Tips

Tips

• Learn vSphere vApps creation, deployment and configuration

  VApps in vSphere can combine VMs into a single location for resource management and have configurations for start and stop processes that improve application performance.  Continue Reading

• 4 key items to add to a SaaS agreement checklist

  SaaS apps can save enterprises time and money, but a bad SLA could reverse those benefits. Focus on these four items to optimize performance and uptime.  Continue Reading

• 6 use cases for Docker containers -- and when to pass

  From app testing to reducing infrastructure costs and beyond, Docker has many great use cases. But developers should remember that, like any technology, Docker has limitations.  Continue Reading

• What are the main features of Azure Storage Explorer?

  With Azure Storage Explorer, cloud admins can centrally manage storage accounts and resources. Here are some key features to tap into.  Continue Reading

• How to effectively plan cloud storage scalability

  There are many benefits but also many considerations in including cloud storage as part of a scalability strategy, from analysis of needs to testing your providers.  Continue Reading

• How zero-trust SDP can work with a VPN for remote work

  Implementing software-defined perimeter and zero-trust security models with a corporate VPN adds significant layers of user and device verification and authentication.  Continue Reading

• Programming in Ruby: A critical look at the pros and cons

  While Ruby showcases an impressive spread of beneficial features, there are still specific shortcomings that may explain why its adoption numbers have been conspicuously erratic.  Continue Reading

• 6 common IT problems in business and how to navigate them

  Remote work has created an array of new problems to address for business operation and support. Tackling them might be a little tricky.  Continue Reading

• Update incident response runbooks to meet new requirements

  Incident response runbooks provide IT teams with the information needed to resolve common and serious incidents. Break a runbook down into flows to construct documentation.  Continue Reading

• Why you should consider an upgrade from PowerShell 5.1 to 7

  A switch to PowerShell 7 will bring performance benefits along with expanded functionality to help administrators keep pace with changing needs in the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• PaaS showdown: AWS Elastic Beanstalk vs. Google App Engine

  AWS and Google Cloud offer their own flavor of PaaS. While they share some similarities, take a closer look at their core features and use cases before you choose an offering.  Continue Reading

• The distributed monolith: What it is and how to escape it

  Do you suspect that your attempt at microservices left you with distributed monolith application design? There are some telltale signs -- and, thankfully, a few ways to escape it.  Continue Reading

• Midband 5G spectrum auctions come to the fore

  Midband has become the premier spectrum for 5G use. The FCC's 3.45 GHz auction began in October, following the massive C-band sell-off that ended in January 2021.  Continue Reading

• Spreading the DevOps observability responsibility across IT

  In a DevOps environment, who oversees observability? Learn how to divide IT observability tasks and management, starting with a solid communication and collaboration strategy.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for endpoint security in the cloud

  As the proliferation of cloud services continues, IT teams should revisit -- and potentially revamp -- their endpoint protection strategies.  Continue Reading

• These Posh-SSH examples pave the way to Linux management

  Need to work with remote Linux systems? A PowerShell module with file-handling functionality can help Windows shops looking for a reliable management platform.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate the components of Cisco SASE

  Cisco's SASE platform, Umbrella, has all the components of a SASE architecture, but it has a lot of integration complexity and a reliance on appliances.  Continue Reading

• Use cases of various types of test doubles for unit testing

  Test doubles run the gamut from mocks, to stubs, to fakes and spies. Let's examine the ups and downs of using various test double types with unit testing.  Continue Reading

• Top Unix commands: 50 must-know commands with examples

  Use these 50 Unix commands to manage and modify files, navigate directories, monitor your network and users, gather data, and automate system tasks and processes.  Continue Reading

• Compare 3 managed Kubernetes service providers

  Kubernetes can be difficult for an enterprise to handle on its own. However, there are a slew of managed service options -- but which one to choose?  Continue Reading

