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• How NFV architecture works

  NFV enables organizations to virtualize operations and replace network equipment such as routers and switches. It's built on three components: VNFs, NFVI and the MANO framework. Continue Reading

• 5 ways to smooth the road to hybrid cloud deployment

  In the move to hybrid cloud, security, app requirements and monitoring are just a few of the many factors to consider. Follow these guidelines for a smooth deployment process. Continue Reading

• Advantages of object storage and how it differs from alternatives

  File and block storage might provide better performance, but granular metadata and near-infinite scalability make object storage equally beneficial. Continue Reading

• Get multi-cloud storage off on the right foot

  See the questions to ask and the various players to query as you get started with your multi-cloud strategy. Success is all about gathering the right information upfront. Continue Reading

• An architect's guide to microservices security

  Whether you're new to distributed architecture or well underway with deployment, this guide on microservices security covers the basics through advanced tooling and strategies. 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

• Get the most out of managed Kubernetes with these guidelines

  Kubernetes has a lot to offer, but you can only reap those benefits with the right service management approach. Use these five tips to find the best fit for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• How to configure SSL on IIS with PowerShell

  SSL encryption is a necessary component when building an IIS website that communicates with the outside world. Use this PowerShell tutorial to streamline the deployment process.Continue Reading

• How well do you know open source PowerShell Core?

  Do you know how PowerShell Core differs from Windows PowerShell? Find out with this quiz on the open source PowerShell management utility.Continue Reading

• How to configure a gMSA for Windows containers

  You must start Windows containers with a CredentialSpec file and gMSA name to enable applications to use gMSA credentials in place of local system and network service accounts.Continue Reading

• Words to go: Azure migration services

  Before Microsoft shops begin to move workloads from on-premises data centers to Azure, they should carefully choose a migration tool to help forge their path.Continue Reading

• Hone your skills to be an IT infrastructure architect

  IT architecture relies on most skills that sys admins have picked up already but also demands a few more. Learn the responsibilities and the requirements for this advancement.Continue Reading

• 10 top tips to maximize hyper-converged infrastructure benefits

  The most-read hyper-converged tips of the past year represent a range of best practices for procuring and implementing HCI as all or part of your overall data center architecture.Continue Reading

• Pick up CI/CD, version control in this Azure DevOps tutorial

  Microsoft's rebranded Azure DevOps helps teams take a software project from start to finish. Walk through the service's components, from project planning to pipelines and testing.Continue Reading

• How to integrate DevOps QA testing on AWS

  QA testing is an overlooked, but important, part of DevOps. For workloads on AWS, use CodeBuild, CodeCommit and other tools to make the most of your workflow.Continue Reading

• What are some Microsoft SDN features in Windows Server?

  SDN functionality helps administrators shape network traffic to reduce congestion and boost security. Discover what other SDN features Microsoft added to its Windows Server offerings.Continue Reading

• Amazon Aurora

  Amazon Aurora is a relational database engine from Amazon Web Services. The engine is MySQL-compatible, which means code, applications and drivers used in databases relying on MySQL can be used in Aurora with minimal or no changes.Continue Reading

• Q&A: Will Microsoft artificial intelligence change your job?

  Technical architect Jason Wynn says the data center is already on the path to a more autonomous future due to the acceleration of Microsoft artificial intelligence efforts.Continue Reading

• How to write and structure worthwhile SRS documentation

  Software projects contain many moving parts, and a miscommunication can derail them easily. Keep everyone on the same page with clear and exhaustive requirements specifications.Continue Reading

• Storage Migration Service eases Windows Server transfers

  See how SMS eases the process of migrating Windows servers, simplifying the administrator's job and minimizing the disruptions to users and applications.Continue Reading

• Top five data center trends to watch in 2019

  In 2019, data center admins should research how technologies such as AIOps, chatbots and GPUs can help them with their management, help desk and processing needs.Continue Reading

• HashiCorp

  HashiCorp is a software company that provides a suite of modular DevOps infrastructure provisioning and management products.Continue Reading

• How does Azure Update Management handle integration?

