First time cloud event in Chicago expands keynote line-up to feature thought leaders from Orbitz & Google Compute Engine

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27 — Cloud Connect, produced by UBM TechWeb, recently conducted an enterprise cloud adoption study in partnership with research firm, Everest Group, resulting in expanded new program elements for the Chicago event including focused workshops on Private Cloud, Big Data and Cloud Security. In addition to expanded workshops, Cloud Connect's keynote line-up continues to grow, featuring Winthrop Short, the VP of Technology for Orbitz Worldwide who will discuss big data and Craig McLuckie, the Product Manager of Google Compute Engine, who will dive deep into Google's cloud platform. As the premier technology event for the cloud community, featuring the latest technologies, strategies and innovations, Cloud Connect Chicago will take place September 10-13, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare, Chicago, IL. To register or for more information, visit: http://cloudconnectevent.com/chicago.

"I'm excited to expand our program into areas that reflect the latest technologies in cloud, emphasizing trends like private cloud and big data and the growing importance of a comprehensive plan for cloud security," said Steve Wylie, Cloud Connect General Manager. "With our expansion to Chicago, Cloud Connect will continue to deliver an unparalleled program rich in content and customer examples to help IT leaders create and implement an effective cloud strategy."

The Cloud Connect and Everest Group research was conducted by polling nearly 350 enterprise cloud buyers, cloud service providers and cloud consultants. Top line results show that 89% of buyers listed current or future plans for private cloud adoption. Given the growth of private cloud, Cloud Connect announces a new private cloud workshop: Building Private Clouds: From "If" to "How," which will discuss and define actionable steps for implementing private cloud in businesses.

Additionally, research results show that security concerns are the biggest barrier to cloud adoption. With this in mind, Cloud Connect introduces a workshop on Cloud Security: Best Practices for Risk Management. This comprehensive workshop will present attendees with information on emerging threats for cloud usages and infrastructures and provide guidance on the best methods to address risks and enable trust in the cloud. Continuing to build and strengthen Cloud Connect's position as an industry leading educational conference, the program also expands to include a Big Data: Fundamentals to Best Practices workshop, giving enterprise IT professionals an inside look at the data revolution and information on how to leverage data for business growth.

Following three successful years in Silicon Valley, Cloud Connect's expansion to Chicago is an effort to further cloud adoption and drive the growth and innovation of the cloud computing market in a large and growing technology market. Bringing the entire cloud eco-system together in Chicago, Cloud Connect will discuss the latest innovations and technologies in cloud computing through a multi-day conference, in-depth workshops and an expo floor, showcasing the full range of cloud solutions from top cloud computing technology companies. Sponsors of the Chicago event currently include: IBM, HP, Rackspace, ProfitBricks, ActiveState, Akamai Technologies, EnterpriseDB, Esri, Softlayer, Compuware APM, Equinix and Inktank. For more information, visit: www.cloudconnectevent.com.

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Press/analyst registration information available at: http://www.cloudconnectevent.com/chicago/media-center/.

About Cloud Connect

Cloud Connect, produced by UBM TechWeb, is the defining event of the cloud computing industry with content-led conferences in the Silicon Valley, Chicago and Bangalore, India. As both a conference and an exhibition, Cloud Connect's goal is to chart the course of cloud computing's development by bringing together enterprise IT professionals, developers, infrastructure and service providers and cloud computing innovators. UBM TechWeb has produced cloud events that define and frame cloud computing discussions since June 2008, including Cloud Summit Executive and Enterprise Cloud Summit at Interop. Cloud Connect is a one-of-a-kind event that encompasses the entire cloud computing ecosystem. For more information visit: www.cloudconnectevent.com.

About UBM TechWeb

UBM TechWeb the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its three core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and paid content – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in UBM TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Cloud Connect, Black Hat and Enterprise Connect; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading magazines InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading. UBM TechWeb is a part of UBM plc, one of the world's largest media businesses as a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

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Source: UBM TechWeb