State of the Industry: Technology in North Carolina

6/25/2008 8:15:00 AM

While the analysts debate how much the economy is slowing in 2008 and what those numbers mean for the future, some companies are better equipped than others to handle this period of weakness. Is YOUR company one of them? Other regional IT conferences barely scratch the surface of the issues that are on your mind, but ITEC will take on the local economy in our State of the Industry: Technology in North Carolina session, the single most important resource of the year for decision makers and large and small business owners. This in-depth session will tell you how the national economy is helping or hurting your business. We'll help you benchmark your current business plan with the latest segment-specific economic data and analysis to make informed decisions about your business. Get a jump on your competitors and test your assumptions and 2009 growth plans by attending this important session.

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Keynote Presentation: Technology is Broken and How to Fix IT

6/25/2008 9:15:00 AM

James E. Gaskin's irreverent but successful approach will explain which technologies and technical products cause too many problems, which can be tolerated, and which can save time and make money. Using dozens of real world examples gathered during years of consulting, and writing 16 technology books and thousands of articles, Gaskin's "unbiased and unboring" speeches balance technical frustration with laughter. Learn how to choose hardware (computers and networking), software (Microsoft), and even people. Laugh while learning how to make the technology in your business work for you and not against you.

Speakers:

JAMES GASKIN
AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST

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Optimize Your Web Experience with Next Generation Web Content Management

6/25/2008 10:15:00 AM

How you package and deliver the information assets of your organization is critical to driving prospect and customer activity, employee productivity and partner enablement. Delivering an optimized web experience by providing targeted messaging for specific customer segments at their exact time of need, in a useful format, and presented in a relevant context has become the difference between meeting customer expectations and falling behind. Takeaway points include:

UTM: Simple, Elegance and Power

6/25/2008 10:15:00 AM

This session should be your first stop of the day if you want to learn about ongoing and emerging threats and major vulnerability points. We will show you how a comprehensive UTM (unified threat management) security solution will reduce risk, increase productivity and save your company money through 10 integrated management and control security applications. If spam, content filtering, email encryption or virus protection is of a concern to you, make plans to attend this session to learn more.

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Virtualization & Storage Utilization - The affects on the Data Center Bottom Line

6/25/2008 10:15:00 AM

Today's Data Center most likely has someone's flavor of virtualization on the servers - and you are seeing direct benefits in terms of both simplified management and utilization. However the same cannot be said about your storage environment. Takeaway points include:

Email Archiving: Improving Productivity and Meeting Compliance Requirements

6/25/2008 11:30:00 AM

Email today contains discussions, agreements, documents, notifications, contact information, and many other kinds of critical business information. By automatically storing email records, your organization can ensure that they are not loosing or misplacing the information they need. In this session you'll hear how to easily and automatically maintain the required records and to search and find specific information. Takeaway points include:

IP Communications Procurement, Best Practices

6/25/2008 11:30:00 AM

The of the most time consuming and important initiatives for IT personnel today is the procurement and/or migration to IP communications services like VoIP, MPLS, Disaster Recovery, and software as a service. The challenge is how to make well-informed and confident decisions about these services without exhausting an IT department that is already stretched to the max. Please join us as we discuss strategies for gathering in-depth information on carrier capabilities, implementation lead times, and post sales support. By pulling information together quickly and in a comprehensive package we have seen decision cycles cut by 30-50% leading to quicker installations and smoother migrations. Making the right decision in a timely manner is very important when your name is associated with the project.

Speakers:

Kevin Scott
Senior Consultant
Lightwave Consulting Group, Inc.

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Data Center Planning: Taking Servers Off the Floor and Other Good Ideas

6/25/2008 11:30:00 AM

Your business has grown, and now you're faced with moving from "what works" to "what's best." The considerations behind building your own small data environment, selecting a hosting site for your servers, or shifting to a fully managed platform are challenging. Go from there into architecting for business continuity and scalability, as well as understanding your systems management options, and you've got a complex environment. Learn from experience, and design for your next phase.

Web Desktop Virtualization

6/25/2008 11:30:00 AM

Truly effective web desktop virtualization goes beyond delivering just another virtualized Windows desktop. You need a simple, less bloated, remotely accessible operating environment that runs in a browser and is independent of the underlying operating system. The best ones deliver a rich desktop-like experience, coupled with access to all of your organization's business applications and services. In this session you will learn:

Keynote Luncheon Session

6/25/2008 12:15:00 PM

New this year, we've set up a self-service light lunch, designed to allow you to grab a bite before you take a seat or bring your sandwich to the session. We don't want you to miss a minute of ITEC and you can use this time to participate in an education session or network with your colleagues on the Expo Floor.

