Christmas doesn’t have to be Crisis with the Aimar Foundation and IGEL

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About IGEL

IGEL delivers powerful unified endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company’s world-leading software products include the IGEL OS™, Universal Desktop Converter™ (UDC), IGEL Cloud Gateway™ (ICG), IGEL UD Pocket™ (UDP) and Universal Management Suite™ (UMS). These solutions enable a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management platform across nearly any x86 device. Additionally, IGEL’s German engineered and manufactured thin, zero and all-in-one client solutions deliver the industry’s best warranty (5 years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to precisely control all devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.

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IGEL UMS Enhanced Universal Management Suite®; Adds Asset Inventory Tracking Capabilities

Updated management software provides IT organisations with visibility into USB and Bluetooth assets connected to IGEL OS-powered endpoints; offers a migration path to third-party asset management tools

Reading, UK. Aug. 31, 2017 – IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, announced today that it has updated the IGEL Universal Management Suite® (UMS) to include Asset Inventory Tracker (AIT) capabilities.

“By integrating the Asset Inventory Tracker into the IGEL UMS, IT organisations can now gain a clear view of all peripheral devices connected to their IGEL OS-powered endpoints,” said Ainsley Brooks, IGEL’s UK & Ireland country manager. “This feature is especially important in the healthcare, retail and financial services industries where IT organisations need insight into the changes in their distributed assets and computer infrastructure to ensure business continuity.”

Centralised View of Connected Assets

IGEL UMS 5.07.100 provides IT organisations with a centralised, current view of all USB and Bluetooth assets connected to their IGEL OS-powered endpoints. Details available via the IGEL UMS dashboard include which endpoint the asset is connected to, the type of asset, the manufacturer and the model number.

“Having access to this level of detail can help IT organisations eliminate confusion regarding available asset inventory,” said Brooks. “It also can prevent the use of unauthorised peripheral devices, and can reduce capital expenditures related to the replacement of lost and/or broken peripheral devices.”

Connect to Third-Party Asset Management Solutions with IGEL UMS

For more advanced functionality, the newly enhanced IGEL UMS version 5.07.100 can also provide IT organisations with the ability to connect to third-party asset management tools via an integrated programming interface based on the industry standard REST API.

“When IT organisations leverage the IGEL UMS in combination with external asset management tools and software to collect more comprehensive data on the USB and Bluetooth assets that are connected to their IGEL OS-powered endpoints, they can experience even greater security and control over their desktop infrastructure,” said Brooks.

Availability

To experience the features of the IGEL Asset Inventory Tracker, IT organisations must upgrade their IGEL UMS to version 5.07.100. This latest version of the IGEL UMS is compatible with all IGEL Universal Desktop™ thin clients, IGEL IZ™ zero clients, the IGEL UD Pocket™ micro thin clients loaded with IGEL OS version 10.03.100 or later. Additionally, the IGEL UMS can be leveraged on third-party, 64-bit x86-based endpoint devices converted into IGEL OS-powered endpoints using the IGEL Universal Desktop Converter™ (UDC3).

To experience the capabilities of IGEL’s OS, UDC and UMS, download here https://www.igel.com/download?utm_source=wire&utm_medium=press-release&utm_campaign=company-news&utm_term=ums-universal-desktop-converter&utm_content=asset-inventory-tracker-download, or request free evaluation hardware.

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IGEL Thin Client Award – Honored with CRN 2017 Tech Innovator Award

IGEL Thin Client Award

The IGEL UD Pocket recognized by CRN for innovation, creativity and unique features that help solution providers solve end users’ IT challenges.

Source: www.businesswire.com

IGEL UD Pocket is a groundbreaking micro thin client device which enables remote and mobile workers to access cloud services, server-based computing applications and virtual desktops by plugging a tiny device into any x86 machine, including Macs. After connecting to the internet, it automatically integrates into the IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) for secure remote support, deployment and management. UD Pocket extends the functionality of existing hardware by enabling a second tightly managed operating system to run on an endpoint. Once the user has finished accessing their virtual desktop environment through the IGEL UD Pocket, they can simply reboot their principal OS and return to the original desktop. UD Pocket delivers any device, any application and any cloud solution that is foundational to a modern, mobile, software defined thin client solution.

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Tech Innovators: How A Tiny IGEL Thin Client Device Saved $6.5M For One Customer | CRN Mobile

IGEL Thin Client Device

Source: m.crn.com

IGEL North America CEO Jed Ayres tells how one solution provider was able to save a customer $6.5 million in hardware upgrade costs by rolling out the company’s UD Pocket USB thin client.

By Jennifer Follett November 14, 2017, 04:28 PM EST

Long-time solution provider Jed Ayres is now over one year into his tenure as the CEO of IGEL North America. He spoke with CRN about the opportunity in edge computing and how the company’s UD Pocket micro thin-client device is helping solution providers capitalize on it. CRN Monday named the UD Pocket the winner of the2017 CRN Tech Innovators Awardin the PC – Workstations/Desktops/All-in-Ones category.

“There’s a revolution going on with the number of devices on the edge, in terms of just people starting to connect more things to the internet, and so there’s a renewed interest in edge computing. Everybody’s looking at it and realizing that there’s a lot of compute horsepower that’s going to happen at the edge,” Ayres said. “There are discussions of somewhere between 20 billion and 50 billion devices being connected to the internet by 2020, so there’s a big interest in terms of looking at what’s happening at the edge.”

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IGEL’s DISRUPT forum brings together technology thought leaders

IGEL’s DISRUPT forum brings together technology thought leaders to address the latest challenges in End User Computing

Register to see the latest End User Computing innovations, hear from industry experts and leading solutions providers or attend technical boot camps

Reading, UK. November 27th, 2017 – IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, today announced plans for its DISRUPT end user computing forum in Bremen, Germany, running from January 17-19th, 2018. DISRUPT will bring together technology thought leaders to discuss the latest innovations in end user computing and workspace management, demonstrate the latest solutions and provide technical training. Registration is open now.

“Virtual Desktop Infrastructures and End User Computing innovations are creating new opportunities for IT managers to more effectively and efficiently manage their desktops,” said Iris Hatzenbichler-Durchschlag, IGEL European Director of Marketing. “DISRUPT will provide a new European platform to bring together these ground-breaking solution providers with the industry’s thought leaders and businesses IT administrators to address the workspace challenges of the moment. Challenges such as migrating to Windows 10, finding secure ways to manage endpoints, protect data and secure the desktop. Many of these same organisations are also looking at innovative ways to securely deliver applications, data and desktops from the cloud, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft to any device. DISRUPT is a chance for attendees to see the latest innovations in action and to talk to a range of industry experts about the way forward.”

High profile DISRUPT event speakers include Nathan Hill of Gartner, Brian Gammage of VMware, and Mike Schuhmacher, CEO and founder of Lakeside Software. For those looking to be trained and certified to use IGEL solutions such as UD Pocket, IGEL Cloud Gateway and Universal Management Suite, there will also be Technical Boot Camp sessions.

The European DISRUPT forum will take place at the GOP & Steigenberger Hotel in Bremen. Participation costs €49 per person. Tickets including an overnight stay at the GOP & Steigenberger Hotel cost €149 or two nights for €249. Following the event in Germany, two further DISRUPT forums will be taking place in Austin, USA (February 6-8) and Melbourne, Australia (March 13-14).

For more information and to register visit: https://www.igel.com/disrupt-emea/#sponsors

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Praim announces the compatibility of its ThinOX thin clients with Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME)

Trento, December 15th, 2017 – Praim, a global leader in providing powerful managed endpoint software solutions and a manufacturer of thin and zero clients, announces today the compatibility of its Linux-based, ThinOX thin clients with Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME), a component of the Unified Communication platform Cisco Jabber. This solution allows different methods of communication, from instant messaging, high definition voice, video and conferencing, to voicemail with visual interface and desktop sharing.

