Internet of Things & You

The Internet of Things (IoT) is characterized by interconnected smart devices, including ones that you may already have in your home – such as smart speakers, thermostats, and even doorbells. However, IoT Applications range far beyond the smart home. From the office to the factory and everywhere in-between, companies are beginning to harness the power of these embedded systems to drive business outcomes.

The true source of the Internet of Thing’s power is data. By giving us real-time insights into machine metrics and human behavior, we’re able to optimize processes, reduce tedium, and find new avenues to grow and cut costs. For instance, by using IoT data as input for a machine learning (ML) algorithm, we can enable predictive maintenance that reduces downtime by fixing mission-critical devices before they break.

One traditional problem, however, is a lack of integration. If your phone is full of Apps to control smart home devices – one for the lights, one for the thermostat, one for the doorbell, etc .– then you know what we mean. Simply put, it can become so hard to manage that often time, it’s hardly worth it. Trying to scale that across a company or even a department is even more complicated.

Internet of Things & Thin Clients

By using a Thin Client for IoT, we can solve this problem, and more. Thin Clients are perfect for displaying IoT dashboards that employees can quickly reference or use to issue commands. They make great IoT gateways for connecting sensors and other edge devices to the organization’s centralized cloud or server infrastructure. Some other Thin Client IoT use cases include:

• Digital signage
• Smart building
• IoT gateway
• Human machine interface (HMI)
• Smart home
• Industrial control
• Retail point of service (POS)
• Kiosk
• ATM
• Medical devices
• Manufacturing devices

Essentially, Thin Clients are the ideal point of contact for users to interact with the IoT because they’re small, lightweight, energy efficient, and low cost. For this article, we’re going to focus on Window IoT OS. Let’s dive in…

Thin Clients & Windows IoT

Microsoft’s Windows 10 IoT comes in two varieties. Win10 IoT Core is the smallest Windows Operating System, and it’s designed to run a single application in the foreground at a time. So, for instance, if all we need is a dashboard that shows different values (temperature, status, etc.) or allows us to make adjustments or issue commands, IoT Core is a great solution.

The other variety is Win10 IoT Enterprise. This Operating System gives us a full version of Windows 10, alongside specialized features that are optimized for integrating with the IoT ecosystem, such as locking down specific sets of applications and peripherals. A common use case for this is providing a workstation for a Technician who has to manage IoT devices alongside other computing tasks.

Without a doubt, the best reason to choose a Win10 IoT Thin Client is if your organization already operates within Microsoft’s ecosystem. If you host virtual desktops and other infrastructure on the Azure cloud, for instance, Win10 IoT is an easy choice. For example, being able to use an existing Active Directory for authorization and authentication streamlines that whole process and makes life easier for the IT Department. The same goes for other Microsoft applications, especially if they’re going to make use of the data streaming from the IoT devices.

10ZiG Endpoint Devices & IoT

For 17+ years, 10ZiG Technology has been an industry-leading Thin & Zero Client Endpoint provider for VDI & Cloud supporting Microsoft, Citrix, VMware, and more. Where 10ZiG differs from other providers is that we are solely focused on Thin & Zero Client Endpoints, which makes us Specialists at what we do. Our promise is that we make our product fit into the customer’s computing environment and not the other way around.

The 10ZiG range of x86 hardware covers task-user to power-user, dual to quad screen, is TAA compliant, and comes equipped with quality-performing Intel and AMD processors. DisplayPorts, HDMI, Gigabit ethernet, Fiber (SFP ready), and Dual Band Wireless are just a few of the options that come with devices that are readily available, U.S.-based, and guaranteed. 10ZiG performance hardware is designed from the ground up for ever-changing user experience demands for IoT-based Operating Systems and more.

Check out our 6000q Series Thin Client for Microsoft, and more. Test drive our devices with our FREE DEMO program.

Desktop Virtualization: Cloud or On-Premise

Whether you’re setting up Thin Clients for users in an office or provisioning Zero Clients for a remote workforce, you’re going to need access to some powerful computing to run the virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) that host the desktop virtualization environments.

