Google and other public cloud providers
Google, Oracle, IBM and other public cloud providers offer various compute, storage and networking services -- as well as more advanced technologies for machine learning and more -- yet one might better meet an enterprise's needs than another. Read tips and news coverage to choose the right provider, and keep up with its expanding cloud portfolio.
Top Stories
-
Tip
03 Dec 2021
Break down the Google Cloud resource hierarchy
Admins can use Organizations, Folders, Projects and Resources to manage employee access within Google Cloud. But first, they must understand the distinctions between each level. Continue Reading
-
Tip
17 Nov 2021
How to use Google's workload identity federation with AWS
Cloud admins struggle to share data between cloud providers. Here are the steps to create a federated identity in Google Cloud, connecting it to AWS in a secure way. Continue Reading
-
News
23 Mar 2018
Google Cloud Platform security updates buoy enterprise appeal
Google Cloud Platform upgrades provide deeper protection and visibility for enterprise assets in the cloud, as organizations increasingly mull multi-cloud options. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Mar 2018
IBM cloud tools aim to woo the unconvinced
IBM's latest batch of cloud tools aims to help customers deploy and manage workloads on private and public clouds and keep the company at the center of their cloud strategies. Continue Reading
-
News
15 Mar 2018
Analysts: How to make IBM Cloud services more competitive
To make IBM Cloud more competitive, Big Blue must stand by its enterprise base, while it also satisfies the developer community and expands its infrastructure tools. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 Mar 2018
Google preemptible VMs reduce cloud costs -- with a catch
With its preemtible VMs, Google offers spare compute capacity at a discounted price. But be careful not to run certain apps on these VM types, as they shut down at any time. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
12 Mar 2018
Alibaba Cloud services become strong IaaS contender
Alibaba continues to gain traction in the IaaS market, and despite not having the same breadth of services as some of its rivals, it could lure some smaller shops away from AWS. Continue Reading
-
News
07 Mar 2018
Cloud security challenges spark startup acquisitions
Cloud security startups are popular acquisition targets, as cloud providers and third parties seek to address corporate IT concerns across multiple platforms. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
07 Mar 2018
Can you choose the right tools to manage Azure resources?
Azure continues to evolve its tool set to simplify cloud monitoring and management for admins. Take this brief quiz to see how much you know about these tools' capabilities. Continue Reading
-
Tip
01 Mar 2018
Four things to know before an Azure Stack deployment
Intended to simplify management and development across public and private clouds, Azure Stack looks to address some of IT's biggest hybrid hang-ups. Continue Reading
-
Feature
22 Feb 2018
Future of Windows might involve significant weight loss
The influence of containerized applications could sway Microsoft to introduce more far-reaching refinements to Windows Server and reduce the OS to the bare necessities. Continue Reading
-
Feature
22 Feb 2018
Multi-cloud management still a work in progress for IT teams
Multi-cloud deployments are a mixed bag, providing both business value and complex management challenges. Fortunately, a number of third-party management tools can help. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Feb 2018
Bare-metal cloud services lure legacy workloads off premises
For some enterprises, bare-metal services in the cloud act as a crucial steppingstone to an IaaS deployment, and providers, including IBM, Oracle and AWS, have taken notice. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Feb 2018
Structure public cloud accounts for optimal resource tracking
As enterprises move to public IaaS or broaden their existing deployments, cloud account management gets tricky. Follow this example to find the structure that works best for you. Continue Reading
-
News
20 Feb 2018
Xively buy broadens Google Cloud IoT tool utility
The latest Google Cloud acquisition points to a doubling down on IoT, as the company tries to keep pace with AWS and Microsoft Azure in this emerging market. Continue Reading
- 20 Feb 2018
-
Tip
14 Feb 2018
User self-service challenges mount in multi-cloud computing
Self-service provisioning presents challenges with a single cloud provider, and a multi-cloud strategy only magnifies those issues, as IT seeks to integrate multiple interfaces. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Feb 2018
Oracle Cloud data center buildup aims to enchant enterprises
An updated Oracle Cloud SLA becomes the first to factor in performance standards for customers -- one of several moves aimed at luring enterprises to its expanding public cloud. Continue Reading
-
News
09 Feb 2018
Can niche cloud players take on hyperscale cloud providers?