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Web Replacements for Desktop Software

6/25/2008 1:15:00 PM

Software versus the internet; is the choice really that simple? Web-based applications are gaining in popularity for two reasons: they are cost effective and easy to install (every user with web access can immediately begin working in that program). Browser-based applications mean fewer servers for your IT department to maintain and less capital to shake loose for software licenses and hardware. In this session we'll cover the most popular offerings, including the latest from Google and Microsoft Office Live Workspace. Takeaway points include:

Green IT: Saving Power, Paper, Processors, and Dollars!

6/25/2008 1:15:00 PM

Organizations are paying attention to the news around "corporate responsibility" and the questions about "green IT," partially because it's great for the environment, partially because it's great for people's impressions of your organization, but also because a lot of what can make a company green - especially with regards to IT - can also sometimes result in cost savings.

Unified Communication: How Will it Really Be Implemented?

6/25/2008 1:15:00 PM

More organizations of all sizes are adopting Unified Communications in 2008. If you're ready to experience real-time communications, this session will tell you what you need to know about UC today and in the future. We'll tell you why you should consider switching to unified communications and how it can help you to cut costs in many areas, improve workforce efficiency, and encourage integration of business processes. Takeaway points include:

The Evolution of Network-Based Security - The Rise of the Integrated Security Platform

6/25/2008 1:15:00 PM

This presentation is aimed at tackling security challenges related to the network architecture, compliance, virtualization, and the security exploits that threaten all of these. The speaker will present common security architectures and examine how current and future threats will impact these designs. Additionally, the presentation will take a deep dive into the underlying drivers of threat management as well as the need to have a layered approach to security and best practices of leveraging integrated security platforms.

Speakers:

Joseph Iacovelli
CISSP Sr. Security Engineer
Fortinet, Inc.

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Technology for Social Media Workshop

6/25/2008 2:00:00 PM

This session provides a unique opportunity to obtain information about the latest internet technology that you can use in making a name for your company and your products. You'll learn how to capitalize on these new options to actually generate measurable revenue. You'll experience a hands-on, interactive atmosphere that encourages you to network with your peers, learn best practices and build relationships with others who know what it's like to walk in your shoes.

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Mobile Computing Grows Up: Connected, Powerful, and Flexible

6/25/2008 2:00:00 PM

You can't grow your business when you are tied to your desk. "Portable" and "lightweight" are buzz words that everybody expects in their technology tools and gadgets. This session will show you that it really is possible to outfit your mobile office without breaking the bank, or your back. Takeaway points include:

Identity Management and Security's New Role as Negotiator

6/25/2008 2:00:00 PM

The network no longer stops at the doors to your offices. Business is a patchwork of trusted and shared spaces, and the people who need to work securely with that network are a mix of employees, temporary users like contractors, and gateway users like web services. Network access is at one layer, but then application access and the new complexities of managing this kind of environment have brought forth technologies that you need to consider today.

Email, IM, SMS, and More: Communicating in the Post GenX World

6/25/2008 2:00:00 PM

New technologies are here to stay and increasingly, today's workforce expects to find the latest technologies at work that they use in their personal life. Younger employees use sophisticated social networking tools at home, which provides a big impetus for rollout of this technology in the workplace. How will your organization meet that expectation and should you even try? In this session you'll get the risks and benefits of using advanced technology that meets the needs of your customers, employees and partners. Takeaway points include:

Information Security in 2008 and Beyond: Overcoming the Next Threat

6/26/2008 9:00:00 AM

You are already battling worms, zombies, ransonware, rootkits and a whole host of uninvited visitors. But are you truly ready for what's coming next? This session will help you get prepared for the future, as well as helping you understand why you might not be doing enough today. You'll learn: You'll learn:

Mashups: Delivering Enterprise Applications in the Brave New World

6/26/2008 10:15:00 AM

Mashups, the loading of data from different sources (these sources can be web services through the use of API's, RSS feeds or even just other websites) into front-end Ajax-enabled applications, is a term that has been freely used in the consumer and Web 2.0 space. If you're wondering if mashups belong on your to-do list, this session should be your starting point. You'll learn:

• The important relationship between Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Application Programming Interface (API) and how it works to enable mashups.
• How to choose the best mashup tools and editors, including Microsoft Popfly, Yahoo Pipes! and Google Mashup Editor.
• Why you don't need to replace your portal ---yet.
• Where to start when creating your own mashup, including how to choose a subject, find the data source and sign up for an API.