• Your starter guide to Docker troubleshooting

  Though containers bring a lot of benefits, no container engine is perfect. Get an idea of what Docker troubleshooting involves, available tools and helpful commands for analysis.  Continue Reading

• What to know about managing power for edge devices

  Keeping edge devices powered constantly can present challenges in sourcing and managing it. Learn the basics of getting and keeping power at the edge.  Continue Reading

• Where cloud cryptography fits in a security strategy

  IT teams face a never-ending challenge as they try to secure data. When that data lives in the cloud, encryption is a key concern. Implement these data encryption tips and tools.  Continue Reading

• Dark data discovery: How and where to find it

  Before an organization can use dark data, it must find it. Here's how an enterprise can build a plan to locate, use and manage dark data and overcome its challenges.  Continue Reading

• Perform data storage testing to prevent issues

  Put your data storage to the test, and get out ahead of potential problems. Data validation -- whether manual or with software -- helps ensure the integrity of your data.  Continue Reading

• Follow these database testing basics for better data

  Data is typically a company's most valuable asset. The data should be treated as such, with vigorous, almost constant testing, regardless of its location.  Continue Reading

• Get up to speed with enhanced content delivery networks

  With enhanced features and new delivery options, CDNs are poised to make greater inroads with enterprises to improve UX across the board.  Continue Reading

• Are you really doing Scrum? Follow these guidelines to be sure

  Let's examine how the proper implementation of Scrum elements like timeboxing, the product owner and Scrum Master ensure a team will actually benefit from the Agile framework.  Continue Reading

• Oracle Cloud VMware Solution simplifies cloud migration

  Moving on-premises VMware VMs to the cloud doesn't have to be difficult. VMware and Oracle offer a managed deployment of VMware vSphere integrated into the Oracle Cloud.  Continue Reading

• PHP 8 features that prove it's for more than just web

  Looking to keep up with the demand for increasingly sophisticated development capabilities, PHP 8 brings interesting new integrations that transcend the realm of web development.  Continue Reading

• What digital experience monitoring means for network teams

  Digital experience monitoring integrates several monitoring tools to provide a comprehensive view into the performance of endpoints, applications and the network.  Continue Reading

• Compare VMware Workstation Pro vs. Microsoft Hyper-V

  When comparing Workstation Pro to Hyper-V, it's important to consider the type of OS you use, how often you run your VMs and how much hypervisor overhead is feasible.  Continue Reading

• Managed DevOps services or in-house DevOps: Which is best?

  A successful DevOps adoption requires significant time and resources. That is why organizations use managed DevOps services to streamline the process -- but is it still DevOps?  Continue Reading

• Control restricted content with Office 365 sensitivity labels

  Learn to work within the compliance portal or use PowerShell to create and publish the labels your organization needs to maintain control over restricted content.  Continue Reading

• Compare products within the Azure Stack portfolio

  Azure Stack Hub, Azure Stack HCI and Azure Stack Edge all support a hybrid cloud architecture. Learn their key differences in terms of form factor, management options and more.  Continue Reading

• A quick guide to BGP best practices

  The use of Border Gateway Protocol is prevalent among ISPs and enterprises. While BGP best practices change for specific use cases, some recommendations are helpful in all scenarios.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to TDD benefits, risks and examples

  Programmers, looking to implement -- or improve -- your team's TDD practices? Review the fundamentals and examples below to remember how TDD can be a benefit and not a burden.  Continue Reading

• How to write a test report for software testing

  Test report writers, here we will overview how to write your summary, what details to include in it, how to keep your audience in mind and other important considerations.  Continue Reading

• 5 nontechnical metrics to measure DevOps success

  There are a lot of specific, technical KPIs for IT admins to track, but what are the nontechnical signs that your organization's DevOps transformation is going well?  Continue Reading

• Consider Grafana vs. Prometheus for your time-series tools

  Grafana and Prometheus both monitor logs, manage reports and store time-series data -- but differ significantly. Discover their pros and cons with these examples and use cases.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for container security in the data center

  Container sprawl and container repositories can introduce new vulnerabilities to a data center. Here's what organizations should watch out for and how to stay safe.  Continue Reading

• Static IP vs. dynamic IP addresses: What's the difference?

