Are you attending Citrix Synergy 2019 in Atlanta? If so, I invite you to add IGEL Technologies to your MUST SEE list of vendors.
With so many vendors exhibiting at Citrix Synergy this year, how do you
know which booths
to visit
and who to get on your busy schedule? One of the companies on VMblog's
list this year is IGEL Technologies. I've been following them for many years. There's a lot going on at the company, and they recently kicked off a fantastic EUC event called DisruptEUC which took place in San Jose.
IGEL is the world leader in providing software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions for cloud and virtualized workspaces. The company’s world-leading software products include IGEL OS™, IGEL UD Pocket™ (UDP) and Universal Management Suite™ (UMS). These solutions comprise a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management and control platform across nearly any x86 device.
Read this exclusive pre-show interview between VMblog and Jed Ayres of IGEL to learn what the company has planned for the
upcoming
Synergy 2019 event.
VMblog: As a Citrix Synergy 2019
sponsor, give us the rundown of your booth setup this year. How can attendees
find you?
Jed Ayres: IGEL is a Platinum-level sponsor for Citrix
Synergy 2019 and will be in Booth #204 showcasing our software-defined endpoint optimization and
control solutions for the secure enterprise. During the event, members of IGEL's Management
Team including Heiko Gloge, CEO and Founder, IGEL; myself, Jed Ayres, President and
CEO, IGEL North America; 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. Visit https://www.igel.com/synergy for the latest information on IGEL-related
Citrix Synergy activities.
Over the past
three decades, IGEL has emerged as the world leader in providing
software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions for cloud
and virtualized workspaces, delivering its innovative world-leading software products that include
IGEL OSTM, IGEL UD PocketTM (UDP)
and Universal Management SuiteTM (UMS). These solutions comprise a more secure, manageable and
cost-effective endpoint management and
control platform across nearly
any compatible x86 device. Easily
acquired via just two feature-rich software offerings - IGEL Workspace Edition
and Enterprise Management Pack - IGEL software presents outstanding value per
investment. Additionally, IGEL's
German engineered endpoint devices deliver the industry's best warranty (5
years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL
enables enterprises to save vast
amounts of money by extending the useful life of their existing endpoint
devices while precisely
controlling all devices running
IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface.
IGEL is encouraging Citrix Synergy conference
attendees to register for the following technical trainings:
IGEL Certified Engineer (ICE) Base training | Monday,
May 20 | 11am - 4:30pm.
This session will provide all the information
and beginning experience needed to configure, install, and manage IGEL-powered
software-defined endpoints.
ICE Pack: UMS Expert training |Monday, May 20 | 2pm
- 4pm
This training will offer a technical deep dive
based on several practical examples and many use cases around IGEL Universal
Management Suite.
ICE Pack: Cloud Architect session | Wednesday,
May 22 | 3pm - 5pm
This training will feature a deep dive based on
several practical examples of how to get the most benefit from IGEL solutions
running in cloud-based environments.
For more information on these sessions or to
register, visit
igel.com/synergy
VMblog: What type of theme do
you have planned for this year's booth?
Ayres: The IGEL booth will be
reflective of this year's event theme which is focused on the future of work.
Citrix believes in a future of work powered by a true digital workspace that is
unified, secure and intelligent to guide, automate and optimize work.
One of the most exciting
attractions for attendees will be the opportunity to drive a "virtual" race
car. IGEL will be running the popular Forza Motorsport 7 racing video game to
demo the powerful capabilities of IGEL's software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions.
Show
attendees making a stop at the IGEL Booth #204 will also have the opportunity
to enter IGEL's "I Challenge Everything" sweepstakes. Following the completion of a short survey and attending an
in-booth presentation in the Innovation Theater, they will be entered to win
the all-new electric Porsche Taycan. The winner
for this sweepstakes will have the option of a cash equivalent prize ($85K) or
donating the prize money to his or her charity of choice. Winner will be
announced on December 31, 2019.
IGEL is also
extending its successful Customer Challenge Award contest in 2019, where IGEL
customers can qualify to participate for a chance to win $20,000 by submitting
their testimonial story. To see video and written testimonial submissions from
last year's Customer Challenge Award contest, please visit: https://www.igel.com/ichallengeeverything/customer-contest.
VMblog: Why should a Synergy attendee
add you to their MUST SEE list?
Ayres: Among the top reasons
why attendees should visit IGEL in Booth #204 at Citrix Synergy are:
1)
To
learn why a software-defined endpoint management strategy is of key importance
to enterprise security, IoT, cloud and mobility initiatives.
2)
Enter
to win the all-new electric Porsche Taycan.
3)
To
spend 25 seconds in the Money Machine. A winner will be announced after every
presentation in the Innovation Theater.
4)
To
get a convertible Porsche rental for the weekend. Winner doesn't need to be
present to win.
