IGEL and UltrArmor: Pioneering Security, Sustainability, and the Seamless User Experiences that are Defining the Future of Digital Workspaces

From March 30 to April 2, the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach will be the place to see and be seen as architects, strategists, and technology leaders who are shaping the future of secure, resilient digital work gather for IGEL Now & Next 2026.

In this edition of our IGEL Now & Next Sponsor Blog series, we talk with Christine Chen, Strategic Partner & Channel Marketing Manager at UltrArmor, about the IGEL-UltrArmor partnership and what attendees can expect to see and learn at IGEL Now & Next 2026.

Tell us about your company and the role you play in the IGEL Ready ecosystem.

Christine Chen: UltrArmor is a global provider of secure thin client hardware designed for modern digital workspaces. With over 20 years of experience supporting the IGEL ecosystem, UltrArmor delivers reliable endpoint devices optimized for IGEL Secure Endpoint OS deployments across enterprise, healthcare, government, and industrial environments.

Our UA Series thin clients provide secure, energy-efficient, and long-lifecycle endpoint solutions for VDI, DaaS, and cloud workspace environments. Designed with fanless architecture, multi-display support, and enterprise-grade reliability, UltrArmor devices enable organizations to simplify endpoint management while reducing operational costs.

Within the IGEL Ready ecosystem, UltrArmor provides purpose-built hardware platforms that fully support the IGEL Secure Endpoint OS, allowing customers to deploy a secure, centrally managed digital workspace infrastructure. By combining UltrArmor’s durable and sustainable endpoint devices with IGEL’s secure OS and management platform, organizations can achieve a scalable, secure, and high-performance EUC environment.

UltrArmor works closely with IGEL partners, distributors, and resellers across Europe and globally to deliver integrated solutions that accelerate secure endpoint adoption and modern workplace transformation.

How has participating in the IGEL Ready program helped amplify your innovation, reach new markets, or improve customer experience?

Christine Chen: Clientron has been a trailblazer in Thin Client technology since 1983, empowering businesses worldwide with innovative solutions.

For over 20 years, we’ve maintained a strong strategic partnership with IGEL, co-developing industry-leading hardware solutions that have resulted in the sale of over 4.5 million devices globally. In 2023, we proudly launched UltrArmor, a subsidiary dedicated to revolutionizing VDI, DaaS, and cloud endpoint devices.

As an IGEL Ready partner for the past two years, UltrArmor is committed to delivering cutting-edge Thin Client solutions that combine exceptional performance, security, and sustainability to meet the evolving needs of the digital workplace.

What are you and IGEL building together that shapes what’s Now and Next for secure, modern EUC?

Christine Chen: As IGEL transitions to focus exclusively on software, UltrArmor identified a golden opportunity to provide the market with an all-encompassing Thin Client solution.

Backed by two decades of hardware design, R&D, and manufacturing expertise with IGEL, UltrArmor was established to bridge this gap. As the industry’s only partner with 20+ years of experience in IGEL hardware collaboration, we combine unparalleled hardware and software integration to create seamless solutions.

Together, we’re pioneering advancements in security, sustainability, and user experience, shaping the future of digital workspaces.

How does your offering integrate with IGEL’s three-plane architecture?

Christine Chen: UltrArmor primarily operates in the Endpoint Plane of IGEL’s three-plane architecture by providing purpose-built thin client hardware platforms optimized for the IGEL Secure Endpoint OS.

UltrArmor devices serve as secure, reliable endpoint hardware on which IGEL OS runs, enabling organizations to deliver centrally managed digital workspaces. Our UA Series thin clients are designed with fanless architecture, energy-efficient processors, and long lifecycle support, making them ideal endpoints for secure VDI, DaaS, and cloud workspace deployments.

Through full compatibility with IGEL OS and IGEL management tools, UltrArmor endpoints seamlessly connect to the Management Plane for centralized policy control and device management, while providing users with secure access to applications and virtual desktops in the Workspace Plane.

How do customers benefit from the combination of your technology and the IGEL Secure Endpoint OS Platform?

Christine Chen: Customers benefit from a secure, reliable, and highly manageable endpoint environment when combining UltrArmor thin client hardware with the IGEL Secure Endpoint OS Platform.

