Tips

Tips

• Beyond customer sentiment: How to put NLP technology to work

  Natural language processing tools and apps have finally arrived -- but how are organizations putting NLP to work? Here are some possibilities that might not be obvious.  Continue Reading

• How to plan for the worst possible disaster recovery scenarios

  Your worst-case DR scenario today might be vastly different than it was just a few years ago. What's the worst that could happen to your data center in the event of a disaster?  Continue Reading

• Top 4 NAS backup strategies for your data protection

  Whether justified or simply because the technology was misunderstood, backing up NAS devices was once considered a challenge. Now, you have several options for proper NAS backup.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server performance tuning best practices for DBAs

  Tuning database performance is a complex process, but consultant Joey D'Antoni details a list of SQL Server performance tuning best practices that can make it easier.  Continue Reading

• How to integrate Power BI and SharePoint via embedded reports

  Expert Brien Posey explains two methods for including Power BI reports on pages in SharePoint Online's cloud service: publishing a link to a report, or embedding one.  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of using SQL Server audit triggers for DBAs

  Using triggers to capture audit information in SQL Server can be instrumental in keeping track of database use and changes. But they aren't a perfect fit for all cases.  Continue Reading

• 5 things to know about deploying big data systems in data containers

  Planning for security and container APIs, and watching out for infrastructure sprawls are some issues to be aware of before deploying big data in containers.  Continue Reading

• Google Cloud Spanner overview: 4 features to consider

  Cloud Spanner's ability to offer data consistency and horizontal scalability has helped the relational database service gain traction. Learn more about its architecture.  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate DRaaS providers

  DR-as-a-service providers need to be vetted properly to ensure that the services you have purchased are deliverable and meet expectations during a disaster.  Continue Reading

• How to resolve and avoid deadlocks in SQL Server databases

  Deadlocks are a real hindrance to SQL Server users, but database administrators can avoid them by taking steps to limit them and stop them from recurring.  Continue Reading

• Conduct a business impact analysis with these tips and tools

  A business impact analysis is a fairly standard part of disaster recovery planning, but nuances within your organization may affect your approach to conducting and using a BIA.  Continue Reading

• Why data silos matter: Settling ownership of data issues

  Data management is often still seen as an IT task, but that can lead to data silos. Find out why the business should be in charge of its data as part of a governance process.  Continue Reading

• The challenge of SaaS backup and how to approach it

  Just because it is in the cloud doesn't mean it's safe. SaaS data backup is equally as important as backing up your on-premises workloads but has its own unique challenges.  Continue Reading

• Secure disaster recovery will be a priority in 2019

  Along with weather events and IT outages, data security has become a major concern in DR. With cyberattacks on the rise, strategists are placing higher importance on resilience.  Continue Reading

• What to do if an internal notification system fails

  Having an emergency notification system in place can help maintain contact with staff during a crisis, but make sure that your company has a plan in place in case it malfunctions.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server auditing best practices: 3 key questions for DBAs

  Acing a SQL Server database audit starts with careful monitoring of how sensitive data is accessed and used so you can answer the top questions that auditors ask.  Continue Reading

• How to determine your disaster recovery objectives

  Ideal recovery objectives are different for every business. Luckily, there are four basic steps you can follow to ensure you set the right RTO and RPO.  Continue Reading

• Expert urges data pros to hone data science skills

  IT expert William McKnight shares job tips for data professionals looking to prosper in a changing enterprise. His first piece of advice: continually foster data science skills.  Continue Reading

• DRaaS benefits that make ditching traditional DR worth it

  The benefits of disaster recovery as a service include lower cost, enhanced reliability and streamlined administration. It's no wonder that more organizations are being drawn to it.  Continue Reading

• How to protect backups from ransomware infiltration

  Your ransomware backup protection strategy needs to address advanced persistent threats that encrypt files over time. Learn how to restore backups to avoid a payout.  Continue Reading

• Top 8 VMware vSphere backup best practices

  The architecture and operation of a virtual environment is different than a traditional backup environment and demands specific techniques. Learn top tips for backing up vSphere.  Continue Reading

• 5 tips for migrating to BI in the cloud without overpaying

  Moving BI and analytics to the cloud requires a strategy to avoid excessive costs. Get tips from experts and IT pros on what to watch out for and what to address.  Continue Reading

• How to ensure a secure disaster recovery operation

  As if recovering from a disaster isn't pressing enough, organizations also need to be mindful of potential security breaches when they are most vulnerable.  Continue Reading

• Better sentiment analysis can bolster customer data analytics

  Customer data analytics are easy to gather in the social media era -- but they can be misleading if based on sentiment analysis culled from automated social media monitoring.  Continue Reading

• Ransomware backup strategy guidelines to help ensure recovery

  Ransomware backup best practices are critical, as one attack can cripple a business. Here are three areas to focus on for optimal protection against ransomware.  Continue Reading

