Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) is widely used as a method to securely deliver virtual desktops and apps. However, many organizations still struggle to overcome the high entry bar needed to deploy an effective VDI. Large investments in staff/time and hardware and technical expertise stand in the way of most organizations trying to take advantage of the security, management, and end-user experience benefits VDI can offer.

Additionally, organizations normally have to maintain Windows on all their physical endpoint devices. This calls for further ongoing investment in both money and time. However, there is a workaround for companies eager to get the numerous benefits of VDI: repurposing thin clients and other computing hardware.

How do you repurpose a thin client?

Repurposing is the process of converting something to be used for something more than it was manufactured for. When it comes to thin clients, repurposing allows you to use them for a vast range of business workloads. Essentially, the process allows you to convert existing PCs and thin clients into more powerful and efficient endpoint devices while adding years of continued productive operation.

A traditional thin client is a watered-down version of a computer. It comes with limited CPU and memory resources. Additionally, it lacks plenty of local storage, with much of what is available being taken up by the device’s operating system. However, the device does have networking and graphics. Thin clients are mostly used to connect to remote servers, which host virtual apps and desktops within a datacenter or cloud.

The concept behind thin clients is to provide businesses with “terminals” from where they can run all of their applications on a centralized server group or from the cloud. Users can access their data and applications by remotely logging onto desktop sessions on the provided servers. The major advantages with a setup of this kind include greater security, stronger management and control at less cost, and reduced endpoint hardware costs. While some investment is required in the data center or cloud to house the virtual apps and desktops, the initial cost of investing in fully functional desktop computers is eliminated, since users only need small, inexpensive client devices.

Why repurpose thin clients with IGEL OS

Any given repurposing solution cannot possibly be enough. Modern enterprises require a secure, flexible solution that prevents vendor lock-in and lowers the IT cost overhead associated with patching and maintaining endpoints running on Windows. You need a comprehensive solution that encompasses both endpoint management and repurposing. IGEL OS offers exactly that.

IGEL OS ensures effective thin client repurposing and endpoint management and control by deploying a lean, modular Linux-based OS. This brings about the following benefits:

• Minimal hardware costs. You will eliminate the need to make a heavy capital investment in computing hardware since old PCs and thin clients are sold at a throwaway price. IGEL OS is hardware agnostic and runs on 99% of all devices currently available.
• Enhanced security. With IGEL OS, there is rarely a need to invest in antivirus or malware on the physical endpoint. As a secure OS, IGEL helps protect your company’s end-users and their devices from malware.
• High scalability. Over 100,000 IGEL OS-powered endpoints can be easily managed from a single management console. Added reliability is available in the form of high availability (HA) of the management console, if desired.
• Streamlined endpoint management. An easy-to-use and intuitive management interface make it incredibly easy to manage all of your IGEL OS-powered thin clients. This saves the IT team enormous time, especially when it comes to updating and patching hundreds or thousands of endpoints, along with the expenses associated with hiring extra managerial staff.
• Zero maintenance. With IGEL OS installed on your repurposed thin clients, you do not have to worry about frequent maintenance on the endpoints. You can instantly perform all essential updates from a single management console in a centralized location.

Repurposing aging but still useful computing hardware is one of the ways to mitigate the current chip shortage dilemma and to curb IT spending without compromising your company’s productivity. Thin clients, being some of the most basic and economical computer forms, are some of the most practical devices you can repurpose. However, repurposing thin clients should be paired with effective endpoint management that is easy and highly scalable. IGEL OS supports a wide range of devices and peripherals and enables you to transform any existing compatible x86-64 PC or thin client into a robust endpoint device.

Get in touch with us for a free trial and consultation on IGEL’s VDI solutions.

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Industrial and rugged IGEL Ready thin clients allow expansion of your IGEL environment out of the office and into more challenging environments on the edge.

