IT Operations
Top Stories
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Tip
14 Aug 2026
Prompts vs. loops: Why prompt engineering won't build your AI workforce
Execution loops move enterprise AI beyond prompt engineering, enabling agents to plan, act, verify results, recover from failures and deliver outcomes. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Aug 2026
5 reasons hardened images are seeing a resurgence
Hardened container images reduce software supply chain risk by minimizing vulnerabilities, improving compliance, reducing toil and boosting performance. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2023
5 tips for creating an IT ops application migration plan
Migrating applications can be complex, especially for IT teams dealing with sprawling legacy systems, but devoting time to planning and testing can avoid hassles down the road. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Dec 2022
What's next: Predictions, challenges and IT trends for 2023
As organizations look to address ongoing ops skills shortages and increasing complexity in their IT environments, they'll invest in cybersecurity, AI and automation. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2022
Compare Go vs. Python: What are the differences?
Golang and Python are both versatile, popular languages, but they have some important differences that developers should take into account when planning software projects. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2022
Dish Media swaps observability sprawl for Elastic Stack SaaS
With fewer tools and data repositories to wrangle and Elastic cluster management outsourced to SaaS, Dish Media's ops teams reduced toil and achieved proactive incident response. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Dec 2022
hotfix
A hotfix is code -- sometimes called a patch -- that fixes a bug in a product. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2022
How to use Microsoft Sentinel with Office 365 to find risks
The security product attempts to ferret out threats that originate from apps and services then assists the enterprise with an automatic response to head off trouble. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Dec 2022
Review the top IT operations news stories of 2022
2022 was full of industry updates, company shake-ups and emerging technologies. Review the highlights of this year's IT ops news to prepare for what's next in 2023. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Dec 2022
Carefully weigh these DevOps pros and cons
DevOps can help organizations gain a competitive edge through fast and iterative software development cycles. Still, there are tradeoffs to consider. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2022
Geek gifts 2022: Business travel essentials and music-making
For better or for worse, the world re-opened this year, renewing geeks' need for business travel accessories, while others sought to explore their musical creativity. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Dec 2022
When not to use Docker and how to choose an alternative
Docker might be the default for container orchestration, but what if it doesn't meet your needs? Explore why Docker might not be the right fit and what might be. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Dec 2022
What makes a good IT operations manager?
Making the jump to management can be challenging for IT ops professionals; leadership positions often require a different skill set than technical roles. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2022
Compare these PowerShell front-end GUI tools
These offerings provide portals to avoid security issues and other stumbling blocks that hamper organizations from providing more wide-ranging use of PowerShell. Continue Reading
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News
08 Dec 2022
GitOps hits stride as CNCF graduates Flux CD and Argo CD
Flux and Argo CD earned graduated status within CNCF after a year in which platform engineering adoption and DevOps advances put both in the enterprise spotlight. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Dec 2022
global catalog (Active Directory)
A global catalog is a data storage source containing partial representations of objects found in a multi-domain Active Directory Domain Services forest. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Dec 2022
Manage application storage with Kubernetes and CSI drivers
Container Storage Interface drivers offer IT ops teams increased autonomy and flexibility in deploying and managing persistent storage on Kubernetes clusters. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2022
software asset management (SAM)
Software asset management (SAM) is the administration of processes, policies and procedures that support the procurement, deployment, use, maintenance and disposal of software applications within an organization. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2022
event-driven application
An event-driven application is a computer program written to respond to actions generated by a user or system. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Dec 2022
golden image
A golden image is a template for a virtual machine, virtual desktop, server or hard disk drive. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Nov 2022
guest virtual machine (guest VM)
A guest virtual machine (VM) is the software component of a VM, an independent instance of an operating system (OS), called a guest OS, and its associated software and information. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Nov 2022
5 tips for reaching full-stack observability
Achieving full-stack observability remains fraught with challenges, but it's a necessary move for enterprises running complex multi-cloud and hybrid environments. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
28 Nov 2022
How to build an Azure AD user report with Microsoft Graph
Microsoft Graph will be the way forward to manage users and devices that connect to Office 365. Learn how to gather information and perform tasks, such as license assignments. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Nov 2022
How to make and use maps in Golang
Maps are a popular data structure in many programming contexts thanks to their efficiency and speed. But, in Go, some unique features make maps especially useful. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Nov 2022
Use the CALMS framework for a smooth DevOps transition
Adopting DevOps can be challenging, especially when communicating across IT and business teams. The five elements of the CALMS framework can help organizations measure progress. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Nov 2022
Explore network plugins for Kubernetes: CNI explained
With Container Network Interface plugins, IT teams can create and deploy network options for diverse Kubernetes environments. Learn how CNI works and compare top network plugins. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Nov 2022
DevSecOps
DevSecOps (development plus security plus operations) is an approach that combines application development, security, operations and infrastructure as code (IaC) in an automated continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Nov 2022
How does Kubernetes use etcd?