• 4 key qualities in a disaster recovery team consultant

  An experienced and reliable disaster recovery consultant can offer significant benefits to a DR team. When choosing a DR consultant, it helps to be picky.  Continue Reading

• Protect backup from ransomware attacks and recover safely

  Ransomware continues to get smarter and more sinister. Make sure you protect backups from ransomware that delays detonation and gets recovered into production.  Continue Reading

• ROI considerations with a hyper-converged data protection platform

  Do the benefits of a single operating environment and improved cloud support outweigh the costs associated with switching to hyper-converged data protection?  Continue Reading

• Modern data backup strategy involves integration

  Integrated data backup products are varied in their scope and capability. It is important to research your options, which range from integrated appliances to secondary storage.  Continue Reading

• Focus more on disaster recovery strategy in 2019

  Evolving disaster recovery technologies have eased some of the common DR burdens over the past year, but strategic areas such as funding and security could use some more attention.  Continue Reading

• How to make a self-service BI tools deployment less painful

  Self-service BI can be a big change for everyone in an organization. Expert Rick Sherman offers three principles to keep in mind that could make things easier.  Continue Reading

• IT storage team skills for hyper-converged secondary storage

  Is your IT storage team ready for the arrival of hyper-converged secondary storage? Learn what storage skills pros need now in order to take on this latest development in storage tech.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery trends and technologies to watch

  Major disaster recovery developments have changed the market yet again, and it's time to get ready for a new year in DR technology, before you end up lagging behind.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery planning tools: Predictive analytics for DR

  Today, predictive analytics and AI are fully realized disaster recovery tools. In the unpredictable world of DR, predictive analytics is a particularly powerful technology.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server 2019 improves Linux, container support

  The SQL Server 2019 release includes new big data integration features, a collection of database engine enhancements and improved Linux and container support.  Continue Reading

• 3 common disaster recovery challenges from 2018

  The past year was a big one for disaster recovery teams, for better or for worse. Major challenges included the prevalence of ransomware, GDPR compliance and the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Physical vs. virtual backup appliances: Make the best choice

  Organizations have a choice in backup appliances: physical or virtual. Explore what both types of appliances require and where a virtual backup appliance has an edge.  Continue Reading

• DR failover may benefit from API use

  Automating failovers for disaster recovery is a complex process, and APIs can help. However, implementing these changes effectively takes time and effort, so plan accordingly.  Continue Reading

• Data silos can live or die by a self-service BI strategy

  Self-service BI is a driving force behind the reshaping or possible demise of data silos. But sound data governance and corporate attitude adjustments are needed first.  Continue Reading

• Rules change for self-service BI subscription pricing models

  As self-service BI tools become commonplace, look for subscription pricing models to change according to the cloud, group data usage pricing and how data is shared.  Continue Reading

• 10 steps for optimal IT disaster recovery plan design

  Have you ensured your disaster recovery planning is comprehensive and able to be understood by everyone involved? Our guidelines will help set you on the right path.  Continue Reading

• 10 dos and don'ts for deploying self-service BI tools

  Self-service BI doesn't just happen. Organizations must ensure data quality and watch how analysts work. Experts offer 10 tips for enabling a self-service culture.  Continue Reading

• 10 features to look for in visualization tools for big data

  Big data is meaningless if it isn't understandable. Experts explain why users need data visualization tools that offer embeddability, actionability and more.  Continue Reading

• Trifacta data prep tool helps blend disparate data sources

  Handling diverse data sources usually consumes precious developer time. That led healthcare CRM company SymphonyRM to hand the data prep task to business analysts.  Continue Reading

• How data duplication in healthcare is diagnosed

  Electronic health record systems have helped reduce duplicate patient data in hospitals -- but they haven't cured the problem. Find out how organizations are addressing the issue.  Continue Reading

• Backup management process: Which data sets not to back up

  Your backup strategy does not necessarily need to include backing up everything. Believe it or not, there are elements that do not require constant backup.  Continue Reading

• 5 FAQs on SQL Server containers and how to manage them

  Running SQL Server in containers creates new challenges for database administrators. The answers to these questions can guide you through some of them.  Continue Reading

• The Power BI-PowerShell cmdlet cheat sheet

  DBAs can manage Power BI data sets, workspaces and reports with PowerShell. Using the two tools together makes for a more efficient and effective workflow.  Continue Reading

• Disaster recovery vs. backup: Plan for and prioritize VM workloads

  Before admins design a recovery plan, they must plan out which VM workloads need a disaster recovery environment and which need backups. Weigh these factors before making the call.  Continue Reading

• 6 big data visualization project ideas and tools

  These data visualization project examples and tools illustrate how enterprises are expanding the use of "data viz" tools to get a better look at big data.  Continue Reading