You have two main options: in the Cloud or On-Premise. Essentially, the fundamental difference between the two comes down to these initial questions – Where is the server located and Who is responsible for server maintenance?

Cloud Computing basically means that you’re using remote servers in someone else’s data center and that they’re responsible for provisioning and maintaining it. Cloud offerings can range from Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which provides base access to hardware in the Cloud, to Platform as a Service (PaaS), which includes an operating system, all the way to Software as a Service (SaaS), where the Cloud company is responsible for the entire application and its underlying technology stack. On-Premise, on the other hand, means that you ‘own’ the machine and are responsible for everything from keeping the software up-to-date all the way to the HVAC system that keeps the servers cool. (Both of these options are applicable, whether your computing environment is desktop virtualization or not.)

Cloud /vs/ On-Premise: Pros and Cons – Desktop Virtualization and More

Picking the right option comes with understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each. Here are five important areas of consideration.

Cost

Price point is a good first thing to think about. In many cases, Cloud Computing will be cheaper than On-Premise, because you don’t need to buy related server or storage hardware, fix it, or pay an IT admin to maintain it. Most Cloud providers use a pay-as-you-go model, where you pay a monthly charge based on how many resources you use. For smaller organizations who want to leverage VDI desktop virtualization, this could be a no-brainer, but larger enterprises should really crunch the numbers to figure out whether it’s worth running desktops in the Cloud. One last note here is that Cloud and On-Premise fit into different parts of the budget; while On-Premise is largely CAPEX, Cloud falls into OPEX.

Security

Security should be your next biggest concern. In almost all cases, Cloud is more secure than On-Premise. Most major Cloud providers can afford to spend more on cybersecurity than even the most well-funded organizations, giving you access to talent and technology that may otherwise be out of reach. On top of that, Cloud providers will patch vulnerabilities at any time, meaning you don’t have to call IT in the middle of the night, over the weekend, or when they’re on vacation. As a result, companies that leverage Cloud Computing have an extra layer of defense against ransomware and other attacks against their desktop virtualization environment.

Scalability

In Cloud also has the benefit of scalability. Scalability in Cloud computing is the ability to quickly and easily increase or decrease the size or power of your IT solution. A scalable Cloud is why you can sign up and use most Cloud solutions in just a few minutes, if not seconds – sometimes, with just the push of a button. That is a big gain for fast-growing companies, or those that have frequently shifting requirements, whereas On-Premise requires a lot more set up and configuration.

Latency

Simply put, the further away your endpoints are from their server, the more latency they will experience. This can cut both ways, though, depending on where your desktop virtualization employees work from. Office workers can benefit from the low latency of connecting to a local On-Premise server, while remote workers may also experience lower latency if the Cloud provider has a data center that’s geographically closer than their company’s data center.

Compliance

Compliance is a final consideration. If you’re in a strictly regulated industry like healthcare for example, you need to make sure that your chosen Cloud Provider is HIPAA-compliant. Some regulations require certain types of data to be carefully protected, and On-Premise configurations can guarantee you meet these requirements.

Desktop Virtualization Environment: What is VDI?

For those who may need a reminder, VDI is a way of hosting a desktop operating system (such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac OS, etc.) virtually on a centralized or remote server. The endpoint’s data, as well as desktop image, is managed within what is called a Virtual Machine, which is a completely isolated and secure guest operating system installation within a normal host operating system residing on a server.

Desktop virtualization software lets your end users access their desktop operating system as if it is on their computer. It also allows users to access and present data to workstations over a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). Examples of these software providers are VMware, Citrix, and Microsoft.

Thin & Zero Clients are perfect endpoint solutions for both VDI and Cloud. For 17+ years, 10ZiG Technology has been an industry-leading Thin & Zero Client Endpoint and Management Software provider for VDI & Cloud. Where 10ZiG differs from others is that we are solely focused on Thin & Zero Client Endpoints, which makes us specialists at what we do. Always a front-runner in many VDI advances, our promise is that we make our product fit your desktop virtualization computing environments and not the other way around.