Etcd is a lightweight, highly available key-value store accessible to each node in a Kubernetes cluster. Find out how etcd works and learn how to use it inside Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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News
18 Nov 2022
Knowledge graphs and GraphQL: What DevOps pros need to know
New approaches to data management and business analytics have found their way into IT automation and observability tools -- now what? Continue Reading
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News
17 Nov 2022
Server-side WebAssembly prepares for takeoff in 2023
Server-side WebAssembly is still a work in progress, but engineers at Adobe and BMW say it shows promise for fast, flexible app management among cloud and edge environments. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Nov 2022
sidecar proxy
A sidecar proxy is an application design pattern which abstracts certain features, such as inter-service communications, monitoring and security, away from the main architecture to ease the tracking and maintenance of an application. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Nov 2022
Kubernetes operator
A Kubernetes operator is a method for application packaging and deployment that extends Kubernetes' capabilities to manage more complex, stateful workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Nov 2022
Compare Kubernetes StatefulSet vs. deployment vs. DaemonSet
Kubernetes has several ways to deploy applications, including deployments, DaemonSets and StatefulSets. But each resource type has unique benefits, drawbacks and use cases. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Nov 2022
composable infrastructure
Composable infrastructure is a framework that decouples device resources in order to treat them as services. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Nov 2022
Microsoft Ignite 2022 conference recap
Tom Walat, SearchWindowsServer site editor, covers some of the news from Microsoft's Ignite 2022 conference. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Nov 2022
Dissect open source ransomware code to understand an attack
To protect your organization from ransomware, it's helpful to know what goes on behind the scenes. Unpack this ransomware code example to understand and defend against attacks. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Nov 2022
Make a business case for VMware training
You can outsource infrastructure management to a third party or you can get IT admins the VMware training they need to install, manage and troubleshoot your environment. Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Nov 2022
3 actions to optimize infrastructure as code initiatives
Learn how to get the most out of IaC and read analyst insights from HashiConf 2022, including Terraform updates and predictions about what's next for observability. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
10 Nov 2022
Manage VMs with Azure Automation State Configuration
Admins can use the Azure Automation State Configuration tool to manage VMs in Azure, on premises and in other clouds. Follow this step-by-step tutorial to get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2022
Follow these steps to remove the last Exchange Server
Organizations that were unable to uninstall their last Exchange Server from the on-premises environment can now do so if they fulfill the requirements. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2022
Microsoft resolves 6 zero-days on November Patch Tuesday
Two Exchange Server zero-days discovered in September get security updates this month along with four Windows vulnerabilities that had been actively exploited. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
07 Nov 2022
Manage Kubernetes clusters with PowerShell and kubectl
Learn how to use the Kubernetes tool kubectl in PowerShell, including setting up aliasing and tab-completion, parsing JSON output and searching logs with the Select-String cmdlet. Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Nov 2022
Looking back on KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2022
With this year's KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America over, review vendor updates on topics ranging from cloud-native adoption to AIOps approaches and ease-of-use offerings. Continue Reading
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Definition
04 Nov 2022
immutable infrastructure
Immutable infrastructure is an approach to managing services and software deployments on IT resources wherein components are replaced rather than changed. Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2022
New ServiceNow apps automate organizational productivity
ServiceNow rolled out applications for the Now Platform that assists IT shops with organizational productivity planning and building flexible hybrid work environments. Continue Reading