Thanks to VXME integration, the full range of Praim thin clients (ThinOX and Windows Embedded) support Cisco Jabber, providing users a higher audio and video conferencing experience in virtualized systems. Praim certifies an extended range of communications tools, including Jabra and Plantronics headsets, Logitech webcams and more, to ensure an easy and fast multimedia workstation creation in VDI environments.

Through VXME support, users can work with Cisco Jabber in Citrix XenDesktop or Citrix XenApp published desktop virtualized environments.

The Praim Thin & Zero Client full range – from Intel Celeron dual core platforms of the Neutrino Series to the Duetto all-in-one quad core solution – confirmed its great performance in multimedia and the Unified Communication sectors.

Cisco VXME add-on can be used also with ThinOX4PC, Praim software developed to transform PCs into thin clients. Thanks to ThinOX4PC, companies can select the suitable hardware to address their users’ needs and profit from the typical thin client benefits, such as high-end user experience, centralized management and data protection.

“This latest development confirms our leading role in the creation and management of enterprise workstations in cloud and virtualized architectures,” says Nicola Manica, R&D Manager at Praim. “Our division, and the entire company, are committed to provide universal and versatile solutions, that answer new business needs – such as the growing demand of integrated communication solutions support – in a fast and efficient way.”

Cisco VXME for Praim ThinOX is available for free on Praim website, as a Praim ThinOX 10.2.6 add-on. It can be easily distributed through the centralized management console, ThinMan.

Christmas doesn’t have to be Crisis with the Aimar Foundation and IGEL

Reading UK. December 21, 2017 – IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, today announced that Crisis, the UK national charity for single homeless people, is using its thin client terminals as part of the technology solution provided at nine Crisis at Christmas locations in London, its operational centre as well locations in Birmingham, Coventry, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

It is expected that around 4,700 homeless guests will be supported by the charity this year during the nine-day festive and New Year period.

The IGEL equipment is part of a total IT package provided to Crisis at Christmas by the Aimar Foundation, a charity founded in 2005 by IT staff from global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley, as part of its strong culture to give back to the communities it works in.

Simon Clark, Aimar Foundation’s CEO and executive director at Morgan Stanley says, “This is the tenth year we’ve supported Crisis at Christmas with technology solutions. The IT provided helps people to not only get in touch with loved ones at Christmas but allows them to work on their CVs and access other support and social services online to help turn their lives around.”

Unfortunately, homelessness is still a major issue in society. According to research from Crisis, there are 160,000 homeless households in Britain today.

Last year, Crisis at Christmas centres served 32,267 nutritious hot meals, carried out 795 health screenings, repaired 605 items of clothing and delivered 1,463 advisory sessions. Around 10,536 volunteers gave up 240,960 hours to help.

This year, Crisis will provide around 26 services to homeless guests ranging from counselling, hairdressing, dental and eye care, Internet Cafes – even kennels for pets. Centres are open fromDecember 23 to 30, 2017.

A tight window to get set up solved by using VDI and thin clients from IGEL

Crisis at Christmas used to take over disused buildings to locate its support centres but this has evolved with the charity now using schools and colleges given staff and students are on holiday and the facilities empty. Simon Clark explains, “The academies and colleges have kitchens, are heated and come with structured cabling for IT. Obviously, we have to wait for term to end before we can go into set up. This presents its own challenges given– on some sites – we literally have half a day to do it.”

This is where Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and thin client terminals come into play. The Aimar Foundation is providing Crisis at Christmas with a hosted desktop from Nasstar running Citrix XenApp. Around 320 powerful IGEL UD3 terminals have been lent to the Aimar Foundation which are optimized for multimedia applications. The system is secure, quick to set up and easy to remotely manage by Aimar’s core team of 15 staff and 150 volunteers who are helping to install and decommission the solution. This year, a whole range of other volunteer firms are assisting Aimar Foundation to do this including Google, Microsoft, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan, the London Stock Exchange, Vodafone, EE, Atomwide Managed Services, London Grid for Learning, Project Fusion, Everything Corporate, RDC and MoveIT.

Guests will be provided all the normal Microsoft Office applications, Internet browsing, storage and Voice over IP. The latter is being delivered for free by Gradwell Communications.

In addition, the system supports seven languages – English, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian – and is configured to allow some-one working on a CV for example to then download files to a portable USB memory stick.

Clark continued, “What I love about our work with Crisis is that by using our day to day skills – be it technology or management – we can give back to the people most in need in society at a very critical time of the year.”

Ainsley Brooks, IGEL’s UK & Ireland country manager, says, “When Aimar Foundation first started working with Crisis at Christmas, traditional ‘fat’ PCs were used. This just wasn’t practical as they’re complex and time-consuming to install and manage in contrast to a centrally controlled and hosted VDI system with fast to deploy endpoints. We’re delighted to be involved and wish everyone a very happy Christmas.”

– ENDS –

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HP Zero Client Released HP 310 – t310 G2 AIO All in One Computer

HP All-in-One Computer

Reinventing zero clients with HP’s first narrow bezel AiO

PALO ALTO, Calif., January 3, 2018 — HP announced its first narrow bezel HP t310 G2 All-in-One Zero Client (HP 310) with seamless visuals, improved ergonomics and maximum data security. Powered by Teradici¹ and compatible with VMware®² and Amazon³ virtual workspace environments, the HP t310 G2 AiO Zero Client allows customers to take their work to new heights with the design and performance they want, and the security they need.

With a virtually borderless full HD display, customers can enjoy an impressive visual experience with one or more monitors to create a seamless and aesthetically beautiful workspace. The comfort designed stand can be adjusted up, down, tilted, swiveled or rotated to support landscape and portrait mode, so customers can customize their workspace to meet their unique needs.

“Customers are looking for a secure solution that is simple to manage,” said Jeff Groudan, vice president and global head, Thin Clients, HP Inc. “The new HP t310 G2 All-in-One Zero Client provides customers with maximum data security, easy management with Teradici’s PCoIP Management Console and simplified setup right out of the box.”

Additional features include:

Stunning visual experience. Watch your images and graphics come to life on a 23.8-inch diagonal Full HD (1920×1080) IPS display with a wide-viewing angle and sharp, detail-rich color reproduction.
Seamless multi-display setup. Enabling seamless multi-display arrangements is now easier than ever. The DisplayPort™ makes attaching a second display simple and fast.
Quiet, work-friendly design. Reduce noise distractions at your desk with a focus-friendly fanless design and thermal controls.
Powerful performance. The high-performing Tera2 PCoIP zero client processor delivers full frame rate 3D graphics and high-definition media even over high-latency networks.
Teradici Desktop Access.¹ Manage your Zero Client with a one-year subscription to Teradici Desktop Access which is included with the purchase of every new HP t310 Zero Client.

Pricing and Availability

The HP t310 G2 All-in-One Zero Client is available now starting at $529. More information is available here.

Footnotes

Teradici Desktop Access one (1) year subscription included. Proof of purchase required. Trial begins on date of hardware
VMware is sold separately, subscription required.
Amazon WorkSpaces requires subscription from Amazon. See http://aws.amazon.com/workspaces/ for complete details. Amazon Workspaces requires Teradici firmware version 4.6 or higher.

Christina Dalit Wahl
Product PR/AR Manager

Personal Systems Communications

christina.wahl@hp.com

M 831.402.1896
HP Inc.

New T310 Thin Client from HP – pictures, collateral and review

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Are VDI environments vulnerable to Meltdown and Spectre?

Table of Contents

Are VDI Environments Affected by Meltdown and Spectre?

VDI environments can be affected when taking into consideration the hardware platform used to connect to the backend VDI environment, the hypervisor, as well as the guest operating system presented via the hypervisor. As an example, many VDI environments are running Microsoft Windows virtual machines for which Microsoft has released patches to change how user and kernel mode code is allowed to interact. However, there are facets of VDI architecture that help mitigate the effects of Meltdown and Spectre attack surfaces. Let’s take a look at what those are.

