Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Network security, SD-WAN suppliers revamp branch security

  Branch network security is getting a face-lift, as network security and SD-WAN suppliers look at new ways to integrate their platforms and upgrade products. Continue Reading

• HCI storage advancements require network technology upgrades

  Flash storage options make HCI scalability easier, but they also require newer network hardware. Data center admins are looking at NVMe-based fabrics as a possible fix. Continue Reading

• Future of AWS hinges on AI, Lambda and on premises

  SearchAWS contributors say AWS' future will continue to focus on AI and machine learning as the cloud provider attempts to stay ahead of the curve. Continue Reading

• What roles do vCPE and uCPE have at the network edge?

  As service providers look to virtualize the edge and deliver network services faster, they're turning to vCPE and uCPE that run services as software on generic hardware. Continue Reading

• The top 5 data storage questions we answered in 2018

  As storage continues to evolve, many readers still are curious about the basics. In 2018, common data storage concerns included RAID, capacity and different storage architectures. Continue Reading

• It's time to rethink app migration strategies for cloud

  As applications increasingly become a collection of services rather than monolithic pieces of software, enterprises will start to question and rethink traditional migration practices.Continue Reading

• Cloud predictions for 2019 hone in on containers, IT skills

  Our expert contributors share the trends and technologies they expect to make waves in the cloud market in 2019.Continue Reading

• 3 serverless platform approaches to consider

  There are several ways to approach serverless, and each has pros and cons. Learn where cloud, open source and the more traditional platforms fit into the serverless conversation.Continue Reading

• Which KPIs should I measure for security in SDN?

  KPIs provide useful guidelines to measure how network performance and security align with business objectives. Here are some KPIs to help keep track of an SDN environment.Continue Reading

• Final 802.11ax release date now slated for late 2019

  When it comes to the hotly anticipated new wireless standard, are we there yet? This 802.11ax timeline notes key milestones in the draft's development and explains what's next.Continue Reading

• Go for AWS third-party tools if native options don't cut it

  AWS users who can't find the service they need can turn to third-party tools for help, especially if they run on multiple clouds or want better integration options.Continue Reading

• New NVMe interface specification focuses on management

  An NVMe management interface builds on the existing standard, allowing users to monitor NVMe devices. NVMe-MI may represent a significant step forward for the technology.Continue Reading

• Prepare for these 3 cloud computing challenges in 2019

  As enterprise cloud strategies continue to mature, IT teams will face a new set of challenges in 2019, ranging from cost governance to the management of complex, heterogeneous architectures.Continue Reading

• 10 tips to approach IT operations processes with confidence

  Stuck in the NOC over the holidays? To pass the time, improve your ability to plan projects and quash production infrastructure incidents with confidence.Continue Reading

• 6 emerging trends in wireless networking technology for 2019

  In 2019, expect to see some interesting trends in wireless networking technology, including a surge in millimeter waves, the budding potential for end-to-end network analytics and, of course, the ongoing development of 5G services.Continue Reading

• See how file system structure can drag down NVMe performance

  Find out what matters when it comes to file system design and how to prevent file systems from becoming bottlenecks to achieving optimal performance in NVMe-based storage systems.Continue Reading

• What to consider when integrating SD-WAN and ITSM tools

  We haven't really heard a lot about SD-WAN integration with IT service management. But getting SD-WAN to work with existing ITSM tools is a big priority for enterprises.Continue Reading

• Step Functions outshines SWF for most AWS workflows

  Simple Workflow Service has been around longer, but Step Functions offers more flexibility for asynchronous tasks. See why the latter is often better for multistep processes on AWS.Continue Reading

• Experienced cloud architects, engineers in high demand for 2019

  Despite all the buzz around emerging technologies such as serverless, many enterprises in 2019 will first look to round out their core cloud management and development skill sets.Continue Reading

• Bookmark 10 popular tips on containers and Kubernetes

  Should we go with an open source or commercial option? What about DevOps? These 10 essential tips explain how containers fit into complex modern IT environments.Continue Reading

• Top 10 IT tutorials of 2018 for professional development in 2019

  Most IT admins take control of their education via home labs and tutorials. Refresh skills in PowerShell or Python -- or learn new ones like Kubernetes -- with these popular walkthroughs.Continue Reading

• How might NFV in IoT enhance network edge security?