  Static IP addresses are typically used for servers, routers and switches. Dynamic IP addresses, however, are commonly used for workstations, phones and tablets.  Continue Reading

• 3 VMware disk types you should know: Raw, thick and thin

  Raw, thick and thin disks offer portability and file storage efficiency. But each type has its pros and cons, including slower write speeds, less security and increased capacity.  Continue Reading

• 3 best practices for Amazon S3 cost optimization

  Everything a business runs in the cloud costs money, and AWS S3 storage is no exception. Smart AWS users understand how to adjust S3 storage levels to control costs.  Continue Reading

• Which processing units for AI does your organization require?

  AI requires certain hardware infrastructure, such as hardware accelerators and proper storage. Learn what your organization requires to successfully support AI.  Continue Reading

• What to know about dark data management

  With machine learning, dark data has many use cases. But before organizations can even think to use it, they must tackle several management tasks.  Continue Reading

• How to negotiate a cloud agreement that works

  In a cloud initiative, the difference between disappointment and success is connected to the quality of the contract. Consider these negotiation strategies.  Continue Reading

• 4 categories of network monitoring

  Network teams should routinely monitor the states of their networks. The type of network monitoring strategy used depends on the needs of the organization.  Continue Reading

• How machine learning strengthens incident management

  As systems failures pile up, machine learning stands as an alternative to improve response quality and save money. Learn the benefits and drawbacks to the approach.  Continue Reading

• A breakdown of container runtimes for Kubernetes and Docker

  For a container ecosystem to work, it needs a container runtime. Brush up on Kubernetes and Docker containers, then compare runtime options such as runC, CRI-O and containerd.  Continue Reading

• What is SAN zoning and what are the different types of zoning?

  Zoning can be set up according to server, storage and SAN switch. Discover what type of zoning to use, how zone sets extend SAN segmentation and the various zoning schemas.  Continue Reading

• Choosing between ITIL vs. IT4IT for a best practices model

  ITIL and IT4IT offer companies insider knowledge to help achieve IT success. Learn about each model and how they compare and evaluate your organization's best fit.  Continue Reading

• HPE GreenLake vs. AWS Outposts: 2 approaches to hybrid cloud

  GreenLake and Outposts both deliver on-premises, cloudlike services, yet have stark differences in the approaches they take. Determine which fits your organization's needs.  Continue Reading

• Kubernetes cost management approaches to save money

  Kubernetes and container costs continue to rise as services move off-site. Learn how to manage the costs with limited resources, autoscaling and the right cloud instances.  Continue Reading

• These Office 365 migration tools cover more than just email

  Vendors have adapted their migration products to handle more than just email as an increasing number of enterprises see the value in shifting more data away from the data center.  Continue Reading

• Implement data storage policy with guidelines, free template

  Data storage policies are an important piece of data management. The free template on this page will help organizations lay out requirements for secure storage.  Continue Reading

• When to use Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling vs. AWS Auto Scaling

  They sound similar, but Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling and AWS Auto Scaling have different purposes. Let's break down what each enables you to do and how exactly they differ.  Continue Reading

• Get to know the new Exchange admin center features

  After a lengthy development process, Microsoft unveiled its new admin portal for Exchange Online for a more consistent look with other management areas in Office 365.  Continue Reading

• An introduction to using diff and patch together

  Use the diff command in Linux to discover subtle differences between code files. Then, use the patch command to update those code files to match.  Continue Reading

• Boost Docker API security to protect ports

  Unguarded Docker APIs can let in unwanted visitors and expose data to hackers. To shield your Docker environment, follow these best practices -- and avoid common pitfalls.  Continue Reading

