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• Build up a DevSecOps pipeline for fast and safe code delivery

  It's all well and good to automate the software build process, but without proper security practices in place, the DevOps pipeline can lead developers to deploy compromised code. Continue Reading

• Must-attend cloud conferences in the second half of 2019

  Ready to expand your knowledge and skill sets? Check out these popular cloud conferences from April to December 2019. Continue Reading

• Craft your data stores with VM storage performance in mind

  Proper storage performance requires a systems approach. Discover the different elements at play, such as the queues, SCSI disks and ESXi hosts, and how to optimize your data stores. Continue Reading

• Words to go: Cloud networking basics

  Networking requirements for the cloud are different than on premises. Dig into these terms to get a sense for the network services and capabilities needed to run a cloud app. Continue Reading

• Take a shift-left approach, but avoid developer burnout

  Shift left is often a net positive for software quality. Yet, the change moves more tasks to earlier in the app dev process. Take care not to bury developers. 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

• Words to go: AWS cloud migration services

  Whether you transfer large applications, servers or databases, AWS offers a range of migration tools. Familiarize yourself with its native services to map out a move to the cloud.Continue Reading

• A review of SD-branch and its progression from SD-WAN

  The goal of software-defined branch is to merge network functions and management into a single platform, but the branch architecture still lacks maturity, despite some early deployments.Continue Reading

• How to uninstall Exchange 2013 after a cutover migration

  Don't throw a retirement party for that Exchange 2013 server and pull the plug prematurely without going through this checklist to avoid any issues.Continue Reading

• When should I choose between serverless and microservices?

  Serverless and microservices work well together, but they still have their unique qualities. We review their main differences and where one might accomplish goals the other can't.Continue Reading

• Bookmark this expansive guide to DevOps for Windows

  Native Windows DevOps tools and Azure DevOps services enable Microsoft shops to keep pace with Linux setups.Continue Reading

• 3 NVMe-oF questions to consider when deploying the technology

  Deploying NVMe over fabrics is a relatively simple process. However, make sure to check out three important areas before launching this technology.Continue Reading

• Use S3 bucket security best practices to cut off public access

  AWS users need the benefits of S3 but not the security concerns that come along with it. Follow these guidelines to prevent the threat of public access to S3 buckets.Continue Reading

• Get started with Google Cloud Deployment Manager

  Deployment Manager is Google's infrastructure-as-code tool. Learn about its features and how to automate use of resources such as Compute Engine, GKE and BigQuery.Continue Reading

• Windows Server cluster sets add more protection to workloads

  Microsoft stepped up its high availability game with its cluster sets technology in Windows Server 2019 to give on-premises workloads more cloudlike resiliency.Continue Reading

• A brief glossary of network service provider types

  For network novices and experts alike, this glossary of basic terms covers essential keywords related to network services and the various providers that sell them.Continue Reading

• 5 Ceph storage questions answered and explained

  What do you need to know about Ceph open source storage to decide if it's right for your organization? See how it compares to object storage alternatives, and optimize its use.Continue Reading

• What hardware can I use in an Open19 rack?

  Open19 is a partnership that guides organizations to use open source rack servers. The organization's cages, power shelves and network switches make upgrades easy.Continue Reading

• How are automated network configuration and management changing?

  Could a new generation of network testing and verification tools combine with automated network configuration to mimic intent-based networking systems?Continue Reading

• Words to go: AWS databases

  AWS has an expansive list of database services. Check out these brief overviews of each one to avoid confusion and get a sense for which could meet your IT demands.Continue Reading

• A beginner's guide to cloud-native application management

  After users develop cloud-native apps, they need to learn the basics of cloud monitoring and logging. These cloud-native management strategies can help maintain a successful application.Continue Reading

• Get to know VMware's vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager

  With vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager, you can easily set up test and development environments and push any changes to your production environment.Continue Reading

• Understand Azure Update Management basics

  Microsoft provides a variety of tools that IT administrators can use to simplify update deployment, including Azure Update Management. Find out if the service will work with your systems.Continue Reading

• Build Terraform modules to make IT components into code

  Modules enable reusability of infrastructure-as-code deployments with Terraform. Follow this example, which also features AWS for the hosting environment, to learn module structure.Continue Reading

• Start using Terraform variables for IT resource deployment flexibility

  Infrastructure-as-code adopters should try Terraform input and output variables as a more flexible way to define and save values for deployment configurations.Continue Reading

• Understand VMware virtual machine files

  Effectively navigate each of the VMware VM file types, such as the flat.vmdk file and the VSWP file, to simplify VM management tasks.Continue Reading

• NVMe storage know-how for an easy and optimized transition

  Discover who's making the move to NVMe technology, how to ease the transition to and maximize the performance of this new storage technology, and find out where it's headed next.Continue Reading

• Pick the right colocation site for your organization

  Colocation is more than signing a contract and installing hardware. Evaluate redundancy, rack space real estate and distance to ensure a successful colo partnership.Continue Reading

• How API gateways work -- and why you need them

  Learn the essentials of both API gateways and API design. Then, grasp how to use them to modernize monolithic apps and facilitate cloud-native microservices.Continue Reading

• Can you accurately measure SLA expectations and results?

