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• Manage complex IT environments with AIOps and observability

  As IT environments grow in complexity, AIOps and observability tools can provide valuable insights and identify problem areas -- but prepare for adoption hurdles along the way. Continue Reading

• IT incident report

  An IT incident report is documentation of an event that disrupted the normal operations of an IT system or had the potential to do so as well as how the situation was handled. Continue Reading

• Azure Migrate

  Azure Migrate is a Microsoft service that helps an enterprise assess how its on-premises workloads will perform, and how much they will cost to host, in the Azure public cloud. Continue Reading

• organizational unit (OU)

  An organizational unit (OU) can refer to different things depending on the context, such as an organizational group within a company that is intended to accomplish a specific business function. Continue Reading

• Automate firewall rules with Terraform and VMware NSX

  In this hands-on tutorial, learn how infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform can streamline firewall management with automated, standardized configuration of firewall rules. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • What is an API (application programming interface)?
  • What is a SAN? Ultimate storage area network guide
  • What is a data retention policy?
  • What is multi-access edge computing? Benefits and use cases

  • What is 5G?
  • What is 6G? Overview of 6G networks & technology
  • phase-locked loop (PLL)
  • What is millimeter wave (mmWave)?

  View All Definitions

• session layer

  The session layer is Layer 5 of the OSI communications model. It is the long-lived logical connection that persists between endpoints over time.Continue Reading

• transport layer

  The transport layer is Layer 4 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communications model. It is responsible for ensuring that the data packets arrive accurately and reliably between sender and receiver.Continue Reading

• Azure Container Instances (ACI)

  Azure Container Instances (ACI) is a service that enables a developer to deploy containers on the Microsoft Azure public cloud without having to provision or manage any underlying infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Windows CE

  Windows CE is a version of Microsoft's Windows operating system (OS) that is designed for mobile and other space-constrained devices with small footprints.Continue Reading

• Windows Admin Center

  Windows Admin Center (WAC), formerly Microsoft Project Honolulu, is a browser-based management tool from Microsoft that allows administrators to manage Windows servers and clusters from a centralized, graphical user interface.Continue Reading

• software portability

  Software portability is a characteristic attributed to a computer program if it can run with minimal rework on operating systems (OSes) other than the one for which it was created.Continue Reading

• How to implement FinOps in DevOps pipelines

  As cloud costs climb, applying FinOps principles in DevOps practices can optimize cloud spend. Learn how FinOps and DevOps can work together to promote better cloud resource use.Continue Reading

• Windows NT

  Windows NT was a family of operating systems (OS) developed by Microsoft for personal computers and servers.Continue Reading

• How latency-based routing works in Amazon Route 53

  If you're looking at Amazon Route 53 as a way to reduce latency, here's how the service works.Continue Reading

• ACK (acknowledgement)

  In some digital communication protocols, ACK -- short for 'acknowledgement' -- refers to a signal that a device sends to indicate that data has been received successfully.Continue Reading

• IT performance management

  IT performance management is the supervision of an organization's IT infrastructure to ensure key performance indicators, service levels and budgets comply with the organization's goals.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes operator vs. controller: What's the difference?

  Kubernetes operators and controllers both manage cluster resources but play distinct roles in the Kubernetes ecosystem. Explore their differences and learn when to use each.Continue Reading

• sequence diagram

  A sequence diagram is one of the multiple types of system interaction diagrams used within Unified Modeling Language (UML) to visually represent interactions between the objects that live within a system.Continue Reading

• container registry

  A container registry is a collection of repositories made to store container images.Continue Reading

• Ways to get by when Waterfall development reigns

  Against all odds, the Waterfall methodology maintains a tight grip over countless numbers of software development teams. Fortunately, there are a few ways to make the most of it.Continue Reading

• structured programming (modular programming)

  Structured programming, or modular programming, is a programming paradigm that facilitates the creation of programs with readable code and reusable components.Continue Reading

• mob programming

  Mob programming is a collaborative approach to software development in which a group of developers work together in real time on one task.Continue Reading

• collaboration diagram

  A collaboration diagram, also known as a communication diagram, is an illustration of the relationships and interactions among software objects in the Unified Modeling Language (UML).Continue Reading

• Self-healing networks goals, benefits and how they work

  With help from automation and AI, self-healing networks promise to detect, remediate and even predict network problems. But can these systems be trusted?Continue Reading

• MoSCoW method

  The MoSCoW method is a four-step approach to prioritizing which project requirements provide the best return on investment (ROI).Continue Reading

• NFS vs. CIFS vs. SMB: What are the differences?