  Azure Update Management works with other Microsoft administrative tools to give IT pros a more complete offering to patch operating systems.Continue Reading

• How to set up and enforce Azure multifactor authentication

  Azure Active Directory offers multifactor authentication to further secure login credentials. Get started with these instructions to set up this Microsoft cloud service.Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud vs. multi-cloud storage: Choose wisely

  Stuck deciding between hybrid and multi-cloud? When it comes to cloud storage, it's important to choose the right approach for the task at hand, which will vary by business.Continue Reading

• 6 steps to how blockchain storage works

  See how blockchain technology has the potential to provide a secure and reliable enterprise data storage environment with our step-by-step guide to blockchain data storage.Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged infrastructure vendors adapt to AI workloads

  Hyper-converged infrastructure evolves to accommodate the increasing demands of resource-hungry AI workloads. AI, in turn, promises to improve management of HCI and non-HCI resources.Continue Reading

• What is a software-defined perimeter, and do I need it?

  An evolving network world requires evolving network security. Learn how software-defined perimeter offers a compelling answer to network vulnerabilities.Continue Reading

• Use branch office servers to support infrastructure expansion

  A remote office setup requires infrastructure that meets performance, cost and space demands. Depending on the vendor, a microserver will likely provide the best compromise.Continue Reading

• What OSes does Azure Update Management handle?

  Azure Update Management supports a large number of Windows and Linux systems on premises and in the cloud, but there are certain requirements to meet to utilize the service.Continue Reading

• Amazon Connect

  Amazon Connect is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) public cloud customer contact center service.Continue Reading

• Compliance with GDPR in Exchange requires extra effort

  Exchange administrators outside of the European Union might not think that GDPR affects them, but they should work toward compliance to avoid a stiff penalty if a violation occurs.Continue Reading

• Which core network functions are being virtualized?

  Network functions virtualization can virtualize both data center and branch office network services. But a couple of special cases, like virtual switches, require clarification.Continue Reading

• HCI, acquisitions led 2018 data center news

  In 2018, major data center vendors expanded portfolios with acquisitions for HCI and software-defined data center tech -- bolstering admin tool sets for cloud, containers and VMs.Continue Reading

• What's the best multi-cloud storage strategy for minimizing risks?

  Find out the steps to take to construct a unified multi-cloud security strategy where components work together to provide a single, comprehensive approach.Continue Reading

• Build and share code via Azure Notebooks

  An Azure service enables enterprises to host Jupyter Notebooks in the cloud to ease access and management. Learn whether it could benefit your dev team, and how to get started.Continue Reading

• Review Google cloud IAM fundamentals and best practices

  To learn the ins and outs of Google’s identity and access management service, start with the basic concepts of roles, permissions and policies.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

• 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

• Set up vCenter two-factor authentication

  How do you set up two-factor authentication with VMware vCenter? Expert Stuart Burns explains how to configure 2FA and includes implementation and troubleshooting advice.Continue Reading

• System Insights

  System Insights is a feature that debuted in Windows Server 2019 that processes data and uses predictive analytics to warn administrators of potential issues with Windows Server deployments.Continue Reading

• 5 tips to jump-start a DevOps pipeline

  DevOps is a trendy methodology -- and one many enterprises implement incorrectly. Pore over this popular expert advice from 2018 to carefully and correctly accelerate app delivery in 2019.Continue Reading

• AWS Secrets Manager

  AWS Secrets Manager is a security service to centrally manage sensitive information and eliminate the need to hard-code that information into an application.Continue Reading

• Troubleshoot Host Guardian Service with guarded fabric diagnostics

  Take advantage of the built-in guarded fabric diagnostic tool to discover and resolve common issues that can afflict Host Guardian Service and guarded fabric deployments.Continue Reading

• What is a service mesh, and how does it relate to networking?

  A service mesh can ease the deployment of microservices and container-based applications, while supporting the delivery of network services, like load balancing and authentication.Continue Reading

• Amazon Connect integrations aim to improve call center apps

  Together, Amazon Connect and Lex can benefit call center agents, as chatbots reduce the workload and provide valuable insights into the customer experience.Continue Reading

• Practical ways to implement function as a service

  Developers are ready to work with function as a service but still need some guidance. Learn about FaaS implementation models and which FaaS platform offering is for you.Continue Reading

• IT automation tops list of best uses of AI, survey shows

  Early adopters of AI say they see promise in the technology, and most plan to boost their AI investment. Still, they have concerns about security risks and data availability.Continue Reading

• How does Azure Update Management handle patching?