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Risky Business: The Challenges of Securing Mobile Devices in a World of Personal Collaboration Tools

6/26/2008 10:15:00 AM

Managing security within the confines of your office is a tough job. Worms, viruses, spam, malware, port scans and perimeter defense probes are constant threats. Imagine what it would be like if every user's system was located on your network perimeter and had none of the safeguards your multi-layered security systems provide. Wake up, you're NOT dreaming. You most likely have such systems: your mobile users. In this session, we'll tell you the best methods to safeguard all of those devices. Takeaway points include:

Bringing Cloud Computing Down to Earth: A Frank Assessment of What's Available Today

6/26/2008 11:15:00 AM

Storing data in the "cloud" of the internet and using web-based applications has been around almost as long as remote users. But now, software companies are expanding their on-demand offerings beyond adaptations of familiar tools such as email and personal finance to new products such as virtual worlds and social networks. But cloud computing goes beyond SaaS (Software as a Service). In this session, you'll also find out the options for living a digital business life that only exists on the internet. You'll learn:

Free Software Choices: Building Your Network Without Paying License Fees

6/26/2008 11:15:00 AM

Limited dollars, but tied to Windows? Don't despair, because today more than ever, you can build your business with free software. Takeaway points in this session include:

The False Positive: Anti-Spam's Dirty Little Secret

6/26/2008 11:15:00 AM

Before anti-spam, you never asked, "did you get my email?" Spams, viruses and phishing threats forced the use of email filtering systems, software and services. However, these solutions have made email untrusted for their high false positive rates and inconvenient quarantines. They often require extensive, hands-on training by your administrators, as well as your end-users. In this session you'll learn how to block spam AND save your legitimate email from being caught. Takeaway points include:

Briefcase Technology: Choosing and Deploying Mobile Devices

6/26/2008 11:15:00 AM

"Portable" and "lightweight" are buzz words that everybody expects in their technology tools and gadgets. This session will show you that it really is possible to outfit your mobile office without breaking the bank, or your back. Takeaway points include:

Master Mind Panel and Lunch: Security for Second Circle Technologies

6/26/2008 12:00:00 PM

Our panelists will discuss the latest twist on security risks associated with the proliferation of web-based applications, SaaS, Web 2.0, social networking and anything that might impact your network. You'll get detailed information and analysis from a panel of experts who are ready to share the trends and challenges of securing second circle technologies. Light lunch will be provided during this session and you can pick it up at one of our mobile lunch stations on the Expo Floor.

Speakers:

Jesper Jurcenoks
Co-founder
netVigilance, Inc

DAVID TROUP
CEO & FOUNDER
MAILFOUNDRY

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Enterprise Collaboration and Content Management

6/26/2008 1:00:00 PM

Old fashioned file servers and passing info back and forth in email is so 1996. Managing complex collaboration, document version control, rich media and more has changed the game on how this all gets done. Discover the value of a robust content management platform for your organization, and learn what to look for when considering next steps into collaborative technologies.

Flirting With Disaster: Business Continuity in 2008

6/26/2008 1:00:00 PM

Business continuity planning and disaster recovery are processes that can help your organization respond to any disruptive event. Whether that event is a hurricane, or an unexpected power outage caused by a traffic accident down the street or even applications that malfunction due to an attack, you need a plan to safeguard your data. Takeaway points include:

The Do's and Don'ts of IT Infrastructure Outsourcing: Does it Make Sense for Your Organization?

6/26/2008 1:00:00 PM

If you're torn between two key issues: doing all your organization's work in-house (allowing you to have control and security), and the temptation of outsourcing it to an external vendor (enabling you to cut costs and have 24/7 support), this session is a must-attend. We'll tell you exactly how to evaluate what to outsource, when, to whom, and why. Takeaway points include:

Business Intelligence: What Is It and Why Have It?

6/26/2008 1:00:00 PM

Join us for a discussion about the most commonly misused term in IT, Business Intelligence (BI). You'll hear how companies, big and small, have utilized BI solutions to transform their most value asset - their data - into valuable information that gave them a competitive advantage in the market place. Takeaway points include: