IT Operations
Top Stories
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News
05 May 2026
ServiceNow reintroduces itself as an AI 'security company'
ServiceNow pulls ahead of other agent orchestrators with expanded AI security features, experts say, as enterprises proceed cautiously toward agent autonomy. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2025
Top PowerShell commands you must know, with cheat sheet
Explore this list of the most useful PowerShell cmdlets with a guide on how to use each command. Then, download the handy cheat sheet to keep the information at your fingertips. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 May 2025
What is Docker?
Docker is an open source software platform used to create, deploy and manage applications in virtualized environments called containers. Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2025
ServiceNow digs deeper into data for AI with Data.world buy
ServiceNow will fold in metadata collection and data catalog tools from the data governance specialist to fuel its agentic AI ambitions. Continue Reading
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News
06 May 2025
ServiceNow expands AI governance, emphasizes ROI
Enterprises remain nervous about deploying AI agents in production, as IT vendors vie to demonstrate the value and comprehensiveness of their platforms. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Apr 2025
How to copy files from source to destination in PowerShell
Take a closer look at these Copy-Item coding examples to build advanced PowerShell scripts that copy files with safety measures to ensure the duplicates reach their destinations. Continue Reading
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Podcast
27 Mar 2025
A visual future: GraphRAG and AI observability
In the eyes of one CNCF leader, GNNs, knowledge graphs and GraphRAG will boost IT operations and create 3D views of apps and infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Feb 2025
What is function as a service (FaaS)?
Function as a service (FaaS) is a cloud computing model that enables cloud customers to develop applications and deploy functionalities and only be charged when the functionality executes. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Feb 2025
What is serverless computing?
Serverless computing is a cloud computing execution model that lets software developers build and run applications and servers without having to provision or manage the back-end infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Jan 2025
What is cloud orchestration (cloud orchestrator)?
Cloud orchestration (cloud orchestrator) is the use of programming technology to manage the interconnections and interactions among workloads on public and private cloud infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Podcast
14 Nov 2024
CEO: GenAI changes multi-cloud security, network equation
Aviatrix CEO Doug Merritt sees generative AI apps forcing a more distributed approach to cloud infrastructure, but he believes it will also help SecOps catch up with threats. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Sep 2024
U.S. Army, Lockheed Martin detail SBOM progress
Despite muddied regulatory waters and industry angst over technical stumbling blocks, enterprises are forging ahead with SBOMs, according to presenters at a recent CISA event. Continue Reading
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Podcast
12 Sep 2024
CTO challenges software security status quo
A former U.S. Department of Homeland Security researcher argues that software is fundamentally broken from a security perspective. So, where does the industry go from here? Continue Reading
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Podcast
09 Sep 2024
An expert's big-picture view of the state of SecOps
In this first episode of 'IT Ops Query' Season 2, a SANS institute instructor and 20-year cybersecurity veteran assesses the past, present and future of SecOps. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Aug 2024
What is a service mesh?
A service mesh is a dedicated infrastructure layer that controls service-to-service communication within a distributed application. Continue Reading
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Definition
07 Jun 2024
IT incident management
IT incident management is a component of IT service management (ITSM) that aims to rapidly restore services to normal following an incident while minimizing adverse effects on the business. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 May 2024
bare-metal hypervisor (Type 1 hypervisor)
A bare-metal hypervisor, also known as a Type 1 hypervisor, is virtualization software that has been installed directly onto the computing hardware. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Mar 2024
Xen vs. KVM: What are the differences?
Admins often evaluate Xen and KVM as open source options. The main factors to consider in a primary hypervisor are organizational infrastructure and cloud adoption interests. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
15 Mar 2024
Server consolidation benefits, types and considerations
Server consolidation enables admins to boost server utilization and decrease power consumption, which can also reduce costs and improve performance. Continue Reading
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Definition
13 Mar 2024
What is server virtualization? The ultimate guide
Server virtualization is a process that creates and abstracts multiple virtual instances on a single server. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Mar 2024
6 common virtualization problems and how to solve them
Organizations can correct common problems with virtualization, such as VM sprawl and network congestion, through business policies rather than purchasing additional technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Mar 2024
What's the difference between Type 1 vs. Type 2 hypervisor?
