2025 Trends and Insights in End-User Computing (EUC)

IGEL DISRUPT spotlights trends, innovations, and IGEL ecosystem partners driving the future of EUC.

As the end-user computing (EUC) market is projected to reach $20 billion by 2030, IGEL DISRUPT 2024, the only global event dedicated solely to EUC, attracted a record number of attendees this year.

As a Silver sponsor and IGEL Ready ISV partner, Tricerat connected with our community of partners and customers to showcase how our enterprise printing solutions align with and deliver on the EUC promise of more productive, flexible, and secure user experiences of tomorrow.

2025 Trends in End User Computing: Now and Next

The theme "Now and Next" captured the conference's dual focus: celebrating today's advancements while creating a visionary path forward.

"Now & Next is all about solving the IT industry's problems, with an eye toward the future. The shift to hybrid and remote work, rising threats, and AI present new challenges for businesses and IT leaders to address for a secure and enhanced end-user computing experience." — Carl Gersh, VP of Global Marketing, IGEL

1. The Future of Enterprise is Multi-Tenant, Multi-Cloud, Hybrid

In 2024, EUC is reshaping workspace and endpoint protection models to align with AI-driven trends and the increasing user demand for "work from anywhere." The focus is on developing user-centric solutions that integrate into an interoperable ecosystem, giving enterprises necessary flexibility. 

Mark Templeton's Vision for "Enterprise Utility Computing"

"The future of Enterprise EUC is here — ditch the outdated and embrace the power of cloud-based, multi-platform solutions." — Mark Templeton, former CEO, Citrix

In a captivating keynote, former Citrix CEO Mark Templeton explained his vision for "Enterprise Utility Computing." Templeton presented a shift from traditional, monolithic infrastructures to multi-tenant, multi-cloud, and hybrid models that combine on-premises infrastructure with cloud agility.

In this platform-centric vision, a unified digital ecosystem offers plug-and-play, on-demand SaaS solutions with utility-like pricing for scalable resources in hybrid environments: 

• Shifting to cloud-based models, including VDI adoption and private/public cloud integrations, improves service delivery's adaptability, streamlines resource consumption, and enables scale. 
• Pay-per-use pricing aligns costs with actual resource consumption, reducing unnecessary expenditures and enabling scaling without over- or under-provisioning.
• A platform-centric approach with robust third-party integrations fosters growth in complex IT environments by prioritizing openness and observability for seamless integrations and full visibility.

The IGEL App Portal now offers over 50 native applications. The new IGEL Ready Developer Program enables faster deployment and secure integration of partner solutions, expanding configuration options and the overall functionality accessible to end users. 

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2. Security is The #1 Reason for Adopting Desktop Virtualization

Security remains top of mind for EUC tech developers and end users, driving the adoption of desktop virtualization to counter sophisticated threat actors. A proactive security posture—like continuous monitoring and advanced threat detection—is essential.

Innovations such as AI/ML-driven automated compliance enforcement are at the forefront of safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring uniform security policy enforcement across all endpoints.

"The cloud-first approach taken by many organizations has resulted in a shift of endpoint workloads away from the endpoint and into VDI, DaaS, or SaaS infrastructure often accessed through secure browsers. This shift presents a unique opportunity to reassess the enterprise endpoint." — Klaus Oestermann, CEO, IGEL

Proactive Security with IGEL’s Preventative Security Model™

Security continues to be IGEL's top priority, emphasizing zero-trust architecture and a new Preventative Security Model™ for secure endpoint OS and hybrid management, plus:

• Minimizes vulnerabilities by removing unnecessary software and agents, allowing only essential applications and services to run.
• Prevents unauthorized modifications with a Read-Only OS, protecting system integrity, and reducing malware infection risks.
• Implements cryptographic verification for system security from startup ensures that only trusted software runs at boot and prevents unauthorized code execution.

