specification: FinOps Framework
specificationVersion: '1.0'
schema: https://www.finops.org/framework/
alignedWith:
  framework: FinOps Foundation Framework
  frameworkUrl: https://www.finops.org/framework/
  dataSpec: FOCUS
  dataSpecVersion: '1.3'
  dataSpecUrl: https://focus.finops.org/focus-specification/v1-3/
provider: Citrix NetScaler
providerId: citrix-netscaler
publisherName: Cloud Software Group, Inc.
serviceCategory: Application Delivery
created: '2026-05-04'
# Provenance stamped 2026-08-11: this artifact was written by the API Evangelist
# bulk sweep dated 2026-05-04, not harvested from the provider. See roadmap#35.
method: generated
modified: '2026-05-05'
reconciled: false
tags:
  - Application Delivery Controller
  - Load Balancing
  - Web Application Firewall
  - FinOps
  - FOCUS
description: >-
  FOCUS-aligned FinOps shape for NetScaler. Cost is driven by NetScaler edition (Standard / Advanced
  / Premium), throughput tier, and form factor (MPX / VPX / SDX / CPX), increasingly delivered via
  pooled-capacity subscriptions managed by NetScaler Console. Underlying compute / network for VPX /
  CPX instances is billed by the hosting hyperscaler or on-prem hypervisor.
notes: Underlying compute / network for virtual NetScaler instances on AWS / Azure / GCP / on-prem
  is billed separately by those providers and tracked through their FinOps surfaces.
sources:
  - https://www.netscaler.com
  - https://docs.netscaler.com
billingModel:
  pricingCategory: Subscription + Perpetual License
  billingFrequency: Annual
  billingCurrency: USD
  chargeCategories:
    - Purchase
    - Usage
    - Tax
    - Adjustment
focusColumns:
  ServiceName: Citrix NetScaler
  ServiceCategory: Application Delivery
  ProviderName: NetScaler
  PublisherName: Cloud Software Group, Inc.
  InvoiceIssuerName: Cloud Software Group, Inc.
  BillingCurrency: USD
  ChargeCategory: Purchase
meters:
  - name: netscaler_instance_license
    description: Per-instance NetScaler edition + throughput-tier license.
    unit: instance-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - edition
      - throughput_tier
      - form_factor
      - region
  - name: netscaler_pooled_bandwidth
    description: Pooled bandwidth allocated across NetScaler instances under Pooled Capacity.
    unit: Mbps-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - region
  - name: netscaler_pooled_ssl_tps
    description: Pooled SSL transactions-per-second under Pooled Capacity.
    unit: TPS-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - region
  - name: netscaler_console_management
    description: NetScaler Console (ADM) management capacity (managed instances / agents).
    unit: instance-month
    aggregation: max
    dimensions:
      - tier
      - region
  - name: hyperscaler_compute
    description: Underlying VM / container compute for VPX / CPX deployments.
    unit: instance-hour
    aggregation: sum
    dimensions:
      - cloud
      - instance_type
      - region
principles:
  - name: Visibility
    description: Use NetScaler Console (ADM) for license-pool consumption, throughput, and SSL TPS
      utilization; pair with hyperscaler cost reports for VPX / CPX compute.
  - name: Allocation
    description: Allocate appliance license cost to platform / network team budgets; chargeback by
      virtual server / tenant using ADM analytics tags.
  - name: Optimization
    description: Move to Pooled Capacity to share bandwidth across MPX / VPX / SDX / CPX, retire
      under-utilized appliances, choose the right edition (Standard vs Premium), and prefer reserved
      / savings-plan commitments for hyperscaler compute hosting VPX.
  - name: Accountability
    description: Network / platform owner is accountable for NetScaler license-pool sizing,
      term-renewal cadence, and coordination with cloud platform teams on the underlying compute.
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com