Evaluate

Evaluate

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

• How to select a CDN provider that addresses your specialized needs

  Leading CDN services offer a wide range of traffic management functionality, including application load balancing, and provide a variety of network security services. Continue Reading

• AWS cloud strategy gives nod to on-premises needs

  Amazon RDS on VMware signifies a major move on premises to compete with other cloud providers and appease customers. But how far will AWS go from its cloud-only roots? Continue Reading

• 802.11ax Wi-Fi and training act as paths to better security

  A rose by any other name would smell as sweet -- and whether you call it 802.11ax Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi 6, the new wireless standard promises to bring unprecedented change. Continue Reading

• Three events that spooked cloud admins in 2018

  So far this year, outages, security breaches and GDPR compliance have haunted cloud admins in the enterprise. Take a closer peek at each of these three big scares. Continue Reading

• Understand the ins and outs of private cloud architecture

  Private clouds are based on server virtualization, but they aren't the same. Organizations must consider private cloud's specific use cases in comparison to server virtualization. Continue Reading

• Edge computing in IoT: Increasing network efficiency to ease traffic

  Edge computing in IoT is tied to IoT's growth in a number of vertical markets due to the benefits of processing data close to the data source, which relieves network overload.Continue Reading

• Handy PowerShell ISE add-ons for server administrators

  PowerShell ISE might be on the way out, but these extensions continue to sustain the development of management scripts for many Windows administrators.Continue Reading

• AWS, Microsoft and Google push on with hybrid cloud strategies

  As enterprises' appetite for hybrid cloud grows, the rivalry between AWS, Microsoft and Google will increasingly revolve around on-premises environments.Continue Reading

• Comparing content delivery offerings from 10 leading CDN providers

  It may seem that all CDN services have similar functionality for optimizing traditional apps and video. But before you select a CDN, learn how the offerings compare and differ.Continue Reading

• DevOps metrics point to fast releases, open source adoption

  You can always be better at DevOps. Assess these metrics from a variety of DevOps teams to see where you could stand to improve -- and give your team some positive reinforcement.Continue Reading

• How blockchain data storage may revolutionize the enterprise

  Blockchain for data storage promises to bring added trust, reliability and security to storage, but is it ready to become a mainstream technology? Experts offer their views.Continue Reading

• AI and machine learning take on cloud security woes

  AI-infused technologies continue to target almost all aspects of cloud monitoring and management, including security. But don't assume they're a silver bullet.Continue Reading

• Compare AWS data lakes with S3 against HDFS

  An S3 data lake streamlines the analysis of data that lives exclusively on AWS infrastructure but presents limitations for those who want to move beyond the Amazon ecosystem.Continue Reading

• Should you use AI for security in the cloud?

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• Explore Aurora Serverless capabilities for enterprise use

  Users should explore the potential benefits and disadvantages of AWS' serverless database option before they jump in and focus on which environments the service fits best.Continue Reading

• Is hyper-convergence infrastructure becoming stratified?

  As more options for converged or hyper-converged IT types come to market, organizations may find themselves siloed into an option by size.Continue Reading

• Expect slow adoption of 400 Gigabit Ethernet, for now

  Editor's note: In this opinion piece, industry analyst Zeus Kerravala shares his thoughts on 400 Gigabit Ethernet adoption and Arista Networks' 400 GbE approach. Arista is a client of Kerravala's ...Continue Reading

• How to choose between serverless and containerized microservices

  Explore the intricacies of serverless microservices and container microservices to discover which development requirements are crucial to your ultimate decision.Continue Reading

• Don't dwell on the nuances of low-code vs. no-code

  As more and more business users acquire basic programming skills, enterprises shouldn't get too caught up in the nuances between low-code and no-code platforms.Continue Reading

• Secondary storage structure is based on workload needs

  Using secondary storage can improve the performance of mission-critical applications, but deciding what data is secondary in importance isn't as easy as it seems.Continue Reading

