Citrix Expands Security For SMBs

Citrix will continue its march into the security space—and SMB market—by launching a standard version of its NetScaler Application Switch and enhanced SSL VPN gateway at iForum this week.

At its annual conference in Las Vegas, the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based company also will debut its first 64-bit extended version of Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 for Windows Server 2003 x64. But all eyes will be on Citrix’s increasingly diversified portfolio of security products and products optimized for the SMB market.

Citrix’s new NetScaler Application Switch Standard Edition for small and midsize companies, for example, is priced at $17,499 for a single unit, half the cost of the Enterprise Edition. It is the first new release of the application acceleration and networking product since Citrix acquired NetScaler in August.

“Because NetScaler mainly dealt with enterprise apps like SAP and Oracle prior to the acquisition, it will be interesting to see if Citrix can create a solution that caters to SMB interests like e-mail, Web-based applications and desktop applications like [Microsoft] Office,” said Paul Freeman, president of Coast Solutions Group, Irvine, Calif. “Everyone wants their applications to perform better and faster, so if the solution is priced right for the SMB space, I can see it being very successful.”

Additionally, Citrix will announce this week Citrix Access Gateway 4.2, an enhanced SSL VPN that supports multiple languages and mobile devices. Earlier this year, Citrix shipped with WatchGuard the Firebox SSL Core VPN Gateway with Citrix Secure Access for the SMB market, and with partner Microsoft, Access Essentials for SMB customers.

“Many people know us because of the virtualization of applications through MetaFrame, but we are investing in new businesses like Expertcity, Net6 and NetScaler to offer a complete, integrated solution,” said Traver Gruen-Kennedy, a vice president at Citrix.