VDI Environments Help Mitigate Meltdown and Spectre Attack Surfaces

When it comes to securing a VDI environment, the security is only as good as the person or team that configured the solution, including a VDI solution. However, VDI solutions holds definite architectural advantages that can help when we think specifically about the Meltdown and Spectre exploits and the patching process involved to remediate the vulnerabilities. The key advantages with VDI as relates to Meltdown and Spectre are as follows:

Centralized Management of compute resources and backend virtual machines provides better tooling and automated means of patch management.
- Having a means to effectively patch and remediate security vulnerabilities can be much easier to accomplished with VDI solutions as resources are maintained centrally. After the single “Gold Image” is patched with the recommended Microsoft Meltdown and Spectre patches, all the resulting virtual machines provisioned will by default be patched.
- Patching the underlying hypervisor generally requires no downtime as VMs are simply shifted around to alternate compute and memory resources.
Information that is processed is the output of virtual machines.
- By design, VDI processes the output of the underlying virtual machines. There is the abstraction layer that helps to create a barrier between an attacker and potentially interacting with the thin client CPU.
Thin Client devices and Thin Client OS software are highly customized packages that by their nature provide a much more restricted environment to attempt an exploit of speculative execution. VDI software running on top of a thin client such as Praim ThinOX, are stripped down and customized operating systems that are more difficult to exploit when trying to compromise any underlying speculative execution processes.
Many vendors like Praim have centralized management of thin client hardware that makes operations such as BIOS updates and other firmware upgrades highly automated and efficient.
- By using ThinMan Server, Praim provides powerful control of thin client devices. This allows installing new firmware and security updates to the ThinOX operating system.

Specific vendors of certain thin clients interoperating with VDI environments have noted their systems are not vulnerable to the Meltdown and Spectre CPU exploits. As an example, Teradici PCoIP zero client endpoints remain secure. Vendors utilizing the Teradici models such as the Praim P Series which make use of the Teradici TERA2321 PCoIP and Teradici TERA2140 PCoIP, are totally secure.

Additionally, many organizations running Windows thin clients have noted the patches issued by Microsoft have been very heavy from a disk usage standpoint. This has resulted in some experiencing disk space issues on certain thin clients running Microsoft Windows. By utilizing a very small footprint purpose-built VDI operating system such as Praim ThinOX4PC, businesses can alleviate disk space issues that come with patching their Windows based thin clients. On those devices, simply installing ThinOX4PC allows utilizing the same hardware while eliminating the need to install the heavy Microsoft kernel software patches.

Read the original article at: www.praim.com

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Are thin clients affected by Spectre and Meltdown?

Table of Contents

Side-channel attacks

The two vulnerabilities exploit the possibility of a side-channel attack of the processor.

A side-channel attack is any attack based on information acquired from the physical implementation of an information system. Timing information, energy consumption, electromagnetic losses or even sound can be exploited to break the system. By using statistical analysis of these physical operations, it is possible to obtain data from protected memory (for example passwords and cryptographic keys). It is not a simple attack to perform, and cannot be enabled remotely because the malicious code must be executed locally on the machine. It is still unclear whether it is really possible to corrupt or modify data.

Some clarifications

You can find a lot of information about this matter on the Internet, but we still want to report some important comments obtained directly from our discussions with Intel:

The attacker can observe the protected memory content, bypassing the level of privilege of the application.
It exploits a flaw of speculative execution, common in all modern processors.
It is not unique to a processor or on the implementation of a specific processor.
It is not the result of a product that does not comply with the specifications.
There are various techniques to mitigate the vulnerability, starting initially from the software and the operating system, then from the bios/firmware to finally arrive at a hardware redesign.

The impact on thin client devices

The vulnerability in thin client devices has less impact than other systems, because in thin devices, the information that is processed is the output of virtual machines, and therefore more difficult to interpret by an attacker.

Praim’s commitment to safety

At Praim we are always committed to keeping our products up-to-date, with a special attention to security. To repair the issue necessitates working in depth on the hardware system, which then requires a thorough testing phase to exclude the occurrence of collateral problems.

ThinOX

In our ThinOX 10 models we are working to provide an updated version of the operating system to fix the vulnerability as soon as possible. The Linux kernel community has already released some patches, which are being tested in our labs. In addition, Intel has provided a new version of the microcode for its CPUs, which is currently under test.

Windows 10 IoT and Windows 7 Embedded

Microsoft is releasing patches for its operating systems, which will be integrated into future versions of Windows 10 IoT and Windows 7 Embedded.

For customers who have older Windows devices and for which patching problems may arise, Praim recommends the use of ThinOX4PC, the software that installs the Linux-based Praim ThinOX operating system, extremely secure thanks to the total disk write security

Read the original post at: www.praim.com

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Lincoln College Group converts to IGEL

Summary: The Lincoln College Group has switched its aging desktop PCs and laptops for IGEL thin client devices to transform the student computing experience, improve security and slash management time and costs.

Lincoln College Group converts to IGEL to transform student computing experience

Reading, UK. March 28th, 2018 – The Lincoln College Group has switched its aging desktop PCs and laptops for IGEL thin client devices to transform the student computing experience, improve security and slash management time and costs.

The college group is one of the largest education, training and apprenticeship providers in the region, with around 9,000 students. The College is based over three sites, with its main campus in Lincoln City Centre and further campuses at Newark and Gainsborough. Lincoln College International also runs a highly successful female college and Riyadh Technical Trainers College in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Challenging management issues

With its dispersed international sites, 4000 desktop PCs and libraries equipped with laptops for student working, the college’s small infrastructure IT team of five people was struggling to maintain its existing hardware.

“There were three main challenges that drove us to look for a new approach – ageing Windows PCs and laptops, increasing security issues and the need for updates and the available resource to manage the devices,” explained Glen Harrison, IT Infrastructure Manager.

“Our desktop hardware was on a five-year replacement cycle but like all organisations our investment budgets were limited, meaning only some PCs were replaced each year as needed. This meant some of the older devices were running out of memory and failure rates were increasing year-on-year.”

The number of security and software updates was also increasing and becoming more time consuming to manage. With the high profile WannaCry cyber-attacks, the team realised the college was potentially exposed to these types of threat. Finally, the colleges’ two main libraries had stores of up to 80 laptops available for students to book and use by the hour. “These laptops were becoming difficult to manage and frustrating for students and the staff to use. Each time a laptop was switched on, it could take up to 30 minutes to update,” said Glen. “With our resources, it just wasn’t practical to update all these devices every week to minimise the downtime for staff and students.”

So, the college began to look for a new desktop and laptop solution. It had tried a small thin client deployment in the past but that technology was now outdated. Glen wanted to revisit this option because he had seen it working very successfully in other environments.

After trying thin client hardware from some of the leading manufacturers and being dissatisfied with the results, Glen and the team turned to IGEL technology, attracted by the availability of IGEL thin client hardware and its desktop conversion software.

IGEL provided the college with a demo IGEL UD3 thin client, 10 licences and its Universal Desktop Conversion 3 (UDC3) software for testing. “We took our oldest PCs and converted them to IGEL-like devices using the conversion software and they just worked,” said Glen. “It meant that we could have a mixture of old PCs and laptops running as IGEL devices and IGEL thin clients all operating in exactly same way.”

Repurpose existing hardware

With IGEL’s UDC3 software it’s simple to repurpose existing desktop hardware bringing an end to replacing outdated hardware or patching systems with ever-changing applications. The UDC converts any x86 device, regardless of manufacturer or form factor. It takes only minutes to turn old devices into a universally deployable IGEL Linux-based thin client. Converted devices are then instantly integrated into IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) for remote support, zero-touch deployment and easy central management.

Working with Circle IT, its trusted IT partner and an IGEL reseller, the college refreshed its IT infrastructure and created a Windows virtual environment. It has replaced its oldest PCs with new IGEL UD3 thin clients and converted a large number of the ageing Windows XP PCs and its library laptops to IGEL-like devices using the UDC3 conversion software.

