As an IT professional, attending a conference is a great way to connect with like-minded people through networking, as well as an excellent opportunity to learn from some of the best in your industry. The good news is that there are loads of different conferences you might consider attending in 2019.
The bad news is that because there are loads of different conferences in 2019, you'll struggle to decide which ones are going to benefit your business.
When it comes to picking the right conference, you need to think about a few key things:
Location: Where is this conference located? Do you need to travel overseas to get there, or is it local to you?
Cost: How much does it cost to attend this conference? Can you get a bulk package for your entire team to attend or is it too expensive and only one person will be able to go given your budget?
Speakers: Who’s booked to speak at the conference? If you’re just there to soak up knowledge, you need to make sure there are the right number and types of speakers who will help you learn what you don’t already know.
In this post, we’re taking a deep dive into different conferences you can attend in 2019 as an IT professional and in order to make it easier to find the right one for you, we’ve broken them down into conferences by month.
Let’s go!
FEBRUARY
Micro Focus ITOM Summit
Date:
5th-7th February
Location:
Arizona, USA
Cost:
Free for Micro Focus customers & $400 for any partners
Description:
The Micro Focus conference helps to solve complex hybrid IT issues. It’s a place where you can meet industry experts and share best practices. If your business is in the cloud - or looking to move to the cloud, this conference is for you.
DataWorks Summit
Date:
6th February
Location:
Melbourne, Australia
Cost:
$399 to $600 (Australian dollars)
Description:
The DataWorks conference is hosted by Hortonworks and is a great place to go if you have an interest in open-source data management. The conference will look at how businesses are using advanced analytics to improve the way they create customer experiences and define the way they build products. Alongside the Melbourne conference there will also be events held in Barcelona and Washington DC, USA.
Pink19
Date:
17th -20th February
Location:
Las Vegas, USA
Cost:
For standard tickets, you will pay $2,295, for platinum tickets you’ll pay $2,595.
Description:
This conference has a strong focus on their workshops. These workshops cover a range of different topics from IT operations, to ITSM, lean IT, agile best practices, and DevOps.
IBM Think
Date:
12th -15th February
Location:
San Francisco, CA
Cost:
Between $1995 and $2295
Description:
This conference is one of the most popular for all things cloud, mobile and security. If you’re interested in how you can use tech to transform and adapt to your industry, this conference is for you. There will be keynote talks from some of the best in the industry, including the CEO of IBM. Despite the high ticket cost, this is not one to miss.
MARCH
tabGeeks
Date:
6 - 8 March, 2019
Location:
Long Beach, CA, USA
Cost:
$769
Description:
This professional development conference focuses on overcoming the everyday challenges of IT pros and how to straddle the lines between and tech, with plenty of opportunities to kick back and relax with like-minded professionals. Sessions are capped at 80 attendees to ensure an intimate experience and speakers that are never sponsored so you won’t have to endure sales pitches interrupting your education.
Cloud Expo Europe
Date:
12th - 13th March
Location:
London, UK
Cost:
Free - you just need to register.
Description:
This conference is a haven for suppliers to talk about tech and industry trends. You’ll find there’s a topic for everyone here. They cover things like Blockchain, smart IoT, DevOps, cloud security and more If you’re a business leader or involved in the tech space, this is a great (free) conference to learn more.
MSP World
Date:
25th - 26th March
Location:
Hilton Hotel, Austin, TX, USA
Cost:
$399
Description:
This MSPAlliance event prides itself as being the only conference in the managed services industry brought to you by real MSPs. At this executive-focused event, you’ll meet MSP peers from around the globe and discuss relevant topics such as sales, marketing, finance, operations and more.
Data Center World
Date:
19th - 22nd March
Location:
Arizona, USA
Cost:
From $2195 to $2595
Description:
If you’re involved in data center facilities or IT infrastructure, this is a great conference to network with like-minded individuals. You’ll learn about best practices from some of the worlds leading new technologies as well as getting a greater understanding of how to acquire top talent in the industry.
Strata Data Conference
Date:
25th - 26th March
Location:
San Francisco, USA
Cost:
From $1445 to $3345
Description:
This conference has been around since 2012 and hopes to provide people with the chance to mingle with others from the world of data science, AI, and how you can use these technologies within the fundamentals of your business. You’ll learn not only about new technologies but techniques for how you can apply them within your own business.
Share
Date:
10th - 15th March
Location:
Arizona, USA
Cost:
From $120 to $2900
Description:
Share conference is there for people who have a business in Enterprise IT education. It’s a more high-level conference and suited best to those who already have an understanding of the industry. You’ll be able to educate yourself on new trends as well as network with top influencers.
