The widespread proliferation of digital technologies has transformed us into a knowledge-intensive society. New revolutionary digital technology trends will continue to change the ICT domain and create new opportunities at all levels. For decades, public and private organisations and individuals have addressed their technology needs in the traditional way by investing in high-end hardware and software. However, the increased availability of ubiquitous computing is creating a new paradigm, one that enables the consumption of ICT over the Internet as a service This new way of delivering ICT is called “Cloud Computing”. This phenomenon will play a major role in the ICT domain over the next five years and will “fundamentally shift competitive landscapes by providing a new platform for creating and delivering business value” (How cloud computing enables process and business model innovation, Berman et al).
Cloud computing is already playing a major role in our everyday lives. Services such as Google Apps provided by the Google Cloud Platform, iTunes and Apple iCloud, Amazon Cloud Drive, and Office Online are examples of applications provisioned over the cloud. As these examples demonstrate, the cloud can be used to deliver a vast range of services.
Other benefits offered by cloud computing include reduced costs by paying only for the services and infrastructure being used; reduced capital investment; on-demand processing and storage resources; and the enabling of entirely new innovative business services.
Cloud computing also brings substantial new challenges such as data security and privacy, reliability of the cloud, governance and interoperability of data. However, with the introduction of industry standards that address the technological, management and regulatory issues, these challenges will be overcome.
Join us at this one day conference where we will be discussing this and so much more.
Keynote speakers for this cloud computing event include Dr. Tobias Höllwarth a founding member of EuroCloud Austria and editor of the book “Migrating to the Cloud” and Maurice van der Woude general director of EuroCloud Europe. Dr Godwin Caruana, Chief Technology Officer at MITA and Mr Steve Agius, Chief of Information and Business Development at MCA, will also be addressing the conference. Watch this space for regular updates on speakers!
The Hon Dr Josè Herrera Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth will close the event and launch an e-book titled “Cloud Computing Guidelines for SMEs”.
DRAFT PROGRAMME
| 08:30 - 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee |
PART 1: INTRODUCTION moderated by Mr Steve Agius, Chief of Information & Business Development, MCA |
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| 09:00 - 09:10 | Welcome Address |
| 09:10 - 09:50 | Introduction to the Cloud Mr Tobias Hollwarth Founding member of EuroCloud Austria and editor of the book 'Migrating to the Cloud' |
| 09:50 - 10:30 | The impact of the Cloud on SMEs Mr Maurice van der Woude General Director, EuroCloud Europe |
| 10:30 - 11:00 | Coffee Break |
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Technology of the Cloud Dr Godwin Caruana Chief Technology Officer, MITA |
PART2: CASE STUDIES Whats happening locally? |
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| 11:30 - 11:45 | Case Study - BMIT, Nick Tonna |
| 11:45 - 12:00 | Case Study - Shireburn Software, John Degiorgio |
| 12:00 - 12:15 | Case Study - Microsoft Azure, Edward Portelli |
| 12:15 - 13:00 | Panel Discussion: Stepping into the Cloud |
PART 4: CLOSING |
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| 13:00 - 13:15 | Closing Address and Launch of the Guidelines for Cloud Computing The Hon Dr Jose Herrera, Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth |
| 13:15 - 14:30 | Lunch & Networking Session |
Register your participation by no later than Friday, 1st April 2016.
This conference is open to owners of microenterprises and SMEs or their respective employees, policy makers, consultants or anyone working directly in the area of cloud computing.