  There are stark differences among file sharing protocols NFS, CIFS and SMB. Compare access, application deployment, configuration and security, among other key features.Continue Reading

• Deploy WebJEA to empower your users with PowerShell

  Give your automation scripts a GUI that makes it easier for end users to get the information they need with a more streamlined approach.Continue Reading

• computer network

  A computer network is a group of interconnected nodes or computing devices that exchange data and resources with each other.Continue Reading

• WAN optimization (WAN acceleration)

  WAN optimization -- also known as WAN acceleration -- is a collection of technologies and techniques used to improve the efficiency of data transfer across a wide area network (WAN) between organizations' centralized data centers and their remote ...Continue Reading

• Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)

  Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) is a switching mechanism used in wide area networks (WANs).Continue Reading

• trusted execution environment (TEE)

  A trusted execution environment (TEE) is an area on the main processor of a device that is separated from the system's main operating system (OS).Continue Reading

• 4 PowerShell modules every IT pro should know

  Find out how to use four of the most popular PowerShell community modules in the PowerShell Gallery to help better manage your data center and automate certain tasks.Continue Reading

• How to secure passwords with PowerShell

  Storing passwords in plain text is bad, but what methods are good? Try one of these approaches, such as secure strings or the SecretManagement module, to encrypt passwords.Continue Reading

• Simplify code with for_each and dynamic blocks in Terraform

  In this tutorial, get hands-on practice using Terraform features like dynamic blocks and the for_each attribute to write cleaner, more reusable code for cloud deployments.Continue Reading

• client-server

  Client-server is a relationship in which one program, the client, requests a service or resource from another program, the server.Continue Reading

• Build an automated image processing pipeline with AWS tools

  In this guide, learn how to automate image processing with AWS Step Functions. Build an image processing pipeline with example code, then explore ways to expand your new workflow.Continue Reading

• The raw -- yet burgeoning -- potential of coreless banking

  While coreless banking is still a novel concept, it shows strong potential to liberate banks from the rigid software systems that have dominated the industry for decades.Continue Reading

• Azure DevOps

  Azure DevOps -- rebranded from Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) in 2018 -- is a software-as-a service (SaaS) platform from Microsoft designed to provide a comprehensive toolchain for developing and deploying software projects.Continue Reading

• Virtual Machine Disk format (VMDK)

  VMware Virtual Machine Disk format (VMDK) is a format specification for virtual machine (VM) disk image files.Continue Reading

• Is observability as code overhyped?

  Is observability as code as transformative as vendors claim or just another IT buzzword? Learn what to keep in mind when evaluating this emerging approach for your organization.Continue Reading

• How to build an SD-WAN RFP to evaluate vendors

  There are key questions that belong in your SD-WAN request for proposal. Use them to better assess vendor features and capabilities, architecture, cost savings and PoCs.Continue Reading

• How network perimeters secure enterprise networks

  Network perimeters serve as essential network security to block unwanted traffic. Find out how they differ from the network edge and how they help secure enterprise networks.Continue Reading

• NoOps (no operations)

  NoOps (no operations) is a concept that an IT environment can become so automated and abstracted from the underlying infrastructure that there's no need for a dedicated team to manage software in-house.Continue Reading

• The fundamentals of achieving high cohesion and low coupling

  It's easy to say, 'high cohesion, low coupling,' but is it as easy to put into practice? We examine some of the basics behind cohesion, coupling and the right balance between them.Continue Reading

• Improve IT efficiency with a PowerShell self-service portal

  You can jump over the technical barriers that impede automation efforts in your organization by exploring how to deploy a web-based portal that hosts your scripts.Continue Reading

• How to prepare for the next version of Exchange Server

  The Exchange Server roadmap charts several twists and turns that shows Microsoft deviating from its typical course with the server-based email platform.Continue Reading

• Configure NIC teaming in Windows Server

  NIC teaming maximizes network bandwidth and provides redundancy benefits. These steps guide users through NIC teaming configuration in Windows Server with GUI and PowerShell.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Windows PowerShell DSC (Desired State Configuration)

  Desired State Configuration (DSC) is a feature in PowerShell 4.0 and above that helps administrators to automate the configuration of Windows and Linux operating systems.Continue Reading