AWS, Azure and GCP are top of mind for public cloud market share, but companies lower down the ranks want their piece of the pie, too. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Feb 2018
The window to be a hyperscale cloud provider is closing
A handful of companies will control the majority of the public cloud. Is there still room for big-name companies to join the club, or are they already too late? Continue Reading
-
News
08 Feb 2018
Serverless technology seeks mainstream enterprise traction
Serverless tech providers continue to add features as a service that have enterprise interests in mind, and IT pros have some wish list items. Continue Reading
-
Tip
08 Feb 2018
New Office 365 administrators grapple with challenges
More enterprises mulling the move to Office 365 should factor in the adjustments necessary to get the IT department up to speed to manage the platform properly. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Feb 2018
Azure B-series VMs reduce resource waste for bursty apps
Paying only for the resources they consume is the ultimate goal for many enterprises in the cloud. Azure's B-series VMs make that goal more attainable -- for certain workloads. Continue Reading
-
Tip
31 Jan 2018
Compare managed Kubernetes services from AWS and Azure
AWS and Azure have both rolled out a managed service for Kubernetes, and while their overall aim is the same, there are key differences users should note. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
31 Jan 2018
Serverless cloud providers aim to ease adoption in 2018
As the buzz around serverless computing carries over into 2018, providers will look to simplify adoption in several ways, including more support for hybrid cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 Jan 2018
Prep an OpenStack private cloud for a multi-cloud deployment
Enterprises with an OpenStack private cloud can still jump on the multi-cloud bandwagon. But they should prepare for challenges around data management and platform compatibility. Continue Reading
-
Blog Post
29 Jan 2018
Prepare for these cloud computing technologies in 2018
Not sure what to expect, exactly, in the cloud computing market in 2018? Three of our Advisory Board members share their top predictions. Continue Reading
-
Blog Post
26 Jan 2018
Cloud conferences to check out in the first half of 2018
For beginners and experts alike, cloud conferences are a good way to gain industry knowledge and sharpen your skills. Here are some to pencil in over the next several months. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Jan 2018
Azure networking feature addresses latency, performance
An Accelerated Networking upgrade to Microsoft Azure reduces latency and improves performance for newer VMs, as Microsoft tries to keep pace with AWS. TEST Continue Reading
-
Photo Story
25 Jan 2018
Five cloud computing skills to propel your career in 2018
The cloud market moves at the speed of light, so some IT pros struggle to pinpoint which new technologies and skills to learn. Here are five to prioritize in 2018. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Jan 2018
Words to go: Basic cloud computing terms
New to cloud computing? Use this list of basic terms to familiarize yourself with common deployment models, service categories and top providers. Continue Reading
-
Tip
23 Jan 2018
Google cloud features evolve to turn up the heat on AWS
Google made several moves in 2017 in an attempt to close the gap between itself and market leader AWS. But will those efforts be enough to win over new customers? Continue Reading
-
Tip
22 Jan 2018
Evaluate VMware, public cloud provider integration
Hybrid cloud providers don't yet have the seamless integration they promised. VMware cluster admins need to evaluate available options in order to formulate a VMware cloud strategy. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
22 Jan 2018
Gauge your knowledge of cloud providers' AI technologies
As enterprise interest grows, major cloud providers continue to unveil machine learning and AI services. See how much you know about their offerings with this brief quiz. Continue Reading
-
News
16 Jan 2018
Meltdown-Spectre bugs hit cloud usage less than first feared
IT shops expected their cloud usage to flag due to recent chip bugs, but most environments survived the patches unscathed. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
11 Jan 2018
Providers continue to push hybrid cloud technologies in 2018
The hybrid cloud market changes rapidly, as major cloud providers release new services to bridge private and public platforms, but for now, management challenges remain. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Jan 2018
Microsoft advances Azure hybrid strategy with Avere deal
Microsoft's acquisition of Avere Systems addresses a shortcoming in Azure storage services and could help steal some business from AWS and GCP. Continue Reading
-
News
05 Jan 2018
Meltdown and Spectre target cloud computing environments
Hackers could target cloud computing environments to exploit the Meltdown and Spectre vulnerabilities, but AWS, Microsoft and Google say their fixes are enough to bar the doors. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Jan 2018
Azure App Service Isolated boosts security and PaaS performance
Aimed at organizations with unique security needs, Azure App Service Environment v2 lets applications run in a dedicated network without sacrificing scale or performance. Continue Reading
-
Tip
04 Jan 2018
Master the basics of Azure Automation
Automation offers a more efficient, hands-off approach to public cloud management. Explore the basics of Azure's automation service and the role of runbooks. Continue Reading
-
Feature
06 Dec 2017
Explore the benefits, tradeoffs of GPU instances in cloud
