Thriving in a Cloud, Big Data, Mobility and Security World

This is the theme at this year's Dell World opening keynote and this view is supported by Gartner's Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2015:

• Computing Everywhere - As mobile devices continue to proliferate, Gartner predicts an increased emphasis on serving the needs of the mobile user in diverse contexts and environments, as opposed to focusing on devices alone.
• The Internet of Things - The combination of data streams and services created by digitizing everything creates four basic usage models — Manage, Monetize, Operate and Extend. These four basic models can be applied to any of the four "Internets."
• 3D Printing - Worldwide shipments of 3D printers are expected to grow 98 percent in 2015, followed by a doubling of unit shipments in 2016. 3D printing will reach a tipping point over the next three years as the market for relatively low-cost 3D printing devices continues to grow rapidly and industrial use expands significantly.
• Advanced, Pervasive and Invisible Analytics - Analytics will take center stage as the volume of data generated by embedded systems increases and vast pools of structured and unstructured data inside and outside the enterprise are analyzed. Big data remains an important enabler for this trend but the focus needs to shift to thinking about big questions and big answers first and big data second.
• Context-Rich Systems - Ubiquitous embedded intelligence combined with pervasive analytics will drive the development of systems that are alert to their surroundings and able to respond appropriately.
• Smart Machines - Deep analytics applied to an understanding of context provide the preconditions for a world of smart machines. This foundation combines with advanced algorithms that allow systems to understand their environment, learn for themselves, and act autonomously.
• Cloud/Client Computing - The convergence of cloud and mobile computing will continue to promote the growth of centrally coordinated applications that can be delivered to any device. In the near term, the focus for cloud/client will be on synchronizing content and application state across multiple devices and addressing application portability across devices. Over time, applications will evolve to support simultaneous use of multiple devices.
• Software-Defined Applications and Infrastructure - Agile programming of everything from applications to basic infrastructure is essential to enable organizations to deliver the flexibility required to make the digital business work. Software-defined networking, storage, data centers and security are maturing. Cloud services are software-configurable through API calls, and applications, too, increasingly have rich APIs to access their function and content programmatically. Rules, models and code that can dynamically assemble and configure all of the elements needed from the network through the application are needed.
• Web-Scale IT - Web-scale IT is a pattern of global-class computing that delivers the capabilities of large cloud service providers within an enterprise IT setting. Web-scale IT does not happen immediately, but will evolve over time as commercial hardware platforms embrace the new models and cloud-optimized and software-defined approaches reach mainstream.
• Risk-Based Security and Self-Protection - In a digital business world, security cannot be a roadblock that stops all progress. Organizations will increasingly recognize that it is not possible to provide a 100 percent secured environment. Once organizations acknowledge that, they can begin to apply more-sophisticated risk assessment and mitigation tools. On the technical side, recognition that perimeter defense is inadequate and applications need to take a more active role in security gives rise to a new multifaceted approach.

I agree with all of these trends and that's why I will be in Austin, TX from Nov 4-7, attending Dell World. Since the business use of cloud computing is my thing, you will probably be able to catch me at one or more of the following sessions:

• HOL2: Data-driven decisions with Big Data and analytics
• HOL5: Transforming your IT to take advantage of the Nexus of Forces: Mobile, cloud, social and analytics
• MT6: Conquering cloud chaos: Simplifying and centralizing multi-cloud integration and management
• MT16: Connecting people through Unified Communications & Collaboration (UCC)
• MT17: The business computing imperative: Delivering end user productivity and IT control
• MT24: Enabling mobility without compromising security
• MT25: Overcoming compliance challenges: A 5-step path to governance
• MT27: 7 ways social insights help Staples Inc. get closer to its customers and reshape its brand
• MT31: LinkedIn: Accelerated growth via Integration Platform as a Service (IPAAS)
• MT57: Optimize your virtual infrastructure and lower OPEX with advanced virtualization monitoring
• MT60: Orchestrating your cloud services and applications
• MT64: Rethinking innovation to enhance customer experience

The entire line-up is available on-line (http://dellworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/SalesBrochure-DW14_082614.pdf). I will be there taking notes and hope to run into you there as well.

(This content is being syndicated through multiple channels including Dell Corporation. The opinions expressed are the authors own and do not represent the views of any other company or organization.)