Speaker information at bottom of agenda.
8:15 AM
Event Welcome
Dwayne Gilliam, EVP, Sales, Nth Generation | Rich Baldwin, Co-founder, Nth Generation | Jan Baldwin, Co-founder, Nth Generation
8:39 AM
Adapt & Adopt - Latest IT & Cybersecurity Trends and Solutions
Keynote: Nth Co-Presidents
Todd Burkhardt, Co-President & CIO, Nth Generation
Dan Molina, Co-President & CTO, Nth Generation
9:00 AM
GPT-in-a-Box | VMware hypervisor alternative
Fireside Chat: Nth + Nutanix
Mike McLean, Channel Director, West Region, Nutanix
Todd Burkhardt, Co-President & CIO, Nth Generation
Dan Molina, Co-President & CTO, Nth Generation
9:08 AM
AI Demo - How to Make a Chatbot More Intelligent
Lee Solomonson, Director, Advanced Technologies, Nth Generation
Todd Burkhardt, Co-President & CIO
Dan Molina, Co-President & CTO
9:23 AM
Evolving the AI Ready Enterprise
Keynote: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
AI in State and Local Government has a massive potential to revolutionize Agency Operations and Citizen Services, but it needs to be done right. It needs to be done securely and in an explainable manner where everyone knows how decisions are being made, and access to the generated insights are controlled. In five years, AI will be the primary workloads in the enterprise which means our traditional three-tiered enterprise architecture will need to evolve. What does it take to evolve to an AI ready enterprise?
Bill Burnham, CTO Public Sector, USA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
9:52 AM
Using AI for community safety and helping combat human trafficking – navigating through Board approval
Fireside Chat: Client Testimonial
HPE + Grossmont Union High School District
Rick Roberts, CIO, Grossmont Union High School District
Bill Burnham, CTO Public Sector, USA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
10:03 AM
Leadership Panel
Qualcomm + Nth
Learn how Qualcomm is balancing the organizational benefits and risk of AI for competitive edge
Julie Leon, Facilitator, Nth Generation
Tong Huang, Chief of Staff, Infrastructure & End User IT, Qualcomm
Joe Vaughn, Senior Director, Cybersecurity, Qualcomm
10:45 AM
Edge-to-Cloud Zero Trust Platform for Security-First, AI-Powered Networking
Fireside Chat: HPE Aruba Networks
The race against a dissolving perimeter has begun. Work is done from anywhere. Learn how Aruba delivers edge-to-cloud Zero Trust platform for Security-First, AI-Powered Networking.
John Spiegel, Field CTO, HPE Aruba
Jeromie Jackson, Director, Security & Analytics, Nth Generation
10:56 AM
Quantum Computing - How to Guard Your Data Against QC-Powered Encryption Hacking
Fireside Chat + Demo: Quantum Computing
Nth + Quantum Encryption Defense
José R. Rosas-Bustos, Chief Science Officer, Quantum Encyption Defense
Yale Fishman, Chairman of Board, Quantum Encryption Defense
Jeromie Jackson, Director, Security & Analytics, Nth Generation
11:14 AM
AI & Data Security
Keynote: Varonis
Generative AI has introduced a new challenge for security teams: protecting against the misuse of large language model (LLM) applications. Now businesses are striving to foster innovation while also safeguarding sensitive data, but what’s the best approach? Advancing cloud security strategies to address the gaps caused by evolving LLM applications. Join us to learn the most common LLM security vulnerabilities and how you can protect against them with proven strategies from Varonis cloud security experts.
David Gibson, SVP of Strategic Programs, Varonis
11:30 AM
Next-Gen Defense: The Power of AI in Cybersecurity
Keynote: Arctic Wolf
AI trends caught early, but the major impact is still to come. What does this mean for your business and how can you prepare for what’s next?
