Are you attending VMworld 2017 in Las Vegas, NV? If so, I invite you to add IGEL to your MUST SEE list of vendors.
With so many vendors exhibiting at VMworld, how do you know which booths
to visit
and who to get on your busy schedule? One of the company's on VMblog's
list this year is IGEL. I was extremely impressed with what they were showing off a few months ago at Citrix Synergy, and I can't wait to circle back with them at VMworld. Here's a little background on the company before we begin:
IGEL delivers powerful unified endpoint management (UEM) software that
is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise.
The company's world-leading products, including the IGEL Universal
Management Suite, IGEL OS-powered thin and zero clients, and
all-in-one thin client solutions, deliver a smart and secure endpoint
management experience that shifts granular control of thin and zero
client devices from the end user to IT. This enables enterprises to
remotely control all thin client devices from a single dashboard
interface.
Read this exclusive pre-show interview between VMblog and IGEL to learn what they have planned for the
upcoming VMworld 2017 event.
VMblog: As a VMworld 2017 US
sponsor, how can people find you this year?
IGEL: At VMworld
2017 US, IGEL will be in Booth #233 showcasing our powerful endpoint management
solutions for the secure enterprise. Members of IGEL's Management Team
including Heiko Gloge, IGEL's Founder and CEO; Jed Ayres, President and CEO,
IGEL North America; Doug Brown, Global Technology Evangelist; and, Matthias
Haas, IGEL's Chief Technology Officer, along with its sales and marketing team
will be on-site to meet with customers and partners throughout the event. IGEL
is a Silver-level sponsor for VMworld 2017 US.
Over the past three
decades, IGEL has risen to become a world leader in endpoint management,
delivering our power software solutions via our thin and zero clients and
all-one-thin clients. At our core, it is our innovative software solutions that
have driven our success and that of our partners and customers. Revolutionary
in simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise, IGEL software solutions are
more intuitive, secure and scalable than any other solution on the market.
IGEL solutions that
will be on display at VMworld 2017 include:
To schedule a meeting with an IGEL executive team member at
VMworld US 2017, contact Nicole Simons at simons@igel.com.
VMblog: Is there anything unique
about this year's booth setup? Do you
have a theme?
IGEL: For the first
time at VMworld US, IGEL will have an Innovation Theater inside its booth where
attendees will have the opportunity to experience live demos and presentations
by IGEL's virtualization technology experts, and representatives from our ecosystem
partner organizations including AMD, Caradigm, Flexxible, Imprivata, Lakeside
Sofware, Nutanix and Samsung, as well as Platinum Partners Entisys360 and MTM
Technologies.
During
VMworld US 2017, one of the most important things that attendees will learn
from IGEL is how to harness the power of our industry-leading unified endpoint
management solutions to deliver a
simple, smart and secure end-user computing experience. Key initiatives for
many enterprises in the coming year include:
-
Securing the endpoint
-
Migrating to Windows 10
-
Cloud onboarding
VMblog: Can you give readers a few
reasons why your product or service is considered unique?
IGEL: There are
several reasons why IGEL offers its customers a unique value proposition:
-
Only IGEL has a solution for ANY 64-bit x86 endpoint:
-
Thin and zero client devices
-
All-in-One thin client devices - we partner with Samsung
-
IGEL OS on a stick - plug it in to convert any PC into an
IGEL-powered endpoint
-
PC Converter software (UDC) - install it to convert any PC into
an IGEL-powered endpoint
-
Only IGEL offers a secure OS with a custom partitioning (ask us
why that is important at the show!)
-
Only IGEL UMS enables enterprises to remotely control all of
their endpoints from a single dashboard interface.
-
Only IGEL offers endpoint management with more than 7,000
control settings and more than 100 templates to help IT improve productivity
and speed time to value.
VMblog: Why should a VMworld
attendee add you to their MUST SEE list?
IGEL: Among the top
reasons that partners and customers will want to connect with IGEL during
VMworld 2017 US include:
1.