  Realistic SLA expectations rely on accurately defined criteria, properly set. Test your knowledge of SLA measurements and learn to tailor contracts that avoid costly consequences with this quiz.Continue Reading

• How to set up a CI/CD pipeline in the Azure DevOps console

  Follow the steps in this how-to video from Matt Browne of TechSnips to quickly get your web app up and running on Microsoft Azure with a CI/CD pipeline.Continue Reading

• Examine 4 hybrid cloud options from bursts to SaaS to CI/CD

  Hybrid cloud can provide an enterprise with a happy medium of cloud and on-premises benefits. Unsure where to begin? Try setting up hybrid web services, software services or development tools, and other practical approaches.Continue Reading

• Server hardware to run ROBO virtual workloads

  Examine remote office/branch office technology trends, review server hardware options and ensure you can effectively manage virtual resources before implementation.Continue Reading

• Is your SSD storage acumen up to snuff?

  Take our quiz to find out if you're up to speed on solid-state technology in areas such as SSD form factors, management strategy, security and innovation.Continue Reading

• Learn how to use Salt orchestration with an example

  Admins can use orchestration features in Salt to centrally control a group of minions and machines. Follow this example, which features Orchestrate Runner, to get started.Continue Reading

• How do you build Windows Server 2019 cluster sets?

  Microsoft debuted cluster sets in its Windows Server 2019 release. Here's a rundown on how to deploy this high availability feature in your organization.Continue Reading

• Use the Ballerina language to ease into cloud microservices

  With native integration features, Ballerina promises to take care of lower-level technological considerations, while developers focus on building features.Continue Reading

• NVMe over fabrics options and opportunities

  NVMe-oF is rapidly expanding across the network as new options become available. Discover what you need to know to implement the technology at your organization.Continue Reading

• Cloudability

  Cloudability is a software vendor that provides financial management tools for monitoring and analyzing cloud computing costs.Continue Reading

• How to strategize for WAN and SD-WAN performance monitoring

  The importance of WAN performance monitoring hasn't decreased with the introduction of SD-WAN and other technologies. Enterprises still need to enforce proper monitoring strategies.Continue Reading

• Cloud connectivity tests the bond between enterprises, WAN providers

  Collaborating on cloud connections can strengthen or strain relationships between enterprises and service providers. Service-level agreements, in particular, can be tested.Continue Reading

• Is HCI but a stop on the road to composable architecture?

  Find out if composable infrastructure is the next step in the evolution of HCI, if it is a completely different type of IT infrastructure or if the truth is somewhere in between.Continue Reading

• AWS Security Hub centralizes an organization's cloud security view

  AWS Security Hub consolidates an admin's sprawl of cloud assets into dashboards for better security insights. But its resource limitations may blunt its effectiveness, for now.Continue Reading

• What Windows Server 2019 SDN features should I know about?

  Administrators in highly virtualized environments can tap into enhanced Windows Server 2019 SDN functionality to run Hyper-V VMs more efficiently.Continue Reading

• What features make up Windows Server 2019 cluster sets?

  Windows Server 2019 takes clustering to a new level with the cluster sets feature that wraps another layer of high availability around critical VMs.Continue Reading

• Quick quiz on creating APIs and managing APIs

  API management and development processes are complicated, and developers need to know their way around many types of APIs. Prove what you know about creating APIs and managing them.Continue Reading

• How to configure Windows container networking

  The default network setting for Windows containers is Network Address Translation, but you can also set up a transparent Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol or non-DHCP network.Continue Reading

• How do cloud data centers affect network bandwidth requirements?