Dean Teffer, VP of Artificial Intelligence, Arctic Wolf
11:47 AM
Exploring Cybersecurity Strategies to Mitigate Quantum Computing, AI and 2024 Elections-Related Threats
Cybersecurity Panel
FBI, CISA, Nth CISOs
As we approach the 2024 election, the convergence of quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and evolving cybersecurity threats presents unprecedented challenges for national security and public and private organizations. This panel discussion, featuring experts from the FBI, CISA, and Nth VCISO's, will explore the implications of these emerging technologies and threats on cybersecurity.
Bryan Willett, Supervisory Special Agent/Cyber Task Force Leader, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Jake Aguiar, Cybersecurity Advisor, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Joseph Smith, Sr. Information Security Consultant, Nth Generation
Mark Burton, Sr. Security Consultant, Nth Generation
Cameron Matthews, Sr. Security Consultant, Nth Generation
Moderator: James Makil, Sr. Security Consultant, Nth Generation
Times are approximate & PT. Subject to change.
TRACK 1A 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Top Use Cases & How to Start Your AI Initiative + Private Cloud AI:
Don't Leak Your AI Data! (36 min)
Nth Generation + IronYun
Demo:
Today’s most practical example of Generative AI is the Intelligent Chatbot. In this demo, we will show how we can create a Private Intelligent Chatbot to answer questions specific to Nth Generation.
Breakout:
Top Use Cases & How to Start Your AI Initiative
Join us in exploring the different deployment options that you have for your AI workloads. We will be using a Private Intelligent Chatbot as the example application. We will also introduce some of the emerging techniques that go beyond RAG.
Lee Solomonson, Director, Advanced Technologies | Nth Generation
Maria Larsen, Solutions Manager, SoCal | IronYun
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Private Cloud AI Showcase (18 min)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
We are excited to showcase HPE Private Cloud AI (PCAI), our first-of-its-kind turnkey, private-cloud AI solution that includes sustainable accelerated computing with full lifecycle services to streamline time to value with AI.
Part of our NVIDIA AI Computing by HPE portfolio, PCAI enables enterprises of every size to gain an energy-efficient, fast, and flexible path for developing and deploying generative AI applications. PCAI includes a self-service cloud experience with full lifecycle management and is available in four right-sized configurations to support a broad range of AI workloads and use cases. Please join us for a demo and informative session.
Hang Tan, SVP Hybrid Cloud COO | Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
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Radically rethink and simplify how you manage your compute servers (18 min)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Compute has evolved into a distributed service that enables workloads deployed at edge and remote locations and in data centers. But legacy management tools are complex and updating is error prone and time consuming. It’s time to secure your server infrastructure and automate management tasks. Hear how organizations are avoiding 4 hours of server downtime per year per server, 50% management time savings and up to $50K in travel cost savings.
Scott Wood, VP and GM, Compute NA | Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
TRACK 2A
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Reducing AI’s Blast Radius: How to Prevent Your First AI Breach (12 min)
Varonis
Generative AI has taken the world by storm, but how can you control the data AI can access? And how can you ensure sensitive information isn’t used in gen AI training? This session will teach you how to ensure AI tools don't accidentally expose data. We'll show real-world examples of exposures & what to avoid as you adopt AI — so you can reduce AI’s blast radius & keep your crown jewel data safe.
Gerry Olmedo, Manager of Sales Engineering | Varonis
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Revolutionizing Cybersecurity: Leveraging AI for Enhanced Penetration Testing and Reporting Efficiency (12 min)
Nth Generation
Staying ahead of potential threats requires innovation and efficiency in today's rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. In this presentation, we will explore the cutting-edge capabilities of Nth Generation’s AI-powered penetration testing, a field where our company is leading the charge. I will introduce you to the custom-built AI program, named Baldwin, designed to enhance the penetration testing process.
Our AI-driven approach amplifies the accuracy and depth of security assessments and streamlines the entire process from data consumption to reporting. By leveraging AI, we can perform more thorough testing, generate actionable insights faster, and deliver comprehensive reports.