The benefits of the IGEL OS are many. At a time when crippling ransomware attacks are making headlines, IGEL offers resistance to viruses and other malware. In addition, IGEL delivers ease of management. You can control, update and provision all of your devices running IGEL OS from a unified dashboard.

This ease of device management is important in an office environment. But what if you want to extend your endpoints out of the office to the edge of your enterprise? That is where industrial and rugged hardware with IGEL OS can deliver value in locations where most conventional endpoints will fail.

IGEL Out of the Office and Onto the Edge

Today’s businesses demand constant connectivity and a reliable flow of information. Access to data is required at every point in the value chain – from a climate-controlled office space to a dusty warehouse. And, what happens when products leave the warehouse? IGEL OS-powered endpoints are needed there too – on forklifts, trucks, shipping containers, and more.

Commercial off-the-shelf hardware isn’t designed for those kinds of challenges. In contrast, industrial and rugged systems are designed for extending your IGEL environment into challenging environments.

What are Industrial and Rugged PCs?

Industrial and Rugged computers typically have the following characteristics:

• Fanless and ventless design
• Completely solid state
• Ability to withstand harsh environments
• Highly configurable
• Extensive I/O options
• Long lifecycle

While both rugged and industrial computers offer these features, rugged computers offer additional design features that make them suitable for even more challenging environments, including locations subject to extreme temperatures. Rugged computers are also tested against standards for shock and vibration tolerance, such as MIL-STD-810.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Rugged Thin Clients

A hardware device that fails can have a direct and substantial impact on your company’s productivity and bottom line. In addition, the inconvenience and cost to replace a unit at a remote or hazardous location can place stress on your IT or OT teams. With so much at stake, you need robust hardware specifically designed for today’s challenging computing environments. Rugged thin clients are uniquely equipped to provide the value of the IGEL OS in some truly unique situations.

For example, the OnLogic IGL300 is certified for in-vehicle use, configurable with 4G LTE wireless, and available to ship directly to its installation location with IGEL OS pre-installed. That makes it the ideal choice for use on a forklift, in refrigerated shipping containers, or on a fleet of transportation vehicles, whether you’re the end customer or you plan to distribute them to your own clients.

Thin Client Features that Matter, Everywhere

What if your entire operation IS located in a climate-controlled environment? You should consider how industrial-grade components and fanless cooling reduce failure points, no matter where they’re installed.

Passive cooling eliminates the single most common point of failure in any computer – the fan. A well-designed fanless computer is also ventless, which adds additional reliability by protecting internal components from outside debris. And even in the cleanest office, dust can cause a problem over time. In addition, a fanless computer limits external air movement making it a great solution for environments that demand cleanliness, like healthcare facilities or cleanroom manufacturing floors.

Dust coating the inside of a computer is a common sight in fanned computers

In addition, small form factor fanless computers offer extensive mounting options. IGEL Ready thin clients can be mounted nearly anywhere, including cabinets, under counters, and inside server rooms.

IGEL Ready Out of the Box

With the extensive testing and verification required to create IGEL Ready hardware, you can have confidence a new device with the “IGEL Ready” designation will integrate smoothly into your existing IGEL infrastructure. And if you’re looking to blaze a new trail to connect the edges of your business in challenging environments, industrial and rugged hardware can help you get there with confidence.

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(The following blog is provided by IGEL Ready partner LG Business Solutions)

LG Business Solution is among a select group of exclusive partners to participate in the first annual IGEL Partner Pavilion at HIMSS 21, the healthcare industry’s information and technology event of the year. Here, alongside IGEL and other key IGEL Ready partners, LG Business Solutions will be showcasing the LG 24CN670N All-in-One Thin Client for Healthcare (BUILT-IN RFID READER)

For healthcare providers, edge computing technology innovation has a direct impact on patient outcomes and clinician productivity. This will be on full display during HIMSS 21, the first in-person event of the year in the IGEL Partner Pavilion. During the event, IGEL Ready partners will be showcasing how their technology integrates with IGEL OS to empower healthcare organizations with innovative and secure edge computing solutions.