UltrArmor devices provide a durable and energy-efficient hardware foundation optimized for IGEL OS, while IGEL delivers a secure, read-only operating system and centralized management capabilities. Together, this combination significantly reduces endpoint attack surface and security risks, supporting modern Zero Trust security strategies.

Organizations also benefit from simplified operations and lower IT overhead, as endpoints can be centrally managed, quickly deployed, and easily updated through the IGEL management platform. The fanless and long-lifecycle design of UltrArmor devices further enhances system reliability and availability, minimizing maintenance requirements and device failures.

By combining UltrArmor’s purpose-built endpoint hardware with IGEL’s secure OS and management platform, customers gain a scalable and cost-efficient solution for delivering secure digital workspaces across enterprise, healthcare, government, and industrial environments.

Are you able to share a joint customer story that illustrates this impact?

Christine Chen: One example comes from the retail sector in Germany, where a large retail enterprise needed to modernize its IT infrastructure across multiple store locations. The organization faced challenges with outdated systems, security risks, and high operational costs while managing IT environments across 65 retail stores.

By deploying 1,050 UltrArmor UA3 thin clients and the IGEL Secure Endpoint OS, the customer successfully transformed over 2,000 workstations into a centrally managed digital workspace. The solution leveraged IGEL’s read-only OS and centralized management through IGEL UMS, while UltrArmor provided reliable, fanless hardware designed for long lifecycle deployments.

The result was a secure, scalable, and easy-to-manage endpoint environment that enabled faster rollout across stores, reduced endpoint risk, and simplified IT operations. Retail staff gained reliable access to business applications, while the IT team significantly reduced management complexity and maintenance overhead.

Why is your organization sponsoring IGEL Now and Next 2026?

Christine Chen: As an IGEL Ready partner, UltrArmor is committed to shaping the future of End User Computing (EUC). Sponsoring Now & Next 2026 reflects our dedication to collaboration, innovation, and delivering cutting-edge solutions for digital workspaces.

IGEL’s leadership in the EUC ecosystem aligns with UltrArmor’s mission to provide world-class endpoint solutions. Now & Next offers a platform to connect with global thought leaders, uncover emerging trends, and showcase how UltrArmor’s solutions redefine performance, security, and sustainability.

By participating, we aim to strengthen our partnerships and contribute to transformative advancements in the modern workplace.

What will you be presenting or demonstrating at the event?

Christine Chen: At IGEL Now & Next 2025, UltrArmor will showcase the revolutionary UA Series Thin Client solutions, designed to elevate the industry benchmark. Inspired by IGEL’s UD Series, the UA Series takes performance and security to the next level.

Our lineup includes:

• UA2, UA3, UA7 (desktop solutions)
• UA9 (mobile solution)
• UA8 (Industrial Operation solution)
• UA10 (all-in-one solution)

Built with high-performance AMD and Intel CPUs, the UA Series enhanced performance while fortifying endpoint security. Moreover, Sustainability is a key focus, with 30% of materials sourced from post-consumer recycled content (aiming for 50%) and backed by a five-year warranty to reduce premature replacements.

Furthermore, Attendees will discover how UltrArmor’s solutions empower industries such as healthcare, government, finance, manufacturing, and retail to achieve secure, scalable, and sustainable digital workspaces.

What do you hope attendees understand about our joint value by the time they leave the event?

Christine Chen: We invite attendees to experience the core essence of UltrArmor: a seamless integration of 40 years of industry innovation and 20 years of successful collaboration with IGEL. Our UA Series exemplifies cutting-edge security, sustainability, and high performance, and we are committed to inspiring confidence through solutions that are future-ready and tailored to meet the evolving demands of modern businesses.

What do you hope to take away from participating in IGEL Now & Next 2026?

Christine Chen: UltrArmor’s participation at IGEL Now & Next 2026 is about more than showcasing products—it’s about fostering partnerships, gaining insights, and understanding the evolving needs of global markets. By engaging with thought leaders and partners, we aim to strengthen our position as the trusted partner for digital transformation and further refine our solutions to address tomorrow’s challenges today.

Don’t miss IGEL Now & Next 2026 in Miami Beach. Register today!