  The emergence of IoT devices has considerable network security implications. An NFV architecture, however, could add another layer of network defense.Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud technologies become table stakes in IaaS market

  In 2018, IaaS providers upped their commitment to hybrid cloud. Expect that trend to continue in full force next year -- with some key distinctions between vendors' strategies.Continue Reading

• Secure data in the cloud with encryption and access controls

  Enterprises can't rely on their IaaS provider to protect sensitive information in the cloud. Implement these data security techniques to mitigate potential risks.Continue Reading

• Amazon Lightsail vs. EC2: Do updates tip the scale?

  Amazon Lightsail updates will make the cloud bundle an appealing option for some AWS users, but EC2 still provides more benefits for users that need infrastructure flexibility.Continue Reading

• Combining serverless and microservices has its benefits

  Uncover the advantages that result from coupling serverless with microservices, and see how cloud providers prepare for customers to use these technologies together.Continue Reading

• Pair AWS with microservices deployment to meet CI/CD goals

  When combined with microservices, these AWS offerings can provide an easier way to adopt a fully Agile development methodology.Continue Reading

• Estimate the cost of open source software in 5 practical areas

  Open source tools and technologies are free for the taking, as long as enterprise IT organizations correctly calculate the cost of implementation, support, contribution and more.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of 2018 cloud acquisitions

  To extend their offerings, top cloud providers made numerous acquisitions in 2018. Take this quiz to see if you remember some of the biggest deals that went down.Continue Reading

• Data storage industry trends revealed in top 2018 news stories

  AI, NVMe over fabrics and the cloud were must-read data storage stories in 2018, as were Tintri's struggles and Dell EMC's product moves. See the news that mattered as the year closes.Continue Reading

• IT organizations anticipate DevOps evolution in 2019

  DevOps shifts around like ice cubes skate across water: quickly and always toward its outer limits. Kurt Marko explores some areas where DevOps will go in 2019.Continue Reading

• Hyper-V Integration Services and VMware Tools improve OSes

  Hyper-V Integration Services and VMware Tools are similar utilities with a few small differences. One is that Hyper-V Integration Services supports fewer guests than VMware Tools.Continue Reading

• Application load testing is critical for business success

  Load testing tools help ensure apps can withstand normal amounts of user traffic, as well as spikes and other conditions. Learn how these tools work and their business benefits.Continue Reading

• API integration becomes an enterprise priority

  To gain the agility required of multi-cloud and mobile computing, enterprises will invest in agile API integration platforms, as well as event-driven integration.Continue Reading

• Establish a configuration management strategy to guide transition

  Humans are notoriously averse to change in routine -- even when it makes their jobs easier. Encourage innovation and be flexible: Strategy is a journey, not a destination.Continue Reading

• A configuration management plan can unite tools and teams

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• Expect more container evolution, growth in 2019

  Containerization shows no sign of winding down. With technologies, product options and providers focused on technological improvement, container ecosystems will develop rapidly in the coming year.Continue Reading

• The top 9 trends in network technology for 2019

  In the new year, expect SDN and SD-WAN to come back down to earth. Meanwhile, multi-cloud, edge computing and intent-based networking will ramp up. Plus, data centers are not dead.Continue Reading

• Seneca College brings its campus Wi-Fi back to school

  Wi-Fi has gone back to school. Seneca College deployed a new Wi-Fi system from Aruba Networks to support its tens of thousands of students, faculty and plentiful devices.Continue Reading

• AI for IT operations means smarter, safer deployments

  Anticipate developments in AIOps and IT automation in 2019, particularly in major spaces such as IT security. Help your organization look forward and adopt smarter automation.Continue Reading

