A blog post by Infrastructure Track Chair, Bernard Golden, Vice President, Enterprise Solutions, enStratus Networks.

The concept of cloud computing is simple: computing resources offered across the network via self-service, providing elastic capacity from a resource pool carrying no long-term commitment and paid for on a per-use basis.

As the old saying goes: simple, but not easy. Providing cloud computing services requires a transformation in both infrastructure and operations processes, and this transformation is affecting all parts of the traditional computing infrastructure. Continue Reading »

Tags: Architecture cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect infrastructure networking Performance and Availability private clouds

IT professionals today are dealing with a lot of challenges to make sure that their department is running in an efficient and productive manner. Staying up with the latest releases of products, putting out small fires within their organization, keeping their data centers cool and of course the cloud, which is constantly hanging overhead. LOB executives want to make sure their organization is prepared for the future in terms of IT productivity and the words they keep hearing are: The Cloud! I’m pretty sure Sys Admins cringe every time those words are mentioned, but they do know it is an important aspect to their IT framework.  However there are so many types of cloud computing deployment models to consider, that it can make your head feel like a cloud. Here are a few examples of cloud computing deployment models that are out there right now: Continue Reading »

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Cloud Connect was recently named one of the Top Cloud Computing Events of 2013 by Enterprise CIO Forum. We are proud to have topped the list and be named the Conference and Expo where IT professionals come for the latest cloud computing training and information. Here are 10 reasons why you should register and join us April 2-5 in Silicon Valley:

10) SEE NEW PRODUCTS. Find new solutions to your cloud, security, infrastructure and projects.

9) ENGAGE WITH MULTIPLE COMPANIES AT ONE TIME. Meet with 100+ industry leaders including VMware, Citrix, Cisco, Softlayer, Rackspace, IBM, Oracle and more!

8 ) SEE SPECIFIC COMPANIES OR PRODUCTS. Ready to renegotiate service agreements and/or upgrade to the next version? Make the most of your time by scheduling meetings at Cloud Connect.

7) CREATE AND STRENGTHEN PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. Grab breakfast, lunch or a beer and make connections that will help you throughout the year.

6) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Learn from peers, analysts and other end users in the Cloud Connect Conference sessions including cloud & big data, virtualization, security, and how to build private and public clouds.

5) KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON INDUSTRY TRENDS AND ISSUES. Hear industry experts and end users discuss use cases and best practices surrounding their cloud migration. Check out the 2013 Keynote Speakers.

4) SEE EXISTING SUPPLIERS. Gain insight into competition and find what others are delivering or how they are providing service.

3) NETWORK WITH COLLEAGUES. With so many like-minded professionals under one roof, learn how others are tackling similar problems in your industry.

2) SEE PRODUCTS “IN-PERSON” FIRST REVIEWED ONLINE. Touch, test and question all the new technologies you’ve read about.

1) DEEP DIVE WORKSHOPS. Gain new skills and help advance your career by attending one of Cloud Connects Workshops including Big Data, Cloud Crash Course, Advanced Cloud Courses, and Navigating PaaS.

BONUS REASON) An incredible value! Register now and pay just $1,899 for all 4 days of actionable content, invaluable connections and essential training.

Register today and experience why Cloud Connect topped the list!
PS: Want to send the team? You can save 30% for your group, just email one of our registration experts to learn more.

Tags: amazon web services Architecture CIO Cisco cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect Performance and Availability private clouds ROI TCO

As Vice President of Marketing for UBM Tech Events, each day holds new and meaty challenges. Responsible for a team of seasoned event marketers, and focused on promoting more than ten global technology event brands in the networking, computing, telecom, and business services categories – we stay challenged and energized year-around.

Our cross-functional teams pride themselves on creating high-quality event experiences that offer our guests the opportunity to learn, network, collaborate and connect with the latest thinking and solutions in their fields. Our goal, and the goal for many of our event guests, is to help them (and the companies they represent) remain progressive and professionally competitive.

Cloud Connect is one of our fastest growing brands in the US and India, serving technologists responsible for implementing cloud solutions that keep their companies competitive and stay agile. The cloud computing industry has evolved quickly over the last few years, proving to be a strategically important category for companies of all sizes. Our own research in partnership with the Everest Group has shown that the value of cloud computing extends beyond simple cost-savings – allowing technologists to bridge legacy IT solutions to new more nimble ones that better meet the needs of the lines-of-business they support and enable quicker time-to-market.

A few years ago cloud computing was so new many companies and experts were only beginning to understand its potential as a category that could change the rules for businesses. And thanks to numerous mainstream applications of the Cloud, even the most business-focused and tech-limited professionals understand its value and importance in enabling the agility companies need to meet the needs of their customers. Cloud Washing? Perhaps, but all of this attention has also enabled the acceleration of this valuable category to grow into a proven value-based solution for the enterprise.