  When deciding which applications to move to a cloud data center, enterprises should consider network bandwidth requirements and latency, among other factors.Continue Reading

• Get started with PowerShell Core on Linux

  PowerShell Core lets you configure and manage Windows, Linux and Mac-based servers in the data center. Learn how to install and navigate the command-line shell in this tip.Continue Reading

• Study up on the best certifications for testing professionals

  Before you invest time into a certification course, decide if you want to step into a new career or want recognition for hard-earned experience. Then, peruse the apt certification options.Continue Reading

• How blockchain storage could benefit the enterprise

  Whether your organization is a potential buyer or seller of blockchain data storage, the technology could change how you look at storage. Discover where blockchain is headed.Continue Reading

• Amazon Forecast melds time series data with machine learning

  Consider Amazon Forecast to help with data predictions, resource planning and more. Find out how the service works and ways it can be customized to meet enterprise needs.Continue Reading

• data deduplication

  Data deduplication is a process that eliminates redundant copies of data and reduces storage overhead.Continue Reading

• Take steps now to ready your network for 802.11ax specification

  The 802.11ax specification promises higher speeds and lower latency. Preparing now will help you make the transition easier. Here's what you need to know.Continue Reading

• Essential hyper-converged cloud questions answered

  Hyper-convergence can help make taking a cloud or multi-cloud approach to your architecture easier to implement, manage and scale. Read on to find out how and why.Continue Reading

• Move into better QA with shift left and shift right testing

  App dev teams face pressure to deliver software frequently and to a high-quality standard. Make QA an ongoing and teamwide effort to achieve these sometimes contradictory goals.Continue Reading

• Grasp these basic Salt configuration management concepts

  Not sure how Salt conveys configuration instructions to systems? Wonder if your programming skills will carry over to the tool? Use these best practices and tips to assess Salt.Continue Reading

• AWS App Mesh faces tough race in microservices market

  As AWS and its rivals continue to evolve their service mesh technologies, they'll have to do so with enterprise demands, including those for multi-cloud capabilities, top of mind.Continue Reading

• IT pros must adapt to Azure certification path changes

  Microsoft reworked its Azure certifications recently and offers an upgrade path for IT pros with older credentials, but there is little time before the transition tests expire.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of cloud computing types

  Not all cloud architectures are created equal. Complete this quiz to learn about which cloud models, management tools and features are helpful to data center admins.Continue Reading

• Words to go: Google cloud security services

  Digging through all of Google's cloud security tools can seem overwhelming. Get a snapshot of key services, and when to use them, with this quick list.Continue Reading

• network convergence

  Network convergence is the efficient coexistence of telephone, video and data communication within a single network.Continue Reading

• Create Hyper-V containers in Windows Server 2016

  Once you enable the Hyper-V role and Windows container feature, install Docker Engine, container modules and a base OS image to prepare the host for Hyper-V container deployment.Continue Reading

• How serverless works to usher in a new era of applications

  Dive into this architecture-centric guide on serverless computing that includes API management tips and advice on when to implement serverless microservices designs.Continue Reading

• Is QLC NAND the right choice for you?

  QLC drives can offer high storage capacity and low cost per gigabyte, but speedier alternatives may hold more appeal for some organizations. When does a switch to QLC make sense?Continue Reading

• Effective multi-cloud storage strategies and management techniques

  Is storage in a multi-cloud environment right for your organization? See what you need to do to deploy, manage and effectively use multi-cloud for data storage.Continue Reading

• What advantages do Windows Server cluster sets offer?

  Administrators don't need to stress about workload uptime with a new Windows Server 2019 clustering feature, which makes sharing resources and moving VMs easier.Continue Reading

• Network operating system advantages extend to white box switching

  The network operating system is changing, moving toward software acceleration, open APIs and white box switching. Learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of the new NOS.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged integrated systems crucial to long-term HCI success

  No HCI platform exists in a silo. Learn why hyper-converged systems must communicate, interact and integrate with third-party management tools and the wider IT infrastructure.Continue Reading

• A data center planning and design guide for IT pros

  Data center design and management now goes beyond servers and networking cables. Defining budget and IT goals helps set an effective roadmap for data center architecture.Continue Reading

• Automation drives next wave of multi-cloud management tools

  The current cloud landscape indicates a clear need for management tools that can span multiple platforms -- and they'll likely place an emphasis on automation, abstraction and orchestration.Continue Reading

• AI in networking presents opportunities for service providers

  Network installers and managed service providers can reap key benefits with AI in networking, including better productivity, staff management and customer response.Continue Reading

• Server Core vs. GUI: Is Server Core ready for prime time?

  IT Director Christopher Rivers says the Windows Admin Center is a step in the right direction to boost adoption of Server Core, but administrators will still encounter challenges.Continue Reading

• How do SDN protocols compare to those used in SD-WAN?

  Traditional SDN controllers use northbound and southbound APIs to communicate. But software-defined WAN controllers don't rely on those same SDN protocols.Continue Reading

• Words to go: Aspects of an IT monitoring strategy

  To establish an IT monitoring strategy can feel overwhelming, but guarantee efficiency in systems and application performances. Review the core methods and fundamental tools.Continue Reading

• What are some common Windows Server 2019 SDN errors?