Choosing between the two hypervisor types largely depends on whether IT administrators oversee an enterprise data center or client-facing, end-user systems. Continue Reading
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Definition
20 Feb 2024
hypervisor
A hypervisor is software that facilitates running multiple virtual machines (VMs) with their own operating systems on a single computer host's hardware. Continue Reading
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Answer
18 Jan 2024
Microsoft Hyper-V vs. VMware vSphere: Feature comparison
Hyper-V and VMware are in a perpetual battle for supremacy in the virtualization market. Although the hypervisors have similar features, they differ on some key capabilities. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Jan 2024
Kubernetes
Kubernetes, also referred to as K8s for the number of letters between K and S, is an open source platform used to manage containerized applications across private, public and hybrid cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2023
6 quick server troubleshooting tips
Understand, communicate, monitor, check logs, ask for support. Follow these guidelines and make troubleshooting server problems quick and easy. Continue Reading
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Definition
25 Jul 2023
containers (container-based virtualization or containerization)
Containers are a type of software that can virtually package and isolate applications for deployment. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 Jul 2023
Windows containers
Windows containers provide abstracted, isolated, lightweight and portable operating environments for application development on a single system. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jul 2023
server hardware degradation
Server hardware degradation is the gradual breakdown of the physical parts of a server. Continue Reading
- Definition 05 Jul 2023
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Definition
20 Mar 2023
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
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Feature
17 Mar 2023
How to create and run Windows PowerShell scripts
Once administrators get comfortable with PowerShell basics, it's time to start scripting. This PowerShell scripting tutorial for beginners helps you efficiently complete tasks. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
17 Mar 2023
How to transfer FSMO roles with PowerShell
You might need to shift Active Directory FSMO roles for a few reasons. If you need to do it more than once, there's a way to automate the procedure with PowerShell. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Mar 2023
What is PowerShell and how to use it: The ultimate tutorial
PowerShell is an object-oriented automation engine and scripting language with an interactive command-line shell that Microsoft developed to help IT professionals configure systems and automate administrative tasks. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
14 Mar 2023
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
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Feature
13 Mar 2023
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
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Tutorial
10 Mar 2023
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
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Tutorial
09 Mar 2023
PowerShell Move-Item examples for file, folder management
You can take the pain out of regular administrative tasks, such as migrating and organizing data from your users, with these advanced automation scripts. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
06 Mar 2023
How to avoid the double-hop problem with PowerShell
IT pros who manage with PowerShell will run into the double-hop problem and use CredSSP to work around it. This tutorial offers a more streamlined way to avoid that roadblock. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Mar 2023
How to upload and download files with PowerShell FTP script
By using the .NET WebClient class and PowerShell, Windows admins can upload and download files to FTP. Review the general process and corresponding examples to get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Mar 2023
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
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Tutorial
03 Mar 2023
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
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Feature
03 Mar 2023
Hone your PowerShell text manipulation skills
Retrieving content from and modifying content in text files with PowerShell are skills many administrators need to cultivate to aid their automation efforts. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
27 Feb 2023
Use PowerShell workflows when performance matters
When time is of the essence, add parallel processing to your PowerShell scripts to perform tasks more efficiently by using the workflows feature in the automation tool. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Feb 2023
How to test the PowerShell pending reboot module
Learn how to check if your machines have pending reboots with a simple PowerShell module to ensure changes to files do not cause stability issues. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
23 Feb 2023
Build a PowerShell logging function for troubleshooting
A basic administrative skill is checking over logs to find out why something broke. Learn how to build a proper logging mechanism to catch errors for diagnostic purposes. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2023
Understanding Windows PowerShell function parameters
Parameters in Windows PowerShell can help admins better customize their functions, leading to improved input testing and more extensible commands. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Feb 2023
5 PowerShell tools to help simplify admin tasks and support
Learn how systems admins, software developers and engineers can use tools, such as Cimitra Software, to build better PowerShell scripts to manage and automate repetitive tasks. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Feb 2023
25 basic PowerShell commands for Windows administrators
Getting started with PowerShell or just need a quick refresher? This tip lists the most common PowerShell commands, with details on when to use them. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Feb 2023
Microsoft Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)
The Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) is a graphical user interface and front-end hosting application for Windows PowerShell. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
15 Feb 2023
Best practices for using PowerShell ISE for scripting
Administrators who want to break into PowerShell scripting need to work with an editor for a more effective workflow. Learn how to edit and manage scripts with PowerShell ISE. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jan 2022
AIOps vendor BigPanda raises $190 million
The vendor's funding round was led by Advent International and Insight Partners. BigPanda plans to use the funds to build out its machine learning technology and product teams. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Nov 2021
Why you should use a service mesh with microservices
Still on the fence about service mesh? See how it supports a microservices architecture and application deployments, along with the other benefits it brings to an organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Sep 2021
Follow 6 key steps to deploy microservices in production
To succeed with microservices, IT organizations need to rethink the way they design and deploy applications -- and not all the necessary changes are technical ones. Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
JFrog to acquire Vdoo, take 'shift right' view of DevSecOps
The combined companies will expand JFrog's Xray tool to embed security throughout its DevSecOps pipeline products, with a focus on application artifacts, rather than source code. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
09 Apr 2021
Kubernetes basics: A step-by-step implementation tutorial
This Kubernetes implementation example demonstrates how to create a single-node cluster on Windows 10 to get a containerized application up and running. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Apr 2021
What is container management and why is it important?