Today, mainstream cloud practitioners are moving beyond considering what’s possible and into an era where they must pioneer new solutions to real challenges in their own companies. Many of the experts in the cloud computing space understand that cloud computing, and other new technologies, don’t transform companies overnight. They must accommodate the sometimes slow evolution to new technology while continuing to support aging infrastructures that companies have previously spent millions of dollars on as capital expense.

All of the points I’ve written here explain why I enjoy working with the Cloud Connect team to build this world-class event. We focus on facilitating the latest real-world solutions and new ideas that cloud technology practitioners need to get their jobs done successfully. We do that by bringing together the best hands-on thought leaders in the cloud space with the latest technology providers, and even the industry analysts and venture capitalists to help ensure our delegates are truly getting the guidance and insights they need to be successful. I’m very proud of the unique offering we provide to our Cloud Connect guests, and at the unique differentiation we are able to provide in the market.

I hope to see you at one of our Cloud Connect events soon!

Follow Nerissa on Twitter @nsardi

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Here are a few reasons why to register before you get on site at Cloud Connect Chicago:

• Prices are set to increase onsite in Chicago. By registering today, you will receive a $200 discount on conference passes or get a free expo pass by clicking on this link!
• Registering allows you access to the Cloud Connect Mobile App. Get event information at your fingertips including exhibitors, sessions, events, news, exhibition floor plan, new products and show specials. Plus, receive suggestions based on your interests, create short lists, plan your agenda, take notes, get directions, and more!
• Once you arrive at Cloud Connect, you can quickly print your badge off of one of the computers provided and get
  right on the show floor! Otherwise you will need to spend time registering yourself and your team onsite.
• Tell all of your friends and colleagues that you are attending Cloud Connect conference and workshop sessions. It will ensure your organization is equipped to leverage new cloud and big data technology solutions in order to increase efficiency and improve your business agility. They will be super jealous!

Looking forward to seeing you in Chicago!

Feel free to follow me on Twitter for inside Cloud Connect updates.

Cheers,

Jason

Tags: adoption Architecture Chicago CIO cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect Cloud Connect 2012 PaaS private clouds SaaS social media

Here are five ways that you can accelerate your cloud computing strategy at Cloud Connect Chicago:

1. Attend 30+ sessions across 8 conference tracks including big data, cloud infrastructure, application design and architecture.
2. Hear from keynotes and top industry leaders as they discuss hot topics including private and hybrid clouds, mobile clouds, and cloud performance.
3. See all the latest cloud solutions from 50+leading companies.
4. Enjoy vendor-hosted beverages while you check out the latest products and network during the Cocktail Reception on the Expo floor.
5. Hear about new cloud solutions hosted in the new Cloud Solutions Theater.

Cloud Connect Chicago will provide four days of inspiring cloud dialogue and get you up to speed on how to leverage new cloud technology solutions to increase efficiency and improve your business agility. Register by August 10 with priority code RFPQCH04 to save $400 on Platinum or Conference passes. Don’t forget to tell your friends as well!

Feel free to follow me on Twitter for inside Cloud Connect updates.

Cheers,

Jason

Tags: adoption applications Architecture Chicago CIO cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect Cloud Connect 2012 infrastructure networking PaaS Performance and Availability private clouds ROI SaaS WAN

I recently had the opportunity to speak to Jocelyn DeGance Graham, founder of CloudNOW, a nonprofit executive consortium of the leading women in cloud computing. CloudNOW is hosting their “Legacy Award” program at Cloud Connect Chicago and hosted their first annual “Top 10 Women in Cloud” awards program at Cloud Connect Santa Clara.  Below is a recap of our conversation.

Cloud Connect: When was CloudNow founded?

Jocelyn: We founded CloudNow almost a year ago – August 15 of last year. Continue Reading »

Tags: Architecture Chicago CIO Cisco cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect Cloud Connect Santa Clara 2012 CloudNow diversity F5 Forrester Research HP IBM Silicon Valley Terremark

We’ve organized Cloud Connect’s social media efforts around weekly technology themes. During each theme week, posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the Cloud Connect Blog will highlight relevant sessions and exhibitors, along with any other timely announcements or news regardless of theme. Below is the calendar:

• 6/25 Application Architecture & Design
• 7/2 Cloud Security & Risk
• 7/9 Cloud Infrastructure
• 7/16 ROI, TCO, and Cloud Economics
• 7/23 WAN & Cloud Networking
• 7/30 Organizational Readiness
• 8/6 Big Data
• 8/13 Mobile Cloud
• 8/20 Private & Hybrid Clouds
• 8/27 Expo Highlights

