Citrix has acquired Unidesk, which developed a Windows application packaging and management technology known as layering. Financial terms were not disclosed. Unidesk is based in Marlborough, MA.
Unidesk makes it easier to deploy and manage apps and desktops through Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop. Unidesk offers full-stack layering technology, which enhances compatibility by layering the entire Windows workspace as modular virtual disks, including the Windows operating system itself (OS layer), apps (app layers), and a writable persistent layer that captures all user settings, apps, and data.
Citrix said application layering has emerged as the best way to separate apps from the underlying operating system, so they can be managed once and delivered from any end user computing solution to any device.

Citrix will continue to sell Unidesk as a standalone product for VMware Horizon and Microsoft virtual desktop deployment customers.