While GPU instances can give compute-intensive apps the processing boost they need, not all workloads -- or budgets -- will benefit from these cloud instance types. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Oct 2017
Compare two types of cloud automation and orchestration tools
There are two camps of tools for automation and orchestration in cloud: provider-native and third-party. To pick the right one, know your future needs, especially for multi-cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Oct 2017
Learn the basics of Azure Container Instances
The popularity of containers continues to prompt major cloud providers to offer new services. See how Azure's most recent release -- Container Instances -- aims to ease deployment. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Oct 2017
Master Azure subscriptions with these key concepts and terms
Azure's subscription structure lets admins break out responsibility for billing and resource management. But first, they need to know concepts such as accounts and departments. Continue Reading
-
Feature
04 Oct 2017
IaaS benefits broaden as public cloud market evolves
The benefits of IaaS now range from increased scalability to access to emerging technologies, such as serverless. Review these key benefits, as well as management implications. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
25 Sep 2017
PowerShell scripts enable automated cloud deployments
This step-by-step tutorial walks through the process to automate an Azure deployment; start with launching the virtual server, and finish with the deletion process. Continue Reading
-
Feature
09 Aug 2017
Cloud management platforms offer a unified approach to hybrid IT
While more cloud platforms can mean more challenges, the right management platform makes an admin's job easier. But with all the options, how do you know which one to choose? Continue Reading
-
News
18 Jul 2017
Google cloud data transfer appliance eases move to public cloud
Google's cloud options look to lure more enterprises with a physical device that simplifies data transfer in-house to the Google Cloud Platform. Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 Jun 2017
Overcome common IP address issues during a cloud migration
During a move to the cloud, many organizations overlook potential snags surrounding IP addresses. To start, know how cloud providers manage address assignment. Continue Reading
-
Tip
22 May 2017
Explore Google XPN for virtual private cloud networks
Isolated networks strengthen cloud security, but sharing data can become a challenge. Learn how Google XPN enables multiple users or departments to share one virtual private cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
18 May 2017
Your cloud bill climbs due to these five overlooked costs
AWS, Google and Azure offer tools that help users estimate cloud costs. But overlooked services, usage spikes and outages can cause actual cloud bills to far exceed those estimates. Continue Reading
-
News
17 May 2017
Console's cloud interconnect lets users link multiple providers
Console unveils a cloud interconnect service that offers a more secure and stable connection between multiple cloud providers. Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 Apr 2017
Avoid downtime during the cloud migration process
During a public cloud migration, IT teams need to take a cautious, one-step-at-a-time approach to avoid hearing the dreaded phrase, 'the system is down.' Continue Reading
-
Opinion
21 Apr 2017
The true definition of cloud computing is still lost on some IT pros
The misuse of the phrase 'cloud computing' has created misperceptions of the technology. Remember that the cloud isn't a location -- it's a more agile way to design IT services. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Apr 2017
Build an effective API management system for multicloud
APIs play a critical role in cloud, allowing apps and services to communicate with each other. But with multiple cloud providers in the mix, API management gets complicated. Continue Reading
-
Answer
28 Mar 2017
What are some ways to stop and restart OpenStack instances?
Admins can pause, suspend, shelve or stop a compute instance in OpenStack. But what are the key differences between each option? Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Mar 2017
Select the right cloud regions, availability zones to optimize costs
Cloud computing can bring a multitude of unexpected costs. To stay within budget, evaluate the costs associated with regions and availability zones. Continue Reading
-
Tip
17 Feb 2017
Compare offline data migration services from AWS, Azure and Google
Sending a storage disk to a cloud provider seems like an antiquated data-migration method, but it's a common choice. Here's how AWS, Azure and Google manage the process. Continue Reading
-
Tip
31 Jan 2017
Using Azure Site Recovery for data and VM replication
Data replication is a critical part of a disaster recovery plan, and the devil is in the details. Ease your plan with automation through Azure Site Recovery. Continue Reading
-
Buyer's Guide
26 Jan 2017
How to navigate the public cloud service provider selection process
Learn how to determine if your organization could benefit from public cloud storage and how to select the public cloud provider that will best meet your needs. Continue Reading
-
Feature
24 Jan 2017
A look at the services the leading public cloud vendors provide
Examine the leading public cloud service providers and the features each offers, including backup and recovery, archival, hybrid cloud storage and cloud analytics. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
24 Jan 2017
Test your knowledge of big data cloud services
Big data in the cloud is a big deal. But without the right management and analytic tools, you won't get far. Test your knowledge of big data tools in the cloud with this quiz. Continue Reading
-
Answer
17 Jan 2017
How does Azure Premium Storage billing work?