The backend IT system is completely Microsoft Server 2016 with a Microsoft Hyper-V 2016 platform for all the virtual servers. The thin client platform is split between thin client infrastructure servers (virtualised servers and Dell blades) and end user servers with Office 2016 installed. Microsoft App-V is used to stream the applications across the network to the devices.

Using Microsoft Secure Gateway, staff and students can also enjoy the same simple computing experience wherever they log in from, using their own PC, laptop or thin client device. Students now always have the option of saving work to the college system, to their own allocated personal cloud storage or to their own device, eliminating the need for using the USB port and further eliminating security risks.

Benefits

“The IGEL deployment has been a huge success for the college”, concluded Glen. “It has been a complete game changer – just by moving to IGEL we have addressed so many problems.”

The college has seen multiple benefits from the new way of working. The new thin clients are significantly less expensive to buy than new PCs and use less electricity to operate, so there are financial savings every time an old device is replaced.

“The conversion of the library laptops to IGEL devices has also been incredibly successful,” said Glen. “The devices now boot in seconds and can be managed centrally and updated at the click of a button. You just make a change in the IGEL management software and it updates all devices at the same time – it just happens. The same couldn’t be said of Microsoft Systems Centre when managing the Windows PCs. The library staff were so impressed with the IGEL converted laptops that they volunteered money from their own budget to pay for more licences.”

And Glen says the support from IGEL has also been second to none. “We had one laptop where the wireless connectivity stopped working when we converted it to an IGEL device. IGEL asked us to send the device to their development team in Germany so they could update their solution. Within 4 weeks we had new firmware and drivers and the machine was working perfectly. Not only are we saving a lot of money and solving problems, but the support we have been getting from IGEL has been fantastic.”

Based on the positive feedback from the library, the team then converted all their Windows XP PCs to IGEL-like devices over the summer holidays. “Normally when you roll out a new technology project you spend the next few weeks solving problems but not with this IGEL project,” said Glen. “Everyone logged in when they came back from holidays and there were literally no problems.”

Lastly, the team spends much less time having to firefight and manage the devices, meaning they can spend that time more proactively, helping staff and the students at the college use technology to find smarter ways of working.

The future

Moving forward, the technology team is keen to continue to use IGEL to further increase the flexibility of its computing devices. “At the moment, we have lots of classrooms equipped with PCs and they are left unused for long periods. In the future, it would be great to replace these devices with a fewer number of IGEL converted laptops that could be moved from classroom to classroom as needed – maximising their use and cutting the number of devices required,” said Glen.

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Email: tom@ambergroup.net

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IGEL Expands Portfolio of Virtualisation-Optimised Endpoints

Featuring an advanced AMD processor, a high-end AMD Radeon™ graphics card and twice the memory capacity, the new UD7 Universal Desktop is also the only thin client solution to offer multi-monitor support for 4K displays at 60Hz

Reading, UK. April 18, 2018 – IGEL, a world leader in endpoint management software for the secure enterprise, today announced the expansion of its portfolio of virtualisation-optimised endpoints to include the new IGEL UD7. Part of IGEL’s family of Universal Desktop™software-defined thin clients, the IGEL UD7 is designed for end-user computing (EUC) environments where high-performance and access to multiple, high-quality displays is required, such as video production and CAD design suites, newsrooms, operations centers and hospital diagnostics centers.

“We are pleased to be extending our growing portfolio of simple, smart and secure endpoint solutions with the release of the IGEL UD7,” said Matthias Haas, CTO, IGEL. “This virtualisation-optimised endpoint is now the most powerful thin client solution in our portfolio. With numerous use-cases ranging from healthcare to financial services to manufacturing, it is also the only thin client solution on the market to offer multi-monitor support for 4K displays at 60Hz. Further, through the IGEL OS, we are able to help IT organisations future-proof their investments in the UD7 through regular software upgrades to the IGEL OS that include hardware acceleration, while at the same time enhancing the security of their endpoints by preventing malware and other cyber threats with Secure Boot validation.”

High Performance End-User Computing Without Compromise

With the launch of the IGEL UD7, IGEL is setting a new standard for high-performance, multi-monitor end-user computing with its integrated AMD Radeon R5 graphics card, two 4K DisplayPort connectors at 60Hz and one 2K DisplayPort connector at 60Hz with expansion capabilities to include one additional 2K DisplayPort connector at 60Hz, and Secure Boot validation. Additionally, the IGEL UD7 features 4GB DDR4 RAM, effectively doubling the memory capacity when compared to that of IGEL’s other Universal Desktop solutions.

Ease of Management Drives Productivity

As with IGEL’s complete portfolio of virtualisation-optimised endpoints, the IGEL UD7 is managed through the IGEL Universal Management Suite™ (UMS), which provides IT organisations with automated backend control of their IGEL endpoints, freeing them up to focus on more strategic initiatives. Purpose-built to simplify complex enterprise environments, the IGEL UMS supports a diverse array of devices and operating systems and enables IT organisations to add and remove endpoint devices, and perform software upgrades as needed or required.

The IGEL UD7 also comes pre-configured to support industry-leading virtualisation protocols including Citrix HDX, Microsoft RDP/Remote FX or VMware Horizon. Organisations can add or re-configure these supported virtualisation protocols leveraging the IGEL UMS to quickly transition between protocols, and make changes to their entire network of thin clients, or a specific endpoint.

Availability and Support

For more information, visit www.igel.com/synergy. To experience the capabilities of the IGEL OS, Universal Desktop Converter (UDC) and IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS), download here www.igel.com/download, or request free evaluation hardware.

IGEL UD7 thin clients can be purchased through IGEL’s network of Platinum- and Gold-level Partners, Authorized IGEL Partners (AIPs) and resellers. Each IGEL UD7 comes standard with a free extended five-year hardware warranty and includes a software license that provides access to regular and frequent firmware updates. This enables IT organisations to preserve their hardware investment while taking advantage of new features and functionality as they become available.

IGEL on Social Media

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101270758605662221044

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/public-services-network

About IGEL

IGEL Media Contact:

Tom Herbst

Tel: +44 (0)7768 145571

Email: tom@ambergroup.net

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Praim enriches the range with H Series: the thin client for industrial environments

New family of products specifically designed to withstand particularly extreme environmental factors, optimal for those who need reliability above average.

Trento, 12 April 2018 – Praim, a leading provider of systems for the creation and management of thin & zero client software and hardware workstations, announces the release of the new H Series family.

The devices distinguish themselves by the extreme robustness of the hardware, which guarantees performance in any field of use: Praim’s H Series can operate in environments with temperatures ranging from -5°C to + 50°C, offering a greater dissipation of the heat, compared to non-industrial thin clients. The certification for the IP40 standard against dust and foreign bodies and the aluminum chassis, make these devices perfect for critical environments such as industrial environments.

In detail, the Intel Atom E3845 platform on which the models are based, is a 1.91 GHz Dual Core SoC processor, with integrated Intel Gen7 Graphics Engine GPU. These models offer native support for dual monitors thanks to HDMI and VGA video outputs, four USB ports – three frontal USB 2.0 and one rear USB 3.0 -, two serial ports, audio in/out and dual network card. H Series models can be equipped with additional connectivity such as an 802.1ac Wi-Fi card or 3G, LTE and GPS modules, with support for up to three external antennas.

The new solutions are released to the market with Windows 10 IoT and Praim ThinOX operating system, with a RAM from 2 to 4 GB and a flash disk from 8 to 64 GB.

“H Series is the first family Praim industrial thin clients. – declares Stefano Bonmassar, Praim’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer – It has been designed with a particular focus on the research of the best combination between performance and extreme hardware reliability, essential features for the adoption in critical projects and environments. These models are ideal for connecting other devices or industrial machines, are a good alternative to expensive industrial solutions and grant complete remote control.”

