How to Migrate Successfully from Citrix to AVD

Your Citrix environment has served you well over the years. But lately, you’ve been noticing the cracks. The licensing costs keep climbing. Your IT team spends more time managing infrastructure than innovating. And every time someone mentions “digital transformation”, you wonder if maintaining those data centre racks is really the best use of your resources. 

To deal with these issues, many organisations are moving from Citrix to Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD). Businesses are cutting their server footprints while improving user experience at the same time. 

There’s a big shift happening in how we deliver desktop services in a cloud-first world. If you’re already invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure, this migration might be the natural next step you’ve been looking for. 

Let’s take a look at why businesses are making this move, and how you can approach a Citrix to AVD migration successfully. 

There are three main reasons why companies want to move over from Citrix into Azure Virtual Desktop. 

Costs are often lower 

Traditional Citrix deployments come with layers of costs: infrastructure, licensing, maintenance, and so on. When you factor in data centre overhead, hardware refresh cycles, and the specialist skills needed to keep everything running, the total cost of ownership can be eye-watering. 

AVD changes this equation. With its pay-as-you-go model, you only pay for what you use. No more maintaining servers that sit idle during off-peak hours or huge CapEx for hardware that’ll be obsolete in three years. A lot of migrations report big cost savings, particularly when getting rid of data centre overhead and redundant licences. 

Citrix can make things complicated 

Citrix environments can become incredibly complex over time. What started as a straightforward virtual desktop solution can evolve into a web of interconnected systems, each requiring specific expertise to manage. 

Your team might be juggling multiple management consoles and dealing with various integration points. They’re spending valuable time on maintenance, rather than the stuff they’d prefer to be doing. 

AVD simplifies this dramatically. Everything runs through the Azure Portal: the same interface you’re already using for other cloud services. Integration with Microsoft tools like Intune and Entra ID happens naturally, instead of through complex connectors and workarounds. Businesses switching to AVD often report how much simpler it is for their IT team to manage things. 

The Microsoft ecosystem advantage 

If your company uses Microsoft 365, Teams, and SharePoint through non-Microsoft virtual desktop solutions, you’re experiencing a fraction of their potential. 

AVD is able to make these applications thrive. Teams performs better, SharePoint integration is seamless. The entire Microsoft ecosystem works together as intended. 

When your workforce can access their virtual desktops and find everything works exactly as expected (without the quirks and workarounds they’ve learned to tolerate) productivity improves and support tickets decrease. 

When AVD is the better choice 

AVD shows its strength through integration and simplicity. It’s purpose-built for the Microsoft ecosystem, with native cloud architecture and wide-ranging integration with Azure services. While it might have fewer bells and whistles than Citrix, it delivers what most modern organisations actually need: reliable, scalable virtual desktops that just work. 

AVD usually emerges as the smarter option when: 

• Your organisation is already invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure 

• You want to reduce infrastructure management overhead 

• Cloud-first strategy is a priority 

• You need to scale resources elastically based on demand 

• Simplified billing and predictable costs matter 

• Your applications are primarily Windows-based 

And organisations making the switch usually report: 

• Reductions in the footprint of their server infrastructure 

• Elimination of data centre overhead costs 

• Improved security and compliance management 

• Better scalability for hybrid and remote working models 

• Big improvements in application performance, particularly for Microsoft workloads 

When Citrix might still make sense 

AVD isn’t always the answer, though. 

Citrix has been the enterprise virtualisation standard for decades, and for good reason. It offers granular control, extensive customisation options, and support for complex, multi-cloud scenarios. If you need to support a highly diverse application portfolio across multiple platforms, Citrix’s flexibility can be pretty much invaluable. 

Citrix might still be the better choice if you have significant investments in non-Windows platforms, or if you need specific Citrix-only features. If you operate in scenarios where multi-cloud flexibility is paramount, it might be the right choice for you. 