• SD-WAN connectivity options hinge on latency, app performance

  Users debating MPLS vs. internet for SD-WAN connectivity should take the time to extensively research latency and quality-of-service requirements in terms of application performance.Continue Reading

• Container hosting requires in-depth service network plans

  Microservices and containers complement each other with scalability and flexibility. But they can also compound network addressing problems in production without proper precautions.Continue Reading

• Hyper-V vs. vSphere high availability features

  Compare VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V HA approaches to see how they keep VMs and other workloads online when a host server crashes.Continue Reading

• Pivot3 HCI: 7 things you should know

  Where did Pivot3 first target its hyper-converged storage systems, and where is it focused today? Find out answers to these and other frequently asked questions.Continue Reading

• 4 switch ASIC interfaces to drive SDN and machine learning growth

  Learn how four interfaces that are designed to control switch ASICs and packet forwarding can help accelerate developments in SDN and machine learning.Continue Reading

• Estimate cloud computing costs prior to app migration

  Enterprises should enlist a number of resources, including cost calculators and third-party tools, to assess what they'll pay for cloud computing -- before they start migration.Continue Reading

• Networks of the future: What automation and IBN can do for you

  Learn all you need to know about how automated network management and intent-based networking can benefit your network's future, along with useful tools and vendor plays.Continue Reading

• NVMe fabric options include Fibre Channel, RDMA

  Planning NVMe over fabrics? Then get to know all about the Fibre Channel and RDMA fabric options to decide which of the two approaches fits your network best.Continue Reading

• 802.11ax standard promises tectonic shift in wireless

  It's shiny, bright and new -- and, like 'Anchorman' Ron Burgundy, kind of a big deal. Here's why networking experts say high-efficiency 802.11ax Wi-Fi actually lives up to the hype.Continue Reading

• Merging wired and wireless networks spawns valuable analytics

  Editor's note: Industry analyst Zeus Kerravala provides his thoughts on Arista Networks' effort to unify wired and wireless networks. Arista is a client of Kerravala's ZK Research, a consulting ...Continue Reading

• What you need to know about SD-branch before diving in

  The branch office is getting software-defined, and that is a good thing. But first, explore the benefits, and drawbacks, before taking the plunge.Continue Reading

• How to get your branch network up and running

  Setting up the branch office network can feel overwhelming, but you need only to ask the right questions to be able to evaluate the available technology and provider services.Continue Reading

• AWS Nitro system ushers in more compute options

  While questions remain around the direction of AWS' internal Nitro project, the effort has already translated into more high-performance compute options for users.Continue Reading

• Machine learning tools ease cloud security, log management

  Machine learning has increasingly found a home in enterprise cloud management teams, but the technology is still far from being a magic fix for complex tasks, such as multi-cloud cost optimization.Continue Reading

• Implement security for DevOps across the board

  Security for DevOps isn't about the devices or the data center facility anymore. Learn how to protect valuable data as it moves beyond the corporate network into hybrid cloud and among various applications composed of microservices.Continue Reading

• How do virtual ADCs benefit enterprise data centers?

  Virtual ADCs bring another level of flexibility, authentication and performance monitoring, moving application delivery controllers beyond load balancing and application acceleration.Continue Reading

• DevOps to DevSecOps adjustment banks on cross-group collaboration

  It takes collaboration across several levels -- between the C-suite and in cross-functional teams -- to successfully move to DevSecOps and meet compliance requirements.Continue Reading

• Lambda support for OpenFaaS among wish-list items

  Lambda got a long-awaited upgrade with SQS support, but AWS has more work to do. Here are a few more integrations that could improve Lambda and expand its uses.Continue Reading

• Bevy of Microsoft containers range from cloud to captive workloads

  Windows wasn't always an ideal environment for containers, but recent changes offer a wealth of options, including those for Windows Server and the Azure public cloud.Continue Reading

• Tap the Chocolatey package manager to usher in Windows DevOps

  Create a Chocolatey package with this tutorial on DevOps for Windows. Simplify package management and installation, and swap the GUI for a CLI client.Continue Reading

