
The pandemic spurred an accelerated shift to Cloud-based services, driven by a rapid requirement to support large-scale remote working capabilities. This trend shows no sign of abating, and Gartner predicts that global spending on public Cloud will reach over $482 billion in 2022, up from $313bn in 2020.
For many organisations, the shift to Cloud forms part of a wider infrastructure transformation, moving from physical, on-premise IT to a service-based model which supports greater agility, elasticity and predictability.
But while Cloud has driven a myriad of business benefits, it has also presented new challenges and contractual distinctions, as well as fresh compliance and re-skilling requirements. And IT leaders are forced to consider an increasing variety of options, balancing the benefits of public, private and hybrid systems while factoring culpability for accessibility, affordability and security.
The Summit will contextualise the transition to Cloud-based services, looking at key trends, advancements, and use-cases, and discussing how to optimise the business impact of Cloud technology.
The Summit is geared towards IT, Digital and C-suite level personnel.
The Summit

Previous Speakers

Engineering Manager, Google

Engineering Manager, Apple

Programme Manager: Shared ARC, Digital Office, Scottish Local Government

FinOps Engineering Director, FinOps Foundation

Head of Platform, Machines with Vision

Co-Founder & CTO, SpecifiedBy

Engineering Team Director: Aladdin Data Cloud, BlackRock

Associate Database Operations Systems Engineer, BlackRock

Product Management-Cloud Solutions, Navisite

Senior Director of Cloud Strategy and Enablement, iland

CTO, Brightsolid

Principal Analyst Consultant, Darktrace

Managing Director, DataVita

Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC Scotland

Founder, DIGIT
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2022 Conference Agenda
2023 agenda coming soon.
SESSION 1 Re-watch on YouTube >
The opening session will contextualise some of the key shifts in Cloud trends, culture and methodology. Looking at the evolution of Cloud Native and how it will impact industry over the coming year; the rise of FinOps and how it is helping to address the challenge of Cloud financial management, and the role of Cloud technology in helping to deliver on ESG priorities.
09:15 Welcome and Introduction
Mark Stephen, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC Scotland
09:25 Cloud Native Trends and 2022 Predictions
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Why cloud native? The drivers and the challenges of cloud native transformation
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Industry trends: How cloud native has evolved
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Predictions for 2022
Cheryl Hung, Engineering Manager, Apple
09:45 FinOps: Facing the Challenges of Cloud Financial Management
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How did we get here: the shift from traditional technology consumption to Cloud
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The challenges we are facing: key cost and financial management issues
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Overview of the main FinOps principles and how it can help
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Getting started
Ben de Mora, FinOps Engineering Director, FinOps Foundation
10:05 How Cloud Can Help or Hurt Your ESG Efforts
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Creating more eco-friendly cloud operations
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Ensuring ESG aligns with Digital Transformation
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Developing metrics & controls over ESG reporting
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Confronting the challenges to reap the benefits
Danny Quinn, Managing Director, DataVita
10:25 Combined Q&A
10:55 Refreshments and Networking
SESSION 2
Session 2 will explore a variety of key topics in a smaller and more interactive breakout setting. The breakouts will be run in longer 30-minute slots across four parallel streams, providing delegates the opportunity to attend two options live. The alternative breakouts will be accessible on-demand post event.
11:30 First Breakout Option
Breakout options include:
A. IF, WHEN and WHY you should transform to the cloud Re-watch on YouTube >
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Defining your cloud journey - one size does not fit all
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Blending the ‘6 Rs’ of cloud migration
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Real life results: hear from Brightsolid’s customers
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Maximising the value from cloud and driving business advantage
Jon Gasparini, CTO, Brightsolid
B. Transforming Telecare Through the Cloud Re-watch on YouTube >
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Expediting the adoption of digital technologies
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Future-proofing Telecare Services
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Driving innovation
Thomas Ozers, Programme Manager: Shared ARC, Digital Office: Scottish Local Government
C. Building Fast and Cost-Effectively in the Cloud with PaaS Re-watch on YouTube >
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Backstory on our desktop to Cloud transition
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The value of using a Platform as a Service model for simplicity and speed
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The importance of saving your technical expertise for the work that matters most
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Multi-Cloud challenges: getting your different apps & services to talk to each other
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The shift to platformisation
