The hybrid multicloud future is here. Are your endpoints up to the task?

The increasing role and impact of the cloud for enterprise IT environments – namely a mix of corporate and public clouds – hybrid multicloud – is presenting organizations with new options to present a modern computing environment that promotes productivity, efficiency, and cost savings for both end-users and IT teams. Nutanix has emerged as a global leader in infrastructure software for hybrid multicloud environments. IGEL, as the secure endpoint OS platform for now and next, can enable any organization to embrace hybrid multicloud computing to the fullest from the end-user device all the way to multiple private and public clouds.

How did we get here?

The last decade has seen increasing use of public cloud services to deliver apps and desktops to end-users. As the pendulum continues to swing more toward public cloud services to allow companies to back away from the high ongoing cost and labor of maintaining their own data centers and VDI networks, the traditional VDI providers are now providing companies like Microsoft, AWS, Google, and others to deliver ubiquitous cloud desktop and app delivery services. In fact, according to Cybersecurity Insiders, as of early 2025, 54% of organizations have adopted hybrid cloud models, integrating on-prem and public cloud environments to optimize flexibility and control. And that upward trend is showing no signs of slowing down.

The key is to enable seamless co-existence and transition from the many thousands of existing private clouds that run within on-prem data centers. Having already established itself as the leading provider of hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) for private cloud delivery of virtual apps and desktops, Nutanix rapidly assumed leadership in enabling an easily managed, unified approach to seamless enterprise private/public virtual desktop and app delivery: namely, the hybrid multicloud.

The role of the hybrid multicloud endpoint

Now that hybrid multicloud is here to stay and growing, one critically important factor is the security, digital experience, and cost-effectiveness of the end-user and their endpoint device.

Traditional fully-contained Windows devices represent a distinct mismatch with how access to apps and desktops has evolved, with the following most glaring deficiencies:

• Labor-intensive, disruptive, time-consuming updates
• Limited flexibility in adapting to business needs
• Security vulnerabilities caused by decentralized setups
• Cumbersome management and limited enterprise-wide insight
• Costly and cumbersome management processes (e.g., OS and agent updates)

Fueled by the Nutanix Cloud Platform, the hybrid multicloud requires lean, secure endpoint devices that “don’t get in the way” of what end-users need and what IT organizations must enforce. Hybrid multicloud endponts must be malware resistant, resilient in the face of potential disruption, enable optimal end-user performance, and easy to manage at scale across a widely distributed workforce. Enter IGEL OS, the secure endpoint OS platform for now and next, and the IGEL Preventative Security Model^TM.

A lean, secure endpoint unleashes the full power of the hybrid multicloud

The IGEL Preventative Security Model^TM (PSM) serves as the foundation for a secure, malware-resistant, agentless end-user experience that avoids cyberthreats like ransomware that commonly attack vulnerable endpoints while freeing up resources to enable a highly productive end-user digital experience. Working hand-in-glove with a broad array of proven, IGEL Ready security technology partners including Nutanix, the IGEL PSM casts a broad, protective defense over end-user device roles and use cases, from hospital clinicians to financial services employees to retail workers. The benefit is clear – while Nutanix enables and fuels the managed, efficient, and productive hybrid multicloud, the IGEL OS platform with the IGEL PSM helps to protect your end-users’ devices and enable consistently excellent user experiences without the security, management, and performance overhead limitations of traditional approaches. Thus, the IGEL OS platform is not only the ideal complement to Nutanix for modern end-to-end computing, IGEL OS is the perfect endpoint for the hybrid multicloud.

Why Nutanix Plus IGEL?

Nutanix is an IGEL Ready partner and recently participated as a gold level sponsor at the recent IGEL Now and Next event in Miami. At the event, IGEL interviewed Jim Luna, Global Head of Business Development – Cloud and Technology Alliances at Nutanix, on the relationship between IGEL and Nutanix. Virtualizing Windows (including Windows 11) with virtualization/broker software running on the Nutanix Cloud Platform solution in your datacenter or cloud, and replacing Windows or any other OS with IGEL OS on your endpoint devices enables a modern, streamlined, flexible, and resilient approach to desktop management and control.

“At Choice Solutions, we’re focused on delivering secure, scalable, and future-ready solutions that enable our customers to thrive in today’s hybrid multicloud environments. Partnering with IGEL and Nutanix allows us to do exactly that. Together, we provide a seamless, cost-efficient platform that simplifies endpoint management, strengthens security, and delivers a consistent, high-performance user experience across any location or workload.” — Jim Steinlage, President & CEO, Choice Solutions

The following benefits can be quickly realized, all of which should be considered “table stakes” for successful hybrid multicloud computing:

1. Improved Scalability

Nutanix enables organizations to efficiently and cost-effectively scale from hundreds to thousands of virtual desktops while using multiple private/public clouds. Its rapid deployment capabilities help ensure businesses can meet both immediate and long-term demands. The IGEL OS platform makes it easy to quickly scale the number of end-users, especially during rapid expansion periods or M&A transactions.

