Rethinking the Endpoint – IGEL Spotlight on Technology

If most of your applications no longer run on the endpoint, why are you still managing and securing it as though they do?Welcome to Razorwire, the podcast where we share our take on the world of cybersecurity with direct, practical advice for professionals and business owners alike. I'm Jim and in this Spotlight on Technology episode I'm joined by James Millington, Healthcare Field CTO for EMEA at IGEL, with more than 25 years' experience across virtual desktops, endpoint security and healthcare technology.The way we use endpoints has changed repeatedly. Computing moved from centralised mainframes to PCs, back towards virtual desktops and then into SaaS and cloud services. Hybrid working accelerated that shift again, while rising hardware costs, Windows upgrades and increasingly distributed workforces are forcing organisations to reconsider what they actually need sitting on a user's device.Jim and James look at why the endpoint may be due another rethink. They discuss the security and cost implications of maintaining traditional operating systems, how immutable endpoints change the approach to endpoint protection and what happens as AI creates another generation of applications and risks for security teams to control.Three key talking points:Do we still need Windows at the endpoint? As applications move into SaaS, VDI and the cloud, the role of the endpoint is changing. We look at whether organisations still need a full traditional operating system on every device and what alternatives become possible when workloads run somewhere else.Moving from detection to prevention Endpoint security has traditionally relied heavily on detecting problems and responding to them. Discover how reducing what can run or change on an endpoint alters that model and removes attack surfaces before they need to be monitored.The endpoint problem AI could make worse Shadow AI gives employees another way to introduce software and move information beyond organisational controls. We discuss how controlling what can execute locally could become increasingly important as AI workloads start moving from centralised services onto endpoints.If you're reviewing your endpoint strategy, facing another expensive hardware refresh or considering how AI changes what employees should be allowed to run locally, this conversation is for you.On rethinking the endpoint:“Really, what are my users accessing and where are they accessing it? And is it time to rethink that endpoint?”James MillingtonListen to this episode on your favourite podcasting platform: https://razorwire.captivate.fm/listenIn this episode, we covered the following topics:The Cycle of Centralised Computing From mainframes and PCs to VDI, SaaS and cloud services, computing keeps moving between the endpoint and the data centre. Explore why that cycle matters to today's endpoint strategy.Why VDI Never Really Went Away VDI has moved in and out of fashion for decades. Find out why healthcare remained a strong use case and how remote and hybrid working changed the conversation again.Rethinking the Windows Endpoint If applications and data increasingly live elsewhere, does every employee still need a conventional Windows environment? We discuss what organisations should consider.The Cost of Hardware Refreshes Rising hardware costs and Windows upgrade requirements are putting endpoint budgets under pressure. Discover why extending device life is becoming more attractive.Security by Design Explore how an immutable operating system changes endpoint security by restricting what can be altered or installed rather than relying solely on detecting problems afterwards.Protecting Data in Distributed Healthcare Healthcare is moving closer to patients, creating more distributed endpoints. We discuss why keeping sensitive information off those devices can reduce the consequences of loss or theft.Moving Beyond BYOD Some organisations are reconsidering bring your own device programmes. Find out why greater control and standardisation are coming back into the conversation.Controlling Shadow AI As employees experiment with AI applications, organisations need to decide what can run locally. We explore how endpoint controls can limit unauthorised workloads.AI Comes Back to the Endpoint AI started heavily centralised but cost and performance are driving some workloads towards local devices. Discover what this latest shift could mean for endpoint security.Resources MentionedIGELCitrixVMwareMicrosoft Windows 365Microsoft Azure Virtual DesktopZscalerGartner: Use Immutable Endpoints to Defeat Ransomware, Stop Configuration Drift, and Guarantee Rapid RecoveryPCI DSSHIPAA and Cloud Computing GuidanceOllamaConnect with your host James ReesHello, I am James Rees, the host of the Razorwire podcast. This podcast brings you insights from leading cyber security professionals who dedicate their careers to making a hacker’s life that much more difficult.Our guests bring you experience and expertise from a range of disciplines and from different career stages. We give you various viewpoints for improving your cyber security – from seasoned professionals with years of experience, triumphs and lessons learned under their belt, to those in relatively early stages of their careers offering fresh eyes and new insights.With new episodes every other Wednesday, Razorwire is a podcast for cyber security enthusiasts and professionals providing insights, news and fresh ideas on protecting your organisation from hackers.For more information about us or if you have any questions you would like us to discuss email [email protected] you need consultation, visit www.razorthorn.com, We give our clients a personalised, integrated approach to information security, driven by our belief in quality and discretion.LinkedIn: Razorthorn SecurityYouTube: Razorthorn SecurityTikTok: Razorwire PodcastInstagram: Razorwire PodcastTwitter: @RazorThornLTDWebsite: www.razorthorn.comAll rights reserved. © Razorthorn Security LTD 2025