Key takeaways from this session will include how AI enhances our ability to identify vulnerabilities, the significant efficiencies gained in reporting, and how our commitment to innovation positions us as thought leaders in AI-powered pentesting. Join us to see firsthand how AI is transforming cybersecurity practices and helping us protect your assets more effectively than ever before.
Jerry Craft, Sr. Security Consultant | Nth Generation
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Disrupting the Industry: An Operations Focused Approach to AI (12 min)
Arctic Wolf
As tailored AI solutions for sectors have sparked, there is still a missing element in the security landscape – the human side of AI. With the major impact on cybersecurity still to come, the risks are escalating.
Dean Teffer, VP of AI | Arctic Wolf
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AI in the Crosshairs: Mastering the Art of the Attack and Defense in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (12 min)
Nth Generation
We will explore the complex role of AI in enhancing and challenging cybersecurity. This presentation highlights the differences among AI models, the implications of government regulations, and the inherent risks in AI systems. It covers key strategies in AI-powered security testing and countermeasures, with a focus on tools like Microsoft Copilot, audio and video fakes, and PentestGPT. The talk is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how AI technologies are reshaping security frameworks in modern organizations.
Jeromie Jackson, Directory of Security & Analytics | Nth Generation
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Optimizing Your Defenses: A Practical Approach to Ransomware Preparedness
(12 min)
Nth Generation
As ransomware continues to evolve, so must our defenses. In 2024, small to mid-sized businesses and government agencies face increasingly sophisticated attacks, making it imperative to not just deploy security tools but to ensure they are finely tuned to meet today’s challenges. This presentation focuses on practical steps to enhance your existing security infrastructure, minimizing the damage caused by ransomware through rigorous testing and optimization. We’ll discuss the latest trends in ransomware, why proactive defense measures are essential, and how our Ransomware Readiness Assessment can help you make the most of your current cybersecurity investments
Todd Cope, Cybersecurity Engineer | Nth Generation
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Proactive AI-Powered Cybersecurity Across the Enterprise (12 min)
Darktrace
Nicole Carignan, VP, Strategic Cyber AI at Darktrace will dive into how defenders look to stay one step ahead of the rising tide of unknown AI-powered threats. Integrating defensive AI approaches in security operations has become critical in being able to proactively harden defenses, identify and respond to threats in machine speed, and uplift stretched teams. Nicole will explore different AI techniques and their unique applications in cybersecurity, emphasizing that not all AI is created equal and that the right types of AI, trained on the right data, must be applied to the right security problem. Leveraging Darktrace's learnings from over a decade of applying AI to the challenge of cybersecurity, Nicole will help to demystify the new AI reality in cyber.
Nicole Carignan, Vice President of Strategic Cyber AI | Darktrace
TRACK 1B
3:24 PM - 5:00 PM
Centralizing Resilience: A Unified Approach to Business Impact Analysis, Continuity, Incident Response, and Disaster Recovery
Nth Generation Security + Preparis
In an increasingly complex digital landscape, resilience is no longer just an option—it's a necessity. In this breakout session we explore the critical importance of centralizing your approach to Business Impact Analysis (BIA), Business Continuity Planning (BCP), Incident Response Planning (IRP), and Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP). We’ll delve into how organizations can adapt to evolving threats by adopting a cohesive strategy that enhances resilience across all business functions, including IT and cybersecurity operations. Attendees will gain insights into best practices for unifying these essential frameworks to ensure seamless protection, rapid response, and robust recovery in the face of any disruption.
Joseph Smith, Sr. Information Security Consultant | Nth Generation
Maxx Blason, Project Manager | Nth Generation
Will Minkoff, Enterprise Account Manager | Preparis
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Flexibility - The Often Forgotten Enabler to Cyber Resiliency (12 min)
11:11 Systems
No two organizations are the exact same, so why should recovery plans be? Once you've defined your application resiliency and protection levels, identifying the right approach to delivering the business what it needs is the next step. Join this session to learn how people, process, platforms and tools come together to provide the right solution for your organization in a simplified, reliable and economical solution, regardless of your needs.