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Definition
03 Nov 2022
legacy system (legacy application)
A legacy system is any outdated computing system, hardware or software that is still in use. Legacy systems include computer hardware, software applications, file formats and programming languages. Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2022
Fresh crop of IT automation tools targets platform engineers
As enterprise IT shifts from full-stack DevOps to platform engineering, IT automation tools reinvented for the Kubernetes era can reduce toil for operators. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Nov 2022
Kusto Query Language primer for IT administrators
Administrators who use Microsoft cloud services, such as Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft 365, can learn how to pull information from those products with KQL queries. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2022
Security AI shifts left into DevSecOps
DevSecOps vendors such as GitLab and Palo Alto's Prisma Cloud embrace security AI throughout the software development lifecycle, as IT trust in AI grows. Continue Reading
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Opinion
01 Nov 2022
AnsibleFest 2022: Automation across distributed environments
IT environments are more distributed than ever, making infrastructure management increasingly challenging. Ansible's automation capabilities can help IT ops handle the complexity. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2022
Why and how to use container malware scanning software
Malware is on the rise, and containers are potential attack vectors. Learn why it's crucial to check containers for vulnerabilities and compare container malware scanning tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Oct 2022
How to build a Windows Server 2022 home lab and why
It's possible to get to learn about the features in the latest Microsoft server OS in a cloud environment, but there are a few reasons to stay grounded with this approach. Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2022
Sidecarless service mesh: Fad or the future?
Istio's experimental Ambient Mesh is gathering buzz with the promise of simpler operations, but Linkerd loyalists contend that the sidecar itself isn't the real problem. Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2022
Platform engineers plug abstraction leaks
Platform engineers presented at KubeCon about how new tools have helped them better hide infrastructure complexity from developers. But a paradox of choice remains. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2022
How to perform an AD group membership backup and restore
You can fix some problems with Active Directory with a few clicks, but things get difficult when they involve many layers of group membership. Here's a few ways to avoid trouble. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Oct 2022
Configure Azure Load Balancer for session persistence
Session persistence ensures users connect to the same server for the duration of their session. Find out how and why to set up session persistence in Azure Load Balancer. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2022
OpenShift roadmap preps for Kubernetes multi-cluster sprawl
OpenShift now supports Kubernetes deployments from data centers to edge devices, which calls for fresh ways to scale out multi-cluster control planes. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Oct 2022
What Golang generics support means for code structure
Generics are a relatively recent addition to the strongly and statically typed Go language. Learn the benefits of using generics in Golang and how to get started. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2022
Observability tools add FinOps amid macroeconomic worries
FinOps features added to observability tools from Datadog and Sysdig this week reflect concerns about cloud cost management amid gloomy economic forecasts. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Oct 2022
Learn how to bootstrap Kubernetes clusters with kubeadm
In this guide, learn to create, configure and run a Kubernetes cluster from scratch with kubeadm, a command-line tool that simplifies and automates cluster setup and management. Continue Reading
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Opinion
18 Oct 2022
Streamline Kubernetes deployments by using a service mesh
Implementing a service mesh could be well worth the time and effort for organizations looking for ways to manage their Kubernetes and cloud-native application deployments. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2022
Enterprises learn the downsides of DevSecOps metrics
DevSecOps metrics can be helpful, but they can also steer developer and security collaboration in an unproductive direction if they are over-emphasized, practitioners said. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Oct 2022
What is a Raspberry Pi used for?