Enter to win a Tesla P100D! This is your last chance to
participate in the IGEL Tesla
Sweepstakes, sponsored by AMD and Samsung. To qualify, entrants must complete a
short survey at igeltesla.com using the code VMW17 and demo the IGEL solution
by August 30, 2017 when the contest ends. The winner will be announced On
Wednesday, August 30 during a cocktail reception at The LIGHT Vegas nightclub
located in Mandalay Bay, featuring Sumit Dhawan, SVP and GM for VMware EUC; Jed
Ayres, President and CEO, IGEL North America; and, Douglas Brown, Global
Technology Evangelist for IGEL. The event will also be available for viewing
online via live stream for those that are unable to attend in person. For more
information and to register for the event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igel-tesla-giveaway-tickets-36556504489.
2.
Join IGEL and Doug
Brown, Global Technology Evangelist for The Inside Track, an exclusive,
invitation-only Blogger Meet Up for EUC/VDI VIPs sponsored by NVIDIA and
Liquidware on Sunday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. To request an invitation from
the event organizers, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-inside-track-for-eucvdi-vips-tickets-36009045023#tickets.
3.
On Monday, August 28
from 3:50 to 4:10 p.m., IGEL will be presenting in the VMware Solutions
Exchange Theatre, located on the show floor on "Speed Deployment of View and
Save Millions with IGEL's UD Pocket." During the session, IGEL will demonstrate
how the IGEL UD Pocket can be used to radically simplify access to VMware Horizon
View. As part of the demonstration, we will show the audience how an old PC, a
Mac and a thin client can all be converted to IGEL OS and automatically
configured to securely access VMTestDrive in minutes.
4.
IGEL
will be hosting an exclusive "Eat.Drink.Innovate" Happy Hour with Login VSI and
Nutanix at Border Grill Mandalay Bay on Monday, August 28 from 6:00 to 8:00
p.m. To register for this event visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igel-login-vsi-nutanix-exclusive-happy-hour-at-vmworld-2017-tickets-36009260668.
5.
IGEL will have two executive meeting Suites in
the Four Seasons in the Mandalay Bay for private meetings with the IGEL
executive and technical team. Interested partners and customers should contact
Nicole Simons at simons@igel.com
VMblog: What do you like most about
sponsoring VMworld? Why was this a must sponsor event for your company
this year?
IGEL: Some of the
top reasons why VMworld is a must sponsor event for IGEL this year include:
1.
There are TWO big desktop
virtualization events each year and VMworld is the biggest.
2.
This event brings
together the leaders in the VDI space - our core target market.
3.
Many of our customers and
partners are here, making is easier for us to set up meetings that help to
drive our business forward.
4.
We have found that nearly
every other company we talk to at this event is interested in virtualization,
or some part of the desktop computing experience - an area where IGEL can add
great value for enterprises.
VMworld is
also an important event for IGEL this year in particular because as enterprises
look to finalize their Windows 10 migration plans, VDI is becoming a very
attractive option, and IGEL has the best solution for endpoint management - one
that is simple, smart and secure. The fact is, Windows belongs in the datacenter
where it can be managed effectively - you don't hear of WannaCry or Petya
infecting Windows Servers, it always the Windows endpoint that is the weakest
link. IGEL puts a secure, Linux-based IGEL OS on the desktop, so no
malware or virus can infect the system.
Last, but not
least, one of the things we like most about sponsoring VMworld is that the VMware
folks are fun to be with!
VMblog: Can you give VMblog readers
a sneak peek as to what you will be showing off at your booth this year?
What should attendees expect to see and hear at your booth?
IGEL: VMworld US 2017 is an exciting event for us, primarily because we will
be announcing the winner of the IGEL Tesla Sweepstakes on Thursday, August 30
at The LIGHT Vegas nightclub in Mandalay Bay. Registration for the event is
available here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igel-tesla-giveaway-tickets-36556504489.