• 8 fundamental microservices security best practices

  Despite the benefits, microservices will introduce profound security issues. We review the biggest microservices security challenges and eight strategies used to combat them.  Continue Reading

• Considerations for sustainable data center design

  To design a green, sustainable data center, consider methods to improve energy conservation and efficiency. Then, look into green -- or greener -- energy source alternatives.  Continue Reading

• How to manage cloud transfer and egress charges

  It's expensive -- sometimes shockingly expensive -- to move data out of the cloud. Consider these factors to avoid costly data transfer bills.  Continue Reading

• Automate network validation for smoother changes

  Teams can verify network state before and after network changes to ensure smooth deployment of the changes. Automating those pre- and post-change checks can reduce errors and outages.  Continue Reading

• What productive backlog grooming sessions entail

  Backlog grooming is essential for smooth Agile software development. Here's what it takes to get user stories straight and organize a grooming session that yields results.  Continue Reading

• The architectural impact of RPC in distributed systems

  It has become increasingly important for software architects to understand the mechanics behind remote procedure call (RPC), particularly its role in distributed architectures.  Continue Reading

• Get familiar with storage virtualization software options

  Virtual storage offerings are not one size fits all. Factors in virtualized storage software selection include storage type, current infrastructure and management tools.  Continue Reading

• Use colocation and cloud together

  Rather than deciding between cloud or colocation, consider using both cloud and colocation. Colocation can support a hybrid cloud environment and help cut down on cloud costs.  Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of on-site power generation for data centers

  Organizations considering a move to on-site power generation should weigh drawbacks -- such as cost -- against benefits, including sustainability and increased control over power.  Continue Reading

• How to mine dark data with machine learning and AI

  Machine learning and AI can transform unstructured dark data into valuable business insights. Learn how to process dark data and use the information to your advantage.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate air cooling vs. liquid cooling for your data center

  Air cooling and liquid cooling for data centers offer different benefits and drawbacks. To decide which best suits your organization, consider the pros and cons of each.  Continue Reading

• A review of Cato Networks' SASE Cloud platform

  Cato's SASE Cloud lacks some features and may require customers to replace point products to fully benefit from the platform. But Cato aligns with SASE’s cloud-native vision and is a strong contender in the market.  Continue Reading

• How to avoid 4 common errors in EC2 Instance Connect

  The EC2 Instance Connect feature enables users to securely connect instances, but there are certain pitfalls to avoid. Here are some issues to look out for.  Continue Reading

• 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

• How businesses can manage Microsoft 365 storage space

  While Microsoft 365 users face storage limits across the platform, there are ways to increase capacity. It's also important to understand the limits in the first place.  Continue Reading

• Operational strategies for isolation in cloud computing

  While it's inevitable that certain cloud-hosted applications will share resources, the vulnerabilities these connections expose make isolation strategies an absolute necessity.  Continue Reading

• Service mesh vs. API gateway: Where, why and how to use them

  While they're both central to inter-application communication processes, it's important to understand the fundamental differences between a service mesh and an API gateway.  Continue Reading

• 6 steps to build a comprehensive cloud tagging strategy

  A poorly executed cloud resource tagging strategy, or having no strategy at all, can cost a bundle down the road. Build the best tagging strategy with these six steps.  Continue Reading

• Working with Docker Compose? Use environmental variables

  Docker Compose streamlines container application deployments. Dig into the tool and see how the use of environment variables can hone the process further.  Continue Reading

• Is Anywhere Operations the right path for your organization?

