I had an interesting conversation with a security consultant recently, who told me that identity is poised to be one of the leading areas of focus in the cybersecurity segment in coming months and years, with much of the impact landing squarely in the enterprise communications sector. The rationale was that, among other things, as AI avatars and deepfakes continue improving, it’ll be critical for enterprises to be able to ensure that those participating in video meetings are legitimate users with valid permissions.
This consultant noted that the avatar need not even be perfect and able to flawlessly interact like a human being; it can introduce itself, then sit back idle, “listening” – which might anyway be the goal of the bad actor behind the avatar, to eavesdrop on the meeting.
The larger point here is that AI is going to influence the way we work – and the way that IT builds and manages our communications systems – in ways we may not even imagine yet. It’s just one element of what we at Enterprise Connect are calling, “Workplace Reimagined: Engineering Tomorrow's Collaboration,” the title of one of our five tracks for the 2026 version of our event (which is itself being reimagined in numerous ways).
The old name for this particular area of interest, arising just as the pandemic was winding down, was “future of work,” but that’s a bit too nebulous and dated a term for what we want to talk about at next year’s event. Reimagining the workplace involves a spectrum of issues ranging from simply upgrading meeting rooms, all the way up to the kinds of AI-driven changes to workplace practices and governance exemplified by our security example above. It’s about making videoconferences incrementally better for all participants than they are today, but it’s also about the new burdens that will be placed on IT shops in order to make communications both secure and compliant.
And it’s not just about videoconferences. Enterprise are also reimagining their physical spaces, and how they use technology to optimize those spaces. It’s about meeting room management and reservation systems, advanced technologies for tracking office space usage (with its attendant privacy concerns), and about the role IT can play in improving every employee’s experience, from the call center agent to the CEO.
I’ve just begun meeting with members of Enterprise Connect’s enterprise advisory boards, who are going to take a much more hands-on role in building out the Conference program content than ever before. This group of outstanding enterprise IT professionals have been invaluable advisers to me and the EC team over the years, and I’m confident they’ll help guide us to build a program that hits home for their enterprise peers.
We’ll be launching a majority of the program sessions in early September, which is coming up a lot faster than we all think. The EC team will keep you posted on our progress, and I’ll have another update next week on the third of our 5 Conference tracks. I’m excited about how it’s starting to come together!
Reimagine Collaboration and Communications with Enterprise Connect
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For over 35 years, Enterprise Connect has been the premier event where IT leaders, solution providers, and industry analysts come together to define the future of enterprise communications. As the most trusted conference in the industry, we deliver cutting-edge insights, world-class networking opportunities, and hands-on solutions that drive real business success.
Enterprise Connect is more than an event—it’s an experience that empowers enterprise communications leaders to reimagine the future of work. With elevated content, curated networking, and an engaging atmosphere, it remains the must-attend conference for professionals shaping the industry’s evolution.
Our mission is to equip you with the tools, strategies, and actionable insights needed to address your organization’s unique challenges. With industry transformation in mind, this year’s program introduces fresh new conference tracks, including:
- Legacy Unleashed: Optimizing Your Communications Backbone
- Workplace Reimagined: Engineering Tomorrow's Collaboration
- Tech Disruption Zone: Implementing Without Imploding
- Achieving Transformation: Architecting Your 3-5 Year Roadmap
- Future Shock: Communications Tech Beyond the Horizon
Featuring the most comprehensive program of objective content and an expansive vendor-neutral expo hall, Enterprise Connect is your ultimate resource for advancing collaboration, CX, and AV strategies. Join us to stay ahead, connect with industry trailblazers, and lead the transformation of enterprise communications.