There have been a lot of changes for NetScaler customers to understand and absorb during 2023. Citrix has sold the NetScaler products as Citrix ADC (Application Delivery Controller) for the last few years, but they are now once again sold under the NetScaler brand after a private equity firm acquired Citrix. Both companies are now wholly owned subsidiaries of Cloud Software Group (formally TIBCO). Part of these changes introduced significant modifications to the NetScaler load balancer product family and how they are licensed.
We wrote about the licensing changes introduced by NetScaler in an August 2023 article titled: Citrix NetScaler Gateway Perpetual License End of Sale (EoS) - What to do next? Summarizing the info outlined there:
- NetScaler announced, “the decision to end of sale (EoS) NetScaler (Citrix ADC) perpetually licensed hardware (MPX, SDX) and perpetual software (VPX/BLX) effective 5th March 2023.”
- From that date, to license new NetScaler MPX and SDX deployments, organizations will have to move to a subscription model.
- The products supplied under the new subscription model will have the focus for software updates and support.
- The article discusses what organizations can do to reevaluate their use of NetScaler and provides some information and advice on switching to LoadMaster.
Webinar: Top 5 Reasons to Replace Citrix NetScaler with Progress Kemp LoadMaster
To provide current NetScaler users with additional advice on why switching to LoadMaster is a value-led proposition, we hosted a webinar on the Top 5 Reasons to Replace Citrix NetScaler with Progress Kemp LoadMaster. During the session, Andy Redman (Progress Director of Solution Engineering) and Rochelle Wheeler (Progress Campaign Manager) summarized the changes that have occurred at NetScaler, what they mean for the NetScaler product range, pricing and support that customers can expect and also why switching to LoadMaster makes sense from features, support and pricing perspectives. The 30-minute webinar is a good use of your time if you are a current or potential NetScaler customer who is looking to make informed load-balancing infrastructure decisions.
We highlight five reasons to replace NetScaler with LoadMaster in the sections below.
Reason 1: Enhanced Performance and Scalability
Reason 2: Cost-effectiveness
Note that these figures are based on current MSRP figures and calculated across four different licensing models for a typical Enterprise organization. Each organization has unique needs, so you should contact LoadMaster Sales to discuss yours and how much you could save by replacing NetScaler ADC with LoadMaster.
.png?sfvrsn=468cb661_1)
Reason 3: Ease of Deployment and Management
Reason 4: Comprehensive Application Delivery Features
Reason 5: Robust Security
Kemp LoadMaster includes extensive cybersecurity enhancements along with its industry-leading load balancing capabilities. LoadMaster security-focused features include:
- Web Application Firewall (WAF) - LoadMaster’s web application firewall builds on the industry-leading ModSecurity engine, backed by open-source rule sets. WAF deploys on top of a LoadMaster load balancer instance. It is a fully supported component of the LoadMaster solution backed by our industry-leading consulting team, security experts and support staff. LoadMaster WAF takes advantage of all the benefits of our flexible licensing models. Deploying via LoadMaster instances with a metered license allows flexible WAF placement that fully meets an organization’s unique application delivery and security needs.
- Edge Security Pack (ESP) - ESP includes a suite of network tools designed to deliver new security protections or replace the discontinued Microsoft TMG (Threat Management Gateway) product. ESP on LoadMaster provides Reverse Proxy, End Point Authentication, Active Directory integration, RADIUS authentication, Single Sign On (SSO) across virtual services, RSA SecurID dual factor authentication and Persistent Logging and Reporting on top of the regular LoadMaster features. Learn more on the Edge Security Pack (ESP) support page.
- Intrusion Prevention - LoadMaster includes an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) compatible with rules created in the Smart IPS syntax. Administrators can use the engine to apply Permit/Deny IP by address rules for HTTP or HTTPS traffic with SSL offloading enabled. More details on the IPS engine are available via this LoadMaster (IPS+SNORT) support article.
The security features provided by WAF, ESP and IPS on LoadMaster help organizations protect their systems, data and people against the threat of DDoS attack and other common cyberattack activity. These security features complement existing security protections such as Firewalls and Network Detection and Response (NDR) solutions (see ref 1 in the related content section).
Conclusion
Migrating from NetScaler ADC to LoadMaster delivers performance benefits, reduced costs, broader web application support, simplified deployments and management, plus enhanced security via WAF, ESP and IPS. Given the significant changes underway within NetScaler and their product and licensing changes, now is an ideal time for organizations using NetScaler ADC to consider LoadMaster as an alternative.
