IT Operations
Top Stories
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Feature
03 Sep 2026
How businesses can future-proof IT infrastructure with AI
AI can help CIOs future-proof IT by monitoring systems, predicting needs, improving performance, strengthening security and accelerating infrastructure modernization. Continue Reading
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News
02 Sep 2026
Enterprises make strides with private AI on-premises
Discussions at VMware Explore show that private AI usage is growing as smaller models gain power, but the tug-of-war with public cloud isn't necessarily a zero-sum game. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Mar 2019
Assess the micro VM market with AWS Firecracker
Consider the benefits of AWS Firecracker as it compares to other micro VMs and system containers, but be wary of its limitations before installing this virtualization technology. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2019
March Patch Tuesday shuts down two zero-day exploits
In addition to the March Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft's attempts at improving performance following Spectre variant 2 patches backfire for some users on Windows 10. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Mar 2019
Lessons learned during a migration to Exchange Online
There are a number of perks for administrators who move to Exchange Online, but there are spots of frustration that will require a few workarounds to ease the transition process. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Mar 2019
Get familiar with these SLA maintenance tips
The basics of SLA management come at the intersection of business goals and the reality of possibility. IT teams must learn how to strike a balance between specific and conditional promises. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2019
Release automation tools link legacy, modern app management
Release automation tools will evolve in 2019 to embrace advanced application development and infrastructure automation techniques. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Mar 2019
GitOps provides an answer for complicated IT deployments
Version control isn't a new concept in IT, but ops pros are applying it to distributed environments for declarative configuration management. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 Mar 2019
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
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Answer
07 Mar 2019
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
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Tip
06 Mar 2019
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
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Tip
06 Mar 2019
Steps to safely build and manage a preproduction environment
A well-run testing lab is a true asset to developers. An uncontrolled one, on the other hand, is a massive liability that can cost dearly. Plan lab builds along these guidelines. Continue Reading
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News
05 Mar 2019
Container security tools turn heads with expansion to hosts
Vendors that sell container security tools now face off against traditional security tool providers, as both vie for the attention of IT pros who look to fortify their cloud-native infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Mar 2019
How to measure IT performance, step by step
While IT performance measurement can be a tedious challenge, done correctly, this process provides essential analysis and assessments. Learn how to optimize these reviews. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
28 Feb 2019
Windows Server 2019 features admins should explore
This slideshow of Windows Server 2019 features highlights some of its key additions built to bring more flexibility and reliability to the enterprise. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2019
Sensu architecture smoothes monitoring data workflow for NCR
Sensu Go's architecture and monitoring as code prompted NCR to switch away from Zabbix and pass on SolarWinds, as it sought to collect data from 80,000 restaurant customers. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2019
Istio security drives Auto Trader UK move to GKE
The U.K.'s largest online automotive marketplace put Istio security features in place before it adopted containers and GKE, rather than the other way around. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2019
ICYMI: How IT monitoring systems take on modern challenges
Don't lose track of IT monitoring as you come to grips with containers and AI advantages. These articles gear up IT and cloud admins to refine processes and improve efficiency. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
28 Feb 2019
Compare the pros and cons of container management tools
From the ever-popular to the obscure, evaluate different container management options based on the user interface, documentation, ease of use, available features and integrations. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
27 Feb 2019
Let an IT and application monitoring strategy drive tool choices
A monitoring tool that simply gets the job done isn't always the best option for IT ops teams. Use metrics and staff feedback to determine if it's time for a change. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Feb 2019
What container management software features are important?
