The emergence of big data calls for big security measures. The “consumerization of IT” (BYOD, cloud services and social media) is expected to be a significant trend. IT professionals face many steep challenges, from auditing the cloud to ensuring mobile device security and managing vast volumes of data. ISACA’s North America Computer Audit, Control and Security (CACS) conference in Dallas, Texas, USA, on 15-17 April 2013, will bring global experts together to examine advancements in assurance, risk and security, and provide tools to overcome challenges in the IT environment.

Keynote speaker David Pogue, New York Times tech reviewer, will examine trends on the IT horizon in his talk titled, “Disruptive Tech: What’s New, What’s Coming and How It Will Change Everything.” Through fast-paced humor, Pogue will demonstrate the nuances of technological advances and how they will impact society. Closing keynote speaker Bob Kodzis, president of Flight of Ideas Inc., will get attendees thinking differently to eliminate barriers and boost creativity.

“I’m not an information systems guy. I’m a consumer-tech guy,” said Pogue. “But the core missions of those two fields are the same: to harness the astonishing power of technology to get more done in more pleasurable ways. I’m thrilled to meet fellow technuts at the ISACA conference, and to offer my take on the crazy-fast-changing, crazy-amazing worlds of tech and society.”

The 2013 North America CACS conference is hosted by ISACA—a nonprofit global IT association. Themed “New Era, New Edge,” the conference will feature lectures, panels and discussions led by presenters from Dell, Conagra Foods Inc., Johnson & Johnson, McAfee, KPMG, Royal Bank of Scotland, PCI Security Standards Council, Ernst & Young, and Deloitte. Assurance, risk and security perspectives will be presented in four tracks that cover:

• Consumerization—social media trends, BYOD, cloud service providers, privacy assessments
• Information—big data, PCI standards, security threats, leveraging visual analytics, the new COBIT 5 assessment tool, balancing IT risk
• Technology—open source software, UNIX/LINUX issues, cloud relationships, the VERIS framework, business/risk intelligence
• Delivery—auditing vendors, system development life cycles, IT audit risk, NFC technology, SAP GRC 10

“This year’s CACS program will help IT professionals tackle the latest challenges the new technological era presents, and gain the edge enterprises need to be protected and successful,” said Conference Program Chair Charlie Blanchard, CISA, CISM, CRISC. “Real-world case studies and practical guidance will be shared to help all of us continue to bring value to our organizations.”

Pre- and post-conference workshops offer hands-on training in IT risk governance and assessment, audits and data analytics, BYOD, cloud computing, and privacy requirements, and include a COBIT 5 Foundation Course. COBIT 5 is a business framework for the governance and management of enterprise IT.

Registration for North America CACS is US $1,550 for ISACA members and US $1,750 for nonmembers. A US $200 discount applies to registrations before 18 February 2013. Attendees can earn up to 39 CPE hours. For more information, visit www.isaca.org/NorthAmericaCACS.

About ISACA

With 100,000 constituents in 180 countries, ISACA (www.isaca.org) is a provider of knowledge, certifications, community and education on information systems assurance and security, enterprise governance and management of IT, and IT-related risk and compliance. ISACA offers the CISA, CISM, CGEIT and CRISC certifications and developed COBIT.

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