For Azure Premium Storage, are users billed by how much storage capacity they actually use or how much they reserve or allocate? Continue Reading
-
Feature
16 Dec 2016
Four criteria for evaluating public cloud storage providers
Prior to selecting a public cloud service provider, it's essential that you understand what each vendor offers and how their services can best meet your organization's needs. Continue Reading
-
Definition
27 Oct 2016
Microsoft Azure Security Center
Microsoft Azure Security Center is a set of tools and services for securing virtual machines that run on the Azure public cloud. With Azure Security Center, an IT team can establish security policies, set up alerts and receive recommendations for addressing potential Azure security threats. Continue Reading
-
News
21 Oct 2016
Google Cloud Storage prices cut, Glacier cold storage competitor added
Google is revamping its Cloud Storage services to woo users and challenge AWS with price cuts, lifecycle management and cold storage with quicker retrieval times than Amazon Glacier. Continue Reading
-
Feature
11 Aug 2016
Choosing an IaaS provider for traditional vs. cloud native apps
As IaaS providers expand their portfolios to include more higher-level services, the requirements of your apps -- not just your infrastructure -- should drive vendor choice. Continue Reading
-
Feature
19 Jul 2016
On-premises vs. cloud: What's more cost-effective for your apps?
Some organizations rush into a cloud migration, assuming cost savings are a guarantee. But not all applications are meant for the public cloud, and moving them may cost you more. Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Jul 2016
Tips and tools to manage Azure roles, access controls
Azure Resource Manager has a complete, but complex, set of role-based access controls that let admins create policies to manage who can access Azure cloud services. Continue Reading
-
Tip
13 May 2016
Cloud cost management tips for working with multiple vendors
Using more than one cloud has its benefits, but can also get expensive. To manage costs, examine your providers' data access charges, as well as your application design. Continue Reading
-
Tip
04 May 2016
Compare AWS vs. Azure vs. Google big data services
Big data services are an attractive cloud lure for enterprises. AWS, Azure and Google are fighting for number one, but who will come out on top? Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Apr 2016
How to effectively work with multiple cloud providers
Before working with multiple cloud providers, evaluate their services for compute, storage, security and more. Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 Feb 2016
Six questions cloud app developers should nail in an interview
To wow potential employers, cloud app developers should prove in an interview that they're more than just code jockeys. Continue Reading
-
Answer
22 Jan 2016
What are my options for a third-party Azure management tool?
Microsoft offers a number of management tools for Azure, but what are some options for third-party or open source management tools? Continue Reading
-
Answer
07 Jan 2016
When should I use Azure VM Scale Sets?
Microsoft Azure VM Scale Sets help cloud admins manage a collection of VMs as a single unit. But what workloads are they best suited for? Continue Reading
-
Answer
26 Oct 2015
How is cloud penetration testing different for AWS, Google, Azure?
Penetration tests help organizations spot vulnerabilities in their public cloud environments. But how are the testing requirements different for AWS, Google and Azure? Continue Reading
-
Tip
29 Jul 2015
Testing cloud applications for Azure, Google Cloud
As software development cycles accelerate, IT must more rapidly test cloud-based applications. The right tools and services can help pick up the pace. Continue Reading
-
News
16 Jul 2015
Microsoft cloud strategy turns competitors into partners
For a company once known for its closed ecosystem, the Microsoft cloud strategy is increasingly reliant on the competition. Continue Reading
-
Answer
11 Jun 2015
Is Google's PerfKit a reliable cloud benchmarking tool?
As the IaaS market grows, choosing the right vendor becomes challenging. Google's PerfKit Benchmarker can help, but will it provide unbiased results? Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 May 2015
Avoid strapped IT budgets with cloud cost optimization
Many businesses expect cloud to be cheaper, but cost-efficiency is no guarantee. To reap cloud's financial rewards, devise a cost optimization plan. Continue Reading
-
Feature
13 May 2015
Exploring capabilities, costs of Microsoft Azure cloud
Microsoft Azure targets enterprises that want to connect their existing data centers to the cloud. But is Azure the best bet for your organization? Continue Reading
-
Feature
08 May 2015
Getting a handle on Google Cloud Platform options
With a range of options for big data, storage and more, Google Cloud Platform has become the public cloud of choice for many enterprise users. Continue Reading
-
E-Zine
17 Mar 2015
The new face of scale-out storage
There are plenty of new approaches to address ever-growing data needs, including scale-out vs. scale-up designs, the shift from hierarchical file systems to object storage, and the Hadoop Distributed File System. Pretty soon there will be absolutely no excuse not to store every crumb of data ever created.
