As program vice president, System Software, Al Gillen is responsible for IDC's operating systems and cloud and virtualization system software research, across both client and server on a worldwide basis. His coverage area includes in-depth analysis on operating system adoption and deployments as well as oversight for research on server virtualization software, cloud system software, and client virtualization software.

Mr. Gillen brings over 30 years of computer industry experience to IDC. His research at IDC has included annual market share studies for operating system platforms, participation in special studies focusing on the total cost of ownership for Linux, Windows and Unix systems in both client and server configurations, business value studies for virtualization software, server platform migration, Linux adoption, and the use of system software as part of cloud computing deployments.

His contributions to the Cloud and Virtualization System Software research program dates back to 2002, when he began following the emergence of x86 hypervisors. In 2008 Mr. Gillen took over management responsibility for IDC's software virtualization research, and today oversees a team of analysts that focus on this research area.  Mr. Gillen has been an industry advisor to major x86 virtualization players on the role of virtualization and the relationship between virtualization and operating systems software.

Mr. Gillen has participated at numerous industry events as a keynote presenter, moderating panel discussions, and as an expert presenter at industry events on topics ranging from operating systems, software appliances, virtualization adoption and deployment, the relationship between virtualization software and cloud computing, open source software, free vs. paid operating systems, server platform migration, and business value/TCO. He is frequently quoted in trade and business publications around the world.

Prior to joining IDC in 1999, Mr. Gillen was editor-in-chief of ENT, an 80,000 circulation, 20-times per year trade publication that focused on the use and deployment of Windows NT Server and Windows 2000 Server in business environments. Prior to running ENT, Mr. Gillen served as editor-in-chief of MIDRANGE Systems, a 24-times per year trade publication that focused on the use and deployment of IBM AS/400 (System i) servers. Mr. Gillen spent the first 10 years of his career at an engineering firm where he performed embedded system design, development and real time programming. He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from New Jersey Institute of Technology.