H Series models use Praim’s high added value software solutions, such as ThinMan management console and Praim Agile, which allow to implement a high standard of control, access and security, simplifying the system administrator’s activities.

The new H Series models are already available for purchase through Praim resale channel.

Visit product page to learn more about the H Series.

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Praim announces the new Edge family: up to 3 monitors, 4K UHD and PoE option

thin client POE

The new device is the first in the Praim range to support up to 3 monitors. It offers high definition content, with resolutions up to 4K UHD and the option Power over Ethernet.

Trento, April 11, 2018 – Praim, a leading provider of systems for the creation and management of thin & zero client software and hardware workstations, is proud to present the new Edge family.

Edge models boast top-of-the-range features and have been created for users working in multi-monitor mode, they are in fact the first Praim models to support up to 3 displays, thanks to the HDMI video output and 2 DisplayPort outputs.

The new Edge devices are particularly suitable for environments where a high level of support for high definition content (such as 3D and video applications) is required, thanks to the resolution up to 4K UHD made possible by the Intel HD Graphics 400 graphics card and the Intel Celeron processor 1.6 GHz Quad Core N3160. The 7 USB ports of Edge (five USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0) allow users to connect all the necessary peripherals, while the new button with touch technology offers greater reliability and durability. With a power consumption of only 4.3 W, the models of the Edge family are an ecological solution for low energy costs. Moreover, thanks to the Power over Ethernet (PoE) option, devices can be used without external power supply, but just from the network Ethernet infrastructure.

“Our customers rely on us because we have demonstrated the ability to offer next-generation solutions, always in step with the ever-changing technologies in today’s market. The debut of the new Edge series responds to the growing need among companies of support for activities involving graphic or multimedia intensive applications – declares Stefano Bonmassar, Praim’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer – We are proud to be able to offer a highly technological product specifically created for those who need devices that respond with excellent performance“.

The Edge models are available for Praim ThinOX, Windows 10 IoT and Embedded Standard 7 operating system, and in the three zero client ThinOX versions dedicated to Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop, Microsoft RDS and VMware Horizon environments.

The Edge models use Praim’s high added value software solutions, such as the ThinMan management console and Praim Agile, which allows you to implement a high standard of control, access and security, simplifying the system administrator’s activity.

The new Edge models are already available for purchase through the Praim resale channel.

Visit product page to learn more about the Edge.

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Praim renews the Neutrino family with the new N91xx model

New Intel Celeron Dual Core processor, 4K UHD video resolution, DisplayPort support and 5 USB ports.

Trento, April 10, 2018 – Praim, a leading provider of systems for the creation and management of thin & zero client software and hardware workstations, renews the Neutrino family with the new N91xx model.

As with the previous N90xx model, the new Neutrino confirms its characteristics of compactness, performance and versatility of use.

In detail, the platform is renewed with the new Intel Celeron N3060 chipset: a 1.6 GHz Dual Core SoC processor, with 2.48 GHz burst frequency and integrated Intel HD Graphics 400 GPU. N91xx models offer native support for dual monitors, with DisplayPort and DVI video outputs, ensuring resolution up to 3840×2160 (4K UHD). Five USB ports – four USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0, Gigabit LAN connectivity, USB mouse and keyboard, audio in/out, integrated speaker. The optional Wi-Fi card with 802.11ac standard protocol allows connections up to 433 Mbps via wireless networks, thanks to the two adjustable external antennas. Among the options, it will be possible to order a model that offers a serial port, as an alternative to the DVI-D port.

Installation is simple: vertical or horizontal thanks to the new included support. With the appropriate optional VESA bracket it can easily be placed on the back of the monitor. Neutrino N91xx is designed to adapt to any installation condition, taking up a minimal amount of space.

As with the previous version, the new N91xx models are also available with the ThinOX operating system, Windows 10 IoT for thin client and Windows Embedded Standard 7, as well as the three ThinOX zero client versions dedicated to Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop, Microsoft RDS and VMware Horizon environments.

“The new N91xx models represent the perfect evolution within the Neutrino family. – declares Stefano Bonmassar, Praim’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer – The new Intel platform guarantees excellent performance and improved video resolution, now 4K UHD. The great versatility of use and installation of Neutrino, combined with the excellent price, makes it one of the most appreciated models by our customers. This upgrade adds installation versatility and advanced video support.”

The new Neutrino models use Praim’s high added value software solutions, such as the ThinMan management console and Praim Agile, which allows you to implement a high standard of control, access and security, simplifying the system administrator’s activity.

The new Neutrino N91xx models are already available for purchase through the Praim resale channel.

Visit product page to learn more about the new Neutrino.

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GDPR readiness Thinclient with Fusion UEM – VXL Software

Achieve GDPR readiness Thinclient with Fusion UEM – VXL Software

In April 2016, the EU passed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which was recently implemented on May 25th 2018, in all EU member states. GDPR makes employee privacy protection a legal requirement and a comprehensive and well-structured unified endpoint management (UEM) strategy will be an important component of an enterprise’s GDPR compliance framework.

Enabling enterprises to secure and control endpoint devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets in a connected, cohesive manner from a single console, VXL’s Fusion UEM software represents an effective solution to provide the privacy protection that is required by law.

Without an effective UEM program in place by the due date, an enterprise will need to justify to the authorities as to why it did not adopt state-of-the-art technical measures, as required by Article 32, to mitigate the risk of data loss.

“Mobile devices in the work place are proliferating at an exponential rate, introducing a new set of security and management challenges for companies”, said Frank Noon VP Worldwide Sales. “Employees can now access everything from emails to presentations on a device that they hold in their hand. Added to the fact that smartphones and tablets also come from many vendors and have different operating systems also lends itself to further management and security issues” he added.

So what does it mean for companies with hundreds or thousands of mobile devices including smartphones and tablets and even desktops to manage? In order to comply, organisations need to implement strong future-proofing privacy policies, procedures and processes to protect themselves. They face not only the risk of heavy fines but also damage to their brand reputation and potential loss of consumer confidence. With this in mind, VXL Software provides a complete GDPR Readiness service to help businesses to achieve compliancy through its leading Fusion UEM software solution.

VXL Software’s GDPR Readiness service includes:

Designing a company-specific UEM policy to support GDPR compliance.
Assessing the current deployment and configuration policies.
Recommending solutions to close gaps between compliant and current state.

For many organisations, device management has already moved from being merely useful to being absolutely essential. In the future, not managing devices in some way or another will be unthinkable and potentially catastrophic for all types of businesses. With smartphones and tablets being used by people all the time, both at home and work, and as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategies become more widely adopted, the growing concerns for security and data privacy have become even more paramount.

VXL’s Fusion UEM provides a high level of control over both mobile devices and also desktop PCs, regardless of where they are located. Fusion UEM is a unified endpoint management software that provides powerful control of every aspect of an organisation’s BYOD policy including the management of both OS platforms, including Apple iOS, Google Android and Microsoft Windows and hardware, including both desktop pcs and mobile devices.

Frank Noon VP Worldwide Sales further commented, “The ever increasing trend towards people adopting the latest smartphone and tablet technology is leading them to canvass their IT departments to allow usage of their own devices in the workplace”. “Fusion UEM provides the ideal solution between enterprise control and employee satisfaction by delivering class-leading management and security without compromising the user experience as well ensuring GDPR compliancy” he added.

To find out how Fusion UEM can help your company achieve GDPR readiness: Tel: +44 (0) 161 775 4755 or Email:sales@vxlsoftware.com

For more information about Fusion UEM, please email: ian.cope@vxl.net or visit: http://vxlsoftware.com/software/fusion-uem

About VXL Software

A global company, with regional offices in Asia, EMEA and the USA, VXL Software’s solutions includes; Illumineye Digital Signage (DS) Suite, Fusion UEM (Unified Endpoint Management) and CloudDesktop PC repurposing. VXL Software is a division of VXL Instruments. Established in 1976, VXL has locations in the USA, UK, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, India and Singapore. VXL Software’s Americas Group is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The European headquarters is in Manchester, UK. VXL Software’s development team, and the Asia Pacific headquarters, are based in Mumbai, India.