• Third-party tools ease multi-cloud network snags

  Aviatrix is one of a host of third-party networking services that IT teams can use to simplify complex multi-cloud deployments and supplement AWS-native tools.Continue Reading

• Navigate data center management software selection

  Software evaluation can be a lengthy process, especially with both open source and commercial options. Functionality and support can help you form a short list of possibilities.Continue Reading

• Manage microservices in cloud with these native tools

  AWS, Microsoft and Google all offer native resources and tools to support microservices-based architectures, most of which rely heavily on containers and service mesh technology.Continue Reading

• Get to know the Hyper-V processor compatibility mode feature

  Hyper-V processor compatibility is relatively easy to use, but it disables some advanced CPU features and is only intended for specific circumstances on a temporary basis.Continue Reading

• StorOne storage is set to disrupt the software-defined market

  StorOne's TRU Storage technology raises the bar for software-defined storage by gathering together universal pools of storage across disparate hardware that any workload can use.Continue Reading

• New memory technologies challenge NAND flash dominance

  Cost and scaling limits mean planar NAND flash as we know it will slowly cede its pre-eminent place in the memory hierarchy to emerging technologies such as 3D XPoint.Continue Reading

• IT migration success hinges on minimizing downtime

  Data, software and hardware migration projects should, but don't always, fully exploit the features and settings of the new environment and minimize application downtime.Continue Reading

• Palo Alto Networks adds cloud analytics with RedLock acquisition

  It's fair to say the cloud has become a core component of most organizations' IT strategies. The growth of public cloud services -- such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google ...Continue Reading

• Break the performance bottleneck with these storage, network tips

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• Compare Go vs. Python for infrastructure programming

  Both code languages get the infrastructure-as-code job done, but each from a different angle. This comparison tutorial puts their similarities and differences center stage.Continue Reading

• How to compare Windows and Linux for enterprise workloads

  How do Windows and Linux rank when it comes to running production workloads? Organizations should consider more than just the initial cost.Continue Reading

• Google Stackdriver enhances alerts, adds Kubernetes support

  A recent round of updates to Google's monitoring tool gives IT and development teams more options to set up alerts, track usage and support Kubernetes, both in the cloud and on premises.Continue Reading

• Automation poses risk and reward for cloud operations teams

  While there's some concern among IT staff that automation will displace jobs, don't panic yet. There are several ways to stay relevant, and even thrive, in the age of automation.Continue Reading

• Navigate your options for Oracle cloud certifications

  Oracle certifications, including those for cloud, can build foundational knowledge or expand existing IT skills. The first challenge, though, is to find the right training path.Continue Reading

• VMware Integrated OpenStack 5 improves Kubernetes support

  VMware Integrated OpenStack 5 comes in the Carrier and Data Center editions and incorporates enhanced Kubernetes support, better security and the new VIO in a Box feature.Continue Reading

• Quiz yourself on cloud-native app development tools

  There are many app development tools in the cloud market, including those from top IaaS providers. Take this quiz to gauge your knowledge of some popular native options.Continue Reading

• 4 different file systems and how they're evolving

  As computing and data centers change, so must the next-generation file system evolve. Here's what you should know about the file systems in use today and where they're headed.Continue Reading

• Expanded DynamoDB features might come up short for some

  Expanded features for DynamoDB target tedious workarounds for availability and backups, but might only appeal to large enterprises with massive heaps of data.Continue Reading

• Aerohive's Atom, 802.11ax access points win innovation award

  The winner of this month's Network Innovation Award, Aerohive Networks, has already begun shipping its new 802.11ax wireless APs and its plug-and-play 802.11ac Atom AP.Continue Reading

• Is 'Continuous Delivery with Docker and Jenkins' right for you?

