Research by Storage Expo has found that the top data storage challenge facing organizations is how to implement the right disaster recovery strategy (83%). The second most important issues of concern to the 252 organizations covered in the research was ensuring data security for the business (82%) and third was the management of increasing volumes of data (81%). Centralizing data access was a concern for 79% of organizations closely followed by how to store data cost effectively (77%). Ensuring compliance with the latest data storage legislation and knowing what regulations to comply with are of concern to 68% of organizations. Achieving interoperability across existing storage solutions was an issue for 60% of organizations. Storage Expo 2008 at the National Hall, Olympia on the 15th and 16th October, is the UK’s definitive event for data storage, information and content management. Providing the opportunity to compare the most comprehensive range of solutions and services from all the leading suppliers, the show features over 100 of the world’s top storage vendors and an extensive, cutting-edge free education programme with over 62 experts speaking, including sessions that will address the latest issues on how to tackle data growth and disaster recovery. The education programme for 2008 has been expanded to reflect the needs of today’s data storage and information management experts as they become as concerned with information and data management as they are with storage capability, scalability and infrastructure. With strategic and technical analysis, case studies and storage management reviews, this years programme will reveal expert knowledge of how information management can increase both storage efficiency and information utilisation for business application. The free to attend keynote sessions at Storage Expo bring together the industry's leading independent experts, analysts and end-users from high profile corporations and take an in-depth look at some of the latest trends in data storage today. The sessions will address the latest business advantages that the sound application of storage strategy can deliver for an organization. Storage practice has traditionally been driven by the push of regulation, legislation, and business continuity rather than the pull of sound business practice. The impetus is changing from push to pull due to the emphasis on increasingly business efficiency, utilization of intelligence, process management and productivity benefits. The keynotes at Storage Expo reflect the change in the data storage and information management landscape, here is a selection of what’s on offer at the show: With data storage volumes still growing at over 50% per annum, the need for efficient Storage architecture has never been greater. Jon Collins, Service Director, Freeform Dynamics chairs a panel on Architecting for Efficiency and Effectiveness with senior executives from EMC, Pillar Data, Double-Take Software, NetApp, HP and HDS. John Abbott, Chief Analyst, The 451 Group chairs a panel on Improving Asset Utilisation with Virtualisation with Dr Zafar Chaudry, Director of Information Management and Technology, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust and Steven Shaw, IT Manager, British Horseracing Authority. Simon Robinson, Research Director, The 451 Group leads a panel on Reducing your data footprint with De-duplication with Steve Bruck, Infrastructure Architect, Associated Newspapers Ltd and Simon Spence, CIO, CB Richard Ellis. Graeme Hackland, IT Manager, Renault F1 Team will give an insight into modular architecture and growing with clustered storage. The keynote on protecting your data with back-up strategies has case studies and debate from Dylan Matthias, Unix and Storage Manager, Britannia Building Society and Graeme Walker, Senior Systems Engineer, Carlsberg looking at the rationale and technology behind what are the best back-up solutions in the world. Probably! For more on the education programme visit Storage Expo, the UK’s definitive event for data storage, information and content management, that provides you with the opportunity to compare the most comprehensive range of solutions and services from all the leading suppliers. For further information on Storage Expo, or to register, please visit www.storage-expo.com .