1st Annual CloudNOW Awards Recognizing Women in Cloud Computing to Take Place at UBM TechWeb's Cloud Connect

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Connect, produced by UBM TechWeb, today announced fresh program elements for this year's event including new tracks around Big Data and Mobile, and the Carrier Cloud Forum. In addition, CloudNOW, a nonprofit group of women in cloud computing, will host their first annual CloudNOW Awards during Cloud Connect.  As the premier technology event for cloud computing, featuring the latest technologies, strategies and innovations within cloud, Cloud Connect will take place February 13-16, 2012 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA. For more information, visit http://cloudconnectevent.com/santaclara. 

Building on Cloud Connect's position as an educational conference, rich in content and working to reflect the changing landscape of cloud computing, the program has expanded to feature two new tracks: Mobile Cloud, covering the intersection of mobile, social and cloud and how these technology trends combine to create new opportunities, as well as the challenges and success stories of using the cloud as part of a mobile application strategy; and Big Data Processing, which focuses on how to process huge datasets using parallel computing techniques and how to take advantage of the elasticity of the cloud to process workloads faster and more efficiently.

In addition, for the first time, Cloud Connect features Carrier Cloud Forum, a one day intensive program designed to provide high-quality education and peer-to-peer interaction on the core issues around building a cloud infrastructure and developing a cloud services business model that works.  The program will focus on ways to capitalize on existing network and data center resources while building in new flexibility for delivery of on-demand services and management of user experience.  Hosted by Light Reading, Carrier Cloud Forum will take place on Monday, February 13 during Cloud Connect.

"With the success of the 2011 Cloud Connect event, we are committed to a program rich in all aspects of cloud computing," said Steve Wylie, Cloud Connect General Manager.  "With new program elements that emphasize technology trends like mobile and big data, as well as an awards program recognizing women's contributions to the cloud, Cloud Connect continues to position itself as the most important, vendor-neutral cloud event in the industry.  This event is a must-attend for best practices and first-hand learning about the newest tools and technologies that can help shape your company's cloud strategy." 

The first annual CloudNOW Awards will be announced at a luncheon on Tuesday, February 14 during Cloud Connect.  CloudNOW, a nonprofit executive consortium of the leading women in cloud computing focused on using technology for the overall professional development of women from around the world by providing a forum for networking, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and economic growth, will recognize 10 outstanding women in cloud computing for their contributions, accomplishments and thought leadership. 

"Cloud computing is going through an exciting and vibrant evolution and many of the leading participants are women," said Jocelyn DeGance Graham, founder of CloudNOW.  "Cloud Connect was chosen as the venue to announce the awards because of their commitment to enriching the cloud conversation by ensuring diverse points of view."

Cloud Connect Santa Clara will feature over 60 breakout sessions, an expo floor featuring nearly 100 companies showcasing the latest cloud computing technologies, and cloud computing hardware, software and service providers the opportunity to come together in one location for rich content, controversial debate, expert opinion and use-case studies from the likes of LinkedIn, American Airlines, the US Federal Government and Smith Electric vehicles.  To date, sponsors of the event include: Super Diamond Sponsor Cisco Systems; Diamond Sponsors Citrix Systems, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Rackspace Hosting and Red Hat; Platinum Sponsors GoGrid, Sungard Availability Services and Terremark, a Verizon Company; Gold Sponsors Brocade, CoreSite, Interxion, SOASTA, Softlayer and Windows Azure; Silver Sponsors Apica, CloudSoft, Comcast Business Class, Mahindra Satyam, Morphlabs, Newvem, OneBill Software, Opscode, OpSource, Inc., Savvis, ServiceMesh Inc., Tier 3 and Xeround INC.

About Cloud Connect 
Cloud Connect, produced by UBM TechWeb, is the defining event of the cloud computing industry. 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, Web 2.0, 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.

SOURCE UBM TechWeb