A blog entry from Cloud Infrastructure Track Chair Bernard Golden.

Many people fail to realize how profoundly cloud computing is transforming the world of computing infrastructure. From the vast farms of servers operating in data centers that run up to 1 million square feet, to the highly automated operational environments that require only a handful of employees to manage over one hundred thousand servers, cloud computing represents a revolution — a disruptive innovation, if you will — to computing infrastructure business-as-usual.

This September, the Infrastructure track at Cloud Connect will provide attendees with real-world examples and deep insights about the new world of cloud computing infrastructure. If you’re at all interested in understanding how the world of IT infrastructure is changing forever, you owe it to yourself to attend the following sessions:

The Future of Data Centers: Hear how Ron Vokoun and Mark Thiele build and operate data centers that run up to 1 million square feet.

Cloud Infrastructure Build Out and Management: Hear two veterans of real-world cloud computing infrastructure discuss best practices — and worst nightmares — of operating cloud computing hardware and software infrastructures

Next-Generation Storage and File Systems: Hear the CEO of SolidFire discuss how SSDs can transform the speed and reliability of cloud storage

Automating Cloud Applications Using Open Source: Colleagues from BrightTag will discuss how they’ve knitted together a number of open source applications and components to help them manage complex cloud environments.

Many conferences offer vague generalities and empty marketing phrases to attendees. The Infrastructure track at Cloud Connect will provide knowledge and insight that you can use to increase your success with cloud computing and help you understand how to make better decisions in your work environment.  Join us by registering today with priority code RFPQCH08 to save $400 on the onsite price of conference passes.

I welcome your attendance and participation in a conversation about what the the future of IT infrastructure looks like.

Bernard Golden

Tags: Chicago CIO cloud cloud adoption cloud computing cloud connect Cloud Connect 2012 infrastructure SaaS utility computing

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.

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