Container management refers to a set of practices that govern and maintain containerization software. Container management tools automate the creation, deployment, destruction and scaling of application or systems containers. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Mar 2021
6 virtual server management best practices
When overseeing virtual servers, take advantage of self-service VM management, VM templates, monitoring tools and permissions groups to ease the management burden. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Mar 2021
Top 10 disadvantages of server virtualization
Server virtualization is lauded for its flexibility, improved productivity and more efficient resource provisioning, but the technology is not without its drawbacks. Continue Reading
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Answer
04 Mar 2021
Containers vs. VMs: What are the key differences?
Containers have rapidly come into focus as a popular option for deploying applications, but they have limitations and are fundamentally different than VMs. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2021
10 benefits of server virtualization for businesses
Server virtualization has come a long way since the early 2000s. It's not only good for large enterprise data centers; smaller IT shops can also realize its many benefits. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Feb 2021
Virtual servers vs. physical servers: What are the differences?
Virtualization has cemented itself in the enterprise data center, but that doesn't mean physical servers are obsolete. They each have their benefits and uses. Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2021
Cisco folds vulnerability management into AppDynamics AIOps
A new module for AppDynamics' AIOps platform uses APM data to perform vulnerability management monitoring and automated attack blocking as DevSecOps market buzz continues. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2020
Manage Kubernetes pods and nodes with these native features
In Kubernetes, pod management requires familiarity with the platform's native features. From Services and Jobs to taints and tolerations, learn how they help direct deployments. Continue Reading
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Definition
23 Oct 2020
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is a Windows product that enables the management, deployment and security of devices and applications across an enterprise. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
02 Oct 2020
Build and deploy a microservice with Kubernetes
Ready to run microservices in production? Follow along to create a containerized microservice and deploy it on Kubernetes in this step-by-step tutorial. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Aug 2020
A beginner's guide to hosted and bare-metal virtualization
Choosing a virtualization approach isn't a matter of competition. Admins must consider their personal use cases to determine which hypervisor type suits their needs. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2020
Open source license issues stymie enterprise contributions
Business and ethical pressures have given rise to new types of open source licenses in the last year, presenting challenges to enterprises that want to contribute to projects. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2020
Open source contributions face friction over company IP
Software engineers who want to contribute to open source projects must convince conservative corporate legal departments it's worth the potential risk to corporate IP. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 May 2020
Learn Kubernetes step by step with this interactive book
SearchITOperations spoke with author Zach Arnold about what IT pros can expect from The Kubernetes Workshop, an interactive book that progressively builds readers' knowledge of container orchestration. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
13 May 2020
A Terraform Registry tutorial to build and share modules
Before IT teams share Terraform modules through the tool's public registry, they must familiarize themselves with these prerequisites and technical steps. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 May 2020
Understand the differences in VM vs. container vs. serverless
VMs, containers and serverless computing provide organizations with application development flexibility, but they add management complexity. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2020
A comprehensive guide to Open vSwitch and its capabilities
Distributed multilayer switches are essential to managing several network connections between VMs. Open vSwitch offers admins automated and dynamic network control for virtual systems. Continue Reading
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Answer
29 Apr 2020
How many Kubernetes nodes should be in a cluster?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer in terms of how many nodes should make up a Kubernetes cluster. Instead, that number varies based on specific workload requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Apr 2020
Kubernetes vs. VMware: Drive the choice with IT architecture
It isn't easy to classify Kubernetes as the superior product for managing VMs and containers compared to vSphere 7. The decision depends on how widely admins use containers. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Apr 2020
Evaluate 3 ways to run Kubernetes locally
A local Kubernetes deployment -- enabled by Minikube, MicroK8s or K3s -- is a great option to test code or simply learn the container orchestration technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Apr 2020
Consider the pros, cons of AI-based log analysis tools
Machine learning can help IT teams uncover new insights in system log files. But these advanced analytics capabilities, especially when achieved through on-premises tools, can be costly. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Mar 2020
Dig into Kubernetes pod deployment for optimal container use
Improve your Kubernetes deployment strategy with balanced application hosting and sound pod-to-nodes mapping. Learn the ins and outs of resource pools and Kubernetes communication. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2020
Container training can help admins stay relevant
IT admins might be good at managing IT systems -- until those systems are replaced with newer technologies. One way to keep pace with the changes is to learn container skills. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Mar 2020
