Cloud-Managed Virtual Desktops, Delivered by South Africa's Leading Citrix Partner
Your workforce needs secure, consistent desktop access — regardless of location, device, or network. Citrix Desktop as a Service (DaaS) delivers cloud-managed virtual desktops and applications across on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. OAS brings 40+ years of Citrix partnership to every deployment.
What Is Citrix DaaS?
Citrix DaaS is a cloud-managed desktop delivery platform that separates management from your resource locations. Virtual desktops and applications run on any combination of on-premises infrastructure, Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) — all through a single cloud-hosted control plane.
Unlike traditional Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) deployments, DaaS shifts management to Citrix Cloud. You retain full control over where workloads run and how data is stored, while Citrix handles platform updates and service availability.
For South African organisations, this reduces the operational burden of virtual desktop infrastructure while maintaining data sovereignty through local Azure regions in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Key Capabilities
Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Flexibility
Citrix DaaS supports resource locations across on-premises data centres, Azure, AWS, and GCP — simultaneously. Existing CVAD environments extend into DaaS incrementally, maintaining current investments while gaining cloud-managed capabilities. You migrate at your own pace, not on a vendor's timeline.
HDX Protocol
The Citrix HDX protocol delivers high-definition desktop sessions even over constrained networks. Adaptive transport and EDT (Enlightened Data Transport) automatically adjust to network conditions, providing consistent performance for users in Johannesburg head offices and remote branches alike.
Azure South Africa Regions
Running Citrix DaaS on Azure South Africa (Johannesburg and Cape Town regions) keeps data within the country's borders. This supports POPIA compliance and addresses data residency concerns. OAS designs and deploys Citrix-on-Azure architectures optimised for both compliance and performance.
Citrix Aidrien
Citrix Aidrien, generally available since March 2026, brings AI-assisted administration to DaaS environments. Aidrien translates natural-language queries into OData API calls against the Monitor database, delivering environment-specific answers without complex query syntax. Administrators troubleshoot sessions, analyse usage patterns, and generate reports faster — reducing admin overhead and mean time to resolution.
deviceTRUST
deviceTRUST provides continuous context-aware access control for cloud desktop sessions. Rather than checking device compliance only at login, deviceTRUST monitors endpoint posture throughout the session — evaluating device health, location, and compliance status in real time. When conditions change, it triggers immediate actions to restrict or revoke access, strengthening zero-trust security for regulated industries.
Enterprise Security
Microsoft Entra single sign-on (SSO) support extends across Workspace app platforms, simplifying authentication for end users. Citrix Gateway Service for StoreFront — generally available for both DaaS and on-premises CVAD — provides secure remote access without dedicated gateway appliances.
March 2026 Updates
DaaS receives rolling updates approximately every three weeks. Recent March 2026 additions include Always On Tracing (AOT) for centralised log collection, scoped Studio access for tenant administrators, Nutanix Prism Central host connection support, streamlined GCP deployment, and self-service troubleshooting for end users.
Why OAS for Citrix DaaS
South Africa's Longest-Standing Citrix Partner
OAS holds Citrix Platinum Partner status — the highest tier available. With over 40 years of continuous Citrix partnership, OAS has deployed virtual desktop environments across healthcare, financial services, government, and mining organisations throughout Southern Africa.
End-to-End Delivery
OAS handles every phase of your DaaS deployment: discovery, architecture design, pilot, production rollout, user onboarding, and ongoing managed services. Our structured engagement process ensures nothing is left to assumption.
Licensing and UHMC Bundle
The Citrix Licence Activation Service (LAS) deadline of 15 April 2026 marks the end of file-based licensing. Organisations still running legacy licence files must migrate before this date. OAS provides licence audit, migration planning, and execution support to ensure uninterrupted service.
DaaS is included in the Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud (UHMC) subscription alongside CVAD, NetScaler, XenServer, uberAgent, Secure Private Access (SPA), and deviceTRUST. UHMC bundles these components under concurrent-user pricing, consolidating multiple licences into a single subscription.
Deployment Options
| Model | Best For | OAS Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Only DaaS | Organisations without on-premises infrastructure or greenfield deployments | Full architecture, deployment, and managed services |
| Hybrid (CVAD + DaaS) | Existing CVAD customers extending to cloud | Integration design, phased migration, ongoing management |
| Multi-Cloud DaaS | Organisations with workloads across Azure, AWS, or GCP | Multi-cloud architecture, unified management, optimisation |
| Citrix on Azure SA | Data sovereignty and POPIA compliance requirements | Azure SA region deployment, compliance architecture |