Security, Wireless and Voice Over IP on Tap at COMNET 2003; Conference Program Will Provide Education On the Most Relevant Technologies for Enterprise IT Leaders.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

COMNET 2003

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2002

IDG World Expo, the leading producer of world-class tradeshows, conferences and events for IT markets, today announced that the conference program at COMNET Conference & Expo 2003 will address issues and questions relating to the top technologies for enterprise IT leaders, including Web services, wireless, voice over IP (VoIP), security, storage and network infrastructure. Conference sessions and tutorials will provide valuable knowledge for attendees looking for unbiased, in-depth education on critical enterprise technologies.

COMNET Conference & Expo is the largest East Coast event focusing on the most pressing issues in communications networking for the enterprise. COMNET will take place at Washington, D.C.'s Washington Convention Center, January 27-30, 2003. The COMNET conference program runs January 27-29.

This year, IDG World Expo has modified the conference program to better meet the needs of COMNET's audience of enterprise IT leaders. The program is organized into tracks dedicated to specific technologies, including Web services, wireless, VoIP, security, storage and network infrastructure. Each track offers a comprehensive overview of the benefits and challenges related to the technology at hand, relying on industry experts to provide an objective, practical perspective.

COMNET 2003 will also introduce "Track Advocates" - industry media representatives who are responsible for presenting a summary of lessons learned within a particular track at the end of each day. These 20-minute daily track briefings offer a helpful overview of the topics covered for those unable to attend some or all of the sessions in a specific track.

IDG World Expo has also partnered with TruSecure Corporation, a leading security services provider, to offer credits for the TruSecure ICSA Certified Security Associate (TICSA) security practitioner certification. COMNET conference attendees will have an opportunity to receive 14 hours of course credit by participating in the entire Security Track, and six hours of credit for attending the half-day tutorial entitled, "Defending Against Emerging Threats." More information about TICSA can be found at http://www.trusecure.com/solutions/certifications/ticsa/index.shtml.

"We've been working hard to adjust COMNET's conference content to address the needs of our attendees," said Darrell Baker, vice president of event services, IDG World Expo. "IT professionals need to learn how to cut costs by integrating technologies to meet the demands of their network infrastructures. Conference attendees at COMNET 2003 will receive a practical, forward-thinking education that offers a solid assessment of new, relevant technologies and how to use them more effectively."

Conference faculty will draw from case studies and real world experience to provide practical advice on the best use of the technology available today. IDG World Expo has recruited the industry's most notable experts to present their perspectives, including Tony Picardi, senior vice president of Global Software, IDC; Nathaniel Palmer, vice president and chief analyst, Delphi Group; Arun Taneja, senior analyst, Enterprise Storage Group; Mike McAndrews, director of product management for the Wireless Networking Business Unit, Cisco Systems; Harry Ebbighausen, president, Iron Mountain; Bill Cheswick, chief scientist, Lumeta Corporation; Winn Schwartau, president and CEO, Interpact, Inc.; and Jim Metzler, co-founder, Ashton, Metzler and Associates.

Attendees can choose from more than 40 conference sessions and tutorials to create a customized educational experience that best suits their individual needs. Topics include:

-- Defending Against Emerging Threats

-- Introduction to Wireless LANs

-- Disaster Planning Revisited: An Update on Recovery Strategies for Uncertain Times

-- Storage Management for the Enterprise

-- Wireless Security: Critical Issues and Solutions

-- Managing Web Services: A Panel Discussion

-- Doing More with Less: Bandwidth Optimization During Budget Meltdown

-- New Enhancements in VoIP

For a complete schedule of sessions or to register for the event, visit www.comnetexpo.com.

About COMNET Conference & Expo 2003

COMNET Conference & Expo, produced by IDG World Expo, is a catalyst for buyers and sellers in the communications networking industry to connect with the newest technologies and meet the experts driving the industry to a prosperous future. COMNET empowers network executives, service providers, carriers, suppliers/resellers and government agencies to make informed technology decisions for their network infrastructure at the beginning of each year. COMNET 2003 is a prime opportunity to learn from successful implementations of new technologies, with a special focus on security, web services, storage and wireless infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.comnetexpo.com.

About IDG World Expo

IDG World Expo (www.idgworldexpo.com) produces IT-focused tradeshows, conferences and events for professionals seeking world-class education, peer-to-peer networking and one-stop comparison shopping. As the leading IT event management company, IDG World Expo leverages its experience and knowledge of IT-focused events and conferences, enabling technology companies to capture the attention and loyalty of influential buyers. IDG World Expo's portfolio of conferences and events includes Macworld Conference & Expo, LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, Bio-ITWorld Conference & Expo, COMNET Conference & Expo, Integrated Security Conference & Expo and BiometricsWorld Conference & Expo. IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company.

About IDG

IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers and offers online users the largest network of technology-specific sites around the world through IDG.net (www.idg.net), which comprises more than 330 targeted Web sites in 80 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related events worldwide, and IDG's research company, IDC, provides global market intelligence and advice through 51 offices in 43 countries. Company information is available at www.idg.com.