December 9, 2009

Cloud Computing Conference & Expo

Cloud Computing 2010: Focus on Operational Efficiency and Security

The Administration is taking an increased interest in the federal government's move to cloud computing as a potential solution to capacity and complexity challenges as well as reducing IT maintenance costs. More attention must be paid to areas where the government has successfully implemented cloud solutions and best practices must be shared.  According to the Administration's 2010 budget request, Cloud Computing will be an important part of modernizing the federal government's technology infrastructure.

From a user perspective, cloud computing provides a means of acquiring computing services without requiring understanding of the underlying technology. From an organizational perspective, in addition to the cost savings, cloud computing delivers services for government to:

• Support mission requirements
• Provide unbounded scale
• Deliver differentiated quality of service
• Foster rapid innovation and decision making

Participate in DGI's 2nd Annual Cloud Computing Conference -- which is free for government professionals -- and learn best practices from both industry and government on how this emerging technology is improving performance and controlling costs of delivering IT resources to the government.

Keynote Announced

Chris Kemp, Chief Information Officer, Ames Research Center, NASA will discuss "Government Cloud Computing for 2010:  Moving Towards Efficient Operations".

Session Topics

This half-day Executive Event will address topics such as:

• Understanding Security and Standards in the Cloud
• Key Elements of Cloud Computing:  Public, Private, Hosted
• How to Take Advantage of Cloud Computing Today

7:45 Registration & Exhibits Open / Continental Breakfast

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Mike Smoyer, President, Digital Government Institute

8:30 Keynote: Government Cloud Computing for 2010: Moving Towards Efficient Operations
Chris Kemp, Chief Information Officer, Ames Research Center, NASA Slides 

Join a recognized innovator and federal information technology leader for an honest overview of how cloud computing can and should be part of the government IT landscape. Hear how one agency launched its initial foray into the cloud and how it has quickly expanded to advanced collaboration within NASA and with partners in industry, government, and academia. Learn about the fundamental considerations—from technology options to investment strategies—and recommended planning and testing necessary before migrating enterprise data and applications to hosted computing environments. What are the obvious (and not-so-obvious), benefits and risks of computing in the cloud, and how organizations can reorient their strategies from managing IT systems to using their business information.

Chris C. Kemp is an entrepreneurial executive with a passion for igniting innovation in high-tech organizations. Chris has experience starting, funding, building, and selling technology businesses. As Chairman of NASA's Web Council and Chief Information Officer at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, Chris helped forge partnerships with Google and Microsoft and is responsible for NASA's Nebula Cloud Computing Platform. Prior to joining NASA, Chris helped create the third largest online community Classmates.com, the leading web-based vacation rental platform Escapia, and the first online grocery shopping platform for Kroger, the world's
largest grocery store chain.

9:15 How to Take Advantage of Cloud Computing Today

Christopher Dorobek, Co-Anchor, The Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris, Federal News Radio (Moderator) Slides
Russ Fromkin, Director, Intel Federal
David Hunter, Chief Technology Officer, Public Sector, VMware, Inc.
Dan Kent, Director of Engineering, Cisco
Dale Wickizer, Chief Technology Officer, NetApp US Public Sector

Moving beyond the hype that surrounds cloud computing, how can agency IT and program management professionals build their understanding of the tools and techniques associated with this emerging strategy with a focus on meeting their business and mission objectives? Join this panel of private sector experts to learn what you need to know about this technology trend, as well as available options and applications in use today by public sector organizations. Attendees will learn why this shared-computing model is different from its predecessors, and how cloud computing today offers alternatives that integrate with in-place infrastructure to deliver more secure and cost effective results. Panelists will share case examples that demonstrate how to evaluate your agency requirements vis-à-vis cloud computing options, and offer recommendations on how to get started, implement incrementally, and set realistic performance expectations.

10:15 Coffee Break / Networking

10:45 Understanding Security and Standards in the Cloud

Peter Mell, Senior Computer Scientist, Computer Security Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Co-Chair of the Federal Cloud Computing Advisory Council Slides 

With the swirling and prolific discussion about cloud computing for government operations during the past several months, no topics have received more attention than these two: 1) are there standards for cloud computing? and 2) can cloud computing be secure? This is your opportunity to hear direct answers to these emotionally-charged questions in a reasoned way that can be applied to most U.S. Government computing environments. Bring your questions, learn from early-adopter experience, and expand your knowledge of the ways that public and private sector organizations are deploying trusted cloud-based services. What is next for cloud standards development, and how could the government make the most of cloud computing while minimizing loss, inadvertent disclosure, or threats to valuable information assets?

11:30 Key Elements of Cloud Computing: From Private to Hosted Solutions

Henry Sienkiewicz, Technical Program Director, Computing Services, Defense Information Systems Agency Slides 

The cloud computing phenomenon has swept through IT departments in recent months, but few have implemented an enterprise-class leap into the cloud. The Defense Information Systems Agency, however, has done exactly that to improve IT services to its many and diverse DOD constituents. This discussion will focus on first-hand experience from a large and complex defense organization that has embraced cloud computing for improving intra-agency IT services and storage, and the impact that transition has had on its operations, staff, and budget. Learn practical, actionable approaches about what you should know before you move towards the cloud and how DISA selected its cloud applications and why they were determined to be most suitable. Attendees will learn the most significant benefits realized to date, and how, as government professionals, they should proceed to set expectations for performance and costs associated with this new computing strategy.

12:15 Wrap Up, Announcements

Mike Smoyer, President, Digital Government Institute

Dear Cloud Computing Conference Participants

Thank you for joining us at Digital Government Institute's Cloud Computing Conference.  We appreciate your support and hope you enjoyed the event.
 
As promised, you can access the session presentations online:
http://www.digitalgovernment.com/Downloads/Cloud-Computing-Conference.shtml
 
Thank you to our speakers, sponsors and all participants for making this conference a success. 
Here is some feedback you provided: 
 
"I enjoyed the ability to get cloud computing questions answered in real-time.  A wealth of information on the topic from excellent speakers!"
"It was worthwhile hearing from Federal and commercial leaders and implementers."
"Enjoyed all of the speakers and topics.  Very informative conference.  Information I can take back to my agency."
"Knowledgeable and experienced speakers discussing pertinent, relevant issue on the subject."
"Excellent presentation, great nuggets to take away."
"Very articulate, very informative.  Good overview of the challenges and issues associated with moving to the cloud."
"Outstanding!  Touched all of the key points-business model, process focus, and capital funding."
"Excellent idea to hear various perspectives from major players in Cloud Computing."
"Excellent panel representation for infrastructure.  Relevant comments on Cloud Computing implementation."
"It is fantastic to see a positive feel for the way ahead."
"Clearly presented challenges for agencies to adopt cloud computing."
"Excellent, practical views of subject.  Worthwhile, thought-provoking issues surfaced."
 
Cloud Computing Knowledge Center

DGI hosts a Knowledge Center which aggregates news stories and other resources related to Government Customer Service.  Visit it online:  http://www.digitalgovernment.com/Knowledge-Centers/Cloud-Computing.shtml
 
Scroll down to "News" and see the following articles written as a result of the event:
 
"Agencies to justify not using cloud computing to OMB", published FederalNewsRadio.com's Jason Miller
"Cloud computing could pave way for open government", published FCW's Doug Beizer