• The top ways microservices impact EDI processes

  B2B integration has changed, and traditional EDI transaction methods may not meet modern needs. Here is how microservices can help organizations simplify today's complex B2B endpoints.Continue Reading

• Providers widen telecom cloud services for the enterprise

  Some traditional service providers are reinventing telecom cloud services enabled by new networking partnerships and technologies to offer enterprise customers a number of benefits.Continue Reading

• When to manage APIs with cloud-native vs. third-party tools

  As enterprises break out applications into smaller components, both in the development cycle and for operational scalability, APIs become more important -- as does proper management.Continue Reading

• What are the top 3 benefits of NFV technology?

  The use of standard hardware, consolidation of network functions and machines, and flexible system upgrades are some of the key benefits of NFV technology.Continue Reading

• A look at the AWS hardware update that fuels its A1 instances

  In case you missed the reveal of AWS' A1 instance type at re:Invent, the updated hardware that underpins these VMs could have a major effect on your cloud workloads.Continue Reading

• Use Puppet for Windows ops automation with dsc_lite

  With DSC and dsc_lite, as well as a native option, users operate in Puppet within the familiarity of PowerShell settings. Here's how each approach works.Continue Reading

• How to create test data that yields accurate QA results

  Testers need valid data to prevent app defects, which means they must simulate real data types and structure them as closely as possible. Don't fake it when you make it.Continue Reading

• The future of SD-WAN moves away from stand-alone product

  'Tis the season for a look at the future of SD-WAN. In 2019, one networking expert expects more managed SD-WAN, further market consolidation and a shift away from individual SD-WAN devices.Continue Reading

• Key IT skills to make you current and capable in an ops role

  With the rapid pace of IT, it's easy to lose your edge -- even for technologically curious ops professionals. Master a balance of the best IT and people skills to get ahead in modern operations.Continue Reading

• Test your grasp of 3D NAND flash technology

  Adoption of 3D NAND flash is on the rise and fueling growth in the NAND market. Take our quiz to find out what matters about this key technology.Continue Reading

• Gauge your platform purchasing options before SD-WAN deployment

  Finalizing how an organization deploys SD-WAN can be a complex process, especially with the range of available purchasing options. But studying the options is always a good start.Continue Reading

• Align KPIs for IT with corresponding business goals

  It's easy for IT KPIs to take a back seat to those of the business or vice versa. Instead, explore these ways to maintain a working balance.Continue Reading

• Which APM tool works for devs, CIOs? New Relic vs. Stackify

  Stackify Retrace and New Relic tools typify a divide between developers and CIOs on application monitoring. The products share many capabilities, but those features aren't equally granular or accessible.Continue Reading

• What are the differences between network security vs. cybersecurity?

  IT groups need to consider varying layers of security. For instance, the similarities and differences between cybersecurity and network security are closely entwined.Continue Reading

• Admins now require data center skills 'a mile wide'

  The role of a data center professional is changing in the face of cloud, the internet of things and evolving security. One hiring manager talks about the changes and why admins need broader skill sets.Continue Reading

• How to choose the right CDN service for your organization

  Organizations that distribute web content to users worldwide are turning to CDN services to provide fast, secure delivery of their content.Continue Reading

• HPE SimpliVity hyper-converged FAQs get answered

  When HPE bought SimpliVity in 2017, it raised questions about the two company's HCI products, even though they were existing partners. We answer some of those questions.Continue Reading

• NVMe performance leap depends on all-flash array architecture used

  All-flash NVMe-based storage arrays could bring a big improvement in performance depending on the array architecture you use. We look at what you can expect.Continue Reading

• Integration tactics to ease hybrid, multi-cloud environments

  Hybrid and multi-cloud are increasingly common deployment models, which makes integration a priority. Review three specific approaches to connect on-premises and cloud-based systems.Continue Reading

• Colorado believes autonomous vehicles technology can save lives

  Edge computing, take the wheel. The Colorado Department of Transportation is deploying roadside network devices to support connected and autonomous vehicles technology.Continue Reading

• Reality check: How has data center SDN evolved?