For a detailed comparison of their capabilities, check out our AVD vs Citrix comparison. 

Assessing your current Citrix environment 

Before you start packing up your virtual desktops for the move, you need to understand what you’re actually migrating. This means cataloguing your applications and understanding user requirements. You’ll want to identify any Citrix-specific configurations that’ll need rethinking in AVD. 

Start by documenting: 

• Current user numbers and access patterns 

• Application portfolio and dependencies 

• Performance requirements and SLAs 

• Security and compliance requirements 

• Integration points with other systems 

This assessment aims to find out how your business actually uses virtual desktops and what success looks like for your users. 

Choosing your migration approach 

You’ve got three main paths to AVD: 

• Azure Migrate offers automated tools to help move your workloads. It’s efficient for straightforward migrations but might struggle with complex, customised environments. 

• Manual migration gives you complete control over the process. You build your AVD environment from scratch, recreating configurations and moving users in controlled phases. It’s more work, but fewer surprises. 

• Hybrid approach combines both methods. You might use Azure Migrate for standard desktops while manually handling specialised workloads. This often proves the most practical approach for complex environments. 

Building your proof of concept 

Never underestimate the value of a good proof of concept. You can select a representative group of users and apps, build a small AVD environment, and test it thoroughly. This will give you technical validation, but it’ll also help prove the business case and convince any skeptics. 

Your proof of concept should aim to demonstrate: 

• Application compatibility and performance 

• User experience improvements 

• Management simplification 

• Cost projections based on actual usage 

Timeline considerations 

Migration timelines vary wildly based on organisation size and complexity. A small business might complete migration in weeks, while large enterprises could take months. You neen to set realistic expectations and build in some buffer time for unexpected challenges that pop up. 

It’s not a race! A well-planned (but slower) migration beats a rushed job that disrupts your business operations. 

Pre-migration prep 

The groundwork you lay before migration day will play a big part in your success (or lack of it). This preparation phase involves: 

• Setting up your Azure environment with proper networking, security groups, and governance policies. You’ll need to ensure your Azure Active Directory (now Entra ID) is properly configured and synchronised with your existing identity systems. 

• Creating your AVD host pools and configuring session hosts according to your requirements. This includes deciding on pooled vs. personal desktops, setting up autoscaling rules, and configuring user profile management. 

• Testing application compatibility thoroughly. While most Windows apps run perfectly in AVD, some might need tweaking or alternative deployment methods. 

Core migration steps 

Then the actual migration should follow a logical sequence: 

• Create golden images containing your standard applications and configurations 

• Deploy session hosts using these images 

• Configure user access and assign appropriate permissions 

• Migrate user profiles and data (FSLogix is your friend here) 

• Set up monitoring and management tools 

• Run pilot migrations with your test group 

• Iterate based on feedback before full rollout 

Each step builds on the previous one, creating a stable foundation for your new virtual desktop environment. 

Testing and validation 

Testing should be continuous throughout migration (rather than just a single phase after the fact). You’ll validate technical functionality, user experience, and business processes. Pay particular attention to: 

• Login times and session performance 

• Application launch speeds and responsiveness 

• Print functionality (always a fun one in VDI environments) 

• File access and network drives 

• Peripheral device support 

Document everything. Note down what works, what doesn’t, and what needs adjustment. This intel becomes invaluable during your broader rollout and if things go wrong in future. 

Cutover strategy 

The big switch doesn’t have to be a ‘big bang’. Most successful migrations use a phased cutover approach. 

Start with power users who can handle minor issues and provide valuable feedback. Move to standard users once you’re confident in the environment. Keep critical users for last when everything’s proven stable. 

Always maintain a rollback plan. While you won’t need it if you’ve prepared properly, knowing you can reverse course removes pressure and gives you room for confident decision-making. 

This section will walk you through what to think about and how to do it right so you can enjoy a smooth and easy move. 

