Host Bill Sutton is joined by Todd Smith of Citrix and XenTegra Solutions Architect Randy Price to unpack Citrix’s move to the License Activation Service and what it means for on-prem environments. They explain who is affected, why Citrix is modernizing licensing, and how to prepare without disruption. You will hear version requirements, air-gapped options, firewall considerations, and what happens if your license server goes down. The team also covers often-overlooked entitlements in Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud and how a quick micro-assessment can surface value you already own.

What you will learn

• What changes on April 15, 2026 and who needs to act
• How LAS reduces license file headaches and improves visibility
• Required versions for CVAD, License Server, NetScaler, PVS, XenServer, and UniCon
• How to register and validate connectivity to Citrix Cloud
• Air-gapped “dark mode” path and when approvals apply
• Local Host Cache behavior if the license server is unreachable
• A practical plan: discovery, version gap analysis, upgrades, testing

Guests

• Todd Smith, Account Technology Strategy Manager, Citrix
• Randy Price, Solutions Architect, XenTegra

Show notes

• Citrix licensing transition overview and deadlines: https://xentegra.com/resources/citrix-licensing-transition-to-las-by-april-15-2026/

In Episode 185 of The Citrix Session, Andy Whiteside, Bill Sutton, and Todd Smith explore how Citrix NetScaler is evolving into a true Swiss Army knife for security—delivering protection not just for Citrix workloads, but for all applications. The conversation dives into the looming challenge of quantum computing and the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat, where bad actors collect encrypted data today to exploit when quantum capabilities emerge.

Todd and Bill unpack how NetScaler is leading the way with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness, new encryption standards aligned with NIST guidelines, and GA support for quantum-resistant algorithms. They also cover key advancements like HTTP/3 over QUIC, enhanced DNS security, reCAPTCHA v3 integration, and the Netscaler Console for fleet-wide visibility, compliance, and automation.

Whether you’re concerned about securing sensitive data, meeting future compliance requirements, or leveraging cutting-edge application firewall capabilities, this episode will help you understand why now—not later—is the time to prepare for the quantum era.

In Episode 184 of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton is joined by Citrix experts Geremy Meyers and Todd Smith to explore the newly enhanced integration between Citrix DaaS and Amazon WorkSpaces Core Managed Instances.

The team dives into what's new in this “version 2” release, how it enables flexible, cost-effective VDI deployment, and why it’s a game-changer for customers with AWS and Microsoft licensing commitments.

Key topics include:

• What Account Technology Strategists (ATS) really do
• The evolution from WorkSpaces Core to Core Managed Instances
• Support for Machine Creation Services (MCS) and non-persistent desktops
• Hybrid identity management with Intune and Azure AD
• How Citrix maintains a unified admin and user experience across clouds
• AWS savings plans and funding resources for pilots

Whether you're planning a cloud migration or optimizing your existing DaaS strategy, this episode is packed with valuable insights for IT leaders and practitioners alike.

In Episode 183 of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton is joined by Citrix experts Geremy Meyers and Todd Smith to break down how IT leaders can make smarter decisions when rolling out Windows 365. They explore the growing importance of deep visibility, flexible deployment models, and persona-based strategies to support modern hybrid environments. This discussion highlights how Citrix technology enhances Windows 365 with features like HDX optimization, unified access through Workspace, and policy-based control—all while simplifying complex enterprise needs.

What you’ll learn:

• Why a “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work for Windows 365 rollouts
• How Citrix enables seamless access to Windows 365, SaaS, on-prem, and cloud apps
• The role of user personas in right-sizing application delivery
• Where Tech Zone fits into your strategy for technical insights and deployment guides
• How Citrix licenses support unlimited Windows 365 connections

👉 Don’t miss this deep dive into how Citrix helps you modernize IT without compromise.

In Episode 182 of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton and Citrix’s Todd Smith dive into the expanded capabilities of XenServer 8.4, Citrix’s enterprise-grade hypervisor. No longer just for Citrix workloads, XenServer is now fully supported for all workloads under both Citrix Platform Licensing and UHMC—making it a strong contender for organizations exploring alternatives to VMware and Hyper-V.

