Simplify and optimize management
StoreFront has built-in high availability tools to consolidate app and desktop delivery from multiple Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops servers. StoreFront has been available since the release of XenDesktop 7, and can simultaneously enumerate resources delivered from any combination of servers including XenApp 5 and above, XenDesktop 5.5 and above. Integrated with Citrix Studio and Citrix Gateway, it provides multi-site, multi-platform management from a single console.
Transparent infrastructure migration
StoreFront is crucial to simplify upgrades and migrations, whether to a newer Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops platform or to a different operating system. It reduces the complexity of IT services delivery by maintaining a single interface to aggregate diverse backend resource providers. During transitions there is no change for the user view or their access to familiar resources; simply bring up the new platform in parallel and when it is ready make it part of the existing Store.
Customize app and desktop deployments
For organizations with complex business requirements, StoreFront enables an unprecedented ability to customize Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops deployments. The most common customization is to provide a unique appearance and organization branding, supported by standard web design tools. The StoreFront Customization SDK enables personalized logic for the process of displaying resources to users and adjusting launch parameters. Admins can automatically provision mandatory apps that are displayed when users first logon, bundle apps, or restrict access based on location or device type. StoreFront’s Web API allows businesses to tailor Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops within enterprise portals using web friendly APIs.
Improve enterprise security
StoreFront safeguards Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops with the most advanced authentication and protection available. Capabilities such as claims-based authentication and access control, secure remote access without a VPN client, and roaming for all receiver users. Integrated Smart Card support allows users to access apps and desktops on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux devices by using their smart cards, whether using a native receivers or Receiver for Web for browser-based authentication. Finally, StoreFront provides extensible authentication for a single customization point to extend its form-based authentication. For instance, Secure Hub and Receiver for Web use this capability to authenticate with Citrix Endpoint Management, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops for both internal and external access scenarios. Extensible authentication also enables StoreFront to integrate with RSA Adaptive Authentication, which takes a risk-based approach to security for strong, multi-factor authentication on devices running Receiver for web and Secure Hub for iOS.