Cloud Leadership Forum 2012 to Offer Senior Decision-Makers Unmatched Insights and Intelligence on Cloud Issues Reshaping IT

FRAMINGHAM, MA--(Marketwire - May 22, 2012) - "Cloud Economics 2012," "The State of Cloud Security" and "Managing Complex Multi-Cloud Environments" are just some of the topics headlining the third annual Cloud Leadership Forum, a one-of-a-kind national conference for enterprise IT that returns to Silicon Valley on June 12-14, at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara.

The Cloud Leadership Forum is the only cloud conference that focuses exclusively on the enterprise. It is a program built by IT executives, business experts, industry analysts and technology editors and features workshops, management interviews, keynotes and networking opportunities designed to help organizations leverage the power of the cloud.

The event is produced by International Data Corp. (IDC) and IDG Enterprise, the media company comprising CFOworld, CIO, CIO Executive Council, Computerworld, CSO, DEMO, InfoWorld, ITworld and Network World.

Other sessions will address topics such as:

• "The Big Picture of Cloud Computing You've Never Seen Before"
• "How The Cloud is Creating New Revenue Opportunities for Savvy Businesses"
• "Cloud Integration on a Massive Scale"
• "Cloudbusters: What Derails Cloud Projects and How to Get Around Them"
• "Why Platform as a Service May Be Your Most Important Cloud Decision"

"With more than a third of IT budgets being devoted to Cloud Computing¹, it has clearly become a key driver in developing new business opportunities for the enterprise. The Cloud Leadership Forum offers attendees the opportunity to hear real-world examples of cloud deployments from organizations, such as Amazon, IBM, LSI Corporation and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory spotlighting their cloud strategies," said Michael Friedenberg, President & CEO of IDG Enterprise. "There is no other forum which brings together the ecosystem of cloud industry experts from around the world -- IT practitioners, top business leaders, and solution providers -- to share cloud strategies, and best practices in the enterprise."

Leading key sessions will be IDG editors, such as IDG Enterprise SVP and Chief Content Officer John Gallant, who will conduct a session with Cisco's VP of Global Cloud Business Development, Manjula Talreja; and CSO magazine Editor-in-Chief Derek Slater, who will conduct a discussion with Cloud Security Alliance COO John Howie. Also, Frank Gens, SVP & Chief Analyst, IDC, will lead a session with Lauren C. State, VP, Technology Strategy, Growth Initiatives, & CTO Cloud Computing, IBM Corporate Strategy, titled "Shaping a new Era of Computing and Business Innovation."

The Forum will again be hosted by Gallant and IDC Senior VP and Chief Analyst Frank Gens, who will lead discussions on issues, such as data management and the cloud, managing complex multi-cloud environments, and reshaping your IT department to capitalize on the cloud.

In addition, members of the IDC cloud analyst team will be available for complimentary one-on-one meetings with attendees. Some of the most popular topics among pre-registered attendees include data governance in the cloud, ensuring data privacy in the cloud, and private/public cloud systems management.

The Forum will also feature practical sessions led by other experts who support the IT and business community, including Michael Overly, an attorney specializing in IT contracts, who will cover the latest legal considerations for cloud computing in a "Cloud Contracting Workshop"; and Alex Rosen, managing director of IDG Ventures, who will offer a "Venture Capital View into the Next Generation of Enterprise Cloud Products."

This year's Forum is sponsored by Cisco, Comcast Business Class, F5 Networks, Google, IBM, ITPreneurs, LSI Corporation, Panzura, and Trend Micro.

For more information or to register for the Cloud Leadership Forum, visit: http://www.cloudleadershipforum.com

To register as media, please visit: http://cloudleadershipforum.com/press2012

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About IDC
International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. IDC helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1,000 IDC analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. For more than 47 years, IDC has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research, and events company.

You can learn more about IDC by visiting http://www.idc.com.

About IDG Enterprise
IDG Enterprise, an International Data Group (IDG) company, brings together the leading editorial brands (CFOworld, CIO, Computerworld, CSO, DEMO, InfoWorld, ITworld and Network World) to serve the information needs of our technology and security-focused audiences. As the premier hi-tech B2B media company, we serve our reader and advertiser audiences by delivering award-winning content, community, conversation, and conversion solutions across our entire portfolio of award-winning websites, events, magazines, products and services. In addition, the CIO Executive Council is a peer advisory service that delivers on the business, technology, and leadership needs for the world's elite CIOs and their respective staffs.

Company information is available at www.idgenterprise.com.

Source: ¹ IDG Enterprise, Cloud Computing Study, January 2012