During the live event held August 9-13, LG Business Solution will be demonstrating LG thin clients in booth #2859 on the main expo floor of the Sands in Las Vegas. LG thin clients take hardware security to the next level by integrating all internal processing power, memory, and local storage safely inside the display enclosure.

LG thin clients typically require less energy to operate than traditional business PCs, which helps lower an organization’s carbon footprint while saving money. LG all-in-one thin clients offer energy efficiency since the power requirements of the all-in-one’s are typically lower than a combination of a PC or thin client with an attached external display.

Can’t-Miss Demos, Presentations

During HIMSS 21 LG Business Solutions will also be a featured presenter in the IGEL Partner Pavilion theatre. Don’t miss the presentation” Improve the Digital Experience” presented by  Navid Faryar. It will cover enhanced security, cost effectiveness, and work efficiency.

LG Business Solutions is one of the IGEL Ready partners who will be providing live demos of technology that integrates with IGEL OS to enhance the security, productivity and manageability of the healthcare endpoint during HIMSS 21. Partners in the IGEL Ready ecosystem are helping healthcare organizations shift to the future with innovative technology for the roaming, shift working healthcare provider. Specifically, IGEL OS and its UMS management software are ideally suited to support a shared workplace, with secure policy controls and management. IGEL OS also enables easy user access so physicians and clinical staff can get to work quickly, in whatever device and location they’re using.

Multiple Chances to Win an LG All-in-One Thin Client

Don’t miss your chance to win. IGEL will be raffling a 34” LG All-in-One Thin Client every day throughout the show. Be sure to enter to win by coming by the IGEL Partner Pavilion in booth #2859 on the main expo floor of the Sands Expo every day!

 IGEL Ready: Celebrating One Year of Growth and Innovation

With HIMSS 21, IGEL Ready is celebrating its one-year anniversary by spreading its wings further and marking its debut at this prominent industry event. This rapidly growing ecosystem is already over 100 technology partners strong and enables customers to consider compatible devices and partner applications across a range of categories. Each can be viewed in the customer-facing IGEL Ready Showcase.

During HIMSS 21, IGEL will also be holding the first-ever IGEL Ready Partner Advisory Board meeting. This meeting will discuss the future of the program, feature exclusive IGEL executive presentations. Participating IGEL Ready partners will also get an exclusive glimpse at the new IGEL OS 12 roadmap.

Join IGEL and LG Business Solutions at HIMSS 21 to see new innovations in healthcare end user computing technology. Learn more and register here. We’ll see you in Las Vegas!

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The concept of thin client computing grew up alongside the growth of Terminal Services and Citrix Server-based computing in the 2000’s, but the concept dates back decades when people accessed centralized application mainframes using dumb terminals.

Thin clients have always been seen as an inexpensive, cost-efficient way to harness the emerging power of remote desktops delivered from data centers or the cloud. Even skinnier, leaner versions of thin clients called zero clients became popular throughout the 2000’s as people tried to drive the cost of endpoints down.

Now, almost 30 years later, little has changed. Lean computing tech is used across a wide variety of industries and for a virtual concert of reasons. Companies continue to employ thin clients in an effort to save money, bolster the security of sensitive, internal information, and maintain a relatively high level of agility in the face of a rapidly changing economy.

Shouldn’t thin clients be dead at this point?

Thin clients continue to exist in 2021, having somehow survived a near-constant series of radical shifts in the tech sector during the last two decades. In fact, by some estimates, the market for thin client solutions continues to grow, expected to reach $B1.32 in revenue by the middle of the decade.

Thin clients are less costly than PC’s and they last longer. They are also “greener” and arguably more secure. Thin clients are no longer just for task-based workers. They can support 4K monitors and multiple screens, run high-end graphical applications like CAD, and most recently can support a wide variety of unified communications via offloading video and audio.