Because containers are easy to spin up, the infrastructure can quickly get out of hand. A tool that simplifies container management can help, if it provides certain capabilities. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
26 Feb 2019
Set up users with key PowerShell Active Directory commands
User management in Active Directory doesn't have to fill you with click-induced anxiety. Try these PowerShell tips for a more efficient way to get this work done. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
26 Feb 2019
Use Packer for Windows to enhance machine image automation
Packer can curtail time sinks for administrators, especially those dealing with rapid OS releases. But the DevOps tool can require additional effort to work for Windows. Continue Reading
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News
26 Feb 2019
VMware PKS adds Heptio IP, boosts container street cred
VMware adds bare-metal Kubernetes and an elite support squad from Heptio, but it's unlikely to get widespread interest with bespoke container orchestration on premises. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
25 Feb 2019
Where container infrastructure and management investments yield ROI
Containers are efficient and flexible, but these benefits can come with a hefty price tag. Ensure these elements are in the container budget to escape unexpected charges. Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Mainframe DevOps forces platform reckoning for enterprises
DevOps has reached the mainframe world, where a few enterprise 'unicorns' have blazed a trail with new tools for the rest of the IT industry. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2019
The clock is ticking on the Exchange Web Services change
Another change that might affect your Exchange environment is coming in 2020. Here's what you need to know to prepare. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2019
Add Elasticsearch nodes to a cluster in simple steps
Elasticsearch, part of the Elastic Stack with Logstash and Kibana, uses YAML for configuration scripting. Follow these steps to configure an Elasticsearch cluster with two nodes. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Feb 2019
Determine the cost of app customization in the cloud
Cloud applications are like icebergs: There's a lot users don't see below the surface. One apparently small change could have a massive ripple effect on operations. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Feb 2019
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
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Feature
19 Feb 2019
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
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Answer
19 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
18 Feb 2019
Non-IT software vendors stir up IT tool selection process
Many non-IT vendors now offer homegrown software -- a model that carries benefits and risks. Weigh the pros and cons around support, availability and other factors before making a decision. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Feb 2019
Major I/O virtualization vendors and technologies explained
Technologies that virtualize I/O components offer a number of additional capabilities, such as direct memory access remapping and network queuing for each VM. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Feb 2019
Maximize Ansible scalability, performance as IT deployments grow
There are several options to increase Ansible performance at scale -- a task that should move to the top of the to-do list as an IT deployment grows. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2019
Container security tools pitch service mesh integrations
Container defense in depth is a hot topic, and some IT pros approach it with a combination of third-party container security tools and service mesh security features. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2019
Linkerd vs. Istio fray dominates service mesh battle
Linkerd's maintainers admit it has a narrower range of features than buzz machine Istio. But after failed attempts to set up Istio, some early adopters believe less is more. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2019
GPU virtualization evolves with new chip types on the horizon
GPU-makers Intel, AMD and Nvidia all provide virtualization support; the next step is to merge CPU and GPU functionality to handle both application and math/graphics-related tasks. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2019
Microsoft zero-day vulnerability closed on Patch Tuesday
Administrators should prioritize patching systems affected by a zero-day vulnerability resolved by the February Patch Tuesday updates. Continue Reading
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Answer
12 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
12 Feb 2019
Adjust IT team dynamics for a cloud-native approach
As enterprises set their cloud-native strategy, they'll need to navigate major changes -- both from a technical standpoint and in terms of IT team structure and management style. Continue Reading
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News
11 Feb 2019
Container security vulnerability prompts call to patch runC
The discovery of a container utility flaw means IT pros must patch most container runtimes, as well as practice defense in depth and beware of strangers with sketchy container images. Continue Reading