Delivering Windows applications remotely is another area that could use some improvement, especially in today's age of tablets and mobile devices. App transformation takes existing Windows applications and intelligently delivers them to the target device, similar to how responsive web design principles package web pages differently depending on whether the client is a traditional PC, tablet or smartphone.
VMware, meanwhile seems to have hit a home run among users with its latest release to its venerable vSphere virtualization platform. Some things, it seems, get better with age.
Continue Reading -
Guide
28 Jan 2015
AWS vs. Google comparison guide
AWS and Google are slugging it out in the public cloud ring -- going blow for blow on price and features. How do they compare on performance and cost? Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Dec 2014
A cloud management tools comparison guide
With its complex nature, cloud management can get bumpy at times. Luckily, cloud management tools from VMware, Dell and others can help. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Nov 2014
OpenStack features, services creating industry buzz
OpenStack features, including portability, security and storage are prompting vendors and IT pros alike to support the open source cloud platform. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Aug 2014
Setup complexity casts shadow on vRealize multi-cloud management
VMware's vRealize Suite enables companies to manage workloads from multiple public cloud providers, but concerns about deployment complexity have experts questioning its success. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Jul 2014
Trio of new VMware vCHS features revealed
VMware intends to disclose availability of three major services for vCHS next month -- welcome additions for VMware cloud customers. But industry watchers say the company needs to add much more to compete against AWS, Google and Microsoft. Continue Reading
-
News
08 Jul 2014
Dell's latest tactic centers on cloud broker service
Dell's upcoming cloud broker service is its latest in a string of cloud strategies. Will this one be the winner? Continue Reading
-
Podcast
30 Jun 2014
Docker 1.0 the beginning of the end for virtualization?
Docker continues to steal the cloud spotlight with its latest lightweight release, but what does it mean for the future of heavyweight virtualization? Continue Reading
-
Podcast
27 Jun 2014
Microsoft, Google claw for cloud market share with AWS
Amazon has dominated the early stages of cloud. With Microsoft and Google getting stronger, can AWS keep a stranglehold on the market in the future? Continue Reading
-
Podcast
25 Jun 2014
OpenStack talk of open source town, but is it hype?
OpenStack garnered a lot of hype over the past four years, and many companies got behind the open source platform. Has it met the high expectations? Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 May 2014
Analyzing VMware vCHS for the cloud consumer
In direct competition with Amazon's IaaS, VMware vCloud Hybrid Service differentiates itself from the pack with several features. Continue Reading
-
Tip
08 May 2014
Amazon Kinesis benefits and alternatives
Amazon made waves with the release of Kinesis, but companies should know its ups and downs before blindly adopting AWS's service. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Jun 2013
Windows Azure Media Services gives YouTube junkies a new outlet
Enterprises need only look to YouTube's stats to see the value of video. Windows Azure Media Services has the benefits of video with more control. Continue Reading
-
Feature
21 Feb 2013
Six cloud computing industry leaders to follow on Twitter
Want to eavesdrop on what cloud computing leaders are saying about industry trends? Follow these six Twitter accounts for expert opinions and scoops. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Jun 2011
Three questions to ask when considering Microsoft Azure
Is Microsoft Azure a no-brainer cloud choice or impossible to adopt? Ask these three questions to determine if the cloud platform is right for you. Continue Reading
-
Feature
16 Mar 2011
Piecing together VMware's cloud strategy
Can VMware's lead in server virtualization translate to cloud supremacy? A bevy of challengers will make VMware's goal of bringing cloud to the enterprise a difficult one. Continue Reading
-
Feature
16 Feb 2011
Top 10 cloud computing providers of 2011
Which cloud computing provider leads the pack? This top 10 list takes all the big names and ranks their impact on the cloud world. Continue Reading
-
News
12 Aug 2010
Salesforce.com and CVM do supply-chain management in the cloud
Salesforce.com rolled out the red carpet for its collaboration with CVM Technology when it put the company's supply-chain management tool on Force.com. Continue Reading
-
News
22 Jun 2010
Salesforce Chatter is officially live
Chatter, Salesforce.com's cloud-based social application, is now in general availability, but real-world reactions from users are mixed at best. Continue Reading
-
News
25 Feb 2010
The Daily Cloud: Did Salesforce.com just become the biggest cloud computing company ever?
Marc Benioff is bragging about running the biggest enterprise cloud company on planet Earth. Is he telling the truth? Continue Reading