  Microsoft built Azure Update Management for administrators who require a centralized tool to automate patches for systems both on premises and in the cloud.Continue Reading

• Without DevOps metrics, forget about DevOps glory

  DevOps doesn't provide easy comparison points to quantify improvements. So how do you know if you're on the path to success or just spinning your wheels?Continue Reading

• Amazon Comprehend

  Amazon Comprehend is a natural language processing (NLP) service that uses machine learning to analyze and find relationships in text.Continue Reading

• Manage SCVMM logical networks with PowerShell

  Use System Center Virtual Machine Manager and PowerShell to make logical network management easy. Execute a script to display network virtualization information in a simple chart.Continue Reading

• 5 skills every Hyper-V administrator needs to succeed

  Windows Server skills aren't complete without these five Hyper-V skills, which range from failover clustering to storage, and remain essential for virtualization administration.Continue Reading

• 10 metrics to drive a NetOps 2.0 culture shift

  If an object at rest tends to stay at rest, how can IT leaders get the network moving at the speed of DevOps? Start with performance review metrics that reflect NetOps goals, experts suggest.Continue Reading

• Learn how to use Terraform for multi-cloud management

  Terraform provides a highly configurable platform to manage infrastructure in a cloud-agnostic way. However, enterprises need to prepare for some challenges.Continue Reading

• Working with PowerShell module downloads from the gallery

  Learn how to get the most out of the PowerShell Gallery with some distinctions for administrators who use Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core.Continue Reading

• Review the top 9 virtualization techniques of the year

  IT administrators always have room to improve their virtualization skills. Read our top articles of the year to perfect PowerShell management, Hyper-V customization and more.Continue Reading

• Windows Admin Center lures IT pros with Azure integration

  If System Center is overkill for your needs and the older tools aren't up to task, then the Windows Admin Center just might be the tool to manage your data center.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

• What containerization technology do I need for my data center?

  Containers in the data center can help maximize server capacity, but there are a few things to consider before a Docker or Kubernetes implementation.Continue Reading

• Create an IT support process to take on any outage

  Every IT incident must be met with a streamlined resolution procedure, all the way from critical to trivial. Ensure those plans are in place before it's do or die.Continue Reading

• Prepare for VM-to-cloud workload migration

  Migrating VMs to the cloud can be relatively straightforward if you lay the groundwork to meet workload and vendor requirements. Follow these steps to prepare for the migration.Continue Reading

• Edge computing architecture helps IT support augmented reality

  Augmented reality benefits greatly from reduced latency, which makes edge computing a perfect partner in the data center.Continue Reading

• Meet Hyper-V cluster requirements to maintain high availability

  Hyper-V high availability is important for failover, so check that Hyper-V clusters meet the proper requirements, which range from hardware management to network configuration.Continue Reading

• How to install ZFS on Linux

  ZFS on Linux lets admins error correct in real time and use solid-state disks for data caching. With the command-line interface, they can install it for these benefits.Continue Reading

• An overview of ARM templates for Azure resource deployment

  Azure Resource Manager templates streamline the way IT and development teams deploy cloud resources. To get started, grasp these key concepts around formatting, syntax and more.Continue Reading

• Experts weigh in on DevOps transformation, QA topics

  As the technology conference season winds down, sessions at Velocity and DevOps Enterprise Summit offer helpful insight for forward-thinking organizations.Continue Reading

• Getting started with 5G network planning

  This feature explores the basics of 5G technology, concerns from industry insiders, where it currently stands and predictions for its future.Continue Reading

• Embrace these 5 tenets for better QA leadership

  Knowledge and hands-on skills are always useful, but successful QA team leads also inspire and stand up for their teams. Here are five ways to remove team obstacles and coach great testers.Continue Reading

• What can admins use as a data center GPU?

  There is no formal standard to differentiate consumer and data center GPUs. Still, you should evaluate processing speeds and hardware requirements before GPU installation.Continue Reading

• Exchange Online

  Exchange Online is the hosted version of Microsoft's Exchange Server messaging platform that organizations can obtain as a stand-alone service or via an Office 365 subscription.Continue Reading

• Use these shift-right methods to test code in production

  There's no shortage of ways for a QA team to adopt shift-right testing. But, while the approach can fit in with continuous deployment, don't consider it a catch-all for bug removal.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

• Stay in control with these Active Directory basics

  Administrators have an ever-increasing number of resources to handle and permissions to track, but they can cut this seemingly impossible task down to size with Active Directory.Continue Reading

• Unlock storage savings with Windows Server deduplication

  Windows Server comes with a data deduplication feature to reduce the organization's storage crunch, but it's important to plan around some potential drawbacks.Continue Reading

• AWS Firewall Manager

  AWS Firewall Manager is a tool from Amazon Web Services that an organization can use to configure policies for the cloud vendor's native web application firewall (WAF) service.Continue Reading

• What's the best way to achieve Hyper-V security for hosts?

