As corporate IT executives begin to dust off their checkbooks this year, NetWorld+Interop Las Vegas 2004 is the place to learn about leading-edge technologies, mission-critical applications and emerging security strategies - all designed to give organizations a competitive edge, optimize their networks and protect them from potential threats.

Industry analyst firms such as IDC and Forrester report technology spending is on the rise this year, and show planners are banking on it. According to them, the goal for N+I 2004 is to provide IT buyers with accurate and actionable information about relevant technologies emerging in the coming months.

"We really tried to look at it, 'Yes, the industry is coming back, but buyers still need to dig more deeply to make purchases,'" says Steve Wylie, director of content for N+I. "IT buyers have to justify their purchases from both a business and a technology point of view."

From performance to wireless to security to data center and storage, this year's N+I will offer the expected 20,000 attendees a virtual catalog of technologies. More than 320 exhibitors - up about 25% from last year's show - will showcase their latest wares, and show planners narrowed conference tracks down to six areas: performance; wireless; security; infrastructure and services; data center and storage; and collaboration and VoIP.

"This year we have dedicated conferences on subjects that IT managers need to consider from both a technology point of view and a business one," says Lenny Heymann, general manager of N+I. "We have attendees coming from large companies with large budgets, and as things continue to pick up in the industry, we want to show them the whole picture."

Monday, May 10
Pick of the day
8 a.m to 5 p.m.
Network Forensics Day
Moderator: Bill Alderson, executive net analyst, Pine Mountain Group
Although budgets slowly are coming back, network managers still need to optimize the wares they already have. They need a tactical approach to solving complex problems on their network. That's the goal of this all-day education program, which Alderson says will give network managers responsible for delivering applications to end users what they need to know "from client to server applications and all points in between."