IGEL Blog
Building Trusted, Flexible, and Compliant IT & OT Security
Securing the Future of IT and OT
Organizations today face a daunting challenge: how to secure IT and OT environments while meeting the increasingly strict requirements of compliance frameworks such as NIS2, NIST CSF2, SOC2, GDPR, and IEC 62443. This isn’t just about protecting endpoints; it’s about enabling resilience, regulatory alignment, and digital transformation. At IGEL, we believe that the endpoint should be the foundation for Zero Trust security, and our platform is designed to deliver exactly that.
Why Zero Trust Matters
Zero Trust has shifted from being a strategic goal to a regulatory mandate. The philosophy is simple: never trust, always verify. But implementation is complex, especially in environments where IT and OT systems intersect. IGEL makes Zero Trust achievable by combining a secure, immutable operating system with centralized management, trusted application delivery, and a robust partner ecosystem. Our architecture ensures that every device, application, and connection is verified before it gains access, reducing risks and simplifying compliance.
IGEL’s Approach
At the heart of our solution is the immutable, read-only IGEL OS. By design, it prevents ransomware or malware from persisting on the endpoint. With no local data to compromise, attackers are denied the foothold they need to re-establish themselves. This is Zero Trust in action—minimizing the attack surface and assuming breach as a starting point.
To orchestrate this across thousands of endpoints, IGEL’s Universal Management Suite (UMS) provides centralized control. IT and OT teams can enforce policies, push updates, and manage endpoints remotely, ensuring consistency and compliance. For organizations grappling with Comply-to-Connect initiatives, UMS integrates seamlessly with IGEL Ready partners for attestation, NAC, and endpoint visibility, helping agencies and enterprises prove compliance without increasing complexity.
Another critical element is the IGEL Secure Application Portal. It acts as a trusted gateway, ensuring that only certified, vetted applications are delivered to endpoints. Whether the workload involves SaaS, DaaS, VDI, or secure enterprise browsing, the portal enforces application trust, which is essential for regulated industries like healthcare, financial services, and energy. This trust model is reinforced by the IGEL Ready ecosystem, which includes certified integrations with leading IT and OT partners such as Cisco ISE, Honeywell, and Siemens. Together, they enable secure, compliant architectures that meet the unique demands of operational technology environments.
Trusted Secure Macro Enclave(TSME)
As organizations embrace hybrid environments, IGEL has introduced the concept of the Trusted Secure Macro Enclave (TSME). This framework extends Zero Trust deeper into IT and OT environments by creating enclaves that isolate and protect workloads. With TSME, enterprises gain the flexibility to integrate diverse applications while maintaining strict governance controls. It’s not just about today’s compliance requirements but about being ready for tomorrow’s standards, whether that’s new mandates under NIS2 or evolving requirements within IEC 62443.
Resilience Through Business Continuity
In addition to compliance and Zero Trust, resilience is a cornerstone of IGEL’s design. IGEL Dual Boot™ is a prime example. By allowing compromised endpoints to reboot directly into a clean IGEL OS partition, recovery can happen in minutes rather than days. This eliminates the need for replacement devices and preserves the compromised partition for forensic investigation. In a world where downtime can cost millions and damage reputations, this level of resilience is a game-changer.
Aligning with Compliance Frameworks
IGEL’s architecture maps directly to today’s regulatory landscape. For NIS2 and IEC 62443, IGEL secures OT/ICS device management and ensures strong incident reporting. For NIST CSF2, our solutions align with the five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. For SOC2 and GDPR, IGEL enforces data integrity, privacy, and access control. In every case, IGEL’s modular design ensures organizations can adapt as frameworks evolve.
Looking Ahead to IGEL Now & Next Frankfurt
All of these innovations will be showcased at IGEL Now & Next in Frankfurt this November. Attendees will see firsthand how IGEL is shaping the future of trusted digital workspaces, combining endpoint resilience with compliance and Zero Trust principles. From IT to OT, our platform is purpose-built to deliver secure, flexible, and compliant operations.
Conclusion
IGEL is more than an endpoint OS. It is a secure, compliant, and resilient platform that empowers organizations to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s requirements. By embedding Zero Trust principles, supporting regulatory frameworks, and enabling business continuity, IGEL is helping enterprises create a foundation for trusted IT and OT operations. We invite you to join us in Frankfurt to explore how IGEL can help your organization achieve its security and compliance goals while ensuring resilience for the future.
The journey to convergence is accelerating — and the organizations that act now will set the pace for resilience and security. Join us at IGEL Now & Next Frankfurt, November 4-6, 2025, at the ultimate EUC event of the year to learn more about how IGEL and our ecosystem partners are redefining IT/OT convergence.
About the Author
John Walsh is Field CTO for Government, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Retail/Transportation, and OT/IoT at IGEL. A recognized expert in cybersecurity architecture and frameworks, he leads IGEL’s go-to-market efforts across these sectors. John has held senior leadership positions at both public and private companies, including strategy, technology, and product leadership roles at BlueRock Systems, BlackRidge Technology International, Analog Devices, Sypris Electronics, and Ducommun Technologies. He also serves on several cybersecurity and resilience advisory boards and holds 15 patents, with additional patents pending, in cyber-related technologies.
Posted in Zero Trust - IT/OT - Cybersecurity