Our range of x86 hardware covers task-user to power-user, dual to quad screen, is TAA compliant, and comes equipped with quality-performing Intel and AMD processors. DisplayPort, HDMI, Gigabit ethernet, Fiber (SFP ready), and Dual Band Wireless are just a few of the options that come with devices that are readily available, U.S. based, guaranteed and backed by the 10ZiG 3-Year Advance Replacement Warranty. You can also test drive the Power, Speed and Performance with our flexible Demo Device program.

The 10ZiG Manager™ is our FREE, easy to use endpoint management software suite provided to customers using endpoints running a 10ZiG OS in desktop virtualization infrastructure – from x86 devices to laptops, tablets or old, outdated Dell or HP endpoints, among others. The 10ZiG Manager provides IT Admins. the choice of managing endpoints via traditional LAN/ WAN or the Cloud – using either our Desktop or Web Console. Both platforms come with a variety of features that make managing large volumes of endpoints a breeze, regardless of your location.

Managing your 10ZiG Windows 10 Thin Clients using Microsoft Endpoint Manager, formerly known as Microsoft Intune.

In this How-To Video, we explain how to create device groups, so that you can separate your endpoints or group them together for regions or test labs and demonstrate the enrollment process at the endpoint. This guide will show you how to create “Configuration Profiles” for your devices and give examples of how to finetune and tweak your Client by using the many customizable settings available. We demonstrate how to set up your own “Intune” win32 application packages within the Azure AD, and then deploy them to the physical 10ZiG Clients. There is also a segment on how to set up your Thin Client to logon automatically and run in a kiosk type manner by harnessing the power of Microsoft’s “Shell Launcher Version 2”. This will allow us to run a more secure and manageable Client by only allowing access to a single WVD / AVD Client to connect to your Azure Virtual Desktops. This is just an example of what the custom shell can do, but it can be tailored to run and connect to any VDI environment you wish.

Remember, that the free enterprise 10ZiG Manager has many of the functions covered in this video, such as the ability to create custom groups for our devices, build and deploy applications, and also create secure custom shells for specific users of the Windows 10 endpoints.

Microsoft Endpoint Manager Video Segment Index:

• 00:00 Start
• 01:21 Logging In
• 02:29 Creating User and Device Groups
• 08:57 Auto-enroll Devices Into MEM When Joining AAD
• 10:27 Joining Your 10ZiG Thin Client to Azure Active Directory
• 12:40 Creating a Configuration Profile
• 16:47 Creating a Custom Shell Using a Configuration Profile
• 22:05 Create and Deploy Your Own Win32 Applications

Here is a list of additional educational 10ZiG How-To Videos that support and expand upon the above:

1. Using The UWF Wizard to Create a Secure Environment for 10ZiG Windows 10 Thin Clients https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMqVJ…
2. Build and Deployment of Windows Updates Using The 10ZiG Manager™ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH7oR…
3. Creating a Dedicated Windows Virtual Desktop Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYIbR…
4. Creating a Dedicated Citrix Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-nph…
5. Creating a Dedicated VMware Horizon Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-D60…
6. Creating a Dedicated AWS Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cllo…
7. Creating a Dedicated HiveIO Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLX9v…

Microsoft Endpoint Manager > 10ZiG Video Gallery

For videos on all things 10ZiG, including MEM – check out our Video Gallery!

Microsoft Windows 10 Shell Launcher v2

Summer is here, and while we can’t whisk you away to the beach, we can certainly assist with Windows 10 Shell Launcher v2 and Custom Shells. If you’re a Microsoft Windows user, you are aware that this Operating System uses the Windows Shell as its Shell – providing a desktop environment, start menu, and task bar – and is the graphical user interface for accessing the file management functions of the Microsoft Windows OS. The Windows Shell, as it is known today, is an evolution of what began with Windows 95. It is identified with File Explorer (explorer.exe), a Windows component that can browse the entire Shell namespace. Shell Launcher can be used to replace the default Windows 10 OS Shell with a Custom Shell. You can use almost any application or executable as your Custom Shell, such as a command window or a custom-dedicated application. In Windows 10 Shell Launcher v1, you can only specify a Windows Desktop application as the replacement Shell. Whereas in Windows 10 Shell Launcher v2 (Windows 10 version 1809 and above) – you can specify a (Universal Windows Platform) UWP app as the replacement Shell. Windows 10 Shell Launcher v2 replaces explorer.exe with customshellhost.exe. This new executable file can launch a Windows Desktop application or a UWP app.

