Technology, homeland security forum set

Observing its 10th year, Western New York's premier technology symposium has tripled in size, but remains free to all attendees, according to Niagara County Director of Data Processing Larry Helwig. The 10th annual Technology and Homeland Security Forum is set for Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Seneca Niagara Hotel & Casino.

With everything from free classes to a free breakfast and lunch, the symposium promises attendees opportunities to stay abreast of technology and security issues, as well as an opportunity to interface with vendors.

"Ten years ago, this started because there used to be a tech show in the Buffalo area, but for about two years preceding our first annual event, there was not a technology show in Western New York. You had to go to Syracuse, Rochester, or New York City to attend an event of this size," Helwig said. "We started our first year with just about 20 vendor booths. We're up to 57 vendor booths this year."

Niagara County organized the show with partners InfoTech Niagara, the Erie County Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Infragard. The forum will address the rapidly changing world of technology and how the homeland security industry is using technology to drive productivity, comply with regulatory requirements, and adapt to converging markets, products and investors. The forum qualifies as six CPE hours towards recertification for ISC2 and ISACA certifications.

This year's program is designed with an emphasis on the homeland security/technologies fields, offering classes focusing on professionals that have management responsibility for technology-based support activities, including crisis management, business continuity, information security, and information technology.

"Potential customers get to see current technology first-hand," Helwig said. "Vendors bring test units, test software, demonstration copies of what they want to show to potential customers, so sometimes you're seeing new releases of some of the software."

Nationally-known keynote speakers Ken Michael of DOX Electronics Inc. and Paul V. Nunes, of Underberg & Kessler LLP, will kick off the event with "E-Discovery."

Eighteen separate presentations will run throughout the day on a variety of topics. "Each class is about an hour and a half in length, and sometimes you'd have to pay to go to these classes," Helwig said. "But here, they're all free. There are education credits as well."

Advanced registration is recommended. For more information, call 439-7043 or visit www.niagaracounty.com/forum.asp.