As research director for IDC’s European Security practice, Joel Stradling leads the content and analyst team for tracking the European security segment. His main focus area is the integration of network plus security and evolution of network architectures towards software-defined secure access.

Stradling has 20 years of experience as an analyst of international managed enterprise network and IT services. He is a regular speaker at major industry conferences talking about emerging technologies in B2B enterprise network and IT and wholesale carrier-to-carrier services. Joel is a well-known and highly regarded expert in the industry, offering insight and advice to C-level executives on technology competitive landscapes and emerging technologies, such as SD-WAN, 5G, SDN/NFV, and cyber-security.

Jen Thomson has more than 20 years’ experience advising IT Vendors, senior IT, and business execs on their digital business optimization and transformation strategies. She leads European Research for Accelerated App Delivery, Cloud, and Services. Her core goal is to drive synergies and growth across these research areas, with a central focus on thought leadership.

She specializes in providing insights on the investment strategies and decisions of European enterprises as they transition to modern application architectures. Her research explores app dev and delivery capabilities required to operate in a digital economy, and how this impacts enterprise organizational structures, culture, processes, tools, and skill sets. She leads the Future of Digital Innovation research for IDC Europe, exploring software innovation strategies and what this means in terms of end-user strategies, investment priorities, software sourcing, and KPIs. Thomson’s core research also explores enterprise maturity and strategies towards enterprise scale and empowered DevOps.

She is responsible for the execution of a broad range of consulting and advisory projects. As IDC’s European expert on application development and delivery strategies, Thomson is an experienced public speaker and regularly presents at conferences and IDC partner and end-user events.

She started her career at Compaq Computer EMEA as a senior research analyst. She has a bachelor’s degree in international business with German from Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom) and Pforzheim Fachhochschule (Germany).

Carla Arend is a senior program director with the European software and infrastructure research team, and heads up IDC’s European cloud research. Arend provides industry clients with key insight into market dynamics, vendor activities, and end-user adoption trends in the European cloud market. As part of her research, she covers topics such as how European organizations are adopting cloud, how cloud drivers and inhibitors are evolving, cloud management, cloud security, data management in the cloud, IoT and cloud, AI and cloud, Devops and cloud, as well as GDPR impact on cloud and cloud code of conduct.

In addition to syndicated research, Arend has worked on many custom consulting projects identifying opportunities in the European cloud market and has authored white papers on subjects such as cloud management, cloud security, data management in the cloud.

Arend is regularly asked to speak at industry events, strategy workshops, sales kick-offs and training, partner events, and end-user events.

Arend holds a BA in business administration from University of Mannheim and an MSc in business administration and management of technology from Copenhagen Business School, in addition to course work at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok.

Dave Clemente leads IDC’s C-Suite Tech Agenda research in Europe, with a primary focus on analyzing and assessing tech spending and buyer preferences. His research covers emerging trends around C-Suite technology objectives, priorities and investments.

Dave is a research professional with more than thirteen years’ experience in think tanks (Chatham House and the International Institute for Strategic Studies) and professional services (including PwC and Deloitte). He started his career in cyber security and risk management, and is a regular conference speaker and broadcast media contributor (including BBC, CNN, and Sky).

Dave has authored numerous publications on topics including C-suite technology priorities, digital transformation, risk management, and data protection.

Dave holds degrees from Ohio State University (BA Political Science and International Relations) and the School of Oriental and African Studies (MA Near and Middle Eastern Studies).

Follow Dave on Twitter @Dave_Clemente

Associate Research Director Mark Child of IDC’s European Security Group leads the group’s Endpoint Security and Identity & Digital Trust (IDT) research for both Western Europe and Central & Eastern Europe. He monitors developments in security technologies and strategies as organizations address the challenges of evolving business models, IT infrastructure, and cyberthreats. Mark’s coverage includes in-depth security market studies, end-user research, white papers, and custom consulting.

Mark supports IDC’s global products, including Security Trackers, Security Spending Guides, and Security FutureScapes. He is a regular speaker at IDC events across Europe, including European Security Road Shows and the CISO Summit. Mark also presents at custom events and webinars for security vendors.

Prior to joining IDC in 2004, Mark worked at the Prague Business Journal and as a research analyst for market research firm NFO AISA. Mark Child earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Brighton.

Michael is a Senior Sales Engineer at Arctic Wolf and brings with him more than 24 years of experience in IT. Michael has previously worked at VMware and Microsoft in a variety of roles including technical presales and solution architecture. Michael has supported customers adopt technologies ranging from network virtualisation through to public cloud and also has the added benefit of previously working as a customer in various roles and has seen security from both sides.