Updated
Updated · Computerworld · Sep 2
Citrix Acquires Numecent, Targeting 90% Plus Windows App Compatibility
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · Sep 2

Citrix Acquires Numecent, Targeting 90% Plus Windows App Compatibility

3 articles · Updated · Computerworld · Sep 2

Summary

  • Citrix said it has completed its purchase of Numecent, bringing Cloudpaging and Cloudpager in-house after an April integration with Citrix DaaS let admins publish and manage app containers natively.
  • Cloudpaging packages Windows applications into isolated containers and streams them to endpoints on demand, a model Citrix says can cut image management, app conflicts and repeated testing during desktop refreshes or cloud migrations.
  • Analysts called the deal broadly useful for enterprise IT, but said compatibility is not universal: Gartner's Stuart Downes estimated low-level apps at about 2% of portfolios may struggle, while more typical apps should see north of 90% compatibility.
  • Consultants also warned the tighter integration could deepen Citrix lock-in and create security concerns, with critics saying every app moved into Cloudpager raises switching costs and that a mass software distribution channel could increase data-exfiltration and attack risks.

Insights

Will Citrix's acquisition of Numecent finally end Windows image headaches, or just trap enterprises in a highly restrictive ecosystem?
Could Citrix's new app container technology become a weapon for hackers to instantly distribute malware across enterprise networks?