Thin clients almost never break, they don’t need patching anywhere as much as a laptop might, and when it comes to endpoint management, they just work.  Situated on desks and working for years a thin client will never need a “hardware refresh”, simply allowing employees easy access to remote applications and data.

Cloud Technology Requires More From Thin Clients

After years of Citrix dominating the server-based computing market, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) has seen significant growth in the last 10 years, supported and fueled by Citrix, VMware, Amazon AWS and most recently Microsoft WVD. This uptick in innovation and competition, coupled with a move to the cloud (in the form of desktop as a service (DaaS)) means that today, the once “set it and forget it” infrastructure used for VDI is in a constant state of change.

The need to work from home, and cloud technology, have driven more organizations to move their virtualized desktops to the cloud and support a wider, more diverse set of applications. Unified communications with Zoom and MS Teams for example, is now mandatory in many workspaces, including virtualized and cloud delivered ones. With more people working from home, the sheer numbers of applications, and application types, have also increased. CAD applications and multimedia can all be delivered from VDI and DaaS.

As the 4 key vendors continue to innovate and reduce the cost of DaaS, the endpoint also needs to be kept up to date. Something that thin clients were not designed to do.

Thin Client Upgrades | IGEL OS

You don’t need to buy a 2021 thin client to support a 2021 cloud environment. IGEL OS is a simple, yet effective upgrade for your thin client computing. IGEL OS is more than software, it’s an operating system that takes your thin client, (or any device for that matter),  and gives it the muscle for today’s world of cloud workspaces and unified communications without needing to replace the hardware.

Benefits of IGEL OS

• Always up to date with the latest VDI/DaaS clients
• Top security
• Simple to deploy and manage
• Ability to instantly enable and accelerate the move to the cloud
• Over 100 IGEL Ready integrated technologies
• support for any x86-64 endpoint
• Centralized management
• Consistent user experience

IGEL OS enables VDI and cloud workspaces solutions that can be easily tailored to businesses of all sizes. For more information on IGEL OS, or to see the full range of our product lineup, learn more about IGEL today.

The post Why Your Thin Client May Be Too Thin appeared first on IGEL.

Around the globe, the topic of energy preservation and sustainability is more top of mind than ever. And while many technology companies may be clamoring to showcase their latest “green” capabilities, IGEL is proud to state that it’s been an environmentally friendly company for decades.

From the production plant to the desktop, IGEL continues to demonstrate that it’s an active advocate of green technology. Consider these six ways:

1: IGEL Hardware Devices Use Less Material. Our endpoint devices are built for environmental sustainability by using less plastic than competitive solutions. In fact, we continue to evolve our plastic efficiency and today use approximately 50% less volume than predecessor models. Less plastic also equates to devices that are up to 20% lighter in weight, improving the environmental impact of shipping IGEL devices – whether down the street or across the globe.

2: IGEL Hardware Devices Use 30% Recycled Plastic. Continuing the sustainability of our plastic usage, IGEL thin clients are also built using 30% recycled plastic in one color. This avoids the use of additional paint materials for increased environmental protection and waste reduction.

3: IGEL Hardware Is Power Efficient. Once in use, the green features of IGEL devices continue through exceptionally low power consumption, small physical footprint and convection cooling without moving parts. This means that using IGEL endpoints not only saves on energy (and energy costs), but also lowers ambient cooling requirements as well. IGEL endpoint devices hold Energy Star and EU-Ecodesign certifications.

4: IGEL Software Supports Efficient Device Reuse. IGEL software-defined endpoints are exceptionally green as well. By enabling the reuse and repurposing of aging laptops and PCs, organization don’t need to dispose of old endpoint devices but can instead easily upgrade to IGEL OS granting them a new, highly productive purpose as clients connecting to a virtual or cloud environment. In fact, we often see devices that are up to eight years old (including thin clients, laptops and desktops) that are accessing Windows 10 in the data center or cloud today that would have never been able to run it natively. This not only saves companies from major forklift upgrades, it keeps older computers out of the landfill and in use for much, much longer.

