How the NSA is Spying on You: Privacy Expert Kurt Opsahl to Join Interop Las Vegas Keynote Lineup

SAN FRANCISCO, March 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Interop Las Vegas, produced by UBM Tech, today announces three accomplished technology authorities as new additions to its already robust keynote lineup. Interop, the leading independent IT industry event, will welcome to the keynote stage Deputy General Counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation as well as representatives from the Boston Red Sox and Cisco. Interop Las Vegas will take place April 27-May 1 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. For more information and to register, visit: www.interop.com/lasvegas.

As part of an expanded focus on information security, Interop Las Vegas brings cybersecurity and surveillance to the main stage, welcoming Kurt Opsahl, Deputy General Counsel, Electronic Frontier Foundation. In his presentation, "NSA Surveillance vs. Internet Freedom: What You Need to Know," Opsahl will explain the known facts about how the NSA spying program works – from their targeting procedures (how they decide who to focus on) to the many code names and acronyms seen in the news. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization, has been litigating against the NSA surveillance program for the better part of a decade. Opsahl counsels on EFF projects and initiatives, and is lead attorney on the Coders' Rights Project. Opsahl will take the keynote stage the morning of Wednesday, April 29.

In addition to Opsahl, Interop welcomes two more keynote speakers who bring with them an impressive expertise across the spectrum of trends affecting the IT industry. Both will present in-depth content specific to their unique experiences, providing attendees with insight to apply to their own professional growth.

Brian Shield, VP of IT, Boston Red Sox

• Responsible for all things technology for the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Sports Management, Shield leads the technology team on all phases of the Red Sox strategy. With more than two decades of experience, Shield has played key roles in securing technology for The Weather Channel, Shield Consulting Group, LLC, FTD, Inc., Scudder, Stevens & Clark and Wang Laboratories. He was the recipient of the 2005, 'Georgia CIO of the Year Award,' and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia CIO Leadership Association in 2012. He will take the keynote stage the morning of Thursday, April 30.

Wim Elfrink, EVP, Industry Solutions & Chief Globalization Officer, Cisco

• Elfrink sits on Cisco's Operating Committee and is responsible for the Industry Solutions Group, the Emerging Countries Initiatives and the company's globalization strategy. Since his promotion to Senior Vice President in 2000, Cisco grew from $3.3 billion to more than $7.6 billion in 2010. In addition to his contributions at Cisco, Elfrink sits on the board of various organizations including the US India Business Council. He was the recipient of the 2013 Ambassador C. Howard Wilkins, Jr. Award from the Netherlands American Foundation, and was named one of Bangalore's 50 Most Influential People in 2009. Elfrink will take the keynote stage the morning of Thursday, April 30.

"We're so excited about the additions to this year's keynote lineup. From a non-profit, to a leading IT vendor, to a renowned sports franchise, these technology experts hail from such diverse backgrounds," said Jennifer Jessup, General Manager for Interop. "Our audience can look forward to learning more about the vast range of opportunities within the tech space, from industry leaders who have experienced the business from such different perspectives."

This year's event will also feature two keynote panels covering mobility and SDN.

Smartphones? You're Way Behind - Wednesday, April 29
Led by moderator Stephanie Stahl, VP of Content Marketing for UBM Tech, this panel will offer insights into how to prepare for the mobile future and offer actionable advice for weaving together a strong mobile fabric. Speakers will also discuss why pinning mobility strategy to smartphones is thinking too small.

SDN First Steps - Thursday, April 30
Among the participating SDN experts will be Arpit Joshipura, VP of Product Management & Strategy for Dell Networking and Guido Appenzeller, Chief Technology Strategy Officer of Networking and Security for VMware. Brian Gillooly, VP of Event Content and Strategy for UBM Tech, will moderate the panel of professionals who will identify likely use cases for initial deployments. Speakers will also discuss the skill sets organizations should prioritize as they move forward with SDN projects, and share advice on how to manage the disruption—and exploit the opportunities—SDN brings to traditional operations and engineering disciplines.

Interop Las Vegas 2015 will tackle ten critical technology topics, focusing on the present as well as future innovations that will drive the IT community forward. The event will host an Expo of more than 300 solution providers, offering attendees a convenient way to see next-gen technologies all in one place. For more information and to view the entire schedule, visit: http://www.interop.com/lasvegas/scheduler/list

About Interop®
Interop is the leading independent IT industry event dedicated to providing technology professionals with the unbiased information they need to thrive as new technologies continue to transform the enterprise. Part of UBM Tech's family of global brands, Interop connects all levels of the IT community by showcasing the latest innovations and technologies while providing unique opportunities for networking and career advancement. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique InteropNet program, Interop allows attendees to gain insight into the future of technology, the outlook for the IT industry, and the possibilities of what it means to be in IT. Interop Las Vegas is the flagship event held each spring, with annual international events in India, London and Tokyo, all produced by UBM Tech and partners. For more information about these events, visit www.interop.com.

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