  Transitioning to remote access has become a necessary reality. And while there are benefits to the Anywhere Operations model, organizations must be wary of its challenges, too.  Continue Reading

• How to use Google Cloud Operations suite

  Follow along to set up Google Cloud Operations' Monitoring and Logging services, try Google's Monitoring Query Language and automate dashboard creation with the API.  Continue Reading

• Blockchain: An immutable ledger to replace the database

  Blockchains create a secure encryption beneficial to many businesses. This article offers use cases, benefits and limitations of the electronic database.  Continue Reading

• Top data center software certifications for admins

  Certifications prove an admin has a specific level of expertise. Assess the top training courses and certifications in software systems for data center admins.  Continue Reading

• Compare AWS Cloudtrail vs. Config for resource monitoring

  When your IT team needs more detailed info about resource activity in AWS, they have options. See how AWS Cloudtrail and Config resource monitoring tools compare.  Continue Reading

• 9 IBM Cloud Paks for app modernization and cloud efforts

  While businesses seek benefits in outsourced and scalable infrastructure and services, moving to cloud creates challenges in workload modernization. See if IBM Cloud Paks can help.  Continue Reading

• Should you adopt an API-first approach to development?

  While the code-first approach certainly works, its appeal is fading as architectures become increasingly complex webs of software. Learn why the API-first approach is catching on.  Continue Reading

• Learn the difference between SMP vs. MPP

  Learn the differences between the main modes of multiprocessing: SMP, AMP and MPP. Each has a distinct use case that makes it suited for different data centers and organizations.  Continue Reading

• Can green colocation help orgs meet sustainability targets?

  Colocation providers prioritizing sustainability draw customers seeking to offset carbon emissions. But many orgs can also take steps to address sustainability issues in-house.  Continue Reading

• 3 FAQs to guide a VMware virtual lab setup

  VMware home labs require hardware and software, which can get complex. These three FAQs can guide you toward an efficient and cost-effective home lab that can run ESXi or NSX.  Continue Reading

• When to use Kubernetes operators vs. Helm charts

  Not sure whether to use Helm charts or Kubernetes operators? Walk through examples to learn when to use each one, looking at factors like application complexity and team maturity.  Continue Reading

• Choosing the right chaos engineering tools

  Chaos engineering tool options include the original (Chaos Monkey), open source projects like Chaos Toolkit and Chaos Mesh and Gremlin. Weigh these factors when choosing your tool.  Continue Reading

• How remote work changes the future of network management

  The pandemic ushered in a new normal of hybrid workplaces. What's also new is how network teams manage these remote networks, like using zero-trust security models.  Continue Reading

• Hyper-converged market shifts with IT trends

  The hyper-converged infrastructure market has seen a good deal of movement lately. While some vendors strengthened their products, others went in the opposite direction.  Continue Reading

• Get started on Azure with this developers guide for beginners

  Developers using Microsoft Azure have a wide array of cloud services to choose from. Use this guide to understand basic tools and deployment approaches to get started on the platform.  Continue Reading

• Set up a rock-solid virtualized storage management strategy

  An effective deployment and oversight strategy is essential to get the most out of your virtual storage. Find out what software, hardware and tools can ensure it all runs smoothly.  Continue Reading

• Adopt data storage security standards to ensure compliance

  Data storage security standards are vital to prepare for audit activities and ensure compliance. This tip examines standards that address data storage security.  Continue Reading

• The functional programming paradigm at enterprise scale

  Many enterprise-level architects rely on an object-oriented approach, but there are good reasons and practical ways to introduce functional programming within large-scale systems.  Continue Reading

• Take advantage of eBPF's monitoring capabilities on Linux

  The benefits of an eBPF program extend wide, including into monitoring and observability. See how the Linux kernel utility increases how much of a system an admin can monitor.  Continue Reading

• 5 considerations for proper mainframe decommissioning

  As organizations decide to retire mainframe systems, IT pros should develop a plan that addresses application migration, program replatforming, data security and hardware removal.  Continue Reading

• Fine-tune Exchange Online security for your organization

  After a move to Microsoft's hosted email service, Exchange admins must learn how to tailor the integrated and supplemental security features to cover several threat scenarios.  Continue Reading