Joan Figuerola, Co-Founder & CTO, SpecifiedBy
12:00 Transition
12:10 Second Breakout Option
Breakout options include:
D. Security for Cloud: Taking Cover with Self-Learning AI Re-watch on YouTube >
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Reviewing the proliferation of cloud platforms to help businesses collaborate and innovate
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Why this has also cost businesses visibility and control
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cost businesses visibility and control
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Discussion on the challenges of securing cloud applications, the limits of traditional cloud defenses, and why Self-Learning AI is best-in-class in protecting dynamic workforces
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Real-world case studies
Dr Beverly McCann, Principal Security Consultant, Darktrace
E. Critical Steps to Ransomware Protection in the Cloud Re-watch on YouTube >
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How ransomware has become more intrusive and what that means for peer businesses in your industry
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How a combination of security, backup, and recovery technologies can help provide multi-layered protection against headline-making ransomware attacks
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discuss recent case studies of local Scottish DR examples
Sam Woodcock, Senior Director, Cloud Strategy and Enablement, iland, an 11:11 Systems Company
F. Top trends, strategies, and cost-savings initiatives for cloud technologies Re-watch on YouTube >
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Accelerated shift toward the cloud-native future
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Changing mix of IT teams and resources
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Push toward cloud automation, optimization, and analytics
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Tips and strategies to consider
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Strategies organizations can leverage to optimize their spend and avoid cloud cost pitfalls
Tom Monk, Director, Product Management-Cloud Solutions, Navisite
12:40 Lunch & Networking
SESSION 3
The afternoon session will focus on improving the value of Cloud as an enabler within the organisation. Looking at improving reliability and resilience through post-mortem culture; unlocking the value and utilisation of data, and the role of Cloud in IoT and Edge computing.
13:30 Post-Mortem Culture at Google Re-watch on YouTube >
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What are postmortems: why and how should we write them
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Writing postmortems: when should you write them and who are they for
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What information should be captured, and what might this look like
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Action items: prerequisites, balanced action item plan, execution
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How do you get started
Joydip Basu, Engineering Manager, Google
13:50 Aladdin Data Cloud – The Why, What and How
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Bringing together Aladdin, a leader in investment management technology, and Snowflake’s Data Cloud
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Unlocking creativity and increasing operational efficiency by expanding the utilisation of data across organisations through a single, cloud-based platform
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learn about the technical architecture, tenancy model, data quality and integrity considerations and how we’ve built our cloud-first, cloud-agnostic product
Kaushik Chaubal, Engineering Team Director & Architect for Aladdin Data Cloud, BlackRock
Ali Habib, Associate Database Operations Systems Engineer, BlackRock
14:10 Accurate Alignment of Data from Trains: The Challenges of Bringing Edge Data into the Cloud Re-watch on YouTube >
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Background context: running rail vehicle localisation in the cloud
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The move from closing the loop on the vehicle / edge to closing the loop in the cloud
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Dealing with the key challenges: time, order preservation and latency
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Current projects and practical application
Geoff Ballinger, Head of Platform, Machines with Vision
14:30 Combined Q&A
15:00 Close of Session
15:00 Networking Drinks Reception
16:30 Close of Conference
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The Venue
The conference will be held live and in-person at the iconic Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, a professional event space offering panoramic views of the city and Arthur's Seat.
The venue is centrally located in the old town, just 15 minutes walk from Waverly train station, making it easily accessible via public transport. We also offer free WiFi, discounted on-site parking and provide food and drinks to attendees throughout the day.
About DIGIT
DIGIT has rapidly grown into the largest independent business technology community in Scotland. We run an extensive series of conferences focused on core areas of emerging Technology and Digital innovation. We also run Scotland's leading Technology News Platform www.digit.fyi with over 50,000 page views per month.
The events provide a unique platform for knowledge exchange and discussion, drawing stakeholders together to explore best practice, technological innovation and business impact. Our conferences attract a senior delegate following and have become renowned as an important forum for high-level networking.