Visitors to IGEL booth #233 will also have the opportunity to learn
about some new features and capabilities of the IGEL OS that we'll be unveiling
at the show, hear about the benefits of becoming an IGEL Platinum Partner, and
find out what's new with IGEL and our ecosystem partners, including Caradigm,
Imprivata and Lakeside Software.
From a technology perspective, what IGEL and Lakeside Software are
doing to optimize performance, accelerate migration to VDI, and facilitate
Windows 10 migrations is a must see.
Stop by our booth #233 to get an update.
VMblog: How does your company and
product fit within the VMware ecosystem?
IGEL: IGEL's unified endpoint management solutions, including the IGEL
Universal Desktop thin clients, IGEL IZ-series zero clients, IGEL all-in-one
thin client solutions, the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter and the IGEL UD
Pocket can all be used to deliver VMware-based virtual desktops and virtual
applications to end-users.
VMblog: What are you looking
forward to most at VMworld this year?
IGEL: This year, we
are looking forward to connecting with our partners and customers and getting
an update on the VMware roadmap so that we can identify new synergies between
IGEL and VMware.
We'll be
launching the IGEL UD Pocket as an enabling/onboarding solution for VMTestDrive
which we think will be of great interest to partners and prospects looking at
VMware Horizon View, and who want to accelerate their adoption of the
technology.
VMblog: How many times have you sponsored
VMworld before? And what keeps you coming back?
IGEL: We've been
attending and sponsoring this event for many years. What brings us back each
year is the strong alliances we have with VMware and its ecosystem
partners. Several of our team can
remember attending the first VMworld in San Diego back in 2004, it's a delight
to see how things have progressed over the years.
VMblog: How has exhibiting at VMworld
helped your company's bottom line?
IGEL:
- VMware Horizon View
and Workspace ONE are maturing rapidly as a delivery platform for VDI and
Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS). We see more and more customers seeking to
reduce IT hassles, and that is what IGEL focuses on.
- The IT connections and
discussions we have at VMworld are invaluable to develop our customer
relationships to ensure we are well positioned for the future.
- VMworld is a great
event to learn more about the direction the industry is taking, so we can
remain on the cutting edge.
- Core to the bottom
line is sales and VMworld help us to accelerate and close large deals.
VMblog: What do you think we need
to do collectively as an ecosystem to strengthen the industry?
IGEL: Major Enterprises
are always going to run their own infrastructure - because they need and want
the control that comes from being able to do that. However, for smaller
organization, and educational establishments, VDI is hard work and IGEL
believes that most SMB layers will migrate to Desktop-as-a-Service
(DaaS). We need to be working as an industry to simplify and enable
customers' migration to the cloud for desktops.
VMblog: What do you hope to come
away with from exhibiting at VMworld?
IGEL: A successful
VMworld means that we will leave having had many conversations with partners,
customers and IT administrators who currently face challenges when it comes to
running their mixed infrastructure environments. We look forward to
demonstrating our proven expertise in workspace management, and effectively
communicating the benefits we offer for VMware-based VDI environments.
VMblog: Attendees always enjoy a
good trade show tchotchke. Are you guys giving away anything special or
interesting this year, besides the awesome Tesla, of course?
IGEL: IGEL will be giving away IGEL UD Pocket Demo Sticks...while
supplies last. We will also have a limited quantity of IGEL hedgehogs,
available on a first come, first serve basis.
VMblog: Are you guys throwing or
involved with any type of party during the week of the event? Can you
share the details?
IGEL:
1.
IGEL will
participate in The Inside Track, an exclusive, invitation-only event for
EUC/VDI VIPs sponsored by NVIDIA and Liquidware on Sunday, August 27 at
4:00 p.m. To request an invitation from the event organizers, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-inside-track-for-eucvdi-vips-tickets-36009045023#tickets.
2.
