Citrix - Virtual Apps and Desktops Trainings

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, a widely used tool VDI solution in enterprise

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) is the historical and flagship Citrix solution for application and workstation virtualization (VDI, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). It centralises Windows desktops and published applications on backend servers and delivers them to users on any terminal (PC, Mac, tablet, smartphone, thin client), from any location, via an optimised display protocol (HDX, ICA). CVAD is deployable on-premises (private datacenter), hybrid and cloud (Citrix DaaS on Azure). The CVAD portfolio at ITTA is centred on the on-premises layer and the coexistence with Citrix Cloud, through the CWS-215 (administration) and CWS-322 (architecture, design and advanced configuration) modules.

The CVAD architecture relies on several components: Delivery Controllers (orchestration), StoreFront (user portal), Citrix Studio (administration console), Citrix Director (monitoring and support), Machine Creation Services (MCS) or Provisioning Services (PVS) for image delivery, Workspace Environment Management (WEM) for optimisation, Citrix License Server, and connectivity to resources (Active Directory, storage, Hyper-V/VMware/XenServer/Nutanix hypervisors). This architecture allows pooling server resources, simplifying standardised workstation deployment, and securing data access by keeping it centralised.

In French-speaking Switzerland, Geneva private banks, Lake Geneva international organisations, cantonal administrations, university hospitals, fiduciary firms, insurance and industrial companies deploy CVAD for varied use cases: secure remote access, subcontractors, business continuity, mobile workstations, multi-site environments, legacy applications on recent OS, banking compliance and professional secrecy. CVAD administrator, Citrix architect, EUC engineer and Workspace consultant profiles are highly demanded. ITTA offers the CVAD on-premises catalogue delivered by Citrix certified trainers active in production.

Following recognised CVAD training opens access to highly sought-after roles: Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops administrator, Citrix architect, workstation virtualization engineer, Workspace consultant, EUC engineer, VDI infrastructure manager. Whether you administer an existing CVAD environment or design the architecture of a new deployment, our CVAD training in Geneva and Lausanne covers the full administration and design path.

The ITTA Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops catalogue

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administration On-Premises and in Citrix Cloud (CWS-215)

The Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administration On-Premises and in Citrix Cloud training is the fundamental CVAD 7 administration module (CWS-215). The programme covers the CVAD 7 architecture, components (Delivery Controllers, StoreFront, Studio, Director), creation and management of machine catalogs and delivery groups, MCS and PVS for image delivery, Master image administration, Citrix policies, hypervisor configuration, monitoring with Director, and coexistence with Citrix Cloud. The training targets beginner or upskilling CVAD administrators, system engineers taking over an existing Citrix environment and EUC profiles.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Assessment, Design and Advanced Configuration (CWS-322)

The Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Assessment, Design and Advanced Configuration training covers architecture, assessment and advanced design topics (CWS-322). The programme includes conducting an existing environment assessment, designing the target solution (sizing, high availability, multi-site, multi-zone), advanced configuration (security, performance, scalability), tuning best practices, complex incident diagnostics and elaborating a migration or modernisation roadmap. The training targets Citrix architects, experienced CVAD engineers and senior consultants.

StoreFront, Director and Studio

The daily life of a CVAD administrator relies on three key consoles: Citrix Studio for administration operations (machine catalogs, delivery groups, applications, policies), Citrix Director for monitoring, user support and shadowing during incidents, and StoreFront for the user portal. Training covers these consoles in depth, with end-to-end scenarios (creating a new published desktop, troubleshooting a slow session, managing a user incident).

MCS and PVS for image delivery

Machine Creation Services (MCS) and Provisioning Services (PVS) are the two Citrix image delivery mechanisms. MCS is simpler to implement and well suited to small and medium environments. PVS is more performant at scale and historically preferred for heavy XenApp environments. The choice depends on volume, criticality and storage infrastructure. CWS-215 and CWS-322 training cover both approaches.

Building your Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops path

For beginner or upskilling Citrix administrators, CWS-215 (Administration) is a frequent entry point. For experienced CVAD administrators targeting architecture and advanced design, CWS-322 is the natural target. For organisations shifting to the cloud, the Citrix Virtualization sub-publisher (CWS-250 DaaS) takes over. Our pedagogical team guides you according to your starting point and your target.