About VXL Technology

VXL Technology is a global leader and manufacturer of thin and zero clients – supplying a high quality range of high specification models which are made to the most exacting standards. With a choice of Windows Embedded and Linux operating systems, VXL thin clients are compatible with the latest industry protocols including Citrix, VMware, Microsoft and Teradici. VXL Technology has locations in the USA, UK, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, India and Singapore. VXL’s Americas Group is headquartered in Houston, Texas. The European headquarters is in Manchester, UK.

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Agile4Pi, the new Praim software that transforms Raspberry Pi endpoints into real Thin Clients

Management of endpoints in a single tool, simplicity and security for access to virtualized resources and creation of browser kiosks in seconds.

Trento, 17 September 2018 – Praim, a leading provider of systems for the creation and management of thin & zero client software and hardware workstations, presents the new Agile4Pi software.

The Praim software solution, with Raspberry Pi 3 B and Pi 3 B+, allows a Full HD experience with client-side video rendering. Thanks to the complete integration of the Citrix Receiver, it guarantees total compatibility with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop systems (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop), offering a high performance workstation.

In addition to keeping the investment on endpoints low, Agile4Pi facilitates control and management. By connecting the Raspberry devices to the ThinMan management console, monitoring, configuring, deploying software and automating many operations will be faster and easier. ThinMan allows you to launch a remote assistance session with one click. Therefore, Raspberry devices can be managed in a complete way by a single management console.

The benefits are visible also to the user: Agile4Pi has a smart and controlled interface for accessing Citrix applications; locally customize video resolution, language, mouse and keyboard configurations, whereas changes to configurations are enabled only for the administrator.

“Agile4Pi allows you to create browser kiosks in seconds. With 5 clicks you can create a customized full screen browser kiosk – says Michele Gasparoli, Channel Marketing Manager at Praim – from the info point to digital signage, with Agile4Pi you create and control the kiosk in a simple and automatic way. We have included this feature to ensure the security of each device and prevent the start of any other application.“

Agile4Pi is compatible with the Citrix Secure Browser Standard Service.

Agile4Pi can be downloaded as a free demo version from the Praim website and is already available for purchase through Praim’s resale channel.

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Optimized and secure management of branch offices with ThinMan Gateway

Trento, 8th February – Praim, a leading provider of systems for the creation and management of thin & zero client software and hardware workstations, announced today the launch of its new innovative solution ThinMan Gateway. It has been developed to provide the optimized and secure management of branch offices: from the distribution of updates and policies on endpoints to the possibility of enabling the Wake On LAN.

ThinMan Gateway eliminated the necessity of having a VPN connection between headquarters and offices. It creates a remote repository to optimize data traffic over the corporate WAN to make updates more secure, faster and more efficient.

What does ThinMan Gateway offer?

Complete remote management of branch offices – ThinMan Gateway allows the application of all features of ThinMan Management Console to remote locations, thus an IT manager can easily and effortlessly control all subsidiaries.

Access to branch offices without VPN – after ThinMan Gateway installation in branch offices the IT administrator has complete access to remote devices, without a need of a VPN, simply by using the Internet connection.

Universal Wake On LAN – ThinMan Gateway allows remote Wake On LAN, provide remote assistance, distribute updates and polices across all remote networks. Thanks to the remote repository for the update packets, WAN traffic and update activities are reduced.

ThinMan Gateway is available in three versions:

Software
Virtual Appliance
Hardware Appliance

Three editions give customers the possibility to choose the version that best fits their needs and business requirements. All editions offer a complete data security and secure connection thanks to HTTPS protocol.

“Gateway is the complete and innovative solution to optimize endpoint management in remote locations and make the most of all the features of your ThinMan console,” said Stefano Bonmassar, Chief Sales Officer at Praim. “As nowadays, many companies have remote offices across the globe, it’s essential to have an overall control and remote management across all facilities. ThinMan Gateway makes it possible for just one IT administrator to manage all offices, wherever they are. It can significantly improve companies efficiency, productivity and cut costs.”

ThinMan Gateway is already available for purchase through the Praim resale channel. Also, its free trial is available to download at MyPraim area.

To learn more about ThinMan Gateway visit the page.

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Mobile Thin Clients – How existing laptops can be effectively utilized as thin client devices?

Table of Contents

Laptops as Thin Client Device

Organizations today looking at secure and efficient access to VDI environments both from on-prem as well as from mobile clients may be looking at a mixture of solutions and hardware devices that can solve the needs of VDI connectivity across the board. This can lead to a mix of solutions and management challenges. Lifecycle management of end user workstations is certainly one of the challenges faced by organizations with the tremendous capital outlay required to rotate out end user workstations. Workstations are replaced for a number of reasons including end of support contracts or a performance profile that is no longer adequate to power current end user applications. Businesses today may be looking at VDI initiatives where they may look to replace end user workstations with thin client devices. Businesses who already have VDI infrastructure or who are looking to make the transition also need to consider mobile connectivity to backend VDI systems. How can existing laptop devices be effectively utilized securely and efficiently as thin client devices?

What if organizations had a single solution that allowed provisioning mobile thin clients quickly and easily from existing laptops, greatly extended the life of end user workstations, improved the performance and security profiles, and negated the need to completely replace end user workstations for connecting to VDI infrastructure? This may sound too good to be true, however, this is just what Praim’s ThinOX4PC product allows businesses to accomplish with a single solution. Let’s take a closer look into Praim ThinOX4PC and how it allows organizations to accomplish thin client initiatives both in desktop/PC form as well as mobile thin clients.

What is Praim ThinOX4PC?

ThinOX4PC is the Praim software solution that is designed from the ground up to extend the life of your PC and transform it into a powerful and secure thin client solution. Additionally, powerful mobile thin client devices can be provisioned with existing laptop devices quickly and easily. ThinOX4PC enables doing this by installing the Linux-based operating system on the client or by booting the client with the “Live” version of ThinOX4PC. This enables organizations to have a fully functioning thin client device, either stationary or mobile, that is able to extend hardware service life as well as transition over to a VDI environment to support organizations migration plans as well as mobile workforce.

The ThinOX4PC software is supported on a wide range of hardware including:

Certified hardware

ThinOX4PC (and also the Live version) will support x86 processor type (not ARM).

Certified Ethernet Adapter:

Intel
Realtek
Broadcom
Qualcomm

Certified Graphics Card:

AMD
Intel NVIDIA GEFORCE 210. The VID:PID of the card should be 10de:0a65.
VESA (is used as generic driver if the video card is not recognized)

Certified WiFi Adapter:

Intel AC3160
Intel N2200
Unex DNXA-116

Certified disks type:

EIDE
SATA

The hardware above is tested by Praim. Nevertheless, ThinOX4PC supports a much wider range of hardware. If anyone tested Praim software and it wasn’t compatible with their hardware, they are kindly asked to contact Praim.

Quickly and Easily Provision Mobile Laptop Thin Clients

Praim ThinOX4PC not only allows businesses to satisfy desktop/PC thin client use cases, it also allows for quickly and easily provisioning mobile thin clients by making use of existing laptop infrastructure. The same installable or live boot environment can be used with laptops to turn these into powerful mobile thin clients. ThinOX4PC can be installed directly on the laptop hard drive if needed. However, the “Live” boot environment used in conjunction with a laptop device can allow a laptop to serve the dual purpose of both mobile Windows or Linux platforms as well as a secure and efficient way to safely access VDI environments. Once an end user completes any VDI connectivity reliant work processes, the live boot USB device can be removed and the laptop can be booted normally into the existing locally installed Windows or Linux instance.

