and microapps: Deploy the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service integration to search for and perform self-service actions from your Citrix Workspace. Users can check the status of associated machines that are faulty and perform operations such as restart, disconnect, and log off. Admins can also turn on maintenance mode for faulty machines. This template supports faulty machines only to prevent the integration from handling a potentially enormous volume of data with every synchronization.

For more information about including all machines in the synchronization, see our modify endpoint to search for all machines documentation. For more information about Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service microapps, see our documentation on using Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service microapps.

Workspace Security Enhancements

  • VPN less browser extension for access from native Chrome browser enables workers to safely access SaaS/web locations required for work from their native browser, while still allowing for personal privacy when browsing outside of work.
  • App Protection policies for SaaS and internal web apps for Windows and Mac OS eliminates screen captures and keystroke logging from bad actors.
  • Admin option to open SaaS and intranet web apps only in Citrix’s Secure Browser service for maximum security. Browsing takes place outside the device and the corporate network with nothing left behind (no caching).
  • Allow Account Password to be Changed controls whether subscribers can change their domain password within Citrix Workspace. This includes the ability to provide guidance to subscribers so they can create valid, complex passwords in accordance with your organization’s password policy.

Content Collaboration – Feature Enhancements within Electronic Signature

  • New enhancements available for all electronic signature entitlements.
  • Bulk send/bulk sharing. Mass distribute documents for individual signature with simple CSV upload of a list of required signers. Automated e-mail reminders (up to six), with reporting, ensure that contracts get completed.
  • For longer contracts, each signer can save their progress explicitly, picking up where they left off by clicking on the signer link.

Workspace App UI Updated to Reflect the New Citrix Brand

Citrix Workspace end-user interface gets new Citrix branding

Experience our new brand within Citrix Workspace. Beginning with the new year, our updated color scheme is available within your Citrix Workspace web application. Launched last September, our reimagined brand celebrates what’s possible when people have the space they need to do their best work. Our new identity, from our color palette to our voice, is warm and personable because we treat our customers as partners, not as business opportunities. Check out our new color scheme in the image below.

That’s it for January. We’ll be back next month for more exciting new feature updates for Citrix Workspace.