  If your IT organization is ready to bring DevOps from mindset to tool set, containers and CI/CD are probably on the agenda. See what you'll learn from Rafal Leszko's book on Docker and Jenkins to advance a pipeline project.Continue Reading

• Top five SCVMM 2016 features to look out for

  SCVMM 2016 provides new features, such as Nano Server management, and enhancements to existing networking and security features to better manage the entire virtualization stack.Continue Reading

• Storage admin roles and responsibilities follow convergence and cloud

  With their jobs under constant assault, what must storage administrators do to stay relevant as data center technologies and the data storage world converge and change?Continue Reading

• Cloud-based predictive analytics seeing wider adoption

  A predictive analytics tool can give your storage strategy a boost by addressing storage issues before they even occur. What should you look for in a predictive analytics product?Continue Reading

• Multi-cloud adds worries to the cost of cloud services

  The use of more than one cloud provider opens plenty of opportunities for a savvy IT organization, but the multi-cloud approach also makes cost management a troublesome chore.Continue Reading

• Cost management the next big issue in multi-cloud computing

  Multi-cloud computing continues to make its way into the enterprises and, as it does, introduces some significant cost management challenges.Continue Reading

• Single-tenant cloud services help alleviate security concerns

  What happens when an enterprise wants the benefits of cloud but without the multi-tenancy? Isolated services are available for those willing to pay.Continue Reading

• AWS' managed cloud services lighten the load for IT

  AWS continues to find ways to move up the stack and ease the burden on IT. Take advantage of these services to improve productivity, and stop worrying about low-level maintenance.Continue Reading

• Software-defined access networks pose promise and pitfalls

  By implementing software-defined controls on the access layer, IT can centralize and unify network policies. However, any new technology is still rife with risk.Continue Reading

• 7 hyper-converged secondary storage questions answered

  Combining HCI and the use cases of secondary storage, such as data recovery and archiving, was a challenge, but a few companies took up that task and launched a new market.Continue Reading

• How Java EE development has kept up with microservices

  Java EE is mature technology, but it will continue to evolve in ways that can fit nicely into a microservices architecture.Continue Reading

• Serverless platforms limit programming language options

  Serverless computing can reduce infrastructure costs and streamline development processes, but don't assume that your programming language of choice will be available.Continue Reading

• How three new telecom services can compete with OTT services

  Network operators should embrace three new types of telecom services -- hosting, information processing and experiences -- to increase revenue and compete with OTT services providers.Continue Reading

• How to drive an effective DevOps for business approach

  Don't adopt DevOps for the sake of operational and development efficiency. Do DevOps because it yields business gains. In fact, what you should be doing is BizDevOps.Continue Reading

• Mulling a public folders migration? Weigh your options

  Should you stay or should you migrate? Microsoft offers a bevy of alternatives to public folders. This tip breaks down each option to help you make a decision.Continue Reading

• 5 tips for making flash-based SSDs work with unstructured data

  Using flash storage effectively for unstructured data requires upfront analysis of cost, capacity and performance, as well as continued tracking of a rapidly changing flash market.Continue Reading

• Avoid messy breakups with your AWS consulting partner

  Maintain control over cloud credentials and permissions to avoid a bad breakup with your AWS consultant, and structure your contract to safeguard against deals gone awry.Continue Reading

• Compare IaC tools for hybrid, multi-cloud environments

  Infrastructure-as-code tools come in two flavors: third-party and those native to a certain cloud provider. Keep these factors in mind to choose the right one.Continue Reading

• AWS bare-metal instances target a niche market -- for now

  AWS' addition of bare-metal instances runs counter to its heritage but is another example of how the vendor wants to keep users on its cloud and also attract new ones.Continue Reading

• Access networking layer ready for software-defined reboot

  After years of stagnation, the access-layer network is in need of a makeover. Implementing software-defined configurations is perhaps a good place to start.Continue Reading

• BPM tools try to add customization without complication

  AI capabilities are being worked into more business applications -- even business process automation. Here's how those features can enhance the power of BPM tools.Continue Reading

• Consider storage backup devices for your data protection strategy

  A secondary storage device could be an important element of your data protection platform. Analyze accessibility, speed, scalability and cost before jumping in.Continue Reading