Moosa Matariyeh, Vice President, Global Channels & Solutions | 11:11 Systems
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Unlocking the Power of Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box (12 min)
Nutanix
Join us for a breakout session on Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box, a revolutionary solution designed to simplify the deployment and management of generative AI applications. This session will explore how Nutanix GPT-in-a-Box provides a secure, full-stack enterprise AI platform that enables organizations to deploy large language models (LLMs), ML Operations (MLOps), and generative AI (GenAI) applications seamlessly from core to edge to cloud.
Matt Baran, Sr. Channel Systems Engineer | Nutanix
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RAISING YOUR BEST DEFENSE: You can't hack, what you can't see!
(12 min)
Extreme Networks
In today's intricate security environment, IT professionals face numerous obstacles. Identity protection and vulnerabilities at the human layer rank among the top issues.
This discussion will highlight how Universal ZTNA simplifies network security and meets the many demands of distant and hybrid users, making it a crucial tool for striking a balance between security and digital experiences. These virtualized networks are intrinsically safe thanks to our secure Fabric automated provisioning, which reduces the need for manual configuration and the possibility of network mistakes.
Keith Cotterman, SLED West SE Manager | Extreme Networks
Stephanie Zmroczek, Director SLED West | Extreme Networks
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ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage: Comprehensive Security
with Ransomware Recovery (12 min)
ExaGrid
Traditionally, backup applications have strong security, but backup storage typically has little to none. ExaGrid is unique in its approach to backup storage security. In addition to our comprehensive security with ransomware recovery, ExaGrid is the only solution with a non-network-facing tier (tiered air gap), a delayed delete policy, and immutable data objects. Learn about all of ExaGrid’s security features and how we can help you recover after a ransomware attack.
Greg Sanner, Senior System Engineer | ExaGrid
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Black Hat and DEFCON: Hacker breeding ground or defender training camp?
(12 min)
Nth Generation
Two of the world’s largest cybersecurity conferences are held every year in Las Vegas. Hackers, cybersecurity professionals, and the curious public flock to these conferences to learn about cybersecurity offensive techniques and defensive safeguards as well as to network with like-minded professionals or experience the hacker community. In this talk, I'll give you a 30,000 ft overview of Black Hat, its security briefings, and its Business Hall, as well as present a bird's eye view of DEFCON, its villages, and its denizens.
Cameron Matthews, Sr. Security Consultant | Nth Generation
TRACK 2B
3:24 PM - 5:00 PM
Quantum Encryption Defense Demo (12 min)
Nth + Quantum Encryption Defense
Jeromie Jackson, Director, Security & Analytics | Nth Generation
José R. Rosas-Bustos, QED CSO, | Quantum Encryption Defense
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Delivering AI-Powered Unified SASE with HPE Aruba Networking (12 min)
Aruba
Join our breakout session to learn how to apply zero trust security controls to protect users and applications, no matter where they connect.
John Spiegel, SASE Field CTO & HPE Distinquished Technologist - Security | HPE Aruba Networking
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HPE Storage: Journey to One (12 min)
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Come learn about HPE’s latest storage platform and how it is powering the next generation of storage AI.
Kyle Sweetland, Channel Sales Manager, Storage US VAR | HPE
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Navigating the Cloud Continuum (36 min)
Nth Solution Architect Panel
The Cloud Continuum: You have options!