Featured courses in this catalogue

Here is a selection of reference training courses in this catalogue, accessible directly:

• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administration On-Premises and in Citrix Cloud
• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Assessment, Design and Advanced Configuration

CVAD and the publisher ecosystem at ITTA

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops fits into the complete Citrix ecosystem. The root Citrix publisher regroups all Citrix solutions. The sibling sub-publisher Citrix Virtualization covers the cloud and advanced layer (DaaS, WEM), and Citrix ADC and Gateway handles the network and gateway layer. On the domain side, the virtualization sub-domain regroups Citrix, VMware and Microsoft technologies.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops trends in 2026

CVAD evolves with several structuring axes in 2026. On-premises and cloud (Citrix Cloud) coexistence becomes the norm, and architects must master both worlds. The acquisition of Citrix by Cloud Software Group led to edition simplification toward Citrix Universal, which regroups DaaS and on-prem rights. Competition with Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 pushes architects to finely compare approaches according to use cases. Security topics (zero trust, session isolation, HDX encryption) and compliance (GDPR, nFADP, banking secrecy) remain priorities. Our pedagogical content regularly integrates these evolutions to remain aligned with current practices.

CVAD training in Geneva, Lausanne and online

All our CVAD courses are available on-site in our Geneva and Lausanne centres, as well as in interactive virtual classroom with a certified trainer live. Our sessions are organised in 5-week cycles. Each session includes hands-on labs on CVAD 7, Delivery Controller deployments, StoreFront configurations, Studio and Director operations, MCS/PVS deliveries, policies to orchestrate, and concrete cases inspired by VDI projects in banking, cantonal administration and hospitals. Customised corporate training is also possible at your premises, in Geneva, Lausanne, Vaud and across French-speaking Switzerland, with a programme adapted to your topology.

Why choose ITTA

ITTA offers a training catalogue. Our CVAD trainers are certified Citrix engineers and architects active with Swiss and international clients, covering CVAD 7 administration and advanced design, MCS, PVS, StoreFront, Director, Studio, Citrix policies and Citrix Cloud coexistence. The CVAD catalogue regroups the administration module (CWS-215) and the advanced assessment/design module. Our pedagogical team supports you in choosing the path, identifying prerequisites (Windows Server administration, Active Directory, VDI/hypervisor notions) and identifying funding solutions adapted to your professional situation.

Our pedagogical approach favours learning by doing, with CVAD 7 environments to manipulate, Delivery Controllers to install, Master images to build, delivery groups to deploy, policies to orchestrate, and concrete cases inspired by real projects (secure remote access, business continuity, subcontractors, banking or hospital multi-sites). Each session combines training time, applied exercises and exchanges with the trainer, allowing each participant to progress at their own pace and leave with skills directly usable in their professional context.

Our training is aimed at varied audiences: beginner or upskilling Citrix administrators, system engineers taking over an existing Citrix environment, EUC engineers, Workspace consultants, Citrix architects, VDI infrastructure managers, IT teams modernising their workstation. Our pedagogical team adapts the content to the participants’ context.

FAQ

What is the difference between CWS-215 and CWS-322?

CWS-215 is the fundamental CVAD 7 administration module (architecture, components, machine catalogs, delivery groups, MCS/PVS, policies, Studio, Director, StoreFront). CWS-322 is the assessment, design and advanced configuration module (sizing, high availability, multi-site, tuning, advanced diagnostics). CWS-215 is the essential entry, CWS-322 targets architects and seniors. Our pedagogical team guides you according to your target.

Do I need to know Active Directory and Windows Server to follow CVAD?

Yes, a solid base in Windows Server and Active Directory administration is expected for CWS-215. VDI and hypervisor notions (Hyper-V, VMware, XenServer or Nutanix) are also useful. Our pedagogical team checks your prerequisites and guides you toward a complementary Windows Server training if needed.

Is Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops still relevant against Microsoft AVD and Windows 365?

Yes, CVAD remains a widely used tool solution for organisations with strong constraints of compliance, data sovereignty, latency, fine session management and legacy applications. AVD and Windows 365 are alternatives to consider depending on use cases. Our pedagogical team helps you compare approaches according to your context.

Are your CVAD courses available for companies?

Yes, the full CVAD catalogue is available in-house, in Geneva, Lausanne and in virtual classroom, with a programme adapted to your architecture (on-prem, hybrid, multi-site CVAD) and your compliance constraints (GDPR, nFADP, banking secrecy, public sector). Our team builds the specifications with you and organises sessions according to your calendar.