This benefit is particularly relevant in healthcare environments which use Workstation on Wheels (WOW) carts. These powered carts use a local battery to power the computing equipment they hold. Devices that use the light weight IGEL OS use less endpoint CPU and local resources so that the WOW local battery can last significantly longer. That means lower power usage and less required charging time which can literally help to save lives!

5: IGEL Devices Last Longer. The typical IGEL device remains actively in use for up to 3 times longer, or more, than traditional PCs and laptops, which can be evidenced by the extended IGEL warranty which is up to five years upon registration compared to the standard one year warranty for PCs and laptops. That means less waste and less impact on the environment during the production of replacement devices.

6: IGEL Uses a Small Production Footprint. During the manufacturing process, IGEL is green as well. IGEL has always focused on innovative ways to lower component usage compared to PCs and laptops. In addition, IGEL packaging is composed of recycled paper and cardboard and is plastic free. This results in lower environmental pollution for all the resources used to build IGEL devices, while also lowering transportation impact as well as disposal effects after their useful life.

At IGEL, we’re focused on building a cleaner, greener world for our future generations. To that end, we will continue to refine our decades-long commitment for more sustainable technology solutions and approaches. In addition to the obvious positive corporate responsibility impact, our customers experience significant capital and operational savings as well. Together, we can avoid the depletion of our natural resources and maintain the ecological balance of our world. Join us. Go green with IGEL.

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These attributes are attracting a new generation of customers looking for more ways to shift IT budgets from CAPEX to OPEX. Being nimble and competitive now demands untethering from heavy hardware costs and embracing software-driven solutions that can keep pace with digital transformation initiatives. It also means deploying endpoint solutions that can quickly be brought online, with virtually no disruption to workflow.

All these driving forces have resulted in significant market growth. According to IDC, “Worldwide endpoint revenues grew 22% in 2017 to nearly $450 million, propelled by midmarket vendors issuing software innovations such as modular control over functionalities and automatic OS updates.”

In new research on the global endpoint market, IDC found that organizations are deploying endpoints to benefit from cost savings in managing and maintaining devices. Due to regulatory requirements and the need for data security, researchers noted that healthcare, education, and financial services sectors are primary verticals for endpoints since these devices enable easy patching as well as access control.

Key Drivers in Market Adoption

IGEL is experiencing its own robust market growth as organizations respond to its approach to EUC: a secure, Linux-OS endpoint solution that can repurpose legacy equipment, support virtualization and enable a consistent user experience across multiple devices.

IDC cites three specific priorities driving endpoint adoption, priorities our customers share with on a regular basis:

Security. In its research, IDC found that 40% of organizations cite security and compliance as a top priority for their organization in 2018. “The increased number of cyberattacks globally and the introduction of more stringent regulations such as General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in the EU has put this category at the top of the priority list.”

Organizations are particularly concerned about endpoint devices, IDC noted, since they remain one of the most frequent points of vulnerability in enterprise environments, making it key to find hardware and software solutions that protect endpoint devices from attack.

These security concerns speak to the heart of IGEL’s Linux-OS driven endpoint solutions. The IGEL OS is a read-only file system; embedded security features like two-factor authentication ensure every boot-up is safe. We’re solidly behind Linux OS because it is superior to other OS alternatives. It can be customized to provide direct updates and patches, offering less vulnerability and more security. The IGEL OS also meets the UEFI Secure Boot security standard, validated and signed by Microsoft.

Flexibility. Endpoints continue to replace PCs and other hardware due to their size and simplicity. They can be deployed in a matter of minutes, require a fraction of the maintenance traditional PCs demand, and they offer developers easy configurability. Combined with a Linux OS, endpoints provide a varied platform upon which developers can easily test new software.