💡 In This Episode:

• Why Citrix is extending XenServer support to general-purpose workloads
• What’s new in XenServer 8.4: high performance, built-in HA, live migration, and automation
• The power of streaming and rapid provisioning with minimal hardware
• Simplicity of XenCenter and robust APIs for modern management
• Real-world tips for migrating from VMware using the built-in Conversion Manager
• Hardware compatibility resources and insights for planning ahead
• What to expect from the upcoming XenServer 9

🎧 Listen in to learn why XenServer’s evolution matters—and how it can help you optimize your infrastructure for flexibility, performance, and cost-efficiency.

In Episode 181 of The Citrix Session, hosts Bill Sutton and Todd Smith dive into the key takeaways from the blog “What’s New and Next with Citrix: Q&A from our May 2025 Webinar.” From release cadence updates and licensing clarity to enhanced integration with Windows 365 and Nutanix, this episode is packed with forward-looking insights for Citrix admins and tech leaders.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• Why Citrix is moving to annual LTSR releases
• How UHMC licensing simplifies multi-cloud deployment
• The difference between the Secure Browser and Enterprise Browser
• How Citrix is integrating with Chrome Enterprise Premium, Unicon, and Elux
• Upcoming SSO and identity access changes using Entra ID
• PVS + Nutanix integrations and what’s coming in Web Studio
• What Citrix is doing to enable zero-trust browser access and secure SaaS use
• Real-world endpoint strategies including BYOD, thin clients, and USB redirection

Whether you’re catching up during your commute or tuning in to stay ahead of the curve, this episode offers a deep but approachable breakdown of what’s shaping the future of Citrix.

Managing virtual desktops doesn’t have to be hard. In Episode 180 of The Citrix Session, Bill Sutton is joined by Citrix’s Todd Smith and Geremy Meyers—and special guest Phil Sellers from XenTegra—to break down the latest innovations from the Citrix + Nutanix partnership.

What’s New & Why It Matters:

• One Integration Point: Citrix now supports Prism Central, giving you seamless access to multiple Nutanix clusters—on-prem or in the cloud
• Hybrid Cloud Ready: Simplify and scale across data centers and hyperscalers with Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2)
• Image Management at Scale: Clone and replicate Citrix golden images across clusters effortlessly
• NetScaler VPX Now on AHV: Official support eliminates hardware and hypervisor lock-in
• Faster, Simpler Admin Experience: Unified visibility, better resiliency, and zero image refactoring

Bottom Line:
Citrix and Nutanix just made managing and scaling VDI a whole lot easier—and more cost-effective.

🎙️ Hosted by: Bill Sutton, XenTegra
👥 Guests: Todd Smith & Geremy Meyers (Citrix), Phil Sellers (XenTegra)

🔗 Read the blog

As hardware costs climb and Windows 11 migration looms, IT leaders face a tough choice: upgrade or optimize. In Episode 179 of The Citrix Session, Bill Sutton (XenTegra) and Todd Smith (Citrix) unpack a smarter path—repurposing aging hardware with Citrix Elux and Scout.

Why Listen:

• Learn how tariffs and supply chain delays are impacting endpoint strategies
• Discover how Citrix Elux enables secure, seamless access to Windows 11 on old devices
• Understand how Citrix's Scout tool simplifies endpoint management
• Explore flexible deployment options, including boot-to-VDI and Imprivata tap-and-go
• Hear how NetScaler and Win365 fit into a hybrid IT model—no rip and replace required

Key Takeaway:
You don’t need new hardware to modernize your workspace. Citrix’s built-in solutions help you do more with what you already have.

🔗 Read the original blog
📅 Recorded: June 5, 2025
🎙️ Hosted by: Bill Sutton, Director of Modern Workspaces, XenTegra
👥 Guest: Todd Smith, Citrix