FSLogix App Masking in Citrix Environments

What is App Masking and what do we need it for?

App Masking minimize the number of Golden Images required, by allowing all applications to be installed in a single Golden Image. The mapping and separation of applications (as well as printers, fonts, office add-ins, Internet Explorer plug-ins, etc.) is done without packaging, sequencing, backend infrastructure or virtualization.

This is achieved by granular access control of the installed applications through App Masking Rules. These rules can be used to completely hide the application in an user runtime, so that it no longer appears in the file system, registry or under programs and features.

Because no additional ressources are required by the system when using the rules, applications run at their native speed.

SAML Authentication between Citrix & Microsoft with Azure MFA

As a result of increasing projects, here is a little how to with the summary of my previous articles. The main points are:

Azure AD Seamless Single Sign-On (PTA / PHS)
SAML Authentication (Azure AD as IdP & Citrix Gateway as SP)
Citrix Federated Authentication Service (FAS)
Microsoft Azure Multi-Factor-Authentication with Conditional Access

Requirements

Fully working Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop Environment (StoreFront & DDC Minimum Version 7.9)
Citrix ADC with successful base configuration & activated Enterprise or Platinum license (Minimum Version 12.1 Build 50+ for native workspace app, for browser Minimum Version 11.1)
Configured Unified Gateway vServer
Internal and external DNS entries for Unified Gateway vServer (e.g. citrix.deyda.net)
Certificates for DNS entries (wildcard certificates are the easiest)
Existing Azure Tenant with Azure-AD base configuration (Domain, AAD Sync) & activated Azure AD Premium license
AD Connect version installed and configured (Minimum Version 1.1.644.0)
Firewall release for *.msappproxy.net on port 443
Domain administrator credentials for the domains that connected to Azure AD via AD Connect
Installed Authenticator App on Test User Mobile Phone

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops & WEM 2003 is released

The new current releases of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, Workspace Environament Management & Citrix Provisioning are now available. They contains many new features compared to the last LTSR.

ADV190023 – Enable LDAPS in Windows DC and Citrix ADC

Important Info:
The scheduled update (ADV190023), regarding LDAP Signing and Channel Binding for new and existing domain controllers, scheduled for March 10, 2020, has been postponed to the second half of calendar year 2020. The March 2020 update will only provide additional auditing capabilities to identify and configure LDAP systems before they become inaccessible with the later update.

The later update results in no more connections to the domain controller, via unsigned / Clear Text LDAP on port 389. Then it is only possible to use either LDAPS via port 636 or Signed LDAP (StartTLS) on port 389.

Install Teams & OneDrive in Citrix (Machine-Based)

In the past months, I have had to deploy Microsoft Teams and OneDrive from the Office365 portfolio in Citrix environments, in addition to the standard office applications in numerous projects.

Microsoft Teams

The standard installation, that the user can perform through the Office365 portal, is a user-based installation. In a Citrix environment, this is only recommended for desktop operating systems (pooled or personal desktop).

Installation

In order for Teams to function in server operating systems (multi-user capable), the Machine Based Installer must be used. In this case, part of the data is stored in the folder C:\%PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft\Teams. However, Teams can no longer be updated automatically as soon as a new version is available. This mode is recommended for non-persistent environments.