Nearly all enterprises across the globe believe and understand that cloud computing has become a key area in today’s business landscape. They are leveraging cloud offerings so as to gain tangible benefits (think streamlining supply chain processes, boosting information transparency, improving decision-making, reducing costs, etc.) and, hence sharpen their competitive edge. In fact, according to figures from Forrester, close to 60 percent of enterprises based in North America now rely on public cloud platforms, five times the percentage that did just six years ago.
But just like any other technology out there, cloud computing is constantly evolving and advancing every day. For instance, a new wave of intelligent technologies that build onto the cloud such as the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence, machine learning, among others are emerging and hitting the mainstream at a rapid rate. This introduces complexities into the cloud sector and as a result, most business leaders find themselves grappling with the following questions:
- How can our organization better comprehend the risks and opportunities that new cloud technologies present?
- How do we make the most of these new opportunities, not lag behind, and not make costly mistakes?
- What is the best strategy to ensure we survive and thrive in the cloud?
So what does this mean for cloud professionals?
Enterprises expect the cloud engineers they bring on-board to be always on top of their game. They expect them to be well-informed with current cloud computing trends and that they will steer the organization in the right direction when it comes to cloud related technologies.
That’s why we’ve provided you with a list of the top cloud computing conferences around the U.S. where you will be able to not only network but also gain access to the newest cloud computing ideas, technologies, and concepts.
The Top Cloud Computing Conferences
Let’s have a look at some of the top cloud computing conferences around the U.S.
Google Cloud Next
Google Cloud Next is usually held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. This conference is Google’s annual global event which normally focuses on the company’s cloud services and products.
You will get the chance to meet directly with Google experts in artificial intelligence, and machine learning, cyber-security, and software infrastructure. Some of the topics that will be covered include: architecture, compute, application development, collaboration and productivity, DevOps and SRE, cost management, hybrid cloud, and serverless computing.
(Read The Ultimate Guide for a Successful Cloud Engineering Career)
VMworld
VMworld, a virtualization and cloud computing conference hosted by VMware that is usually held in San Francisco, CA. This conference typically focuses on VMware’s various business strategies, including multi-cloud management, VMware Cloud for AWS, security, end-user productivity, mobile, among others.
By attending you will be able to hear expert perspectives on cloud computing/IT, connect and collaborate and more importantly advance your career.
OpenStack Infrastructure Summit
OpenStack Infrastructure Summit takes place in Denver, CO. The summit normally focuses on open infrastructure integration and has over the years evolved to address various different open source projects.
By attending this summit you will be able to network with individuals building and operating open infrastructure, with over 300 sessions and workshops on Container Infrastructure, CI/CD, Telecom + NFV, Public Cloud, Security, Private & Hybrid Cloud, etc. and members of open source communities such as Airship, Ansible, Ceph, Docker, Kata Containers, Kubernetes, ONAP, OpenStack, Open vSwitch, Zuul, OPNFV, Starling among others.
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon
KubeCon and CloudNativeCon, a single conference hosted by the Linux Foundation and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), usually takes place in San Diego, CA.
The conference focuses on open-source projects, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, OpenTracing, Fluentd, Linkerd, gRPC, CoreDNS, containerd, rkt, and CNI. This means you will be able to gain exposure on these open-source projects and also network with leading players in cloud-native applications, containers, micro-services, and orchestration.
Amazon re:invent
Amazon re:invent, an event hosted by AWS, is hosted at various locations across the US. AWS normally uses this annual event to set the agenda for the cloud landscape, announce updates and new features, as well as discuss the future of the platform.
This event is productive for cloud professionals as you will be able to network with Amazon’s top customers, software distribution partners (ISVs) and public cloud MSPs.
Microsoft Ignite
Microsoft Ignite will be held on 4th-8th November 2019 in Orlando, Florida. Microsoft uses this event to discuss everything cloud computing, data/business intelligence, among other topics.
You will be able to network with a wide range of tech professionals and also gain knowledge as it is expected to feature almost 700 + deep-dive sessions and 100 + expert-led and self-placed workshops. You will get the chance to explore the latest tools and technology through a variety of experiences, including hands-on demos, Microsoft Mechanics studio sessions, attendee hangouts, and in time in the community lounge.
Gartner Data Center, Infrastructure & Operations Management Conference
Gartner Data Center, Infrastructure & Operations Management Conference, is an annual event guided by the latest insight from Gartner and IT operations experts.
It is an essential event as it covers issues around cloud computing, Internet of Things, AI, DevOps, containers, microservices and serverless computing.
Red Hat Summit
Red Hat Summit is an annual open source technology event hosted by Red Hat. It usually takes place in May and is used by Red Hat to discuss issues around the open source arena and how it is shaping cloud computing and infrastructure.
And since Red Hat was recently bought by IBM, this event could prove worthwhile for cloud professionals working with open source technology, especially Linux.
Dreamforce
Dreamforce, an event hosted by Salesforce, usually occurs in November in San Francisco. This annual conference focuses on Salesforce and CRM and as a cloud professional, you will have the chance to network, learn from tech experts, and gain knowledge on emerging trends like AI.
DockerCon
DockerCon is an event hosted by Docker and focuses on the latest trends across the Docker world. It will be held at the beginning of April in San Francisco, CA.
The event features networking opportunities and hands-on labs. It is, therefore, a must-attend for all cloud professionals, particularly those working in and around containers (think DevOps, SRE, administration and infrastructure engineers).
Oracle OpenWorld
OpenWorld, Oracle’s annual biggest event, is usually held at the end of August in San Francisco, CA. The event mainly focuses on Oracle’s products, including its databases and business applications.
By attending this event, you will be able to network with Oracle’s customers, partners, and Oracle executives from around the world.
Interop ITX
Interop ITX is a tech conference that is held in May in Las Vegas, NV.
It is an essential event for cloud engineers as it will cover topics like cloud computing, collaboration, application deployment, networking, security, software-defined networking, IT leadership, virtualization, storage, data center architecture, and mobility.
Wrap Up
As a cloud engineer, you need to understand the benefits, risks, issues, and more importantly, the latest trends associated with cloud computing technologies. Enterprises have moved from debating whether they should deploy cloud computing to creating strategies on how they are going to make it an integral part of their IT infrastructure. And this means they will be looking for best-in-class cloud professionals to oversee these strategies.
As a cloud computing professional, you can start here with these insights on the top cloud computing conferences around the U.S. where you can gain more knowledge about the cloud and, thus be able to fully install controls to direct the deployment of cloud technologies within a given organization’s IT landscape.