IT infrastructure can get expensive fast, making single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi appealing for small projects. Learn what a Raspberry Pi does and explore IT use cases. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Oct 2022
What DevOps teams need to know about API management
Managing today's sprawling API ecosystems is increasingly daunting for DevOps teams. Learn what to look for when choosing a tool to reduce the complexity of API management. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2022
How to avoid common GPO backup and restore problems
Group Policy Objects help admins maintain control of the enterprise environment, but it takes some planning to understand how to properly protect and recover GPOs to avoid trouble. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Oct 2022
Combat ransomware with continuous backup software, strategy
No IT organization is safe from a ransomware attack, making backup maintenance critical. Learn the pros and cons of continuous backups in terms of costs, storage and recovery time. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Oct 2022
How to integrate and monitor Kubernetes with New Relic
New Relic might be best known as a DevOps monitoring tool, but it can also help improve observability into your Kubernetes clusters. Follow this tutorial to get started. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2022
Microsoft resolves Windows zero-day on October Patch Tuesday
The company released mitigation instructions for two Exchange Server zero-days discovered late last month but had no security updates to close the flaws on the email platform. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2022
What IT pros need to know about low-code limitations
Low-code environments promise to simplify and speed up software development, but their limitations can create challenges for enterprise IT. Compare models for low-code adoption. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Oct 2022
Compare container orchestrators Apache Mesos vs. Kubernetes
Exploring options for container orchestration? Kubernetes' popularity doesn't mean it's always the best choice. Discover the tradeoffs and use cases of Mesos vs. Kubernetes. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
HashiCorp Waypoint public beta adds fresh take on PaaS
The sales pitch for HashiCorp Waypoint sounds a lot like traditional PaaS, but its technical approach may be uniquely well-suited to the recent rise of DevOps platform engineering. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Oct 2022
What we can learn from the top DevOps articles of 2022
From runbooks to open source tools and self-service portals, 2022 was a big year for DevOps. IT teams preparing for 2023 should brush up on their understanding of DevOps. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
ServiceNow buys Era Software to unify observability strategy
ServiceNow's acquisition of Era Software looks to strengthen the company's position in the observability market and make digital transformation projects easier to implement. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
Splunk suit claims Cribl built on stolen log management IP
Former Splunk employees and industry watchers reacted to a lawsuit filed by Splunk this week alleging that Cribl's business is based on stolen log management code. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2022
Terraform Cloud continuous validation inches toward GitOps
Terraform is already part of the GitOps workflow for some enterprises, but a new continuous validation feature could increase its overlap with tools such as Argo CD and Flux. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Oct 2022
How to manage stateful containers with Kubernetes
Organizations can reap the benefits of containers for stateful applications by using Kubernetes to maintain state in application processes and components. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2022
HashiCorp cloud security evolves via Boundary, Consul, Vault
With the debut of Boundary on HashiCorp Cloud Platform, along with updates for Vault and Consul, the vendor lays the foundation for a long-term product strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Oct 2022
How to stop ransomware: 4 steps to ransomware containment
Even with the best security efforts, ransomware sometimes breaches organizations' defenses -- but IT teams can prevent a ransomware attack from escalating with these four steps. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2022
Dynatrace overhauls AIOps back end, beefs up log analytics
The AIOps vendor unveiled a new approach to data management that has enterprise customers such as BT hopeful it could eliminate the need for separate log analytics products. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Sep 2022
How to decide on what Office 365 add-on licenses to use
Missing certain functionality and want to supplement your subscription to Office 365 or Microsoft 365? Find out what extras make sense for your organization. Continue Reading
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News
29 Sep 2022
Cloud Custodian spans FinOps, SecOps cloud policies
Users such as Avalara and HBO Max use Cloud Custodian to manage cloud cost and security policies, as the project's founders prepare Kubernetes support to rival OPA and Kyverno. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Sep 2022
Open core vs. open source: What's the difference?