• How to build a master data index: Static vs. dynamic indexing

  Expert David Loshin explores the differences between static and dynamic indexing in master data management systems, and which queries each approach can support.  Continue Reading

• How deterministic and probabilistic matching work

  Expert David Loshin explores the benefits and challenges of the two classes of record matching in master data management systems: deterministic matching vs. probabilistic matching.  Continue Reading

• 10 tips for implementing visualization for big data projects

  Organizations need to keep users and design at the forefront when launching data visualization efforts, according to experts. Find out why colors and sizing matter.  Continue Reading

• Choosing the best visualization tools for big data analytics

  Data-driven enterprises use visualization tools to tell the stories hidden in big data -- stories which help users turn information into profit. Here's how to choose the right tool.  Continue Reading

• Azure Backup service best practices to streamline protection

  Is Azure Backup the right protection for your organization? Explore three important considerations for using the Microsoft service to back up your data.  Continue Reading

• 5 crucial multi-cloud disaster recovery principles

  A multi-cloud DR plan looks different for every organization, based on its needs. However, there are five universal precepts that can be applied to most multi-cloud strategies.  Continue Reading

• 3 best practices for backing up Office 365 data

  There are plenty of Office 365 backup providers out there, but how do you get started? For one thing, think of your cloud data as if it were on premises.  Continue Reading

• 3 ways to make machine learning in business more effective

  Dun & Bradstreet analytics exec Nipa Basu offers three tips on how to integrate machine learning tools into business processes to help drive better decision-making.  Continue Reading

• 11 features to look for in data quality management tools

  As the need for quality data has increased, so have the capabilities of data quality tools. Learn how collaboration, data lineage and other features enable data quality.  Continue Reading

• Data backup planning: 10 best practices for protection

  A data backup plan needs to anticipate changes to the organization and possible threats. These best practices will help you tailor your plan according to your business's needs.  Continue Reading

• Malware response plan recovers data in 6 steps

  Responding to and recovering from malware is a complex process that requires significant preparation. With a response plan in place, you can be ready to prevent a malware disaster.  Continue Reading

• The gradual evolution of master data management software

  Master data management began with a bang, then hit roadblocks due to complexity. Now, MDM is shifting toward more pragmatic projects tied to data governance.  Continue Reading

• How the top cloud storage vendors stack up for backup

  Don't pick a cloud storage and backup vendor just because you've heard it's reputable. We lay out the features you need to compare among the Big Three providers.  Continue Reading

• GDPR and disaster recovery: How to ensure you're covered

  After all of the preparations and changes your organization has gone through to prepare for GDPR, make sure disaster recovery doesn't get swept under the rug.  Continue Reading

• 4 strategies to beat the SQL Server 2008 support cutoff

  The looming end of SQL Server 2008 extended support should spur database teams into action. Consider these four options to extend security updates or migrate your aging SQL Server systems.  Continue Reading

• Highlight these 4 areas in your malware incident response plan

  The malware threat is on the rise, and recovery is no simple process. When planning a malware response, it's vital to get down specifics and eliminate unknown factors.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server high availability best practices in the cloud

  The cloud isn't immune to system failures. You can increase database uptime and prevent data losses with these high availability best practices for SQL Server in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• 4 areas where compliance with GDPR and disaster recovery intersect

  Your disaster recovery plans may have to change following the need for compliance with GDPR. These four elements involve backups, personal data, security and archiving.  Continue Reading

• 4 tips for backup infrastructure maintenance

  Like a car or any other important machine or device, backup architecture should have a maintenance plan. This process will help ensure the health and integrity of your backups.  Continue Reading

• 2 ways to attach SQL Server database files to Linux containers

  SQL Server files can be stored outside of Docker containers in host directories or volumes. Here's how to set up SQL Server on Linux databases and attach them to containers.  Continue Reading

• Why data quality tools matter in today's organizations

  Data is everywhere -- but is it good? Data quality tools could answer that question and help save time and money. So why don't more organizations use the technology?  Continue Reading

• GDPR checklist items data managers might have overlooked

  Now that the General Data Protection Regulation has been implemented, it's a good time for organizations to make sure they haven't missed any GDPR best practices.  Continue Reading

• With a data recovery plan, take advantage of all resources

  Data security and data recovery have a lot in common, and both can cause a lot of strife if not handled properly. Are you using every disaster recovery resource available to you?  Continue Reading

• How to attach databases to custom SQL Server containers

  Deploying SQL Server in Docker containers for production applications typically requires custom containers. Here are guidelines on how to attach databases to them.  Continue Reading

• Five tips for disaster recovery insurance and funding

  Having a complete disaster recovery plan is essential. So is having DR insurance and the money available to fund the recovery. These steps will help you succeed with the latter.  Continue Reading