• packet filtering

  Packet filtering is the process of passing or blocking data packets at a network interface by a firewall based on source and destination addresses, ports or protocols.Continue Reading

• Microsoft Azure monitoring tools

  Azure monitoring tools are software meant to assist in the different aspects of cloud infrastructure management and monitoring, centering around Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, Azure.Continue Reading

• IT operations management (ITOM)

  IT operations management (ITOM) is a strategic approach to managing an organization's information technology needs.Continue Reading

• How to use startup scripts in Google Cloud

  Google Cloud lets you use startup scripts when booting VMs to improve security and reliability. Follow these steps to create your own startup scripts.Continue Reading

• AMD Virtualization (AMD-V)

  AMD-V (AMD Virtualization) technology refers to a set of hardware extensions and on-chip features for the AMD family of x86 microprocessors.Continue Reading

• client-side framework

  A client-side framework is a software development framework that focuses on executing application processes on end user devices rather than the application's own server.Continue Reading

• Open Container Initiative

  The Open Container Initiative (OCI) is a collaborative project hosted under the Linux Foundation that is designed to establish common standards for container formats and runtimes.Continue Reading

• Amazon AI

  Amazon AI is a set of artificial intelligence (AI) services that offer machine learning (ML) and deep learning technologies for Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers.Continue Reading

• bare-metal provisioning

  Bare-metal provisioning is the process of installing an operating system (OS) or Type 1 hypervisor directly on a computer's hard disk.Continue Reading

• USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB)

  USB 3.0 is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) data transfer standard that is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices and is very commonly used for computer peripherals.Continue Reading

• Ansible

  Ansible is an open source IT automation platform from Red Hat.Continue Reading

• Group Policy Management Console (GPMC)

  Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is a Microsoft Management Console snap-in that provides a graphical user interface that enables Active Directory (AD) administrators to manage Group Policy Objects (GPOs) from one console.Continue Reading

• Using PowerShell for Azure service principal authentication

  With help from the Azure PowerShell module, you can avoid login prompts and automate the authentication process when using service principals on Microsoft's cloud platform.Continue Reading

• event stream processing (ESP)

  Event stream processing (ESP) is a software programming technique designed to process a continuous stream of device data and take action on it in real time.Continue Reading

• system testing

  System testing, also referred to as system-level testing or system integration testing, is the process in which a quality assurance (QA) team evaluates how the various components of an application interact together in the full, integrated system or ...Continue Reading

• WAN (wide area network)

  A wide area network (WAN) is a geographically distributed private telecommunications network that interconnects multiple local area networks (LANs).Continue Reading

• Windows event log

  The Windows event log is a detailed record of system, security and application notifications stored by the Windows operating system that is used by administrators to diagnose system problems and predict future issues.Continue Reading

• Testing as a Service (TaaS)

  Testing as a service (TaaS) is an outsourcing model in which testing activities associated with some of an organization's business activities are performed by a service provider rather than in-house employees.Continue Reading

• 10 PowerShell courses to help hone your skills

  Learn what popular online PowerShell courses -- including those from Udemy, Pluralsight and LinkedIn Learning -- offer for beginners and advanced systems administrators.Continue Reading

• When to use AWS Compute Optimizer vs. Cost Explorer

  AWS Compute Optimizer and Cost Explorer monitor, analyze and optimize your cloud costs. Compare the two tools to choose which is best for VM rightsizing.Continue Reading

• NDIS (Network Driver Interface Specification)

  Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) is a Microsoft Windows specification for how communication protocol programs (such as TCP/IP) and network device drivers should communicate with each other.Continue Reading

• What developers need to know about open banking

  Open banking has made financial transactions easier and more secure for those with multiple banking accounts; however, vulnerabilities within open APIs raise security concerns.Continue Reading

• early adopter

  An early adopter refers to a person who embraces new technology or tries a new product before most others.Continue Reading

• Set up PowerShell script block logging for added security

  Learn how to set up your systems to capture abnormal PowerShell behavior as one way to shore up your defenses.Continue Reading

• White box networking use cases and how to get started

  Rising cloud costs have prompted organizations to consider white box switches to lower costs and simplify network management. Here's what to know about white box networking.Continue Reading

• IBM Roadrunner

  Roadrunner was a supercomputer developed by IBM at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.Continue Reading

• end-to-end testing

  End-to-end (E2E) testing is a software testing methodology that verifies the working order of a software product in a start-to-finish process.Continue Reading

