IGEL Technology

IGEL Technology (/ˈaɪdʒɛl/ EYE-jel) is a multinational software company best known for its "Secure endpoint OS for Now and Next" which is purpose-built for secure access to cloud-delivered digital workspaces including software as a service (Saas), desktop as a service (Daas), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) or any combination.

Privately held, the original investor in IGEL was C Melchers GmbH & Co. KG (“Melchers”) which founded the company in 2002 in Bremen, Germany. In 2021, TA Associates ("TA") became the majority investor in IGEL. Melchers continues to maintain an equity interest in the company.

IGEL’s primary product is IGEL OS, a Linux based endpoint device operating system designed specifically for secure, efficient access to cloud-delivered digital workspaces. IGEL OS thus serves as an alternative to Microsoft Windows or any other operating system on the endpoint for organizations looking for a secure, efficient, and managed endpoint operating system for their end-users accessing any form of digital workspace. With native support for all key browsers such as Island, Edge for business, Firefox as well as Citrix, Omnissa, Microsoft, Amazon and many other desktop virtualization technologies, IGEL can help organizations convert existing endpoints to IGEL OS and support any cloud, any protocol.

The IGEL Universal Management Suite (IGEL UMS) provides secure centralized management for all IGEL OS endpoints delivering policy, update, configuration, and performance management. The UMS Web App and UMS console supports IT with flexible management and control functions.

By converting existing compatible x86 devices, organizations can improve endpoint security, reduce operational costs extend the life of existing hardware save capital expenditure, and improve their overall sustainability footprint. The foundation of IGEL’s technology is the IGEL Preventative Security Model (PSM), a multi-faceted, comprehensive endpoint security approach designed to avoid ransomware and other cyber threats at the endpoint. The Preventative Security Model eliminates the vulnerabilities targeted by bad actors such as the ability to download new executable code to the endpoint, make changes to the operating system or alter the device boot process.

IGEL holds strategic alliances through its "IGEL Ready" program with over 100 software companies including Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Network, Island, Citrix, Omnissa,Amazon, Okta, and ImprivataIGEL as well as healthcare-sector OEMs including Imprivata.

The company has multiple integrations with Microsoft, being the first Linux-based endpoint operating system to support Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) desktop as a service offering, and also support Windows 365 and Cloud PC, EntraID conditional access and Microsoft Frontline.

For hardware, IGEL holds strategic alliances with Lenovo, HP and LG Business Solutions each of whom offers IGEL OS integrated into select endpoint devices as an orderable option from the factory. Many other hardware partners are part of the IGEL Ready program.

As a result of its continued success, IGEL employs over 450 people, and continues to invest heavily in its development team which released IGEL OS 12 in 2022.

IGEL products are used by many thousand customers worldwide across 5 key verticals healthcare, government, financial services, manufacturing and retail/tansportation and hospitality.

It sells its products exclusively through channel partners with a three-tier channel program. IGEL has over 1,000 global partners and focuses its attention on working with their Platinum and Gold partners. It allows distribution to manage and maintain Authorized IGEL Partners (AIP).

Starting in 2019, IGEL has hosted an end user computing & endpoint security forum and expo called DISRUPT, now called Now and Next. IGEL celebrated its 7th year in January 2024, hosting two forums in Miami, Florida and in Munich. Each location brought together over 800 attendees from the cloud workspaces and end-user computing spaces and was sponsored by Microsoft, Citrix, VMware, Amazon and more than 30 other vendors. The event is attended by partners, community members, and customers who are involved in cloud workspaces and end-user computing, or help organizations deploy the modern workspace.

Originally, IGEL was a manufacturer of hardware "thin clients". The company permanently exited the hardware business in 2020, and since then, IGEL has been solely a software company. Its headquarters are in Bremen, Germany with North American operations out of Fort Lauderdale.