2. Advanced Security

Nutanix seamlessly supports all the security features required of Windows 10 and Windows 11 apps and desktops, helping businesses safeguard their systems from modern threats. The IGEL OS platform complements Nutanix on the endpoint as a lean, minimal software footprint OS with near zero overhead, making it a non-target for cyber-attacks. The IGEL PSM sets IGEL apart with robust security and protective malware/ransomware resistance, and includes:

• tamper-resistant, read-only OS
• no local data storage on the device
• trusted application platform integrity verification
• modular design minimizes the attack surface
• extensive integration with leading security, authentication, SSO, and SASE technologies

3. Streamlined IT Management and Control

Centralized IT operations on the Nutanix platform simplify desktop management, with:

• Faster recovery and easier updates
• Integrated file services for efficient data management
• Single-click disaster recovery solutions

Likewise, centralized web-based IGEL Universal Management Suite (UMS) and IGEL App Server service offer:

• Full management and control for up to 100K+ IGEL endpoints
• Easy, efficient software updates – say good-bye to the giant software release
• Keen insight with corrective measures for all endpoints across the enterprise
• Integration with other management/service systems via a REST API

4. Lower Costs

Switching to virtualized environments and avoiding endpoint hardware swap-outs can significantly cut costs. So can optimizing the use of both private infrastructure and public cloud-based services. On endpoints, potential for significant cost savings can be achieved through repurposed device hardware, reduced IT overhead, and lower energy consumption as leaner, more efficient endpoints can typically run for years longer.

5. Efficient Operations to Promote Sustainability Goals

Nutanix can help organizations pursue their sustainability goals through opportunities to reduce energy consumption and e-waste, all while maintaining top-tier performance. IGEL does likewise through opportunities to extend the life of your existing endpoints, including those migrated from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (and keeping them out of landfill sites), and enable the use of energy-efficient endpoint devices like thin and zero clients.

What Sets Nutanix Apart?

The Nutanix hybrid multicloud platform offers a seamless environment for on-premises, cloud, and edge systems. Key features include a flexible pay-per-use model that helps ensure organizations pay for actual usage, optimizing infrastructure costs; consistent performance via localized data management for reliable user experiences across workloads; and a future-ready hybrid architecture design that helps to maintain security and delivers simplicity, while also being cost-effective and highly scalable. In essence, Nutanix bridges the gap between public clouds and an organization’s private cloud infrastructure to create a seamless, fully managed multicloud environment where apps and data can reside anywhere. At the edge, IGEL offers the ideal endpont “on-ramp” to the Nutanix-enabled and powered multicloud, for end-users located anywhere.

What Sets IGEL Apart?

As the secure endpoint OS platform for now and next, IGEL OS on your endpoints serves as the ideal, future-ready complement to Nutanix-powered hybrid multicloud environments. In particular, the following distinct advantages set the IGEL OS platform apart from any other endpoint OS alternatives:

• Secure: The IGEL Preventative Security Model^TM turns your endpoints into non-targets and helps protect your people and their devices from cyber-attacks
• Excellent performance with business continuity: Lean, efficient IGEL OS improves endpoint performance; inherent resilience gets your end-users quickly up and running after any form of work stoppage (e.g., natural disaster, human error, malware episode)
• Future-Ready Design: IGEL OS is designed as the ideal endpoint OS in a hybrid multicloud world for your digital workspaces – secure browser, SasS, DaaS, and VDI
• TCO and sustainability: IGEL provides opportunities for CapEx and OpEx savings, reduced energy costs, and reduced e-waste in landfills

Choose the end-to-end solution designed for the hybrid multicloud.

Hybrid multicloud computing has arrived and it continues to grow. Nutanix and IGEL can help make your entire enterprise more secure and economical, and easier to manage, while giving your end-users a performance and experience upgrade! The Nutanix Cloud Platform, IGEL OS, and the IGEL PSM combine for a more efficient and improved end-user computing environment with improved security, management, control, and insight.

Be fully armed to take maximum advantage of the future of hybrid multicloud computing with Nutanix and IGEL.

You are encouraged to attend the Nutanix .NEXT 2025 conference and expo in Washington D.C. May 7 – 9, where IGEL is a Silver sponsor of the event. Stop by the IGEL booth in the Solutions Expo to see the latest solutions and innovations from IGEL, and don’t miss IGEL’s John Walsh, who will be presenting at our sponsored breakout session titled Beyond the Endpoint: Enabling Zero Trust Across IT and OT with IGEL and Nutanix. A brief extract of John’s talk follows:

Looking to extend Zero Trust beyond the data center? Join IGEL’s Field CTO – Critical Sectors, John Walsh at .NEXT to discover how IGEL’s secure, read-only OS and Preventative Security Model™ are helping organizations protect their IT and OT environments—without adding complexity or cost. This breakout will show how IGEL integrates with Nutanix to deliver a unified, policy-driven security layer across endpoints and across the enterprise, enabling faster modernization, simplified compliance, and safer access to critical applications in even the most regulated industries. Whether you’re dealing with legacy systems, hybrid and distributed workforces, or edge computing, this session will show you how to turn Zero Trust into a practical, scalable, and cost-effective reality.

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About IGEL

IGEL is the leading secure endpoint OS platform for enterprises now and next. Designed for secure browser, SaaS, DaaS, and VDI, the IGEL OS platform delivers a first-class user experience that is seamless to manage – saving money, fueling growth, advancing sustainability, and driving organizations forward. IGEL OS takes a zero-trust approach to security through the unique IGEL Preventative Security Model™, removing the attack vectors often exploited by bad actors. Trusted by leading healthcare, financial services, retail, manufacturing, and government leaders worldwide, IGEL has a growing ecosystem of more than 100 integrated IGEL Ready ecosystem partners in more than 50 countries. For more information on what IGEL can do for you, visit IGEL.