Linux continues to gain advocates. Microsoft is among those coming around to Linux and is now offering a Linux open source platform. IGEL salutes this broadening of Linux’s presence for both hardware and software-driven, endpoint solutions. It will lead to more innovation and that is a benefit for all organizations looking to deploy endpoint devices flexible enough to accommodate accelerated development, in a secure environment.

Cost. Endpoint solutions offer organizations the attractive combination of costs much lower than a PC, and the ability to extend the life of costly hardware investments, thus helping shift from CAPEX to OPEX. IGEL, for example, offers its IGEL UDC3 endpoint conversion software, which will convert existing x86-based systems into IGEL OS-powered endpoints. Its IGEL UMS further reduces costs by saving IT support time. A single, centralized console can manage thousands of endpoints.

Reducing costs is a global concern. IDC researchers found that managing cloud infrastructure costs (including endpoints) is the top European cloud priority in 2018.

Endpoint Priorities are Clear

Organizations are struggling with how to modernize their EUC environment without adding burdensome CAPEX expenditures. Endpoint solutions, driven by a flexible, secure Linux OS, offer organizations a means to further deploy virtualization at a cost far less than adding PCs or other costly devices.

Take a moment to review the IDC report, Linux and the Endpoint security and optimization Market.

We welcome your thoughts on endpoints and Linux OS. Contact me at ayres@igel.com.

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It’s time to take a victory lap. This week IDC has released a new Topline report, “Endpoints as Attractive Solutions for Cost-Effective, Secure Endpoint security and optimization,” based on the IDC Quarterly Enterprise Client Device Tracker 2017Q4. The report shows that IGEL has moved from 7^th in U.S. endpoint market share to 3^rd Worldwide, IGEL claims the 4^th spot in terms of endpoint revenue.

The numbers tell the story. Keeping our eye on the prize, in the US, we not only moved up in the traditional endpoint hardware market rankings with units shipped growth of more than 35%, but we also grew our overall business worldwide as a result of our laser focus on simple, smart and secure endpoint solutions.

IGEL’s impressive growth in endpoint hardware market share is only one part of our great story. We have also marked a record year in software sales! Add in our software revenue, and it’s clear IGEL is the go-to solution for enterprises worldwide looking for endpoint and endpoint security and optimization solutions that are cost-effective and secure.

Our software numbers speak for themselves:

• In the US, a 589% increase in software license revenue
• Worldwide, more than 115,000 software-only licenses shipped in 2017, with 55,000 in Q4 alone

In Western Europe we were also up, even though the region was flat. Consider these successes:

• Over 205,000 units shipped
• A 7% increase in endpoint shipments while all other major Western European endpoint suppliers saw declining shipments.

What’s Behind the Numbers

It’s one thing to see a market opportunity. It’s another thing to have the goods to leverage that opportunity. IGEL made a big leap in endpoint market share because we paid attention to customer needs, and as IDC noted, “Comparing the performance of IGEL versus its larger competitors reveals diverging trends, where the larger vendors have been on a down trend for several years.” Another telling comment from IDC: “Despite their market shares, the seeming neglect of endpoint portfolios by major vendors such as Dell and HP Inc. leaves room for endpoint vendors such as IGEL to grab market share through new services releases.”

The IDC report is also remarkable in that, for the first time, IDC acknowledges the market of x86 PC repurposing that IGEL is driving with our Universal Desktop Converter.  The UDC converts any x86 device, regardless of manufacturer or form factor. This endpoint conversion software takes only minutes to turn old devices into a universally deployable IGEL Linux-based endpoint. It brings value back to legacy equipment, saves organizations money, and is one of the reasons our software sales are through the roof!

We love this statement from IDC: “While endpoint hardware has generally seen little evolution in recent years, it is in software where the most innovations are taking place and where IGEL has focused on differentiating itself from its competitors.”

