New Features and Enhancements with Citrix
It’s that time again when Citrix blesses us with a bunch of new features and enhancements. Whether you’re a technical manager trying to streamline operations or a hands-on IT guru deep in the virtual trenches, the March 2025 updates have something you're going to appreciate.
Studio: Access Control at the Delivery Group Level
Previously, if you wanted to control who could access an app, it was a bit fiddly, it required configuring at the app level. Now, Citrix lets you manage app access at the delivery group level! This means tighter, cleaner management with less chance of misconfiguration. Big win for anyone tired of juggling individual app access.
Client Platform Filter Policy Assignments
A game-changer for policy management: you can now apply (or exclude) policies based on the user's device platform; Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, or HTML5. Whether your users are on laptops, mobiles, or the occasional browser session, you now have granular control.
Resetting In-Use AD Accounts
When a machine AD account goes rogue and you can't reset it because it's “in use”? Studio now lets you reset those accounts without kicking users out. Fewer escalations, fewer headaches.
VMware Data Disk Provisioning
Persistent data like logs and traces now have a dedicated spot! You can create and assign persistent (or non-persistent) data disks to your MCS VMs in VMware. Perfect for those who want better audit trails and debugging visibility without touching the OS disk.
Simplified Azure AD Group Management
Gone are the days of manually fetching access tokens to manage Azure AD security groups. Pre-created service accounts can now handle this directly. It’s quicker, cleaner, and one less thing to worry about.
Hybrid Azure AD Join with Prepared Images
You can now create Hybrid Azure AD joined catalogs (including Intune-enrolled ones) using prepared images via Studio or PowerShell. It’s a slicker process that saves setup time and avoids common onboarding snags.
SCVMM 2025 Support
If you’re managing VMs with Microsoft SCVMM 2025, Citrix DaaS has your back. Full support is now available, so you can keep your VM operations efficient and future-proof.
Azure Temporary Disk for Write-Back Cache
When editing MCS catalogs in Azure, the system will automatically use Azure’s Temporary Disk for the write-back cache, if conditions are right. This optimises VM performance and slashes storage costs. Smart and efficient!
App Visibility for Azure AD Users
Previously, only AD users could have app visibility restrictions. Now, Azure AD users get the same treatment! Control exactly who sees what, keeping your Workspace environment clean and secure.
Enhanced Network Metrics in Citrix Monitor
Monitor now offers richer network performance insights — you’ll see session-level network metrics, easily spot bottlenecks, and proactively fine-tune the user experience. Better visibility = better performance.
Autoscale Holiday Plug-in
Need different Autoscale settings for holidays or special events? The new Holiday Plug-in lets you tweak power management rules for specific periods without disrupting your everyday settings. Flexible and handy!
Autoscale Power Management Enhancements
Citrix didn’t stop there. Autoscale improvements now let you:
Get notified if machines can’t hibernate (with alternative suggestions).
Choose between suspending and stopping machines.
Set automatic restart schedules for suspended VMs (no more forgotten "sleepers" causing chaos).
Performance Tab Enhancements
The Performance tab now shows:
Protocol MTU values
Teams optimisation status
Connection types
Frames per second (FPS)
All the metrics you need to keep your sessions running smoothly and spot issues at a glance.
Citrix’s March 2025 update feels like a love letter to IT admins everywhere: smarter controls, deeper visibility, better power management, and a ton of quality-of-life improvements. Whether you're knee-deep in policy tweaks or architecting hybrid-cloud masterpieces, these new features are here to make your life easier.
As always, if you need help exploring these updates or fitting them into your environment, Coffee Cup Solutions’ Professional Services Team is just a call or email away hello@coffeecupsolutions.com