5)
Get
a first public glimpse of the all-new IGEL UD2 endpoint device
6)
Share
your IGEL success story for a chance to win $20,000.
VMblog: If an attendee visits
your booth, what's the big message that they will take back to work with
them?
Ayres: One of the most important things that attendees
will learn from IGEL at Citrix Synergy 2019 is how to harness the power of
IGEL's software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions for cloud
and virtualized workspaces. Key
initiatives for IT enterprises during 2019 in which IGEL has the ability to be
a significant enabler are:
- Comprehensive endpoint security, including knowing
the BIOS has not been hacked
- Migrating to Windows 10 without the costly and
disruptive "hardware refresh" - no need to upgrade CPU and/or RAM
- Smart and secure cloud onboarding made easy
VMblog: How many times have you sponsored
Synergy before? What keeps you coming back?
Ayres: We've been attending and
sponsoring this event for many years. What brings us back each year is the
strong alliances we have with Citrix and its ecosystem partners, as well as
being the premier forum to communicate our story, messages, and latest offers.
VMblog: Can you give VMblog
readers a sneak peek as to what you will be showing off at your booth this
year?
Ayres: During Citrix Synergy
2019, be demonstrating our world-leading software products including the very
latest version of IGEL OSTM -
IGEL OS 11, IGEL UD PocketTM (UDP) and Universal
Management SuiteTM (UMS). We will also be introducing our newest endpoint
device, the IGEL UD2 and showcasing it in the booth along with the IGEL UD7. As mentioned previously, one of the most
exciting attractions for attendees will be the opportunity to drive a "virtual"
race car. IGEL will be running the popular Forza Motorsport 7 racing video game
to demo the powerful capabilities of IGEL's software-defined solutions.
VMblog: Give readers a few
reasons why your product or service is considered unique and differentiated
from the competition.
Ayres: IGEL is an enterprise software company that places extreme value on
platform independence and customer freedom of choice. Our software-defined endpoint optimization and control solutions for the
secure enterprise comprise a
more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management and control platform across nearly any x86 device. Easily acquired via just two
feature-rich software offerings, - Workspace Edition and Enterprise Management
Pack - IGEL software presents outstanding value per investment. Additionally, IGEL's German engineered
endpoint solutions deliver the industry's best warranty (5 years), support (3
years after end of life) and management functionality. Quite simply, IGEL
enables our customers to save money - oftentimes lots
of money - by extending the useful life of their
existing endpoint devices while easily
and precisely controlling all
devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard
interface.
VMblog: How does your company work
or partner with Citrix? What value add
do you provide?
Ayres: IGEL is committed to helping IT organizations operating Citrix-based
cloud and virtualized infrastructure environments increase efficiencies, reduce
costs, and enhance the security of their deployments. One example of this is
the IGEL UD Pocket.
Built to
provide on-demand access to cloud and virtualized workspaces, the IGEL UD Pocket offers IT organizations with remote or mobile
workforces a flexible and cost-effective out-of-the-box micro thin client
solution that is designed to improve the security of bring-your-own-device
(BYOD) initiatives. The IGEL UD Pocket enables simple and secure access to Citrix-powered
virtual desktops, via a USB-bootable device, without overwriting the local
operating system (OS).
VMblog: What are you looking forward to most at this year's event?
Ayres: This year, we are
looking forward to connecting with our partners and customers and will also be
hosting invitation-only meetings with our customers from North America and EMEA,
as well as a Happy Hour event with the IGEL Community at Der Biergarten on Wednesday,
May 22. For more information or to register, visit https://marketing.igel.com/acton/fs/blocks/showLandingPage/a/34989/p/p-0029/t/page/fm/0.
In our view, education
is also a very important aspect of the sales and marketing process, and we are
looking to identify new synergies between our two companies. We know that there
are many areas of overlap that we can capitalize on, but we would also like to
identify areas where we could further expand our education efforts together in
order to build greater credibility, and continue to grow our partnership with
Citrix.
VMblog: What would you say to prospective attendees who are thinking about
attending Synergy but aren't sure if it's worth it or not?
Ayres: Citrix Synergy is the
best place to find out what like-minded customers and partners are doing to
tune performance and improve end-user productivity. The exchange of ideas, exploring
the "art of the possible" with Citrix, will easily cover your expense and time,
plus you'll make new friends and have some fun.
IGEL guarantees you'll leave Citrix Synergy with some new ideas as to
how to optimize your infrastructure, endpoints and user experience.
VMblog: What do you think we
need to do collectively as an ecosystem to strengthen the industry?
Ayres: The problems that our mutual
customers within the Citrix ecosystem face cannot be solved by a single
technology or solution. The strength of our ecosystem relies on the cooperation
and collaboration of vendors across this space. At IGEL, our goal is to drive
cost and complexity out of the endpoint management equation, and we are
achieving that by forging partnerships across the ecosystem.