Constant Innovation

IDC also gives a shout out to IGEL’s UD Pocket, our USB 3.0–based appliance that allows users to convert any 64-bit x86 device (including PC and Mac) into a endpoint device. The device offers the flexibility to boot the x86 device into IGEL’s Linux-based OS or native OS. With the same security and UMS capabilities as standard endpoint offerings, it’s another great example of IGEL’s constant innovation that is moving us to the head of the pack!

Security Focus

IGEL is also pleased that IDC is recognizing our commitment to providing the most secure endpoint solutions:  “IGEL’s focus on securing devices also inspires customer confidence, as demonstrated through their rapid Spectre and Meltdown patching for IGEL devices running on x86 processors.”

Our Linux-based OS, two-factor authentication, and trusted execution are some of the key attributes of our portfolio that give our partners confidence IGEL is on its game in providing organizations secure endpoint computing.

Access the full IDC Topline report, “Endpoints as Attractive Solutions for Cost-Effective, Secure Endpoint security and optimization” athttps://www.igel.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/EMEA43768418-Web-1.pdf

Let’s Make 2018 an Even Better Record Year!

The post IGEL Jumps to #3 Position in U.S. Endpoint Market! appeared first on IGEL.

https://www.igel.com/learn-and-connect/resource-library/

Bottom line, it is an exciting time to be at IGEL and we are delighted to be working with Chantell at CPC, where the sky is the limit.  CPC is a leading provider of complete endpoint solutions and a key reseller of IGEL endpoints. Customers get the full package from CPC, from requirements assessment to on-site support to cost-saving maintenance programs.  We can’t wait to see how Chantell and CPC will create new ideas and solutions for retail customers looking to improve end user computing.

If you’re in retail you owe it to yourself to give Chantell a call, just to hear about the “art of the possible.”

Welcome Chantell, I can’t wait to go shopping!

Hyperlink to Chantell’s LinkedIn profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/chantellcomberger/

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The secret is in the software. When an IT professional thinks about a endpoint what might just come to mind is a device that is cheap for a reason as it does not provide the user-experience and management of a traditional personal computer. Yes, this is true for the traditional endpoint, but we don’t live in a traditional world. We have choices, and there are many companies out there today who are reimagining and thus disrupting entire industries. For example, Tesla for cars and IGEL for what is traditionally known as a endpoint.

The secret is in the software. Over the past 20 years, IGEL has been heads down not looking at a endpoint as a hardware solution but as a software one. Now in 2018, we find ourselves with the most powerful, real-time, platform for deploying and managing endpoints in the world today. The platform consists of two components, the IGEL OS and the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS). Together, they allow IT to centrally deploy, manage and update a modern, secure, operating system that was designed for Citrix, VMware, Microsoft environments on any x86 64bit device at any time. All centrally updated and managed.

The secret is in the software. The IGEL OS itself was 100% designed and built by our team of software developers in Augsburg Germany. The goal was to create a secure OS who’s every configuration can be turned on or off, or changed to blue or red. The result was the ability for IT to deliver an experience to the end-user that fits each user’s requirements and taste, oh and it’s secure too.

Did you know, a user can switch from one device to the next and always have the same user experience. Citrix gave us anywhere, anytime, any device access to the app and now IGEL gives us any, any, any (x86 64bit) access for the operating system and end-user environment. I’ve never understood how we centrally manage and deploy apps to gain the benefits of virtualization and centralization, but we don’t do it for the end-points. With IGEL you can…

IGEL developed the OS for this use-case. They did not retrofit a 1990s OS that has been updated every few years and patched every Tuesday.

The secret is in the software. The IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) is the brains of the platform. The UMS allow IT to securely manage the end-point device no matter where a user might find themselves in the world that day. IT does this through the ability to create detailed profiles consisting of applications to be deployed and managed to the look-and-feel of the user’s IGEL OS. Profiles are assigned to end-users based how IT defines them to be. It’s that simple. With over 7,000 different possible configurations the UMS allow IT to truly create a secure, productive, environment for the user while allowing IT to save money and manage users the way they should. Oh, all this is done in real time.