• Good data quality for machine learning is an analytics must

  As companies add machine learning applications, they need to really understand -- and be able to improve -- their data. That's where data quality initiatives come in.  Continue Reading

• Five data recovery planning steps to protect vital assets

  Accurately restoring lost data after disaster strikes requires planning, patience and logic. If your goal is a smooth recovery process, here's what you'll need to know beforehand.  Continue Reading

• Six sample databases for SQL Server and how to find them

  SQL Server sample databases are useful for test and dev, but they can be difficult to parse. Use this SQL database sample overview to decide which to use and how to access them.  Continue Reading

• A quick tutorial on SQL Server maintenance plans

  SQL Server maintenance plans get a bad rap, but for DBAs who need a simple way to maintain databases, Microsoft's built-in tools are a good place to start.  Continue Reading

• How graph data modeling can help evaluate database tools

  Mapping data to a graph model can be challenging, but these steps can help you create prototype applications -- which then can aid in evaluating graph databases.  Continue Reading

• Use an IT outage communication plan to recover from a host crash

  Efficiently recover from a host crash by maintaining transparency for your stakeholders and evaluating the resources available for a full root cause analysis.  Continue Reading

• When to choose an S3 big data environment over HDFS storage

  Selecting a storage service for big data in the cloud can be challenging. Expert David Loshin explains usage patterns that could lead organizations to Amazon Simple Storage Service.  Continue Reading

• The benefits of columnar storage and the Parquet file format

  What's behind Apache Parquet's growing popularity? It may be the file format's columnar storage orientation, which leads to benefits including improved query performance.  Continue Reading

• Four first steps for customer data management

  Forrester's Mike Gualtieri details how to develop a unified plan to manage customer data that gives business users what they need to manage CRM programs.  Continue Reading

• Three factors for protecting sensitive data in the GDPR era

  Data privacy is a hot topic nowadays thanks to GDPR and the Facebook data scandal. But how do data security, access control and data protection differ?  Continue Reading

• Building a data science team in today's data-centric climate

  Finding and training data scientists to build a data science team can be challenging. But in a recent webinar, a Gartner analyst offered tips on how to do it.  Continue Reading

• What goes into a customer analytics data integration framework

  Customer data integration is a minefield for IT teams to navigate. But incorporating a set of core technical functions into an integration architecture can ease the process.  Continue Reading

• Data integration techniques to help keep BI data consistent

  Data integration processes that aren't managed properly can create inconsistent data in BI and analytics applications. Here are some steps to avoid that problem.  Continue Reading

• Multi-cloud data backup: Choices and challenges

  With many organizations putting data in more than one cloud, multi-cloud backup has become an important element of protection. Organizations should tread carefully.  Continue Reading

• 3 signs you may need a business continuity service provider

  Using a BC/DR service provider may give your recovery plan a much-needed boost. As new technologies and standards arise, a partner can address changing needs.  Continue Reading

• Why Spark DataFrame, lazy evaluation models outpace MapReduce

  Learn how the Spark DataFrame execution plan works and why its lazy evaluation model helps the processing engine to avoid the performance issues inherent in Hadoop MapReduce.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for social media and business resilience

  Solid business continuity and resilience depend on a thorough examination and update of company social media policies. Otherwise, you may have a disaster on your hands.  Continue Reading

• Six data risk management steps for GDPR compliance

  By layering data risk management processes into your data governance framework, you can ensure the personally identifiable information your company stores meets GDPR compliance rules.  Continue Reading

• Seven good data visualization practices for visual integrity

  Data visualizations need visual integrity to ensure that the data they present can be interpreted correctly. Follow these design steps to help make visualizations trustworthy.  Continue Reading

• Consider multi-cloud disaster recovery for added protection

  Using multiple clouds in your disaster recovery strategy may be more difficult to implement, but it will also give your cloud plan an added level of reliability.  Continue Reading

• What to do when a BC/DR plan goes awry

  Insufficient testing or not knowing what to expect could result in a failed business continuity plan. Luckily, there are steps you can take if your BC/DR planning goes belly up.  Continue Reading

• Why running SQL Server on Docker is no longer frowned upon

  Microsoft now lets SQL Server databases run in Docker containers, a capability that depends on using volumes to store data in a persistent way outside the containers.  Continue Reading

• GDPR rules can spur broader steps to protect sensitive data

  Companies need to make compliance with GDPR's requirements on managing personal data a priority, but they should also work to implement wider data protection efforts in the future.  Continue Reading

• GDPR mandates push data quality improvement into IT spotlight

  Data quality issues cost companies significant amounts of money in lost revenue and added expenses, and their impact will only get bigger when the EU starts enforcing its GDPR law.  Continue Reading

• Don't let your BC/DR plan get lost in the shuffle

  How can you maintain consistency in your BC/DR strategy in a world of constantly evolving technology? If it's a reactive part of IT, you're already behind.  Continue Reading