Creating Custom Shells Using The 10ZiG UWF Wizard

In the VDI world and here at 10ZiG, we have the capabilities for – and education on – how to create Custom Shells for Windows 10 Thin Clients using the Universal Write Filter (UWF) Wizard. This is for 10ZiG Thin Clients and uses the UWF that comes as part of the Windows 10ZiG Client builds. In our “How-To Custom Shell Video Series,” we look at creating dedicated Custom Shells for Windows-based Thin Clients. Creating Custom Shells using the more recent Windows 10 Shell Launcher v2, gives us the ability to launch a user’s desktop to run a single application at login, so that end users get access to what they need, and nothing more. Shell Launcher v2 enables us to run Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps that can take advantage of secondary views and run on multiple monitors, if required. It also gives System Engineers and Administrators a more controlled and secure desktop environment to set up and manage. It is easily maintained, should the need to change applications for your end users comes up in the future. So whether you’re working, at the beach, or working at the beach (ha!), check out the video links below for tips, tricks, and Windows 10 Shell Launcher v2 Custom Shell training related to various protocols like Citrix, VMware, and more. It’s not a day-at-the-beach without a Custom Shell!

GET AWAY TO WINDOWS 10 SHELL LAUNCHER v2!

CLICK BELOW TO START ON ANY VIDEO:

Using The UWF Wizard to Create a Secure Environment for 10ZiG Windows 10 Thin Clients

Creating a Dedicated Windows Virtual Desktop Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard

(now known as Azure Windows Desktop)

Creating a Dedicated Citrix Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard

Creating a Dedicated VMware Horizon Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard

Creating a Dedicated Amazon Workspaces AWS Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard

Creating a Dedicated HiveIO Custom Shell Using the 10ZiG UWF Wizard

Hybrid Working – NEW Approach

It’s estimated that 60% of companies will offer a hybrid work model soon, if they aren’t already. 10ZiG’s got you covered for that!

About a year ago, we either didn’t know and/or were all left scrambling to pull together what we needed to work-from-home. Fast-forward to today – and the now hybrid work approach that is becoming more mainstream. Using a standard laptop doesn’t typically get the job done, long term. If hybrid-working is serious and permanent, it’s time to find serious and permanent solutions for both company office and home office.

From computers to power adapters to headphones to webcams to keyboards, and more – the proper equipment, onsite and off, will help employees to succeed, which helps organizations to succeed. Here’s what we know best. Whether you’re in the cloud or not, virtual desktop infrastructure with Thin & Zero Client endpoints and centralized management software can keep your network of endpoints and people working at full speed, full power, and full performance > READ MORE HERE

Hybrid Working – NEW Endpoints

You need numerous USB ports, serious RAM, and 4-monitor support at 4K @ 60Hz for your power users… You’ll want to see the NEW 10ZiG 6100 Series – a performance beast!

You need steadfast performance, value-class, and quad core build for your task workers…You’ll want to see the NEW 10ZiG 4600q Series – entry level workhorse!

Hybrid Working – NEW Live-Demo Webcasts & Education

Keep checking back for all things 10ZiG with Citrix, VMware, and more – by way of live demo webcasts. Absolutely free, and customized based on market demands past attendee feedback.

SAVE-THE-DATES > HERE

Hybrid Working – NEW Security

“10ZiG Technology Expands Federal Reach with Secure Smart Card Authentication Support and Endpoints for Hi-Assurance Network Access”

FULL STORY > HERE