  Considering the twists and turns in SDN technology and adoption, it's easy to wonder about future development. Learn what three industry analysts think about the evolution of SDN and its drawbacks.Continue Reading

• What you need to know about network analytics software

  Reality check: Are network analytics tools overhyped? This guide explores the key features of these tools, how they can help and their effect on networking's future.Continue Reading

• Compare Docker containers vs. VMs for app dev environments

  While there are important technical distinctions between VMs and containers, the reasons developers opt for the latter are often more philosophical, or cultural, in nature.Continue Reading

• What you need to know before buying hyper-converged technology

  Learn how to determine your organization's need for hyper-converged infrastructure and to evaluate offerings from top HCI vendors to find the right fit.Continue Reading

• Weighing open converged infrastructure against composable

  OCI and composable infrastructure are both touted as the latest in convergence, but it is important to know how they differ before making an IT buying decision.Continue Reading

• Consider these options to reduce AWS data transfer costs

  While it's free to get data onto AWS, it can be expensive to get it off. Avoid being stung by hefty egress fees with services such as CloudFront, Direct Connect and Snowball.Continue Reading

• As-a-service at your service: Cloud tools simplify DevOps automation

  AWS offers the widest range of cloud-integrated DevOps tools. But Google Cloud has a strategy with more focus on integration, and Azure closely ties in with other Microsoft products.Continue Reading

• When traditional data center technology trumps hyper-converged

  Committing to a conventional data center rather than a hyper-converged approach is sometimes the smarter move. We take a look at some reasons to steer clear of HCI.Continue Reading

• Choosing the best OS: Linux server vs. Windows Server

  When determining the best server OS for a data center, you have Windows Server and multiple Linux options. For both, you'll want to look at vendor support, cost and functionality.Continue Reading

• How to successfully perform a data center upgrade

  When data center hardware becomes outdated, there are a few options. Here are ways that admins can ensure that a migration is efficient and downtime is minimized.Continue Reading

• Cloudlets extend cloud power to edge with virtualized delivery

  Cloud computing power for IoT and mobile devices is within reach due to the capabilities of cloudlets, which use virtualization and small data centers to extend computing power.Continue Reading

• What's next for VMs vs. containers as isolation, performance evolve?

  With advances from Docker, Kubernetes and other container technologies, an ecosystem is emerging that threatens the existence -- or at least importance -- of VMs in enterprise IT orgs.Continue Reading

• What are the pros and cons of blockchain in networking?

  While blockchain could be a valuable network management tool, enterprises don't exactly have a driving need for the ledger technology in the networking arena.Continue Reading

• Open source tools to consider for your RESTful APIs

  Software teams don't have to break the bank when they shop for RESTful API management tools. The right combination of tools that use open source code can help manage the whole lifecycle at low cost.Continue Reading

• Compare cloud container registries from AWS, Azure and Google

  Many developers use the Docker Hub container registry, but there are other options from AWS, Azure and Google. Explore these provider-native registries, and their key differences.Continue Reading

• Understanding what Azure AD federation really means

  A company that adopts SaaS apps to get work done can ease the transition by implementing a single sign-on method. Learn how to set up this arrangement in a secure manner.Continue Reading

• Evaluate 3 cloud-native CI/CD pipeline tools

  When it comes to continuous integration and delivery tools, there is no shortage of comparable options -- including those from public cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure and Google.Continue Reading

• What are today's top 3 network security challenges?