  Hyper-V security is complicated, but you can set the foundation of your security strategies by following a few best practices, such as simplification and encryption.Continue Reading

• Hyper-V 2016 security comes down to VM considerations

  Secure guest VMs and OSes to ensure Hyper-V securityContinue Reading

• What are the pros and cons of deploying containers?

  Containers can reduce a company's OS licensing costs and required CPU usage, while acting as a bridge to serverless computing. But IT teams need to evaluate the potential drawbacks.Continue Reading

• Use shielded VMs, guarded fabric to enable Hyper-V encryption

  Enable Hyper-V encryption using guarded fabric, the Host Guardian Service and shielded VM technologies. Host systems must be proven trustworthy before operating protected VMs.Continue Reading

• Google Cloud Filestore lends itself to legacy enterprise apps

  Among other uses, Google's cloud file storage service can simplify the migration of legacy apps to the cloud. Learn about its main features, and how it compares to the competition.Continue Reading

• Navigate DCIM software selection, security and support

  To properly evaluate DCIM software, pinpoint where you can benefit from more operational data and work with vendors. Then, ensure your selection fits your data center needs.Continue Reading

• How does Linux Secure Boot affect Hyper-V 2016 VMs?

  Linux Secure Boot can help ensure you're booting trusted OSes, but navigating different distributions and digital signatures can be challenging without these considerations.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

• Where does SDN fit in edge computing architecture?

  SDN and edge computing can work together to apply data processing decisions that make better use of network links and bandwidth, especially when it comes to edge versus cloud.Continue Reading

• What does an IT person do? Answers from around the globe

  The holiday season is fast approaching, when IT and DevOps professionals around the world answer a perennial question at the family dinner table: What does an IT person do? While you might only ...Continue Reading

• Amazon Redshift Spectrum

  Amazon Redshift Spectrum is a feature within Amazon Web Services' Redshift data warehousing service that lets a data analyst conduct fast, complex analysis on objects stored on the AWS cloud.Continue Reading

• 8 steps to effective multi-cloud cost management

  Strategic thinking and careful planning can help you squeeze the maximum value out of your multi-cloud environment. Here are eight tips to help you get started.Continue Reading

• Hyper-convergence forms core of Windows Server 2019 features

  The latest server OS release from Microsoft upgrades many of its software-defined features to make it easier to use a hybrid cloud model.Continue Reading

• A quick guide to important SDN security issues

  Lock down your knowledge of SDN security issues using this compilation that includes expert advice, common pain points and helpful best practices.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

• Should I use in-house or SaaS tools to develop APIs?

  It's perfectly viable to approach API development using either in-house or SaaS-provided tooling, but each path has its place. Learn how to choose between these two methods.Continue Reading

• Setting up Hyper-V replication requires preplanning

  Hyper-V replication is easy to use, but there are a number of steps you should take during Hyper-V replication setup to ensure you stay abreast of potential failures and data loss.Continue Reading

• NetOps, SecOps, DevOps concepts merge to automate security testing

  By adopting DevOps concepts, network teams can automate security testing. But, as development, network and security tasks mingle, some staffing challenges can arise.Continue Reading

• Break down the main features of Azure DevOps Services

  DevOps continues to influence how vendors shape their cloud offerings, and this was the case behind Microsoft's recent rebranding of Visual Studio Team Services.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

• Hunt down zombie VMs to trim Windows Server licensing costs

  Temporary workloads can cause organizations to buy more Windows Server licenses than they need, but admins can track down zombie servers to consolidate workloads and keep costs down.Continue Reading

• How to realize server virtualization energy savings

  Virtualizing servers is one of the most effective steps to reduce energy consumption, especially when the hypervisor and VM placement are taken into account.Continue Reading

• Get started with your first Docker container build

  Many admins have a purely theoretical understanding of containers -- despite the technology's seeming ubiquity. This tutorial offers container newbies the opportunity to get hands-on.Continue Reading

• Hyper-V VM template creation made easy

  Creating Hyper-V VM templates is a straightforward process, but there are a few things you should consider, such as template creation source and administrative password assignment.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