Benefits + Risks + Concerns of varied models
Develop strategies & initiatives
ASSESS before You Adopt and Adapt
Assessment Tools & Methodologies
Establishing a Baseline
Identify + Analyze + Evaluate + Report
Mouis Yafeh, Sr. Solutions Architect | Nth Generation
Nisarg Shah, Enterprise Solutions Architect | Nth Generation
Fernando Molina, Solutions Architect | Nth Generation
Jim Westover, Enterprise Solutions Architect | Nth Generation
Vuong Pham, Sr. Solutions Architect, Virtualization Specialist | Nth Generation (Moderator)
Darin Back, Sr. Networking Consultant | Nth Generation
Richard Tengdin, Enterprise Solutions Architect | Nth Generation
Bill Burnham
CTO Public Sector, USA @ Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Bryan Willett
Supervisory Special Agent/Cyber Task Force Leader @ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Cameron Matthews
Sr. Security Consultant @ Nth Generation
Dan Molina
Co-President, CTO, Security & Marketing @ Nth Generation
Dan Molina has worked in the IT industry since 1989 and joined Nth Generation in November 2000. In addition to his role as Co-President, as CTO, he is responsible for researching and incorporating leading-edge IT and Cybersecurity technologies and services into Nth’s solutions and services portfolio, and overseeing Nth’s Security and Marketing divisions.
Dan completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at UCSD in 1992 and a Master of Science Degree in Executive Leadership at USD in 2009. Dan brings consulting experience in the areas of Hybrid Cloud, Data Protection, Business Continuity, Security, AI, and other related Enterprise IT solutions. Dan is a multi-year finalist for the San Diego Tech Executive of the Year Award.
David Gibson
SVP of Strategic Programs @ Varonis
Dean Teffer, PhD
Vice President of Artificial Intelligence @ Arctic Wolf
Dwayne Gilliam
EVP, Sales @ Nth Generation
James Makil
vCISO & Sr. Security Consultant @ Nth Generation
James Makil is a seasoned technology professional with extensive experience in cybersecurity, network architecture, and infrastructure design. James specializes in Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Assessments, Information Security, Security Auditing, PCI, FFIEC, OWASP, HIPAA, SOX, Linux, Unix, Windows Servers, Active Directory.
Throughout James' career, he has been committed to helping organizations protect their assets and data from cyber threats, and he is passionate about staying ahead of emerging threats and trends in the cybersecurity landscape. He has an MBA in Information Assurance and Security from the University of Dallas.
Jan Baldwin
Chief Executive Officer
Jan Baldwin founded Nth Generation Consulting in 1994, leading the organization for ten successful years through 2006 when it merged with Nth Generation. Formerly, she was the Executive Vice President of Nth Generation and in 2011 she was named CEO.
She earned a Master of Science Degree in Executive Leadership from the University of San Diego, where she researched the business value and strategy of cloud computing. Her work is instrumental in charting Nth Generation’s business strategy. For instance, in 2008, Nth committed to becoming a leader and trusted advisor to clients in the global shift toward cloud computing. Since then, Nth Generation has become one of HPE’s first “Cloud Centers of Excellence” in the United States, and has received similar recognition from other industry giants including VMware and CommVault.
Jan serves as Nth Generation’s leader and primary advocate. She works with Nth’s Board of Directors and Executive Team creating strategies to ensure the company fulfills its mission paving the road for a bright future for the company and its clients.
Jeromie Jackson
Director, Security & Analytics @ Nth Generation
John Spiegel
SASE Field CTO and HPE Distinguished Technologist - Security @ HPE Aruba Networking
José R. Rosas-Bustos
QED CSO @ Quantum Computing
Joseph Smith
Sr. Information Security Consultant @ Nth Generation
Julie León
Enterprise Account Executive @ Nth Generation
Lee Solomonson
Director, Advanced Technologies @ Nth Generation
Lee Solomonson joined Nth over 20 years ago as a Systems Engineer, focusing on storage, UNIX, and data protection. Five years later, Lee was promoted to Nth Labs Manager, and added specializations in server virtualization and performance benchmarking. Lately, he has been pulling together all of his experience in the data center and applying it to the field of Artificial Intelligence (and vice-versa)
Mark Burton
Sr. Security Consultant @ Nth Generation
Mark Burton is a Cyber Security leader with talent for delivering strategic plans to successfully navigate businesses through periods growth, change and security challenges. He is a solutions and goal-oriented professional with expertise in developing and streamlining process and procedures to optimize productivity and profitability. He is an articulate communicator capable of securing and strengthening security posture and facilitating reliable cyber security outcomes.
