COMDEXvirtual 2011 Coverage

7 Ways To Tackle Tough Business Challenges

At COMDEXvirtual, Dan DiSano, president and CEO of Axispoint, and Bob Venero, president and CEO of Future Tech, share seven tips solution providers can use to sell customers on the value of their solutions during a tough economy.

Cloud Networking Era Means Rethinking Network Infrastructure

The increasing adoption of cloud computing and its implications for provisioned data centers is not only changing the networking technologies companies buy, but how networks are actually constructed. During the COMDEXvirtual session, "Preparing for the Next Generation," industry analysts explore how technology trends such as software-defined networking and 10 GbE products are preparing companies for the cloud networking era.

Unified Communications Picking Up Steam

Unified communications -- both on-premise and in the cloud -- is a growing industry expected to reach $18.5 billion by 2013. During a panel at COMDEXvirtual, 3GC Group CEO Henry Park describes how VARs can combine products from multiple vendors to provide customers with the complete unified communications solution they're looking for.

Storage Efficiency Key To Managing Fast-Growing Data

Finding ways to manage the growing amount of accumulated data can help businesses cut long-term costs and increase the efficiency of their storage environments. This was the key takeaway from a panel on storage efficiency moderated by Camberely Bates, managing director at The Evaluator Group, who said the conversation needs to focus on the strategies businesses need to improve storage management while increasing efficiency.

Virtualization Growth Continues, Paving Way For Private Clouds

Many businesses have made significant investments in virtualization technology, but there is still plenty of room for growth in both enterprise and small and medium-sized businesses. At COMDEXvirtual, Barb Goldworm, founder and president of Focus, explores how companies are expanding beyond server virtualization into new areas like desktop and application virtualization, as well as private cloud services.

Too Much Information: Social Networking Sites Help Hackers Break Corporate Networks

While businesses spend millions on technology to prevent hackers from gaining access to their corporate networks, the threat their own employees pose is often overlooked. In a COMDEXvirtual session titled "Security: How to Recruit Spies on the Internet," Ira Winkler, president and CEO of the Internet Security Advisors Group examines how employees how can be leveraged, whether willingly or not, as a gateway to compromise corporate networks.

2011 Best Companies To Partner With

Looking for the best IT vendors to partner with? CRN's exclusive new research study, Best Companies To Partner With, asks solution providers to rank their must-have technology vendors. Unveiled at COMDEXvirtual, the study measures the partner relevance, strength of technology and customer demand of 225 vendors in 13 technology categories.

Cloud Channel Myths Busted!

There are a host of opportunities surrounding cloud computing, causing solution providers to second-guess a move to the cloud. However, a handful of these cloud myths are just plain false. During the session "Cashing In On The Cloud," THINKstrategies Inc.'s Jeffrey Kaplan debunks channel-specific cloud myths.

Changing Channel Landscape Demands That VARs Do Some Soul-Searching

The evolution of new technologies is creating the need for business model shifts in the channel. In a keynote session at COMDEXvirtual, UBM Channel CEO Robert Faletra discussed how the face of the solution provider is changing as VARs morph to adapt to new business demands and to capitalize on growing trends such as cloud computing, mobility and virtualization.

How Execs Can Stop Worrying And Learn To Love Enterprise Mobility

While the adoption rates of tablets and smartphones continue to skyrocket, only 20 percent to 25 percent of companies using mobile devices actually have a formal strategy in place. During the session, "Wireless and Mobility: On the Go, in Touch and Connected: The Mobility Challenge," at COMDEXvirtual, a panel of mobility experts examine where the reluctance stems from and why execs should embrace an enterprise mobility strategy.

Continuum Health Partners, MLB Network Handle Data Center Challenges With VMware, LTFS

The need for more storage and the need to keep that data safe is a still a key issue for IT administrators, despite the numerous advances in data center technologies. In a session titled "Trends and Challenges in the Data Center 2011" at COMDEXvirtual, IT admins share their tips and tricks for storage and data protection.

Cloud Channel Opportunities Abound, If You Take Them

The cloud computing model forces solution providers to change their business, but when it comes to the cloud, there's no need to fear change. While solution providers will need to adopt new methods and models, there are plenty of opportunities for partners and it's up to the channel to demystify the cloud for clients.