  A significant shortage of cybersecurity staff, poorly configured firewalls and unmanaged end-user mobile devices are some of the top network security threats.Continue Reading

• When a NoOps implementation is -- and when it isn't -- the right choice

  NoOps skills and tools are highly useful regardless of the IT environment, but site reliability engineering brings operations admins into development when an organization can't afford to lose them.Continue Reading

• What to look for in an API development SaaS platform

  Not all SaaS API development platforms are made the same. Learn about the fundamental capabilities that API SaaS tools should provide and discover some popular options.Continue Reading

• How CloudFormation Macros stack up against other IaC tools

  Developers can use an updated CloudFormation feature to manage and deploy IaC templates with Lambda. However, other native and third-party tools may be better choices depending on users' needs.Continue Reading

• AWS security tools embrace AI, but miss on multi-cloud

  AWS has added AI-backed services, such as Amazon GuardDuty and Amazon Macie, to expand its security capabilities, but still hasn't addressed users' needs outside of its own platform.Continue Reading

• What does GPU hardware do in the data center?

  Once part of the gaming industry, GPUs are gaining traction in data center infrastructures. Learn why the power of GPUs makes them fit virtualization and data-heavy applications.Continue Reading

• How NFV and SDN could shape the future of telecom

  Looking to the future of telecom, NFV and SDN can help generate new services revenue and lower operating costs using cloud principles, rather a traditional network standards approach.Continue Reading

• How 3 benefits of SDN can help small businesses

  As SDN matures and evolves from its original definition, it's getting harder for small businesses to ignore the benefits of SDN, like better visibility, security and efficiency.Continue Reading

• Evaluate Linux server distros for your data center

  Linux is known for its reliability and flexibility in the data center. To select the proper distribution for your servers, you'll need to evaluate your application and support needsContinue Reading

• Adobe adopts Versa SD-WAN architecture for cloud performance

  After moving its business to the cloud, Adobe chose to deploy Versa SD-WAN architecture when it needed four-nines availability for critical services -- all on a smaller budget.Continue Reading

• 4 NVMe storage array options to consider

  Here's what you need to know to pick the NVMe array that provides your organization with the performance improvement it needs and also fits its budget.Continue Reading

• A quick quiz on machine learning services in public cloud

  From customized hardware to APIs, public cloud providers now tout a wide range of machine learning and AI technologies. How well have you kept up with this rapidly evolving market?Continue Reading

• How to get network data analytics that really helps your team

  Data analytics promises essential information that can improve network performance. A solid strategy that asks the right questions is the critical first step.Continue Reading

• 5 types of network diagnostics tools and what they can do

  Vendors of network analytics tools are improving older products and introducing new ones to bring network managers the information a smooth-running network now requires.Continue Reading

• Using AI, machine learning in networking to improve analytics

  The barrage of alerts modern network analytics tools create is problematic, but the capabilities advanced tech like AI provides can help ease the burden to network operations.Continue Reading

• Compliance automation prevents regulation audit snafus

  Many IT organizations address compliance issues manually, even though Puppet, Fugue and other tools can enforce configurations that comply with regulations and even provide an audit trail.Continue Reading

• AWS should address these user challenges at re:Invent 2018

  SearchAWS contributors say Amazon's cloud platform still has shortcomings around data regulation, ops and integrations. They offer some ways AWS could solve these problems at re:Invent this year.Continue Reading

• Automated data management is a crucial part of IT's future

  Automating data management will play an important role in helping us cope with the coming zettabyte apocalypse, a time when the amount of data generated will overwhelm storage resources.Continue Reading

• Annual AWS conference can educate and overwhelm

  AWS re:Invent is an opportunity to learn about the latest from the cloud provider, or simply get started. This handbook breaks it down with predictions, insights and more.Continue Reading

• 5 questions to ask about open data centers

  Editor's note: In this opinion piece, industry analyst Zeus Kerravala shares his thoughts on open data centers and Extreme Networks' approach. Extreme Networks is a client of Kerravala's ZK ...Continue Reading

• Predictive storage analytics can watch your storage for you

  Don't ask if your next storage array or software will have predictive analytics. Ask what those analytics can do for your specific systems and applications.Continue Reading

• Why more enterprises choose to park information on cloud platforms

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• Properly configure resources to reduce cloud security threats

  Misconfigured cloud resources can quickly open the door to IT risks. Be mindful of access controls, and don't brush off your cloud provider's recommended security practices.Continue Reading