EmTech Digital
Date:
25th - 26th March
Location:
San Francisco, USA
Cost:
From $2885 to $2995
Description:
The interaction between humans and computers is a topic most IT professionals want to learn more about. This conference covers just that. You’ll gain an insight into how AI is evolving not only the technology landscape but businesses too. There is also a list of top speakers including people from Autodesk and MIT.
Gartner Data & Analytics
Date:
March 18 - 21
Location:
Orlando, FL, USA
Cost:
$3400
Description:
This conference by Gartner addresses data & analytics challenges and the latest trends including artificial intelligence, augmented analytics and digital twins.
APRIL
Google Cloud Next
Date:
9th - 11th April
Location:
San Francisco, California, USA
Cost:
$999 to $1,499
Description:
If you use Google’s cloud platform services, this is a conference you should attend to network with other businesses in a similar position, as well as to hear from the leading industry experts on IT Ops, app development and cloud computing.
InfoSec World
Date:
1 - 3 April
Location:
Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
Cost:
$50 - $4195
Description:
This year, InfoSec World is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Expect plenty of straightforward sessions to help sharpen your cybersecurity skills, learn about new threats and challenges from top IT security thought leaders and meet other dedicated cybersecurity professionals like you.
DockerCon U.S.
Date:
29th April - 2nd May
Location:
San Francisco, California, USA
Cost:
$930 to $1,150; workshops, $150 each.
Description:
DockerCon is a conference primarily for people who use that platform. There will be a range of workshops, keynotes from top speakers and hands-on labs you can attend.
HDI Conference & Expo
Date:
April 7 - 12
Location:
Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, FL
Cost:
$1,999 - $2,399
Description:
One of the most comprehensive events for the technical support industry, this conference offers learning and networking opportunities to IT pros at every level (from entry-level to chief executives). You’ll enjoy a jam-packed agenda filled with sessions where you can hone your skills, an expo hall full of cutting-edge tech products and solutions, and plenty of opportunities to relax and chat with your peers.
Dell Technologies World
Date:
29th April - 2nd May
Location:
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Cost:
$2,095 to $2,495
Description:
If you use Del, this conference is a great way to get an early view ad understanding of what Dell’s vision for the future is. Alongside this, you’ll also be able to develop new skills and strategies to advance your career within the IT Field.
Dublin Tech Summit
Date:
10th - 11th April
Location:
Dublin, Ireland
Cost:
€349
Description:
This conference attracts a large number of attendees, and you can expect a range of different topics and themes including, The Internet of Things, Big Data, FinTech, Innovation, MusicXTech, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security.
Open Infrastructure Summit
Date:
April 29 - May 1
Location:
Denver, CO
Cost:
$399 - $1,098
Description:
Also referred to as the OpenStack Summit, this event focuses on open infrastructure integration across the digital landscape. Everyone from app developers to IT pros will find relevant breakout sessions tackling a variety of topics, from machine learning and hybrid cloud computing to security, AI and much more.
MAY
Interop ITX
Date:
20th - 23rd May
Location:
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Cost:
$49-$2499
Description:
This conference looks at advanced IT skills and technologies such as application deployments and cloud computing. The conference hopes to bring together CEOs, CTOs, and CIOs to learn more about IT leadership, security and software-defined networking.
TNW Conference (The Next Web)
Date:
9th - 10th May
Location:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Europe
Cost:
€259-895
Description:
The Next Web is a conference most people in the IT industry are familiar with. It not only attracts leading technology experts but a host of investors too. For this reason, it’s a great conference to check out if you’re a startup looking to learn from others and speak with people who could potentially offer funding investment for your business.
Google I/O
Date:
May 7 - 9
Location:
Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA
Cost:
Prices not announced — must apply to purchase between 2/21 and 2/27
Description:
An annual developer conference that includes sessions on mobile, web and enterprise applications through open sources including Chrome, Chrome OS, Android, Google Web ToolKit, and more. This conference focuses primarily on development but offers an immersive experience for any professionals responsible for building or managing tech applications.
Augmented World Expo
Date:
29th - 31st May
Location:
California, USA
Cost:
$695-$1200
Description:
Augmented reality is a buzzword for some. But for others, it’s the backbone of their business. This conference brings together the best minds in the world of augmented reality to put together a two-day conference that features keynote speeches from top leading industry experts.
Citrix Synergy
Date:
21st - 23rd May
Location:
Atlanta, USA
Cost:
From $1396 to $2295
Description:
This conference focusses on digital business transformation and how forward-thinking businesses can use IT to get there. If you attend, you’ll have the chance to network with your peers and learn from some of the greatest minds.
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