Citrix

Citrix Systems, Inc. is an American multinational software company that provides virtualization, networking, and cloud software to enable secure access to applications, desktops, and data from any device. Its offerings are designed for enterprise use, supporting remote work, secure app delivery, and digital workspaces.

Founded in 1989 by Ed Iacobucci as Citrus Software, the company adopted the Citrix name and grew around remote access and virtualization technologies. It gained prominence with XenApp and XenDesktop, which later were rebranded as Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. Citrix expanded through strategic acquisitions, including NetScaler in 2005 (the NetScaler line became Citrix ADC), ShareFile in 2011 (cloud storage and file sharing), and Podio in 2012 (collaboration platform). The company also developed Citrix Cloud and Citrix Workspace to unify its products as a digital-workspace solution.

Business model and corporate history: Citrix’s products are offered as on-premises software, cloud services, or hybrid deployments, typically licensed on a subscription basis. The company was publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker CTXS until 2017, when it was taken private by a consortium led by Vista Equity Partners and Elliott Management for about $16.5 billion. Since then, Citrix has operated as a private company focusing on enterprise-grade virtualization, networking, and collaboration tools.

Products and scope: Core offerings include Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Citrix Workspace, Citrix ADC (formerly NetScaler), Citrix Content Collaboration (ShareFile), and Citrix Endpoint Management (formerly XenMobile). The company serves industries such as government, finance, healthcare, education, and manufacturing, delivering solutions that enable secure access, identity management, and application delivery across hybrid environments.