One of the unique things IGEL has
done is launch our own conference - DISRUPT End User Computing Forum. This
year, we brought in many of our ecosystem partners for multi-day IGEL DISRUPT
EUC events in Munich, Germany and San Jose, Calif. Together, we were able to
demonstrate how multiple technologies are working together to disrupt endpoint
computing by driving greater efficiencies, reducing costs and improving
security. This is the second year we've hosted this annual event, and our
attendees are already looking forward to our events in Germany and the U.S. in
2020.
VMblog: Do you have any quick predictions for 2019 you'd like to share?
Ayres: In 2019, Forrester
estimates 85% of firms will implement or plan to implement IoT solutions.
The proliferation of IoT devices and the overall growth of mobile and remote
computing have created new endpoint management challenges for IT teams.
Adding IoT to an already diverse end user computing (EUC) environment is a big
job ahead for IT. Solutions that can deliver organization, efficiency and
security will be in greater demand as enterprises seek to gain control over
this growing endpoint estate.
IGEL is seeing the impact IoT has on
an already over stretched IT organization who is still trying to deal with
traditional endpoint management, like Windows. Many Enterprises are still
struggling with how to integrate IoT devices into their overall operations and
apply a common level of security and oversight to both their existing devices,
desktops and new IOT devices. Centralized, automated endpoint management
software, that can securely manage tens of thousands of these endpoints, is
essential to creating organization and efficiency out of this complex, diverse
environment.
B2B applications of
IoT will take off in 2019, Forrester notes, as enterprises focus on driving
efficiencies, connecting the enterprise, expanding the edge, and, in some
cases, providing personalized customer experiences. Centralized endpoint
management will be a critical part of enterprise IoT as IT teams must be able
to deliver a secure, efficient environment for not only IoT but all EUC devices.
VMblog: Attendees always enjoy a good trade show giveaway.
What can an attendee hope to get at your booth?
Ayres: IGEL
will be giving away IGEL UD Pocket Demo Sticks, while supplies last, as well as IGEL hats for attendees who either sign up for the IGEL Community or show
booth staff an IGEL social media post using the hashtags #CitrixSynergy and
#IChallengeEverything. Also, back by popular demand we will have a limited
quantity of IGEL hedgehogs, available on a first come, first serve basis.
VMblog: Does your company have
any speaking sessions during the show? If so, can you give us the who,
what, when and where?
Ayres: Yes, IGEL's Douglas
Brown and Simon Townsend will be participating in a "Meet the Experts" session
on "Best Practices for Transforming the Desktop Experience
for the "Future of Work."
During this
session, attendees will learn how IGEL is working with Citrix to accelerate the
delivery of cloud workplace applications through a secure platform leveraging
IGEL's software-defined endpoint solutions. With this combined solution,
workers can access their applications and desktops from virtually any location
or device. The session will take place at the
Georgia World Congress Center, Level 1, Synergy Park, Hall C2,
Meet the Experts Theater #1 at 4pm on Wednesday, May 22.
IGEL's Douglas
Brown will also present a breakout session with Roberto Perez, IT Architect for
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines featuring insights on how the world's second
largest cruise line operator was able to re-purpose many of its aging endpoints
leveraging IGEL's software-defined endpoint solutions. The combination of IGEL
and Citrix increased the flexibility of the organization's small IT team,
making it possible to do more with less, while at the same time improving the
end-user computing experience. This breakout session will take place at the Georgia World Congress
Center, Level 3, Room C302 at 11:30am on Thursday, May 23.
VMblog: Are you guys throwing or involved with any type
of party during the event? Can you share the details?
Ayres: The
IGEL Community, led by Douglas Brown, Global Technology Evangelist for IGEL
will be hosting a Happy Hour on Wednesday, May 22 from 5:30pm to 7pm at Der
Biergarten located at 300 Marietta Street NW in Atlanta. To Register for this
event, visit igel.com/synergy
IGEL will also be a
sponsor again this year for the M7 Global Partners party, one of the most
talked about events at Citrix Synergy.
In summary, you need to
visit IGEL at Citrix Synergy 2019 because:
1.
This
is the best place to find out about what is new and changing with IGEL.
2.
This
is the best place to find out how to manage your Windows 10 migration.
3.
This
is the best place to find out how to optimize your endpoints for maximum user
productivity.
4.
This
is the best place to find out about the future of VDI and DaaS endpoints.
5.
This
is the best place to get a FREE UD Pocket - the world's smallest cloud client.
6.
This
the best place to save millions of dollars on your VDI implementation, and if
you don't ask we'll never tell!
Visit https://www.igel.com/citrixsynergy
for the latest information
on IGEL-related Citrix Synergy 2019 activities.
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