How to approach Kubernetes multi-tenancy for resource isolation
Multi-tenancy in Kubernetes can partition IT resources and operations, but it can be tricky to determine just how much isolation is necessary. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2020
Optimize Docker images for improved efficiency and security
There are several ways -- ranging from Dockerfile adjustments to vulnerability scans -- that IT teams can ensure their Docker images are both efficient and secure. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Feb 2020
Put these Terraform best practices into action
Terraform enables IT teams to complete a range of tasks, from deployment to multi-cloud management. Apply this collection of best practices to get started with, or optimize your use of, the IaC tool. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2020
Weave DevOps continuous learning into a CI/CD toolchain
DevOps shops can bake training materials into CI/CD workflows to ensure IT and development staff constantly advance their skills -- but be sure to keep those materials up to date. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
30 Jan 2020
Best practices for Hyper-V template creation
Admins can streamline template creation through Hyper-V SCVMM with a few best practices, such as evaluating whether a VM is the right fit for template creation. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2020
Cisco folds AppDynamics AIOps into its infrastructure tools
Cisco shops might welcome new integrations between AppDynamics AIOps tools and Cisco Intersight management software, but whether they will draw in other users is uncertain. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2020
Ensure Kubernetes high availability with master node planning
Kubernetes ensures high availability in its worker nodes, but for a mission-critical workload, IT teams should take these extra steps for redundancy in the master node components. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2020
Explore native and third-party VM automation tools' features
VMware and Microsoft offer native tools that provide VM automation capabilities, but admins should also look at third-party vendors, such as Chef, Puppet and SolarWinds. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2020
Evaluate if serverless cost benefits are worth the upfront price
Before an IT shop adopts serverless, it must fully grasp how the technology operates, and prepare for the upfront -- and potentially costly -- app refactoring efforts it requires. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2020
How and why to set up an automation CoE for DevOps
As DevOps automation efforts spread across IT and the business, use a center of excellence to establish standards, secure executive sponsorship and organize staff trainings. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Dec 2019
Four must-haves in Kubernetes security best practices
When it comes to Kubernetes security, IT teams must look beyond their containerized workloads, and consider code and cloud infrastructure as well. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Dec 2019
Kubernetes networking explained: Start with these building blocks
To understand Kubernetes networking, admins must first master the core components of the container orchestration platform. Then, they need to map deployments to the right virtual networking model. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2019
Review top container deployment and management tips from 2019
Check out our top advice for container technology throughout 2019 -- and use it to shape your 2020 plans. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Dec 2019
Private cloud security risks and how to prevent them
Admins that rely on private clouds should not be drawn into a false sense of security. Outdated VM images, rogue admins and possible data loss are real security risks for private clouds. Continue Reading
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Opinion
11 Dec 2019
Emphasize app modernization in 2020 IT budget plans
IT budgeting can be stressful and complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Communicate with business leaders and users to identify -- and capitalize on -- the right opportunities. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2019
Rising use of Kubernetes in production brings new IT demands
Kubernetes as an enterprise IT service is still in its infancy, but the market has reached a turning point from developer-maintained to IT-provided Kubernetes deployments. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Nov 2019
Decide between SAN vs. hyper-converged for your virtual storage
Shared storage provides admins with virtual storage benefits such as storage migration, high availability and redundancy. But the right storage option depends on cost and performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2019
Tips for ransomware protection on Windows systems
No one product can prevent every ransomware attack, but there are several defensive practices Windows administrators can take to stop an encryption infection from ruining their day. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Nov 2019
Design your systems with virtualization architecture in mind
Virtualized systems require several architectural components, such as virtual servers, hypervisors and OSes. Admins should get to know these components for a successful system design. Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Nov 2019
Compare 3 distinct types of Kubernetes platforms
There are three types of Kubernetes deployment options, each with its own benefits and challenges. Use this in-depth comparison to choose the best fit for your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Nov 2019
3 Kubernetes platforms for your application needs
Admins must consider their application needs when choosing a container strategy and decide between a full PaaS offering built on containers or a fully compliant Kubernetes service. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2019
Understand how to orchestrate Windows containers with Kubernetes
Before you orchestrate your Windows containers with Kubernetes, you must install Windows Server 1809 or later and meet several other requirements. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2019
Edge virtualization tools make strides in the edge market
Vendors are cashing in on edge computing popularity, and organizations are faced with an influx of new virtualization tools that help manage the computing paradigm. Continue Reading