• Low-code tools showdown: PowerApps vs. Appian

  Low-code dev products, such as PowerApps and Appian, come with benefits and tradeoffs. See which option comes out on top in this faceoff, and plan your workflow accordingly.Continue Reading

• The journey to DevOps starts with solving problems

  If you want to do DevOps, don't just follow the prescribed strategies and roadmaps that other companies lay out. Assess your own process, and start addressing your own problems.Continue Reading

• How to achieve application performance improvement in ops

  With more complex infrastructure and applications comes increased need for sophisticated performance monitoring and management tools, accompanied by strengthened processes.Continue Reading

• With NVMe-oF, who needs rack-scale PCIe?

  NVMe over networks is winning out as the best way to offer shared, flash-based storage systems, with Dell EMC, NetApp, Pure Storage, Western Digital and startups in the game.Continue Reading

• How Azure Cloud Shell can streamline resource management

  Azure Cloud Shell's browser-based model frees IT teams from installation headaches but presents some formatting and timeout issues that admins need to watch for.Continue Reading

• Assess, manage AWS costs with third-party tools

  An ecosystem of third-party products augment AWS' vast portfolio of cloud services, including cost management tools. Dig into these vendor tools to find a fit for your organization.Continue Reading

• Weave AWS CodePipeline into serverless app deployment

  CodePipeline brings a number of benefits to serverless app development and deployment, including the elimination of mundane tasks and deep integration with other AWS tools.Continue Reading

• How to move beyond REST for microservices communication

  Despite its popularity, REST isn't always the best protocol for microservices communication. There are other options that may be a better fit.Continue Reading

• Docker and Kubernetes monitoring tools that work on microservices

  What does it take to manage your containers? Explore a wide range of monitoring tools specifically suited for Docker and Kubernetes.Continue Reading

• What is carrier cloud's role in 5G and IoT transformation?

  Carrier cloud deployment is helping network operators respond to opportunities that will drive transformation, like 5G and IoT. The question is, where can carrier cloud help?Continue Reading

• Microsoft Ignite 2018 conference coverage

  Keep up to date on the latest developments from the Microsoft Ignite 2018 conference and get a closer look at the latest software and hardware offerings from the company.Continue Reading

• VSphere vs. KVM: Assessing hypervisors in hyper-convergence

  Hyper-converged infrastructure has become a complex and competitive segment of the data center architecture market in recent years and so too has the architecture's support for hypervisors. Examples of hyper-converged hypervisors vary, and, over ...Continue Reading

• NVMe over FC is happening, and it's time to prepare

  The extent to which the recently published FC-NVMe standard lowers performance latencies in Fibre Channel SANs will be interesting to watch in the coming months.Continue Reading

• Market for network performance tools enters vendor consolidation phase

  Recent acquisitions of network performance monitoring and diagnostic tool vendors signal market consolidation.Continue Reading

• Data governance best practices exploit big data

  Emerging technologies, such as AI and IoT, in the age of big data mean there's more data than ever to benefit from and for data governance policies to manage and secure.Continue Reading

• What's VMware's goal with its Virtual Cloud Network release?

  Attendees saw a noteworthy turnabout at VMworld 2018. With its Virtual Cloud Network announcement, VMware signaled its new vision of cloud, and the network is the center of its strategy.Continue Reading

• Examples of hypervisors and how they're supported in HCI products

  Hypervisor support in hyper-converged infrastructure has evolved over time. Find out how as we assess the past and current place of individual hypervisors in these architectures.Continue Reading

• Definition of hyper-converged infrastructure evolves, as do products

  Defining hyper-convergence can be a challenge. Focus instead on learning about hyper-converged infrastructure product options and how they fit your data center and cloud plans.Continue Reading

• Ensuring P2P apps don't cause network performance issues with IPv6

  Peer-to-peer applications can cause performance issues with IPv6 branch-office networks. Universal Plug and Play might be an effective way to overcome access issues.Continue Reading