Use Case
From Citrix to AVD: Cutting Virtual Desktop Costs Without Cutting Corners
A New Zealand Healthcare Organisation
The Challenge - A Citrix renewal deadline — and a solution that no longer made sense.
For a New Zealand healthcare organisation, the virtual desktop landscape had quietly shifted. A significant rollout of laptops and tablets had reduced Citrix dependency to a handful of users, but the licensing costs hadn't followed. With a 30%+ price increase locked in at the next renewal — now seven months away — continuing as-is was off the table.
The organisation needed to move, but not blindly. They had two distinct user groups to support: an outsourced offshore team and consultants and suppliers requiring remote access. Any replacement had to work for both — and had to be live before the renewal hit. Before committing to a direction, they wanted a proper look at the options: Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, or staying with Citrix.
Analyse the options. Pilot the answer. Deliver before the deadline.
Deptive started with the business case, not the build. We conducted a detailed cost-benefit analysis across all three solutions — modelling licensing, support, and hosting costs, and presenting a clear pros and cons picture for each. The goal was to give the client a defensible basis for a decision, not just a recommendation.
- Piloted AVD with both user personas to validate the experience before production
- Designed and built the production environment with integration into existing workflows
- Transitioned the solution to BAU operations ahead of the Citrix renewal date
With AVD identified as the right fit, we moved fast — and delivered with time to spare.
The Outcome
Off Citrix. Under budget. Ahead of schedule.
The healthcare organisation made it across the line with time to spare — fully operational on AVD before the renewal deadline and with a meaningful reduction in licensing and support costs. Both user groups had a working solution validated before go-live, and the organisation went into the transition with confidence rather than risk.
Facing a licensing renewal or platform review?
We'll give you a clear-eyed view of your options before you commit to anything.
Why It Matters
Getting the foundation right means IT can focus forward.
Virtual desktop decisions are easy to get wrong under deadline pressure — organisations either overpay to avoid the risk of change, or rush into a migration without proper analysis. This engagement did neither.
When IT isn't chasing down a cost blowout or firefighting a failed migration, it's free to focus on work that moves the organisation forward. That's what getting the foundation right makes possible.