Additionally, ThinOX4PC allows organizations to make use of virtually any laptop vendor or configuration and not be relegated to a specific hardware vendor to provide secure, uniform VDI access. This allows organizations to have a very cost-effective option for filling this very real business need of secure, mobile access to backend VDI environments all without the need to purchase new hardware.

ThinOX4PC a Cost-Effective Solution for Thin Clients

One of the tremendous challenges to organizations moving client access to VDI environments is the large capital expense that may be budgeted for refreshing end user client devices. Many organizations may think they need to get rid of “fat client” workstations running Windows client operating systems. However, organizations can use ThinOX4PC and keep existing workstations without the need for replacing existing hardware with new thin clients. While cheaper than a full blown physical workstation, thin client devices can be considerably expensive. It is a hard expense to swallow for organizations to get rid of existing hardware that may still be powerful and purchase new thin client devices when existing hardware can be utilized to make the connection to the backend VDI environment. With a much cheaper ThinOX4PC license, organizations can simply reuse existing hardware, extending the life of their investment and still allow connecting to next generation VDI infrastructure.

Utilizing ThinOX4PC allows organizations a powerful management solution when utilized with Praim ThinMan Server. ThinMan brings configuration management, automation, and an overall “single pane of glass” management platform for all end user clients. This allows organizations to have a streamlined management tool they otherwise would not have with a workstation or PC environment. The return on the hardware investment is much greater with ThinOX4PC and ThinMan server.

Installing or Running Praim ThinOX4PC

As mentioned earlier, there are a couple of ways that ThinOX4PC can be utilized on a workstation/PC. The thin client software can either be installed which means the contents of the existing hard drive will be erased. Alternatively, ThinOX4PC can be ran in the “Live” mode, which means the software is simply booted from a USB key and loaded in memory that way. The existing contents of hard drive will not be overwritten using this method. This essentially makes the PC serve either purpose. With a quick boo off the USB key, the PC becomes a powerful thin client. Eject the USB key and reboot, and the workstation boots from the existing Windows installation.

You can download a trial version of the ThinOX4PC software from the Praim website. It is extremely easy to get the Live USB key created which allows either installing the thin client software or booting the live environment.

Falkirk Council Introduces VDI and IGEL to Deliver Workplace Flexibility

IGEL today announced that Falkirk Council has implemented virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to provide workplace flexibility and mobility for over 2,000 staff and to enable it to assess and rationalise its whole office estate to make better use of its building assets.

Falkirk Council Introduces VDI and IGEL to Deliver Workplace Flexibility and Mobility for Over 2,000 Staff

…£250,000 per annum saved as a rolling desktop PC replacement programme isn’t required…

Reading, UK. March 27, 2019 – IGEL, a world leader in software-defined endpoint optimisation and control solutions for the secure enterprise, today announced that Falkirk Council has implemented virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) to provide workplace flexibility and mobility for over 2,000 staff and to enable it to assess and rationalise its whole office estate to make better use of its building assets.

In addition, VDI is allowing the Council to meet its Public Service Network (PSN)[1] compliance obligations and shift away from a continuous desktop replacement programme, which was costing around £250,000 every year.

Located in central Scotland within half an hour of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Falkirk Council provides a diverse and wide range of services to over 160,000 residents including bin collection, education, home care, planning application services, social housing, fostering and adoption services and roads maintenance. The council serves the largest towns in the area such as Falkirk, Bo’ness, Denny, Larbert, Stenhousemuir and Grangemouth – Scotland’s premier port and home to its only major oil refinery.

Falkirk Council has deployed Citrix Workspace as its VDI, mobile device and application management solution, along with 600 IGEL multimedia UD3 and 100 powerful quad core UD6 endpoints in addition to 1,000 IGEL Universal Desktop Convertor (UDC) software licences. Supplied by I-KONIC, an IT solutions provider and IGEL partner based in Glasgow, this has put in place a flexible, easy-to-manage and cost-effective solution to support the future development of the organisation.

Tommy Evans, Falkirk Council’s project lead for mobile and flexible working, explains, “Although it might sound cliché, moving from traditional PCs to thin client technology has genuinely been a paradigm shift for us. Along with mobile devices and iPads, staff aren’t now tied to a particular desk. They just login from any IGELdevice and are presented with Microsoft Office and applications tailored to their specific job role. We’re trying to change the mindset of employees to make work an activity, not just somewhere you go from 9-5. We’re empowering our staff to work anytime anywhere, even from home so they benefit from a good work-life balance.”

This is a huge cultural change for the Council and is allowing it to introduce flexible and remote working whilst ensuring availability of services to residents. Evans adds, “Even if there’s a snowstorm and people can’t get to an office, they can still login in and work as normal. VDI is also allowing us to review the buildings we currently have and exit old properties to lower our operational expenditure – helping towards making savings, which we hope will contribute to the approximately £60 million worth of savings which have to be made by 2023.”

Falkirk, Scotland – May 19, 2018: People walking around the Kelpies, famous sculptures of horse heads, public art by Andy Scott in Helix park near Forth and Clyde canal Falkirk

Re-using existing IT infrastructure ‘sweats’ assets longer and saves precious budget

After a series of proof of concept tests with all well-known thin client vendors, IGEL was selected. This was for a variety of reasons:

IGEL was the only supplier offering a software approach to managing desktops as opposed to just selling hardware. IGEL’s UDC software was particularly attractive as it has allowed Falkirk Council to turn its existing Windows-based HP PC desktops into IGEL Linux endpoints to not only facilitate easy management, but to also extend the life of the hardware. Clearly this saves a huge amount of money given the hundreds of PCs involved.
IGEL’s Universal Management Suite (UMS) means that the whole UD3, UD6 and UDC environment can be centrally managed with IT staff able to shadow desktops to offer fast helpdesk support.
Compared to PCs, the IGEL UD3 and UD6 endpoints are quiet, produce less heat and are energy efficient. They come with an auto shut down feature too and turn off when not in use.
Security has been maximised. The IGEL endpoints are controlled by the UMS with the IGEL Linux OS ‘read only’. This means staff themselves cannot make changes to the endpoints locally or introduce security vulnerabilities as the desktop environment is ‘locked down.’

VDI simplifies desktop management across multiple locations

The use of Citrix Workspace means that the challenges and overhead of managing thousands of PCs across various buildings has been removed. Software updates are easily made as data and applications are all held centrally such that IT staff don’t have to traipse around machines updating things individually. Changes made in the datacenter automatically populate the connected IGEL desktops. This is key as PSN compliance requires councils to carefully manage the release dates of all key applications in use, such as Microsoft Office, and only be two versions behind the latest.

In addition, startup is now super-fast and takes seconds rather than minutes as was the case when PCs were used. Clearly this boosts staff productivity and avoids people wasting time as they wait for their desktops to ‘boot up.’

Furthermore, hardware maintenance has been drastically simplified as IGEL devices have no moving parts such as hard drives and fans.

The Citrix Workspace solution is powered by HPE server infrastructure. The Citrix control layer is hosted on two HiveIO hyperconverged clusters for availability, each consisting of four HP ProLiant DL360 servers with the Citrix XenServer hypervisor. All virtual desktop workloads run from HPE Enterprise Moonshot System which is populated with 90 server cartridges across two chassis to deliver optimised performance. In total the council has invested around £1.8 million to completely transition away from PCs and put in place a much more modern, flexible and easy to manage desktop solution which – in the long term – is more cost effective.

Sean Russell, I-KONIC’s managing director, says, “As a Scottish-based IGEL partner and Citrix Gold Solution Advisor, it’s tremendously exciting to support Falkirk Council as they embrace virtual desktop and workspace technologies to boost efficiency and increase productivity. Our longstanding partnership with Falkirk Council, IGEL and Citrix goes from strength to strength with this transformation project. The never-ending rolling replacement of PCs has become a thing of the past, and users are able to access their applications and information from virtually anywhere.”