Open core software has gained attention as an alternative to open source and proprietary models. Learn how open core differs from open source and the two approaches' pros and cons. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2022
Consider Azure AD group-based licensing for Office 365 users
Administrators who manage many users can go one step further toward streamlining license assignments by taking advantage of a new feature from Microsoft. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2022
CloudBees ReleaseIQ buy renews CI/CD pipeline, SaaS support
The newly acquired startup adds SaaS-based low-code views into multiple tools and doesn't require upfront integration work, as CloudBees regroups after recent upheavals. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Sep 2022
Creating an effective change management process for IT ops
Handling changes is challenging in complex virtualized environments with extensive automation and dependencies. Learn what IT teams need to know for effective change management. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Sep 2022
Explore the pros and cons of Go for DevOps
Author and Docker engineer Teiva Harsanyi explains the benefits of Golang -- including why he sees it as the future of back-end development -- and how to avoid common pitfalls. Continue Reading
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Answer
23 Sep 2022
How do I maintain an Azure VM static IP during a reboot?
Microsoft Azure users can assign static IP addresses to VMs, but doing so has notable downsides as well as benefits. Learn how and why to assign static IPs to Azure VMs. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2022
IT pros pan government software supply chain security advice
As the prospect of federally mandated SBOM drives up usage of the software supply chain security tech, the government's documentation so far adds to risky confusion, experts say. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2022
Aqua adds software supply chain security to DevSecOps mix
A new software supply chain security module for Aqua's platform correlates runtime security monitoring with pre-deployment scans as IT pros look to merge disparate tools. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
20 Sep 2022
Learn to manage Kubernetes costs with this Kubecost tutorial
Managing Kubernetes environments can be complex -- and expensive. Find out how to get started with Kubecost, a tool to monitor costs and capacity in Kubernetes clusters. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2022
Dell Apex joins with OpenShift, deepens VMware uncertainty
Dell jumps on the Red Hat OpenShift bandwagon with its Apex container management products, intensifying uncertainty about the future of VMware Tanzu under Broadcom. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Sep 2022
How to use Kubernetes' self-healing capability
Self-healing is a quality that enables software to autonomously resolve issues based on a desired state. Kubernetes' self-healing is built in, but it demands observation. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Sep 2022
How to bolster vulnerability management with DevSecOps
DevSecOps pushes security work into every stage of the software delivery lifecycle. Vulnerability management is a critical element to this security posture. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
14 Sep 2022
Kubernetes clusters multiply like Tribbles -- but why?
Like the U.S.S. Enterprise faced a rapidly compounding Tribble problem, Kubernetes admins find themselves in a similar situation with clusters. What do you do now? Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2022
Windows zero-day quashed for September Patch Tuesday
A relatively light patching workload awaits admins this month, but a "wormable" threat should increase the sense of urgency to rapidly deploy Microsoft's batch of fixes. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
12 Sep 2022
How to set up external authentication in Rancher with GitHub
Local authentication is the default, but configuring Rancher to use external authentication services makes it easier to manage large, complex Kubernetes environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Sep 2022
Help desk documentation: Best practices for DevOps teams
Creating accurate, up-to-date documentation for help desks is critical to software development and adoption -- but it also poses challenges for DevOps organizations. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Sep 2022
Build AI into the DevOps maturity model for smooth sailing
AI has promising applications in DevOps, but organizations must account for the maturity of their teams, processes and tools to ensure the success of their AI initiatives. Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Sep 2022
How automating distributed cloud infrastructure changes IT
As IT environments become increasingly distributed and complex, organizations are exploring how automation can address their evolving IT operations and infrastructure needs. Continue Reading
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Opinion
06 Sep 2022
What to consider in scaling automation for distributed cloud
Infrastructure automation accelerates IT ops, fosters innovation and creates competitive advantage -- but executive support is essential, especially in complex cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Sep 2022
Prepare for ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure
Prevention and protection are often the focus of ransomware discussions, but IT teams must understand ransomware's effects on operations and how to react in an attack scenario. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Sep 2022
What is K3OS and how does it relate to K3s?
Discover the potential benefits of adopting K3OS, a lightweight Linux distribution developed to run Kubernetes workloads in low-resource environments. Continue Reading