Press release
Thin is in and desktops on diets, say Insurance industry IT Managers
Increased flexibility, security and speed of deployment are key benefits, research reports
Reading, UK. September 19th, 2014. UK Insurance industry IT managers plan to put
their desktops on diets over the next 24 months as research shows thin and zero
client adoption looks set to rise from 20% to 39%. The managers say increased
flexibility, security and speed of deployment are the primary benefits of thin client.
Currently 78% of the Insurance companies surveyed run a centralized IT infrastructure,
with 80% of organizations using some thin or zero client desktops. The average number of
desktops that are thin or zero clients is 20%, with PC’s still dominating at 42%. 23% of
users are also using notebooks and 19% tablets. But moving forward, IT managers believe
that thin clients will be on 39% of desktops within the next two years as companies focus
on the benefits of flexibility (56%), improved security (46%) and speed of deployment
(44%). However, although thin and zero client use is set to almost double there are still
mental obstacles to further implementation. The three top concerns with thin client
deployment are: user dissatisfaction when the system goes down (42%), implementation
costs (40%) and employee adoption (40%).
With almost all those surveyed (94%) saying an increase in the number of thin and zero
clients on their desktops was likely or very likely, a third (32%) also confirmed that this
increase could very likely in part come from converting existing hardware into centrally
managed thin client-like devices.
The research, conducted by Dynamic Markets on a sample of 50 UK Insurance companies
on behalf of IGEL Technology, also found little favoritism among the server-based
computing providers with Citrix, VMware and Microsoft software all present in roughly half
of all organizations with thin clients.
When it came to the desktop, 70% of the Insurance companies surveyed have more than
one brand of thin client, 58% have three or more and 28% use four or more.
“This research demonstrates that insurance industry IT managers have a clear view that
speed, flexibility and security are the prime motivators behind their desktop strategy,” said
Simon Richards, IGEL Technology Managing Director for UK & Ireland. “As a result, thin is in
as the best way to bring these advantages to the desktop. But with the mix of technologies
and desktop providers, no vendors appear as yet to have convinced the insurance industry of
their vision on how best to deploy a thin desktop environment. It’s a case of thin is in but
which diet to follow? There is still much for vendors to do to convince the industry of their
benefits.”
For an executive summary of the research go to: http://www.igel.com/ES_Insurance
About IGEL Technology
A world leader in thin and zero client solutions, IGEL Technology helps organizations improve the
agility, efficiency, and security of their virtual desktop and application delivery systems. IGEL produces
one of the industry's widest range of hardware thin and zero clients, based on Linux and Microsoft
Windows, and leads the market in software based thin clients allowing customers to access a broad
spectrum of server-based infrastructures and applications. IGEL also offers powerful and intuitive
management software for easy deployment and administration of thin clients throughout any size
organization. Partnerships with industry leaders like Citrix, VMware, Red Hat, and Microsoft ensure
that IGEL provides the most up-to-date technology and trustworthy security to clients in industries that
include Healthcare, Education & Research, Public Sector, Financial, Insurance, Retail, Logistics, and
Manufacturing. IGEL has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, France, the Netherlands, Austria,
Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Germany, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and
Singapore and is represented by partners in over 50 countries worldwide. To learn more, visit
www.igel.co.uk or follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/IGEL_Technology
Editorial Contacts:
IGEL Technology GmbH
Dr. Frank Lampe
Hanna-Kunath-Str. 31
28199 Bremen
Tel.: 0421 / 52094 1300
Fax: 0421 / 52094 1399
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.igel.com
Amber Group
Paul Smith
Tel: +44 (0)7770 828525
Email: [email protected]