  The complexity of setting up and managing Microsoft SDN can increase the risk of administrators facing common networking errors that are difficult to troubleshoot.Continue Reading

• Wireless network configuration basics: 5 steps to follow

  Different wireless networks have different requirements. However, some common principles exist for strategizing your wireless network configuration steps.Continue Reading

• What is white box testing?

  White box testing is a software testing methodology in which the code structure is known and understood by the tester.Continue Reading

• The hyper-converged network benefits from commingling HCI, SDN

  Merging software-defined networking with hyper-converged infrastructure platforms should simplify and ease the deployment, scaling and management of hyper-converged networks.Continue Reading

• Why would an organization move to intent-based networking?

  Intent-based networking doesn't use any magical commands. But it does use a heavy dose of automation, which might cause some network teams to be wary of the new approach.Continue Reading

• How to improve your networking career path in 3 steps

  Network technology is always changing. As a result, your IT network skills need to evolve, as well. Take a look at three steps you can take on your networking career path.Continue Reading

• What is intent-based networking and how does it work?

  Intent-based networking might be the future of networking, but it needs to be more than just another networking strategy that offers advanced automation and simplified provisioning.Continue Reading

• What key SDN features are in Windows Server 2019?

  Microsoft SDN capabilities got a boost in Windows Server 2019 to wrap more security around VMs and make networking tasks less painful to execute.Continue Reading

• How do network virtualization and network abstraction compare?

  Network virtualization and network abstraction share similarities, like supporting the creation of virtual resources, but the two approaches vary in complexity and outcome.Continue Reading

• Hot data storage technology trends for 2019

  Hot storage tech trends for 2019 include cheaper, denser flash and multi-cloud data management that can benefit the consumer and create better performance and data protection.Continue Reading

• How to prepare your data center for an HCI appliance

  Vendors tout hyper-converged infrastructure as a plug-and-play offering, but before you install anything in your data center, be sure your network supports the hardware.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged cloud key to private cloud success

  Granular scaling and rapid deployment help make hyper-converged infrastructure the ideal platform for building out, deploying and scaling out a private cloud.Continue Reading

• A brief index of network configuration basics

  This glossary of terms provides a brief overview of network configuration and some of the crucial components involved -- many of which remain as necessary as ever.Continue Reading

• New types of cloud services bring the cloud to you

  Would your hybrid experience be improved by placing technology from a cloud service provider directly into your data center? Here's how to evaluate that option.Continue Reading

• New cloud service models put providers in the data center

  All of the major cloud players now offer on-premises hardware or specific technologies to make a data center look and feel more like the public cloud. What's driving this trend?Continue Reading

• Hone these top 5 data center skills in 2019

  As data centers become more software-based, admins should prepare themselves by learning about the cloud, containers, DevOps and artificial intelligence.Continue Reading

• How much does Azure Update Management cost?

  The Azure Update Management cost is free, but organizations that require the tool's advanced features might have to contend with additional fees.Continue Reading

• 3 ways to test in production promptly and productively

  As much as Agile and DevOps changed development, they also shifted testers' roles -- to the right. Gerie Owen offers three ways to evaluate apps in production to find failures.Continue Reading

• Network configuration basics: Focus on users and software tools

  When configuring a network, keep a detailed and updated document to track user needs and network changes. And, of course, take advantage of network configuration software.Continue Reading

• Considerations for a successful DCIM implementation

  Selecting the right DCIM software is a complicated process. Make sure you have executive buy-in, vendor support and defined goals to get the best return on investment.Continue Reading

• Get to know the version control process

  Distributed version control systems use is on the rise, particularly because they aid in collaborative development. Learn the basics of version control to get started.Continue Reading

• Follow this enterprise cloud automation and orchestration guide

  Automation and orchestration play a big role in cloud computing. Learn the basics, how these technologies work in hybrid and multi-cloud environments and which tools are available.Continue Reading

• These tools help build microservices in Java

  Depending on the mission, developers need to align their tool choices with one of two paths for Java microservices. Here's what you need to know.Continue Reading

• AWS Outposts continues the trend of 'cloud-down' hybrid

  AWS Outposts may not make an impact until 2020, but organizations still need to prepare for Amazon's on-prem cloud service to see if the 'cloud-down' approach fits their needs.Continue Reading

• How to document software requirements without hating your job

  Software requirements specifications explain, in painstaking detail, what is expected of a project. So, why develop without one? It's not worth the risk. Read why an SRS is vital.Continue Reading

• 7 misconceptions about the NVMe protocol and NVMe technology

  See what you need to know to avoid some of the common misperceptions about NVMe technology and making possibly expensive mistakes with your organization's NVMe architecture.Continue Reading