Moving forward, Falkirk Council is reviewing its office requirements. Evans concludes, “One thing that is particularly pleasing about the project is how the council has used technology to save money whilst giving staff tools to work more efficiently and effectively. We’re looking very carefully now at how we can release building assets through the use of Citrix and IGEL.”

Andrew Gee, IGEL’s VP Sales Northern Europe, says, “With all UK councils hit by budgets cuts, UDC is a smart way for them to save money and extend the life of any x86-based PC or laptop by converting them into an IGEL endpoint. It avoids perfectly good technology being thrown away. And it’s quick and simple to do with almost any device and then easy to manage using our UMS software.”

-ENDS –

IGEL on Social Media

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101270758605662221044

IGEL Community: https://igelcommunity.slack.com/messages

IGEL Community on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12057395

About IGEL

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 the 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. 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. 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 has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.

IGEL Media Contact:

Tom Herbst

Tel: +44 (0)7768 145571

Email: tom@ambergroup.net

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10ZiG Recognized as One of the 10 Most Promising Citrix Solution Providers – 2019

10Zig and Citrix Top Solution Provider

CIOReview Editorial Board and an esteemed panel of judges reviewed and selected 10ZiG Technology® as One of the 10 Most Promising Citrix Solution Providers of 2019.

LEICESTER, UK – Ongoing innovations and the increasing immensity of the Citrix Systems product suite and its partner network make it quite challenging to find service providers who can excel with related consultation, implementation, configuring, fine-tuning, and support. On a mission to find the best Citrix Solution providers, a panel of key CIOs, CEOs, CTOs, analysts, along with the CIOReview editorial board, put numerous companies to the test, selecting only the top ten best, including 10ZiG Technology.

When asked if the 10ZiG “more depth and meaning” business model has anything to do with its specializing and speed of service, Kevin Greenway, CTO of 10ZiG and CIOReview interviewee, had this to say, “Yes. We answer your calls, stay by your side, and serve as coach, advisor, and troubleshooter, right from the day you receive your demo device through to post-launch, and beyond.” During the testing phase, customers receive personalized one-on-one device installation support and Q&A sessions. This unique level of service and customization is rare in the endpoint industry and is attributed to the 10ZiG sole focus of Thin & Zero devices. “We provide a multitude of custom embedding options and hardware configurations to ensure that our devices are tailormade to fit seamlessly into our customers’ environments,” added Greenway.

The niche of client hardware devices for VDI with software to manage them enables 10ZiG to exceed in customer support, hardware sophistication, and integration. How quickly 10ZiG reacts when Citrix releases new product and platform updates and rollouts, for example. When the Citrix Workspace App was released, 10ZiG was quickly thereafter listed in Citrix Ready Marketplace as being the only provider to have verified endpoint devices for both the Citrix Workspace App for Linux and for Windows categories. Being first is common with 10ZiG, with the ability to react more quickly compared to larger enterprises that often try to do everything, but not very well.

10ZiG is also embracing “full solution” adaptations in the end-user computing market and the shift toward digital workspaces by bringing further enhancements to its Zero Client products that were traditionally used in desktop virtualization/VDI environments. To read more and for the complete CIOReview article, click here https://magazine.cioreview.com/magazines/April2019/Citrix/#page=18.

About 10ZiG Technology®

10ZiG Technology is a world-market leader in Thin Client & Zero Client endpoint devices for virtual desktops (VDI). 10ZiG provides leading Intel and AMD based Dual and Quad Core Thin & Zero Clients for VMware Blast Extreme & PCoIP, Citrix HDX, Microsoft, and Parallels environments, in addition to the widest range of Teradici PCoIP Zero Clients on the market. 10ZiG offers free, no-obligation demo devices, Technical Support teams based in the U.S. and Europe, and provides The 10ZiG Manager™ – an endpoint management software solution with Cloud capabilities completely free with unlimited user licenses supported. Free evaluation devices are available at 10ZiG.com. For more on 10ZiG, visit www.10ZiG.com

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Contact Us

To learn more about cutting-edge VDI technology from 10ZiG, or to arrange for a FREE Thin or Zero Client demonstration device, please contact 10ZiG below.

Corporate Headquarters, US

10ZiG Technology Inc.

23309 N. 17th Drive #100

Phoenix, AZ 85027, USA

+1 (866) 865-5250 | Email:info@10ZiG.com| Web: www.10ZiG.com

EMEA Headquarters

10ZiG Technology Ltd.

7 Highcliffe Road

Leicester

LE5 1TY

Leicester

United Kingdom

+44 (0) 116 2148650 | Email:info@10ZiG.eu| Web: www.10ZiG.com

Contact: Tom Dodds

10ZiG Technology Ltd.

www.10ZiG.com

+44 (0) 116 214 8650

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IGEL Launches a Fast, Cost-Effective and Secure Endpoint Device for the Future of Work

IGEL Secure Endpoint Launched

Powered by IGEL OS 11, the newly enhanced IGEL UD2 is verified with IGEL Workspace Edition; UEFI Secure Boot activated; and, features a modern, eco-friendly and compact design ideal for space-constrained workplaces

Reading, UK. May 16, 2019 – IGEL, provider of a next-gen edge OS for cloud workspaces, today announced the launch of the new IGEL UD2. Part of IGEL’s family of Universal Desktop endpoint solutions, the compact IGEL UD2 is a fast, cost-effective and secure endpoint device designed to meet the needs of the “future of work” that includes more secure, more agile environments built on Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) and other cloud-enabled technologies.

“We are pleased to provide our customers with simple, smart and secure endpoints optimised for cloud workspaces and virtual desktops with the new IGEL UD2,” said Matthias Haas, CTO, IGEL. “An economical and highly effective solution for the workplace of the future, the IGEL UD2 is a slim endpoint featuring a quad-core processor that provides reliable performance for use cases ranging from office applications, to media consumption, web communication and collaboration, and cloud access, to name a few. Additionally, powered by IGEL OS and offering enhanced security features including UEFI Secure Boot validation which prevents the manipulation of the boot sequence and subsequent execution of malware, the new IGEL UD2 enables IT organisations to confidently future proof their investment in the UD2.”

High Performance End-User Computing Inside a Compact, Eco-Friendly Design

The IGEL UD2 features a slim design that is 50% smaller than the previous UD2 model, making it ideal for space-constrained workplaces. Further, the IGEL UD2 is manufactured using 30% recycled plastic, making it an environmentally friendly hardware option.

With an integrated Intel® Atom quad-core processor featuring turbo boost frequency of 1.04GHz to 2GHz, the IGEL UD2 increases performance by 35%. Other enhanced features include extended connectivity with five USB ports offering a comprehensive range of USB adapter options including USB 3.2 for faster file transfer, and dual view with the ability to connect a second monitor via DisplayPort with 2K 60Hz resolution that supports high performance graphics.

UD2 with IGEL Workspace Edition = Maximum Productivity

IGEL UD2 is verified for IGEL Workspace Edition, and managed through the IGEL Universal Management Suite™ (UMS), a single endpoint management and control solution. A core component of IGEL Workspace Edition, the UMS empowers IT organisations through automated backend control and a rich, intuitive console to remotely and securely manage the UD2 and up to tens of thousands of IGEL-powered endpoints.

Powering the IGEL Workspace Edition is IGEL OS, which features a comprehensive range of certified clients, applications and peripheral devices. Upon license activation, standardise your UD2 and enable adaptive configuration and granular control, with a familiar, trouble-free workspace.

Availability and Support

IGEL UD2 is available now, and can be purchased through IGEL’s network of Platinum- and Gold-level Partners, Authorised IGEL Partners (AIPs) and resellers.

IGEL on Social Media

IGEL Community: www.igel.com/community

About IGEL

IGEL is a provider of a next-gen edge OS for cloud 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. 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. 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 has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com.

IGEL Media Contact:

Tom Herbst

Tel: +44 (0)7768 145571