Common migration pitfalls (and how to avoid them) 

To really nail that buttery-smooth migration, you’ll need to be aware of potential tripping points first: 

Underestimating user training needs: Your users have muscle memory built around Citrix. Even small differences in AVD can cause confusion. Invest in proper training and communication. 

Ignoring network requirements: AVD needs solid connectivity. Review your network capacity, especially for remote locations, and plan for increased Azure egress traffic. 

Forgetting about printing: It’s 2025 and printing still causes headaches in virtual environments. Plan your print solution early and test thoroughly. 

Skipping the assessment phase: You probably want to get it over with quickly. But jumping straight to migration without proper assessment leads to nasty surprises. Take the time to understand your environment. 

User training and change management 

Technical migration is only half the battle. Your users need to understand what’s changing and why it’s beneficial. They need to know how to do their work in the new environment. 

So, create simple guides showing common tasks in AVD. Highlight improvements they’ll notice, like faster login times, better Microsoft 365 integration, and improved stability. Address their concerns directly and honestly. 

You could also consider appointing champions within each department who can give peer support and feedback. These worker liaisons become really useful both during and after migration. 

Performance optimisation tips 

When things are finally on the go, you’ll want to fine tune some things to really get the best out of AVD: 

• Right-size your session hosts based on actual usage patterns, not assumptions 

• Implement autoscaling to handle peak loads efficiently 

• Use proximity placement groups to reduce latency 

• Optimise your golden images by removing unnecessary services and applications 

• Configure FSLogix properly for optimal profile performance 

• Monitor and adjust based on real-world usage data 

Remember: optimisation is ongoing. What works on day one might need adjustment as usage patterns evolve. 

Day-one experiences 

The first day after cutover is telling. If you’ve done your homework, users should log in to find a familiar yet improved environment. Applications launch quickly and files are where they expect them; the experience feels more responsive and integrated. 

Your IT team, meanwhile, discovers the joy of unified management. No more jumping between consoles or troubleshooting across multiple infrastructure layers. Everything’s visible and manageable from the Azure Portal. 

Long-term benefits 

As time goes on, you’ll start to enjoy the more substantial benefits: 

• Scalability becomes routine. Need extra capacity for a project? Spin up additional session hosts in minutes. When it’s finished, scale back down. You pay only for what you use. 

• Updates and patches are easier. Update your golden image, deploy new session hosts, and drain users from old ones. No more weekend maintenance windows affecting hundreds of physical machines. 

• Security improves naturally. With Azure’s security features built-in, your security posture strengthens without additional complexity. You benefit from conditional access, multi-factor authentication and more. 

• Creativity accelerates. With less time spent on infrastructure management, your IT team can focus on strategy and innovation instead. 

Ongoing management with Azure tools 

Of course, fitting in with the wider ecosystem is one of the most notable Azure benefits. Managing AVD integrates naturally with some super useful tools: 

• Azure Monitor gives you really useful insights into performance and usage. You’ll spot issues before users notice them and optimise resources based on actual data. 

• Intune manages your session hosts alongside other devices, giving you consistent policy application and compliance monitoring. 

• Azure Automation handles routine tasks like scaling, updates, and maintenance, freeing your team from repetitive work. 

• Cost Management tools help you understand and optimise spending, making sure you’re getting maximum value from your investment. 

When to start planning 

The best time to start planning is before you really need to. If your Citrix renewal is coming up, start evaluating AVD at least six months prior. This gives you time to properly assess, plan, and potentially run a proof of concept without time pressure. 

Even if you’re not ready to migrate straight away, having a good idea of your options will put you in a great position to decide when the time comes. 

How we can help 

At Synextra, we’ve got experience helping businesses migrate to Azure in all sorts of scenarios. 

Whether you need help with initial assessment, migration planning, or hands-on implementation support, we bring the technical expertise and human touch that makes complex migrations manageable. 

Ready to explore whether AVD is right for your organisation? Get in touch to find out more.