VMworld Set to Rock the IT Industry This August

By: Dawn Altnam

VMworld Set to Rock the IT Industry This August

Ah, Summer! That wonderfully effervescent season filled with outdoor activities: swimming, grilling and, of course, music festivals. Summer is many things to many people, and even the most reclusive IT dude has something to look forward to towards the end of this magical season: VMWorld, a whimsical conference that revolves around innovations in the information technology industry.

If you’ve not heard about VMworld, think of it as the Coachella Festival of the IT world. This is where virtualization experts, enthusiasts and maybe even a few wannabes, get together and discuss and experience current trends, as well as the future of virtualization tech. The conference has been held in both the United States and Europe since 2004, and is put on by the virtualization giant, VMware. In general, the conference lasts for about three to five days, and usually attracts upwards of 1,500 conference goers. However, this year is expected to attract crowds of record numbers. Why? Virtualization is a hot topic in IT circles all over the world.

A Note on Virtualization

To be clear, the concept of virtualization is nothing new – it’s been around for over a decade in various forms – but it’s becoming an increasingly important trend in IT circles all across the globe. Virtualization has gained a great deal of popularity in recent years for its cost-reducing capabilities and its powerful computing capabilities. For instance, companies can now enable quick changes on an infrastructural level in a matter of moments. What was previously reserved for desktop and basic computing is now being used to virtualize high-powered server environments on an enterprise level. In short, the virtualization industry is rapidly transforming how enterprise-class companies of all stripes are approaching their infrastructural computing processes.

Why VMworld is Important to IT Pros All Over the World

While on the surface attending VMworld may appear to be a strictly marketing and networking move, it really is about education. IT professionals of all kinds flock to the conference every year to learn about new trends and innovations in virtualization. This year there will be an increased emphasis on VMware implementation, and how virtualized environments interact with cloud-computing technology on an infrastructural level. Heavy hitters like Cisco, Dell and Scale Computing will discuss and educate attendees on what the future of virtualization looks like, what we’re doing wrong now, and how new technologies aim to fix problematic areas of VMware integration. In other words, VMworld will feature a who’s-who of panel experts and thought leaders in the virtualization space.

More About This Year’s Conference

It’s no surprise that this year’s VMworld conference will hosted in the center of all things tech: San Francisco. More specifically, it will take place at the Moscone Center right in the heart of the beautiful city. The conference will be broken into three segments over three days: August 26-29. The 27^th will feature an introduction to the conference. The first day is usually low-key, and serves as a great day for networking with colleagues new and old. The 28^th is a full day jam packed with educational and demonstrational exhibits from over 250 heavyweight vendors in the virtualization industry. Finally, the last day is one big party to end the conference. This year’s celebration is fully equipped with video games, live broadcasted sports games on state of the art video equipment, and a live performance by Bon Jovi and The Kings of Suburbia.

The bottom line is that you don’t want to be the last person in your office or workplace to know about key changes in the virtualization industry. Heading to the VMworld conference is not only a lot of fun, it can continue to give you an edge on your competition. You can come back with a fresh perspective on the latest in infrastructural virtualization technology – not to mention bragging rights that you finally got to see Bon Jovi play “Living on a Prayer” in person. It’s a win-win.

About the author: Dawn Altnam lives and works in the Midwest, and she enjoys following the business tech world. After furthering her education, she has spent some time researching her interests and blogging of her discoveries often. Follow her on Twitter! @DawnAltnam