At the IGEL Now & Next 2026 event, held at the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Florida, VMblog sat down with Marcel Calef, Field CTO at ControlUp, for an exclusive interview and live demo that showcases just how far autonomous endpoint management has come — and where AI is taking it next.
What Is ControlUp?
ControlUp is an autonomous endpoint management platform that gives IT administrators a single, unified view of the entire endpoint ecosystem — from the IGEL device and end-user experience, to web browsers, backend application servers, and VDI platforms like VMware Horizon. Rather than forcing admins to jump between siloed tools, ControlUp consolidates visibility and, critically, the ability to act on what they see — all in one place.
Real-Time Data: The Foundation of Everything
One of the standout differentiators Calef highlights is ControlUp’s true real-time data capture — pulling signals every three seconds. In a world where endpoint problems can cascade quickly, that speed matters enormously. But raw data alone isn’t enough. What sets ControlUp apart is how those real-time signals feed directly into automation and AI-driven resolution workflows, creating a closed loop from detection to fix.
AI in Action: From Problem to Solved in 13 Minutes
During the interview, Calef walked VMblog through a live demonstration using an IGEL thin client connected to the IGEL Now & Next conference Wi-Fi — showing ControlUp’s AI capabilities in a real-world, imperfect environment (including a 15-year-old device running at 100% CPU, which Calef acknowledged with good humor).
The demo focused on ControlUp’s AI-powered self-service troubleshooting. In the example shown, a user reports that their webcam isn’t working. Rather than submitting a ticket and waiting, ControlUp’s AI agent:
- Automatically investigates the issue end-to-end
- Detects the root cause
- Presents the administrator with a recommended remediation for approval
- Executes the fix — moving the issue from problem to solved in just 13 minutes
- Auto-generates a ticket documenting the entire event trail
This isn’t AI answering a question. This is AI resolving the problem.
The Numbers That Matter
Calef shared that in the demo environment shown, over 66 out of 109 issues — roughly 60-61% — were resolved by AI without any human intervention. That figure isn’t just a demo talking point; it mirrors real-world results from ControlUp customers, with one enterprise customer achieving a confirmed 61% reduction in tickets resolved automatically.
Putting the “Self” in Self-Service
As Calef pointed out, one of the most relatable pain points in endpoint management is the silent reboot cycle — users who experience problems but never report them, defaulting instead to rebooting over and over. ControlUp’s AI-powered self-service agent breaks that cycle, giving end users a guided, intelligent path to resolution without ever needing to pick up the phone or file a ticket.
Why This Matters at IGEL Now & Next 2026
The IGEL Now & Next event brings together the ecosystem of partners, customers, and innovators building around the IGEL OS and endpoint platform. ControlUp’s deep integration with IGEL devices — providing telemetry, automation, and AI-driven remediation at the device level — makes it a natural and compelling fit within that ecosystem. In a conference full of competitors and noise, Calef’s message was clear: real-time signals plus AI-powered automation equals remediation at the speed of AI.
Want to Learn More or See a Demo?
Visit controlup.com to explore platform walkthroughs, request a meeting, or schedule a personalized demo with the ControlUp team. If you’re at IGEL Now & Next 2026 in Miami, stop by the ControlUp booth to see it live.
VMblog is on-site at IGEL Now & Next 2026 at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Florida, covering the latest news, interviews, and product announcements from across the IGEL ecosystem.
Company: ControlUp
Back to: IGEL Now & Next 2026