"Through IGEL's Preventative Security Model, IGEL OS reduces the endpoint attack surface by 95%, dramatically reduces endpoint purchasing and operational costs, and helps organizations meet sustainability and Zero-Trust goals. IGEL OS is the most secure and efficient endpoint OS for enterprises." — Klaus Oestermann, CEO, IGEL

3. Consolidation is a Key Driver to Better User Experience and Security 

Delivering a seamless user experience remains a focal point in the industry, ensuring endpoints "just work," especially in high-demand environments like healthcare and financial services.

There's a strong emphasis on supporting a wide range of devices and OS, including legacy and modern systems, to cater to diverse user needs. As organizations face the challenge of managing increasing endpoints and tools, consolidation offers a path to reduced vulnerabilities.

Gabe Knuth on Virtualization, Consolidation and Security

"We seem to be in an era of consolidation, and that consolidation is brought about because we started with sprawl." — Gabe Knuth, Senior Analyst, ESG 

Gabe Knuth, a Senior Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group, addressed the increasing complexity of endpoint management and security, driven by the proliferation of devices and disparate management tools. Knuth emphasized that advancements in VDI and  cloud services, while enhancing efficiency and scalability, require a strategic overhaul of endpoint management practices.

Knuth emphasized the need for IT consolidation to manage the increasing number of devices and tools effectively. By integrating different systems into a unified framework, organizations can simplify the management of multiple endpoints, reduce potential vulnerabilities, and improve operational efficiency through a unified IT and user management approach.

Key Trends Presented by Gabe Knuth's Research:

• 93% of organizations currently use some form of desktop or application virtualization, and this usage is expected to grow sevenfold by 2026. 
• Despite the rise of SaaS, desktop and application virtualization are growing: 93% of organizations utilize these technologies to support legacy Windows applications and improve security.
• Windows remains the predominant endpoint for accessing virtual desktops and applications, with 97% of enterprises using at least one Windows application in their workflows. 

Knuth's analysis indicates that cloud-based model growth is a strategic response to shifts in work patterns, economics, and cybersecurity. Daas and PCaaS services align with the move towards more agile and secure IT operations and support the evolving needs of modern workforces, making them increasingly relevant in today’s digital economy.

4. Women in Technology Panel: Diversity Driving Innovation

The Women in Technology panel emphasizes diversity and inclusion as a current requirement and a long-term strategy that enhances innovation and market reach, anticipating that future developments will more frequently incorporate diverse contributions and viewpoints as key drivers of growth.

“Developing AI tools and protocols that reflect a broad range of human experiences and needs helps prevent the perpetuation of existing biases and promotes equity in technology development.” — Maryam Alexandrian-Adams, Global Sales Leader, Nutanix

Key Discussions and Insights:

• Ethical AI and Inclusive Protocols: The panel emphasized the importance of developing AI and technological protocols that reflect a broad range of human experiences and needs. This approach helps prevent the perpetuation of existing biases and promotes equity in technology development.
• Benefits of a Diverse Workforce: Diversity boosts creativity, decision-making, and market adaptability. Organizations reflecting customer diversity are more likely to succeed.

5. Ecosystem Partnerships Move the Needle for EUC Ecosystem Innovation

The IGEL ecosystem's expansion highlights the innovation power of partnerships, with the IGEL App Portal now offering over 50 native applications.

The IGEL Ready Developer Program further accelerates the deployment and integration of partner solutions, enabling organizations to customize their endpoint environments to meet specific needs. This program enhances functionality and ensures that security and performance standards are upheld.

Impact of Tricerat’s Partnership on the IGEL Ecosystem

Tricerat’s partnership with IGEL significantly enhances the capabilities of the IGEL community, offering streamlined and efficient endpoint management solutions.

By integrating ScrewDrivers software with IGEL OS, Tricerat removes the complexities associated with traditional print drivers, simplifying IT administration and reducing costs. This integration boosts productivity and scalability, providing a robust solution against grappling with outdated print.

Integrating Tricerat’s solutions into the IGEL App Portal enhances accessibility and equips the EUC community to meet future multi-hybrid and complex demands efficiently. All of our enterprise software is available with free 30-day trials!

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