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News
08 Feb 2019
Rancher's Kubernetes multi-cluster app support fuels IT debate
To federate or not to federate cloud-native apps? As Kubernetes becomes ubiquitous, that is the question that more IT shops must answer. Continue Reading
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News
07 Feb 2019
AIOps wars heat up with New Relic-SignifAI deal
An already heated struggle between DevOps monitoring vendors becomes an all-out rumble, as New Relic acquires SignifAI and ups the AIOps ante for rivals. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2019
Evaluate the Mesos architecture for massive container deployments
In addition to supporting large-scale IT deployments, Mesos takes a unique approach to data center and cloud resource pools that can benefit both containerized and noncontainerized apps. Continue Reading
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Answer
05 Feb 2019
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
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Tip
04 Feb 2019
Evaluate remote office/branch office technology trends
Traditional data center technology, including SD-WANs, HCI, and virtual backup and disaster recovery devices, often supports remote and branch offices. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Feb 2019
Automate the IT service desk workflow for maximum success
The automated help desk using ITSM software does for IT operations and support what the CI/CD toolchain has done for developers and DevOps engineers. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2019
How the SaltStack architecture enables config management at scale
SaltStack's one-to-many communication model enables it to manage configurations in massive IT deployments without network strain. To get the most out of SaltStack, understand ZeroMQ. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
Uncertain future of open core software puts companies at risk
Many enterprises rely on commercial vendors for open source software support, but the open core business model isn't always a solid bet for longevity. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
Open source in the enterprise presents a two-edged sword
The price is right for pure upstream open source IT management software, which also offers IT pros control over their own destiny. But some enterprises aren't prepared for the long-term costs. Continue Reading
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Opinion
30 Jan 2019
How ops teams stay relevant during a shift left in DevOps
IT operations administrators should not perceive the shift left in DevOps as a threat to their relevance, but rather as a catalyst for a change in their priorities. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jan 2019
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
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Tutorial
25 Jan 2019
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
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Quiz
25 Jan 2019
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
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Tip
25 Jan 2019
Get informed of the risks associated with docker.sock
Container security is a new area for many IT admins, and enterprise IT organizations can easily set up Docker in ways that compromise access control -- potentially exposing the host. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2019
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
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Tip
24 Jan 2019
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
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News
23 Jan 2019
AppDynamics AIOps injection sets the stage for IT automation
AIOps IP from Perspica broadens AppDynamics' automated root cause analysis features, but enterprises must evaluate IT and business analytics options carefully before they commit. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
22 Jan 2019
Create Vagrant boxes with Packer for rapid IT environment builds
Vagrant boxes enable IT admins to test infrastructure updates in production-identical QA environments. Follow this Vagrant tutorial to build a machine and export it to a Vagrant box. Continue Reading
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News
22 Jan 2019
AthenaHealth picks SignalFx to smooth public cloud monitoring
IT monitoring through SignalFx's Prometheus and AWS CloudWatch integrations helps AthenaHealth manage multiple public cloud environments from a central interface. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2019
VMware-Heptio roadmap to refine enterprise Kubernetes
Heptio founder Craig McLuckie, now VP of R&D at VMware following a 2018 merger, anticipates hard work ahead to get enterprises to adopt Kubernetes in their production environments. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 Jan 2019
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
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Tutorial
21 Jan 2019
How to update configurations via the Salt state file
Salt users must grasp the concepts around state files for configuration changes and updates. Follow along with this tutorial, which also features Cassandra, to get started. Continue Reading
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Quiz
21 Jan 2019
Pop quiz: Can you identify these top IT trends of 2019?
