Deutsche Bahn drives scalability, security, and efficiency

A transformative transition to the cloud

​​​That’s where Citrix flexibility proved invaluable. DB seamlessly switched from AWS to Azure, and leveraged Citrix Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) to adopt Windows 11 multi-user, enabling synergies to be realized in licensing.​​ The cloud-based approach has replaced outdated, hardware-heavy setups with scalable, centrally managed services and optimized licensing. Not only does this trim operational overhead and complexity, but it also positions DB to adapt quickly as demands evolve.

Security and compliance, naturally, were major factors in DB’s decision. As an operator overseeing massive volumes of sensitive data across thousands of journeys and employees, the company needed absolute assurance that information would stay protected and regulations would be met—no matter where employees accessed their work. The Citrix-Azure combination guarantees that sensitive data never actually sits on local devices; it’s all contained, protected, and managed in the cloud, keeping DB in full compliance with even the strictest regulatory requirements.

Meeting changing demands in real time

One of the most immediate improvements from this digital overhaul has been in how DB handles onboarding and offboarding for staff. Previously, setting up new employees or smoothly transitioning those leaving required​​ significant time and manual effort—not ideal for such a dynamic business.

Now, as Marc Reissmann, Product Owner for Virtual Desktop Services at DB, puts it: “The onboarding and offboarding processes are more flexible, and ​can be completed in just one day. That’s one of the transformative use cases of deploying Citrix in the cloud, and it’s a critical source of time and cost-efficiency.”

But the real magic happens when business gets busy—or suddenly quiet. Seasonal fluctuations are an inevitable part of transport, with surges before the winter holidays and quieter stretches in the summer months. With its old, on-premises infrastructure, DB would have to over-provision resources, keeping costly systems running even when they weren’t needed. And if demand unexpectedly spiked, there wasn’t always enough capacity.

In contrast, the new​ Citrix-based environment scales seamlessly and automatically. The infrastructure can handle thousands of virtual desktops when necessary, then dial things back as activity wanes, all with zero manual intervention. “In the past, we would have needed 1,000 on-premises instances running, just in case,” explains Thorsten Lambrecht, Architect for Virtual Workspaces at DB. “But during holiday periods, we might see much lower usage, then demand might spike during the end-of-year rush. Now, with Citrix, the scalability is exactly what we need, when we need it.”

This real-time adaptability goes beyond just scaling for busy seasons. On a typical workday, demand at DB follows a predictable ‘bathtub curve’— high during core business hours and significantly lower outside those times. The Citrix solution allocates resources dynamically, staying tightly matched to actual use. That means no more waste and​​ a 30% improvement in efficiency.

​​​Major reductions in operating costs

Within the new architecture, DB delivers virtual desktop and application services through three main models, all running on Azure’s ephemeral disks, and each tailored for different needs. The first and largest, known internally as VDS 11, is a multi-session environment that offers a consistent, fixed-price experience to general users. 

The second, VDSD, focuses on dedicated virtual machines (VMs), mainly for external or offshore specialists. Users now have the power and flexibility to change a VM’s specifications within defined cost parameters whenever workloads change—all of which is achievable in minutes. 

The third model, an internal platform service, supports team-specific requirements for legacy applications or bespoke update cycles. Teams retain administrative control, while DB’s IT team ensures security and infrastructure. 

“They get all the Citrix infrastructure from us,” says Lambrecht. “We manage the storefronts, the cloud connectors, and everything around them, including security, using role-based access.” 

Moving to Azure’s ephemeral disks—essentially, storage that’s temporary and much cheaper than persistent storage—has ​​slashed operating costs by around 40%. Plus, DB’s adoption of Windows 11 multi-session licensing, available exclusively on Azure, has already yielded substantial savings by eliminating the need for expensive, separate Remote Desktop Services Client Access Licenses (RDS CALs). 

And thanks to the pay-per-use model enabled by the cloud, DB pays only for the resources it actually uses. Combined with other licensing and infrastructure efficiencies, the company’s digital environment is now leaner, more cost-effective, and easier to manage than ever before.

*Deutsche Bahn holds leading market positions in Germany and across Europe for:

1. Rail freight transport (based on tonne-kilometres)
2. Passenger transport (based on train-kilometres)
3. Regional passenger rail transport (based on revenue)