On Monday, August 28
from 3:50 to 4:10 p.m., IGEL will be presenting in the VMware Expo Theatre on
"Speed Deployment of View and Save Millions with IGEL's UD Pocket.
3.
On
Monday, August 28 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. IGEL will be hosting an exclusive
"Eat.Drink.Innovate" Happy Hour with Login VSI and Nutanix at Border Grill
Mandalay Bay. To register for this event visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igel-login-vsi-nutanix-exclusive-happy-hour-at-vmworld-2017-tickets-36009260668.
4.
IGEL will be
announcing with winner of the Tesla Sweepstakes
on Wednesday, August 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. during a reception at The
LIGHT Vegas nightclub located in Mandalay Bay. The event will also be available
for viewing online via live stream. To register for this event, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igel-tesla-giveaway-tickets-36556504489.
VMblog: Every year, we
talk about "this is the year of VDI." But this year, things really do
feel different. Why is that?
IGEL: There are many good and obvious reasons why
enterprises all over the world are moving to virtual workspaces. Easier
management, lower running costs, better use of resources. Mobility, for
example, is fast becoming a major driving force behind enterprise purchasing
decisions, and a virtual workplace is very well suited to accommodating this
trend.
Virtual workplaces are also better for
the environment, with market analysts at Gartner estimating that the IT
industry's share of global CO2 emissions is at 2 percent. Recent studies
conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy
Technology in Germany, revealed that a combination of IGEL thin clients and
virtual desktops based on VMware View proved to have 47 percent less of an
environmental impact than a similar, PC-based environment.
Furthermore, a virtual desktop
infrastructure is cheaper to purchase and cheaper to run than a standard
desktop environment, with thin clients costing substantially less than their
‘fat' counterparts, and running at as little as 1 watt of power when idle. Thin
clients on average use between 61 and 77 percent less power than PCs.
Still on the cost-savings front, an IGEL
thin client running Linux also avoids Microsoft OS licensing costs, and there
are no AV or weekly patch management issues to consider which makes
administration much easier. So in essence, a virtual desktop environment
running thin clients can offer mobility and convenience, as well as a cheaper,
greener alternative to traditional desktop computing.
VMblog: I think VMworld
attendees are also going to be interested in thin client devices. Can you
spell out some of the benefits of thin clients in 2017 as we approach the show?
IGEL: There are many reasons why a thin client,
operating in a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) deployment, offer a better
way to work. Think easy-of-use, fast to install, cheaper to buy, remote
management, automated security, just for a start. However, there are a whole
host of environmental reasons as well, which have a lot of appeal for companies
trying to reduce their environmental footprint.
For starters, a thin client uses a whole
lot less energy than a traditional, or ‘fat' PC. Many use as little as 15 watts
per hour, compared to the PC, which uses between 80 and 250 watts per hour.
When they're asleep a thin client can use as little as 1 watt per hour, yet
still boot up and be ready to go within a couple of seconds. Already that
environmental footprint is shrinking, not to mention the power bill. But
onward, because there is a whole lot more.
Since the thin client uses much less
power, it does not need a fan to keep it cool, so it has no moving parts.
Therefore, it tends to last longer, since there are fewer components at work
inside each box. This means that there will be fewer new devices being
manufactured in the world, and not as many production lines, using fewer
materials and producing the unwanted by-products of assembly.
Moving on from that premise, there will
be fewer planes, trains and automobiles on the road, using up precious
resources and burning fossil fuels delivering hardware, so again our footprint
continues to shrink. Since they are more reliable than PCs, there are also
fewer technicians driving around fixing hardware.
Form factor also fills into the previous
statement - since thin clients are inherently smaller than their ‘fat'
counterparts, more can be shipped at one time, consolidating freight costs and
saving more resources.
##
Make sure to visit with IGEL while at VMworld this year to
find
out more! And definitely make sure to grab one of those IGEL UD Pocket
Demo Sticks, while supplies last. And you have to come by and see the Tesla... you did sign up for your chance to win already, didn't you?