Analysis & Commentary:

GigaWorld IT FORUM FEATURED KEYNOTES FROM ELITE LEADERS

Last week at GigaWorld IT Forum, Giga Information Group Inc's annual conference, more than 1,000 IT professionals gathered in Colorado Springs to share experiences, learn about the latest trends, see vendors' newest technologies and hear more than 80 presentations from Giga analysts on topics ranging from security and mobility, to content and community and a strong focus on IT measurement value, with sessions on Giga's Total Economic Impact. Keynote speakers, including former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Hewlett-Packard's president, Michael Capellas and Special Advisor to the President on Cyber Security, Richard A. Clarke, rounded out the program and impressed the conference-savvy crowd.

"The general research sessions were relevant, interesting and exciting. Giuliani, Clarke and Capellas all in the same week is more than most people can handle," said Joseph Puglisi, Group CIO for EMCOR and a member of Giga's senior IT executive service ForSITE. "Add to that the collection of sessions from collaboration to new technology toys, and you have one incredible experience."

In his first public speaking engagement since the merger of Hewlett-Packard and Compaq, Capellas outlined the future of computing and how HP will take the lead in the evolution, providing road maps for each product group. Giuliani spoke on the importance of leadership and how anyone can make a difference in a crisis by rising to the occasion, while Clarke provided a reality check with the top 15 security vulnerabilities in enterprises today. "You will be hacked. You will be hurt," was the focal point of his presentation. (See top 15 vulnerabilities www.gigaweb.com/mktg/vul)

To help organizations address their security vulnerabilities objectively, Giga launched a new security offering, the Security Action ReportCard, at the event. This offering measures the effectiveness and operational efficiency of a company's security readiness on three fronts: Process and Policy, Physical Security, and Technical Security.

"Once the assessment is complete, clients are better prepared to make decisions on whether to accept, assign or mitigate the risks uncovered," said Giga vice president Steve Hunt. "The action-oriented recommendations we provide will help ensure a company's security practices are coherent, functional and efficient."

Security, along with an environment where the fundamental business drivers of profitability and cost containment in the face of continued uncertainty, remain dominant themes in trends throughout the IT industry. At GigaWorld, a panel of senior Giga analysts discussed the latest trends across the IT spectrum.

"The shift in corporate mentality continues to manifest itself as a focus on cost savings and extracting greater value out of existing resources," said Bob Weiler, president, chairman and CEO of Giga Information Group. "Dramatic paradigm shifts continue to take a back seat to better selection and deployment of leading-edge technologies, and wholesale replacement to incremental changes that show near-term value."

For those unable to attend GigaWorld in Colorado, Giga made available selected sessions by Webcast, hosted by PlaceWare.

Giga Information Group's GigaWorld IT Forum Europe will be held June 10-12 at the Marbella Convention Center, Marbella, Spain. For more information go to: www.gigaworldeurope.com/tools/dispatch/page.cfm?pv=87414Ol215.

About Giga Information Group Inc

Giga Information Group is a leading global technology advisory firm that provides objective research, pragmatic advice and personalized consulting. Emphasizing close interaction between analyst and client, Giga enables companies to make better strategic decisions that maximize technology investments and achieve business results.

Founded in 1995, Giga is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. and has offices throughout the Americas and Europe -- as well in Latin America, Asia/Pacific and the Middle East. For additional information, visit www.gigaweb.com.

Contact Giga Information Group, Christina Thirkell, 617-577-4965, cthirkell@gigaweb.com.