From serverless and AIOps to a widening tech skills gap, numerous IT trends bring momentum into 2019. See how ready you are for new opportunities and hurdles in IT with this quiz. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jan 2019
VMware and Pivotal put NSX spin on Kubernetes security
VMware and Pivotal mix NSX network segmentation into PKS 1.3 to appeal to large, advanced users of vSphere and Kubernetes who manage multi-tenant container clusters. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Jan 2019
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
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News
16 Jan 2019
Latest Kubernetes monitoring, AIOps features trace DevOps trends
It won't be long before Kubernetes and AIOps support are standard features among familiar DevOps monitoring tools, which will ease the learning curve for cloud-native infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Jan 2019
HashiCorp
HashiCorp is a software company that provides a suite of modular DevOps infrastructure provisioning and management products. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Jan 2019
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
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Tip
14 Jan 2019
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
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Tutorial
14 Jan 2019
Control Docker containers with the Nginx load balancer
Docker is an efficient container platform, but it isn't perfect. Follow this Nginx load balancer tutorial to provide your container environment with high availability across multiple nodes. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Jan 2019
Top 5 SCVMM PowerShell commands
Manually making changes to Hyper-V hosts and VMs is very time-consuming. Manage System Center Virtual Machine Manager with PowerShell commands to make administration easier. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jan 2019
Enforce container ecosystem consistency in 4 steps
Lightweight apps are easy to containerize, but monoliths need more work. Expert admins can bring those heavyweight apps into the fold, whether they were made for containers or not. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Database DevOps tools ease app deployment at insurance firm
Colonial Life brought its SQL-based enrollment app into the DevOps fold with a tool from Datical to replace its faulty manual update process. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jan 2019
Migrate Exchange to Office 365 with these tips
Check this list of common issues that can occur during an Exchange migration to steer the organization away from potential mishaps during the messaging platform's relocation. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Jan 2019
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
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Answer
09 Jan 2019
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
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Tip
09 Jan 2019
Kata Containers, gVisor offer more secure container strategies
Kata Containers and Google gVisor present different approaches to using VMs for container security. Evaluate their advantages to get insight into the future of container security. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2019
Manage application log files with the right tools and guidelines
IT operations teams face costly and complicated steps to monitor the crucial data in log files. Learn to use log management and aggregation tools to interpret trends without waste. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2019
Light January Patch Tuesday follows IE out-of-band security update
Administrators should prioritize an out-of-band patch that addresses an Internet Explorer zero-day before tackling the 47 vulnerabilities corrected by the January Patch Tuesday fixes. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Jan 2019
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
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Definition
08 Jan 2019
read-only
Read-only is a file attribute which only allows a user to view a file, restricting any writing to the file. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2019
AIOps tools supplement -- not supplant -- DevOps pipelines
While the line between DevOps and AIOps often seems blurred, the two disciplines aren't synonymous. Instead, they present some key differences in terms of required skill sets and tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Jan 2019
Explore the new year's emerging IT trends
Small data centers, intelligent IT management tools -- digital diversity? Catch up on the 10 trends driving IT operations forward in 2019, and how they'll shape your organization. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Jan 2019
How to improve help desk support via knowledge management
Your organization's help desk support system could be more efficient. Find out how knowledge management and natural language processing solve hidden IT woes. Continue Reading
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News
02 Jan 2019
DevOps security model hits organizational snags
DevOps security tools are on the market, and IT pros are acutely aware of the need to update their practices. But alignment with business teams hasn't gotten any easier. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Dec 2018
Major acquisitions, Kubernetes evolution top IT news in 2018
In the second half of 2018, IT industry vendors and their users worked to tame Kubernetes and containers, and inject open source innovation into tried-and-true enterprise IT. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Dec 2018
10 tips to approach IT operations processes with confidence
Stuck in the NOC over the holidays? To pass the time, improve your ability to plan projects and quash production infrastructure incidents with confidence. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2018
Bookmark 10 popular tips on containers and Kubernetes
Should we go with an open source or commercial option? What about DevOps? These 10 essential tips explain how containers fit into complex modern IT environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2018
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
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Definition
24 Dec 2018
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
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Tip
21 Dec 2018
Estimate the cost of open source software in 5 practical areas
Open source tools and technologies are free for the taking, as long as enterprise IT organizations correctly calculate the cost of implementation, support, contribution and more. Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Dec 2018
IT organizations anticipate DevOps evolution in 2019
DevOps shifts around like ice cubes skate across water: quickly and always toward its outer limits. Kurt Marko explores some areas where DevOps will go in 2019. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Dec 2018
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
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Tip
19 Dec 2018
Hyper-V Integration Services and VMware Tools improve OSes
Hyper-V Integration Services and VMware Tools are similar utilities with a few small differences. One is that Hyper-V Integration Services supports fewer guests than VMware Tools. Continue Reading
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Infographic
18 Dec 2018
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
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Answer
18 Dec 2018
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