I don’t know if it was the heat, or the humidity; but the Datto partner conference in New Orleans last week was one of the best events I’ve ever attended. This was our second year at the DPC, and our first year as a sponsor. We’ve essentially built our business continuity pitch from listening to Rob Rae‘s sales tracks at this and other events. If you’ve never had the opportunity to listen to Rob engage a crowd, you’re missing out. (Photo below by Joshua Liberman, The Eventual Photographer.)
We bumped in to many current and former partners and clients at this show — including Mike and Sitima Fowler from Capstone Information Technologies in Rochester. Mike and Sitima usually divide and conquer for events, so it was a rare pleasure to see them in the same room at the same time. Capstone was one of our very first clients, and we still to this day appreciate that they took a chance on a new and unknown company. From one person in a home office with a brand new baby (that was me!) to a 30 person (and growing!) company with offices in two countries — it’s been a fast and furious ride and we could not have done it without our partners – especially the early ones – so thank you!
I had the opportunity to sit in on Datto CEO Austin McChord‘s keynote, where he shared several big announcements. This was a great keynote. It was simple and dynamic. It was fluff-free. It was well-paced and it featured a lot of information delivered in manageable pieces. There is a concise recap of that keynote on the Datto/Backupify blog, so I’ll spare you my thoughts and let you check that out, it’s right here ! My favorite announcement was the reveal of the new Datto Network Appliance – Datto is now offering the DNA Router, with continuity built right in — DNA will come equipped with automated 4G failover that works right out of the box. That was a “Shut up and take my money!” moment. Datto partners; get on this, get on this quickly. It’s sexy and disruptive, it’s a new product to bring to your current clients and it’s a great hook for new potential clients. Move over Business Continuity, here comes Total Data Protection. We love it! We’ll help you sell it!
One of the highlights of each Datto event is the Datto Disaster Demo. This year, the disaster was courtesy of liquid nitrogen. I’m not spoiling it for you. You’ll have to come next year to see it for yourself. I hear they are no longer allowed to light things on fire due to “an incident” in previous years. Totally worth the price of admission — and if I were a partner, I’d be recording it for sales purposes.
And of course, as at most events, my favorite part was the wrap party. It started with a Datto Mardi Gras parade from the event hotel to the party venue, and the sea of blue umbrellas down Canal street was impressive. The party was fabulous, food was great, music spectacular – and I say this is after spending a week in the French Quarter! Last year someone brought a Cards Against Humanity deck – my first time playing – and I was hopeful it would happen again. I was not disappointed! Raj Goel procured one, and hilarity ensued. Raj, incidentally, is known as the go-to man in cyber security and privacy law. Turns out he is also one heck of a dancer. (Photo below taken by Joshua Liberman).
All in all, a fantastic event, and I hope the Datto event team is enjoying some much-deserved down-time before they start planning Nashville 2016. Thanks Datto!