Mark has over 20 years of experience across the IT industry and holds CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CEH certifications. He is passionate about helping businesses of all sizes harness the power of technology to achieve their goals, and he is committed to building strong, lasting relationships with clients based on trust and collaboration.
Mike McLean
Channel Director, West Region @ Nutanix
Mike McLean brings over 25 years of experience in technology sales and channel leadership to his role as Channel Director for the West Region at Nutanix. His career is distinguished by a deep commitment to excellence and a proven track record in building and leading high-performing teams.
Throughout his professional journey, Mike has held significant positions at industry leaders such as EMC, NetApp, and Nutanix. He excels in channel sales, leveraging his expertise to develop strategic partnerships and drive revenue growth. Known for his strengths-based leadership, Mike focuses on fostering diverse and productive teams that align with organizational objectives.
A graduate of Washington State University’s School of International Business, Mike’s educational background has equipped him with a global perspective and a strategic approach to business. His career is marked by a dedication to achieving exceptional results and cultivating strong relationships within the technology sector.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike is an avid outdoor enthusiast with a passion for skiing, fly fishing, and camping. His personal interests reflect his appreciation for adventure and his belief in maintaining a well-rounded, balanced lifestyleRich Baldwin
Executive Board Member and Strategic Advisor
Richard Baldwin began his technology career in 1968, programming business applications for IBM System 360 mainframe computers. After working for San Diego Trust-Savings Bank’s IT department, and for GE Software International, he spent 14 years building UserWare.
In the late 1980’s, Rich started and successfully managed three companies, including Nth Generation Computing, which he founded in 1991. Nth developed a focus on StorageWorks in the early 1990’s and has since become the leading Hewlett Packard Enterprise server, storage, software, networking, and desktop virtualization specialist in the Western United States. Nth is also an elite business partner with VMware, Commvault, Intel, Microsoft, and other leading suppliers. Rich’s vision, fueled by his commitment to cutting-edge technology, client education, service and support, and technical excellence, was the key to taking Nth from a one-man start-up to the multi-million dollar enterprise it is today.
Rick Roberts
CIO @ Grossmont Union High School District
Todd Burkhardt
Co-President, Client Engagement & CIO @ Nth Generation
Todd Burkhardt has been with Nth Generation since 1993, and has the dubious distinction of being Nth’s first hired employee. He oversees Nth’s pre-sales engineering team, systems integration, project management, and internal IT. During his time with Nth Generation, Todd has developed the engineering team into a full-service IT organization.
Todd attended Coleman University, where he earned a Degree in Computer Programming. Prior to narrowing his scope to engineering and IT at Nth Generation, Todd was responsible for shipping, receiving, integration, data center build-outs and moves, phones, internet, facilities, security, technical team management, and customer support. As a result, he has a strong understanding of the people and processes required to run the company efficiently.
Todd is a pivotal member of the Strategic Team that charted Nth Generation’s Mission, Vision, Values and Strategy. He currently sits on the Corporate E-team and continues to help drive the strategic direction of the company, while also bringing a “Customer First” approach to our decision-making processes.
Vuong Pham
Sr. Solutions Architect, Virtualization Specialist @ Nth Generation
Vuong Pham is a Senior Solutions Architect who has been in IT for 20 years in many aspects of IT. Pre-sales, Design, Implementation, and Operations of small, medium and enterprise environments across multiple industries. He is SME in virtualization, data protection and storage solutions for multiple vendors. His current focus is HCI solutions, DevOps and CNA. VCP 3,4,5,6, VCP DTM 7, VCAP Design, VCAP Administration, EMCIE. VxRail Xpert, Nutanix NPP, SimpliVity Certified, VMware vExpert 2015-2018, You can follow Vuong on Twitter as: @Digital_kungfu
Yale Fishman
Chairman of Board @ Quantum Encryption Defense