BTEX 2020 - To Infinity and Beyond

After a busy two days of eye-opening insights on howorganizations can efficiently, safely and securely navigate this new frontierof remote work, we have successfully completed our mission at our 2020 BusinessTechnology Expo (BTEX). With over 1 000 attendees gaining insights from morethan 60 of our leading technology partners, 13 technology briefing sessions ledby industry experts and a one-of-a-kind keynote address from the legendaryColonel Chris Hadfield, this event was one of our most successful to date.

This was our first virtual BTEX, and we wanted to makesure attendees had just as many opportunities to network and enjoy themselvesas they would in person. In addition to being able to visit virtual booths andchat with industry experts, there were multiple entertainment options in thevirtual activity lounge, including:

• Galaxy mixology lessons to learn how tomake three different beverages for a chance to win Jabra Elite Active 65t TrueWireless Earbuds sponsored by Juniper
• Event arcade to get your name on aletterboard for a chance to win a Nintendo Switch sponsored by Autodesk
• Virtual photobooth where every picturewas a chance to win a Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse sponsored by Dell
• Virtual caricature artist where everydrawing was a chance to win one of four Kingston A2000 1TB SSD or KingstonKC600 1TB SSD sponsored by Kingston

From cloud innovation and next generation SD-WAN todigital transformation and the history of AI, BTEX had it all this year. If youmissed out, here's a quick recap of memorable moments and common themes.

You are your own IT department; Earth is just ahelpdesk

Colonel Chris Hadfield set the tone for the two-day eventby sharing his experiences with using the technology around him to survive inspace and how that relates to this crucial time here on Earth. He focused onhow the invention and application of technology has enabled us to do what wouldotherwise be incomprehensible, and how in a world where things seem souncertain, it's important to focus on the galaxy of things that are possibleif we allow ourselves to look beyond our own horizons. He also highlighted thatcooperation, proactivity and trust with those down on Earth are critical to thesuccess of space missions, a notion not so different from today's digital ITecosystem.

Additionally, he explained that no matter how much he andhis team try to prepare for a mission, there is always risk and potential forfailure. The same is true when implementing new IT solutions or infrastructure;It can be daunting, hard to understand and there will always be a risk factorbut as long as you've done your due diligence and focus on the positiveoutcomes, don't be afraid to launch.

The biggest risk to an organization sits between thekeyboard and the chair

The importance of cybersecurity was a shared theme acrossmany of the technology briefing sessions, as the digital workforce continues topresent serious threats to organizational security. Our partners ChannelBusiness, Microsoft, Lenovo, AMP and Threat Grid highlighted that it's becomeincreasingly difficult for IT departments to maintain a consistent line ofsight on devices and end-users in a remote work environment, and end-users areat the front line of security now more than ever. To combat this, theypresented personalized hardware and software, optimized performance andproactive security deployment and management as some of the key solutions toensuring data security across organizations big and small.

It's time to start thinking about work as a thing youdo, not a place you go

No matter the presentation topic, all partners agreedthat remote work capabilities are here to stay. Our partners Nutanix, ArubaNetworks and Dell Technologies reiterated that simplified and automatedprocesses are critical to ensuring a unified and positive experience for both ITdepartments and end-users. The cloud is now part of the modern workplacereality and while on-premise data centres still remain in use by someorganizations, hybrid or cloud solutions are the way of the future.Particularly for enterprise organizations, it's also important to implementboth private and public cloud solutions for greater control, manageable costand ease of use. But regardless of organization size, the agility that comeswith cloud and hybrid infrastructure is key to ensuring smooth operations in bothremote and on-premise workplaces, today and in the future.

The transition to remote is no longer a transition

We've been talking about the digital transformation formonths, but our partners NetApp, Palo Alto Networks and Veeam pointed out that eightmonths into the pandemic, we're no longer experiencing a transition but anadjustment to remote. Many organizations have already implemented new hardwareand software at this stage, and now customers are looking at how to optimizetheir digital workspace and infrastructure for the long-term. While changesstill lie on the horizon, such as the ongoing transition back into the officeand the shift out of a pandemic-dominated landscape, future-proofinginfrastructure to be flexible and agile to any workforce will remain paramount.This means not only ensuring customers have the right solutions in place fortheir business, but also making sure they have the right partners on deck tohelp manage them.

Thank you to all attendees and presenters who helped make BTEX 2020 one of our most memorable events to date. We already can't wait for next year. No matter where you are on the remote work or returning to work spectrum, CDW's certified Solution Experts are here to help bring it all together for you through revamping your technology roadmap, sharing experiences and solving your technology challenges. Visit cdw.ca today to get started.

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