As an example of how scalable and straightforward it is to manage your end-points with IGEL, I like to talk about a customer named Luxottica. They are the owners of Sunglass Hut and Lens Crafters, to name a couple. I’ve personally shopped in both of those stores. Luxottica has over 30,000 devices in over 5,000 global locations. All managed by 1 person, and she does not even log in, but once or twice a month. Don’t believe me? Watch Chantell Comberger, IT Solution Architect at Luxottica discuss Luxottica’s IGEL environment at DISRUPT 2018, Austin. Need I say more? This is the power of the software!

The secret is in the software!

Above I mentioned Tesla! They are redefining what a car is, how it is sold, what it can do, and so much more. IGEL does the same thing. Like the Tesla, the secret is in the software. The Tesla today is faster and more efficient than it was two years ago. Why? Software updates and all Tesla owners receive these benefits, over the air and in real time. This is exactly how IGEL does it. If there is a new version of the IGEL OS, new configuration or application it is deployed in real time to the endpoint. It is that simple, that powerful and it just works. As Steven Burke, Sr. Editor at CRN, so correctly put it in his article titled, “The ‘Tesla’ Of End Point Management: IGEL Is Going Into ‘Disrupt Conference’ With Record Software/Channel Sales Growth.”

I can go on and on, but you get the picture. This is my short answer to why all the success. While everyone else saw endpoints as hardware, IGEL thought different and saw the secret in the software. The success comes from years of looking at the problem from the right viewpoint, the software viewpoint, and then IGEL built a solution that is flexible and power all while taking advantage of the modern requirements of computing, in real-time, in any location!

I will leave you with a quote from Steve Greenberg, Citrix CTP Fellow, CEO and Founder of Endpoint Computing, after spending just two days at the IGEL DISRUPT End-User Computing Conference in Austin, Texas.

“It is truly a ‘No Brainer.’ The premise of a secure cost-saving endpoint with excellent management capabilities will become the new standard for the end-point and business computing.”

The post The Secret to the IGEL Success? We Thought Differently appeared first on IGEL.

Customers deploying Skype for Business will be particularly happy with this unified solution. Sennheiser headsets plugged into an IGEL managed endpoint can run Skype for Business as a virtualized application, delivered by Citrix VDI.

Here are a few key customer benefits:

• IGEL managed endpoint clients are verified compatible against Citrix NetScaler SD-WAN solution, enabling an enhanced virtualized Skype for Business experience in challenging network conditions.
• Sennheiser headset users can seamlessly, and securely, move between devices since Skype client and associated data are kept in the data center and never exposed to potential threats on the endpoint device. This helps to ensure compliance in healthcare settings, as an example.
• Citrix HDX Realtime Optimization Pack (HDX RTOP) offers a scalable solution for delivering audio/video conferencing and VoIP enterprise telephony through Skype for Business. For customers concerned about bandwidth, Citrix offloads the server component for maximum scalability, minimizing network bandwidth consumption and ensuring optimal audio-video quality.

Better Conferencing.  Positive Results.

Enterprise customers want access to high-quality, real-time voice and video in a virtual environment.  They’re tired of less than optimal quality which leads to poor communication and compromised productivity.  To add to this inefficiency, they’ve had to deal with excessive bandwidth use and difficulty in scaling up.

Enabling voice and video in an existing Citrix environment – powered by IGEL OS endpoints – solves the quality challenges by delivering clearer and crisper voice and video than legacy phone systems.  With Sennheiser as our partner, an innovator whose headsets and speakerphones leverage the latest in communications technology, we’re giving customers the best possible conferencing environment.

Take a few minutes to read the white paper and learn more about how to deliver an exceptional audio experience to your customers.

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