• Build a PowerShell performance monitoring script step by step

  A PowerShell performance monitoring script defines and keeps track of system metrics. Learn to set up and query performance counters and use the results to build an HTML report.Continue Reading

• Step-by-step guide: Get started with Weave for Kubernetes

  Looking to streamline network management for Kubernetes clusters? Learn when and how to use CNI plugins, then walk through the steps of a Weave installation for Kubernetes.Continue Reading

• performance testing

  Performance testing is a testing measure that evaluates the speed, responsiveness and stability of a computer, network, software program or device under a workload.Continue Reading

• log analytics

  Log analytics is the assessment of a recorded set of information from one or more events, captured from a computer, network, application operating system (OS) or other IT ecosystem component.Continue Reading

• network protocol

  A network protocol is a set of established rules that specify how to format, send and receive data so that computer network endpoints, including computers, servers, routers and virtual machines, can communicate despite differences in their ...Continue Reading

• network operating system (NOS)

  A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating system (OS) that's designed primarily to support workstations, PCs and, in some instances, older terminals that are connected on a local area network (LAN).Continue Reading

• virtual private cloud (VPC)

  A virtual private cloud (VPC) is the logical division of a service provider's public cloud multi-tenant architecture to support private cloud computing.Continue Reading

• AWS Partner Network (APN)

  The Amazon Web Services (AWS) Partner Network (APN) is a classification endorsed by AWS for a global community of cloud service providers and vendors once they qualify for certain benchmarks.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes scheduler

  The Kubernetes scheduler is a component of the open source Kubernetes container orchestration platform that controls performance, capacity and availability through policies and topology awareness.Continue Reading

• smoke testing

  Smoke testing, also called build verification testing or confidence testing, is a software testing method that is used to determine if a new software build is ready for the next testing phase.Continue Reading

• virtual server

  A virtual server, also known as a virtual machine (VM), is a partitioned space inside a real server and is transparent to users, replicating the functionality of a dedicated physical server.Continue Reading

• network switch

  A network switch connects devices in a network to each other, enabling them to talk by exchanging data packets. Switches can be hardware devices that manage physical networks or software-based virtual devices.Continue Reading

• physical layer

  The physical layer is the first and lowest layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communications model.Continue Reading

• 9 practice questions on twisted-pair network cables

  Take this practice quiz on twisted-pair cables, sampled from 'Networking Essentials: A CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Textbook,' to test your understanding for the certification exam.Continue Reading

• An introduction to twisted-pair cable wiring

  This excerpt from 'Networking Essentials: A CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Textbook' provides an overview of twisted-pair network cables and acts as a study tool for the exam.Continue Reading

• How to test PowerShell code with Pester

  PowerShell's Pester troubleshooting tool lets users write and run tests. Learn how to install the tool and examine a step-by-step Pester test example.Continue Reading

• computer system

  A computer system consists of hardware components that have been carefully chosen so that they work well together and software components or programs that run in the computer.Continue Reading

• Reveal Windows file server permissions with PowerShell's help

  An unauthorized permissions change on a file share could lock out other users. Learn how to automate a report that shows permissions on the server to find these problems fast.Continue Reading

• AWS Network Load Balancer (NLB)

  AWS Network Load Balancer (NLB) is an Amazon Web Services tool that distributes high-performance traffic across multiple cloud instances and provides automatic scaling of resources to ensure low latency and high throughput for applications.Continue Reading

• pizza box server

  The term 'pizza box server' refers to the shape of a computer server enclosed in a rectangular and horizontally- arranged chassis and often installed in a rack with similar servers.Continue Reading

• byte

  In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight binary digits long.Continue Reading

• Get to know the Azure resource hierarchy

  Azure management groups, subscriptions, resource groups and resources are not mutually exclusive. Businesses can -- and often do -- use all of these scopes simultaneously.Continue Reading

• million instructions per second (MIPS)

  Million instructions per second (MIPS) is a measure of a processor's speed, providing a standard for representing the number of instructions that a CPU can process in 1 second.Continue Reading

• What details to include on a software defect report

  Teams that can write clear and detailed defect reports will increase software quality and reduce the time needed to fix bugs. Here's what to know about getting reports right.Continue Reading

• MuleSoft

  MuleSoft is a Salesforce company that provides numerous tools to build automations and integrations for various enterprise use cases.Continue Reading