Here is how you can help:

• Like Cloud Connect’s Facebook account. Feel free to contribute key facts, case studies or start discussions that pertain to cloud computing.
• Provide updates about your activities,  ”must see” at Cloud Connect  and other news through twitter and we will re-tweet it on Cloud Connect’s Twitter account if applicable to the event. Include #ccevent in your tweets for tracking purposes.
• Tell people you are attending Cloud Connect Chicago. Go to the Cloud Connect group page, and start a relevant discussion on topics covered at the event.
• Create videos about what you are looking forward to see and do at Cloud Connect and post it on YouTube. Send us the URL and we’ll add it to our favorites and promote it via our social media channels.
• Foursquare is coming back to Cloud Connect. You will be able to check-in locations all over the place! We’ll create booth venues where you can check in and share info with others. Please be sure to add Cloud Connect as a friend to your Foursquare account

There you have it! Pretty simple. I’ll get the sharing started by offering anyone who reads this blog a 25% Discount on Cloud Connect Conference passes or a free expo pass by using the following Priority code: RFPQCH04

Feel free to follow me on Twitter for inside Cloud Connect updates.

Let’s do this!

Jason

Tags: Architecture Chicago CIO cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect Cloud Connect 2012 PaaS Performance and Availability SaaS social media

A study by the project management consulting company, PM Solutions, identifies the top causes for the failure of IT projects.  The study, called Strategies for Project Recovery,  covered 163 companies, roughly split between small, medium, and large organizations.  The conclusion: The average company in the study faces $74 million of “at risk” projects each year.

The study identifies five top causes of troubled projects:

1. Requirements: Unclear, lack of agreement, lack of priority, contradictory, ambiguous, imprecise.
2. Resources: Lack of resources, resource conflicts, turnover of key resources, poor planning.
3. Schedules: Too tight, unrealistic, overly optimistic.
4. Planning: Based on insufficient data, missing items, insufficient details, poor estimates.
5. Risks: Unidentified or assumed, not managed.

Continue Reading »

Tags: applications Architecture Chicago cloud cloud computing cloud connect Cloud Connect 2012 PaaS SaaS social media

A post from Organizational Readiness Track Chair, Scott Bils.

“The technology is the easy part.  It’s the cultural issues that are hard.”

This quote from a recent conversation with a Fortune 500 CIO perfectly summarizes why we’re holding the first-of-its-kind Organizational Readiness track at Cloud Connect.   As enterprise adoption of public and private clouds continues to accelerate, the majority of focus continues to be on technical issues.  Organizational and cultural issues though are starting to pose significant barriers and challenges as CIOs work to implement their cloud strategies.  Just a few of these emerging issues facing enterprise IT include:

• What does our future IT organization need to look like?  How do our key roles, processes and skills need to change?
• How do we overcome internal resistance to cloud adoption?  How do we help employees make the paradigm shift, and rethink IT, services, and even their own roles?
• How does our governance need to change in a world where business users have much more choice and control?
• How we ensure we have the internal skills we need to support cloud?  How can we compete in the market for increasingly scarce talent?

Just as the shift from mainframe to client / server architectures drove a wave of transformation for IT organization and governance, so is the migration to cloud services.   The focus of our track will be on exploring the ‘soft issues’ around enterprise cloud adoption, and discussing emerging models for success for building next generation IT organizations.

The track will include sessions that will surface the around real organizational, cultural, skills that are emerging with enterprises migrating their environments to the cloud.  These sessions include ‘Will Culture Eat Your Strategy? How to Turn the Tables’, where Simon Wardly will lead a discussion around how IT leaders can overcome the cultural barriers to change.  We’ll have a series of panels and discussions on how enterprises are navigating the organizational changes being driven by cloud, which will include IT leaders from Best Buy, eBay, Novartis, InterContinental Hotel Group and others.  David Linthicum’s session on ‘In Search of Mad Cloud Skills’ will help us understand the new cloud skills that will be required in the enterprise, and where to find them.

Failing to address the organizational issues associated with transformational change can doom even the best cloud strategies and technologies.  Join our Organizational Readiness track to learn how to effectively prepare your organization to embrace the change that’s coming with your migration to cloud.

Not registered for Cloud Connect yet?  Visit the conference registration page and use code CPNCDCC07 to save 25% on conference passes or get a free expo pass and learn how to join what I’m sure will be an exciting and insightful event.

Tags: Architecture CIO cloud cloud computing cloud connect PaaS private clouds SaaS