Cloud computing use cases

Assess the pros and cons of leading PaaS tools

Unsure which PaaS provider will best meet your development needs? Dive in to this roundup of common vendor options and the features they offer to simplify that decision. Continue Reading

Google's partner ecosystem remains a work in progress

The Google Cloud ecosystem continues to expand, as Google improves its relationships with third-party vendors and tries to translate its technology to traditional IT shops. Continue Reading

Web app development morphs as apps and websites merge

The lines between web and mobile app and websites are blurring, so development silos are out, and boning up on building progressive web apps and single-page apps is in. Continue Reading

IPaaS tools aim to alleviate app integration troubles

With the rise of hybrid cloud architectures, there's a heightened need for more sophisticated app and data integration tools. IPaaS can help but isn't necessarily a cure-all. Continue Reading

Manage Google cloud instances with images, templates

Recent additions to Google Compute Engine, particularly around images and templates, streamline how admins can create and manage VMs. Continue Reading

Embrace automation in a hybrid cloud deployment: Free chapter

Hybrid cloud is complex, and while automation helps, it also presents new risks. This book by Clive Longbottom dives into the details cloud adopters should know. Continue Reading

An IT pro's survival guide for multi-cloud computing

Enterprises increasingly use multiple cloud providers to achieve their goals. Learn how you could benefit from this model and get a jump-start on a multi-cloud management strategy. Continue Reading

Cloud conferences to pencil in for the second half of 2018

Want to expand your cloud skills, gain industry insights and network with other pros? Consider these conferences and events throughout the second half of the year. Continue Reading

Four signs you need a third-party cloud management platform

In a multi-cloud deployment, IaaS providers' native tools for admins often fall short. These four signs indicate it's time to invest in a third-party cloud management tool. Continue Reading

VMware's managed Kubernetes service enters a crowded race

VMware Kubernetes Engine is the latest service from vendors that want to jump into the container business, and it's another signal of VMware's changing take on cloud. Continue Reading

Google dives into elusive cloud file storage market

Google Cloud Filestore may be the last piece of the puzzle for the vendor's storage services, but like its competitors' file offerings, it's far from a finished product. Continue Reading

Bolster multi-cloud security with these data privacy tips

Data privacy is always a top priority for enterprise IT teams. And those with a multi-cloud model should adopt a mix of security techniques -- from erasure coding to encryption. Continue Reading

Azure PaaS strategy hones in on hybrid cloud, containers

Microsoft's PaaS offerings might have a leg-up in terms of support for hybrid deployments, but the vendor still faces tough competition in a quickly evolving app-dev market. Continue Reading

Three ways to ensure app portability in a multi-cloud strategy

As multi-cloud adoption grows, developers need to be careful they don't sacrifice application portability for the sake of using provider-native services. Continue Reading

Edge devices' compute demands complicate cloud IoT choices

Cloud vendors want companies to use their platforms for the full scope of their IoT deployments, but that might not be their best choice. As edge computing emerges as part of IoT deployments, users ... Continue Reading

Avoid runaway costs to keep a cloud budget in check

Wasteful spending is still a prominent issue for enterprises in the cloud. Admins need to do their homework -- before migration -- to rein in runaway cloud costs. Continue Reading

Emerging PaaS model puts cloud app dev into the fast lane

As they grapple with application backlogs and a shortage of seasoned, business-savvy developers, enterprises will increasingly look to drag-and-drop programming options. Continue Reading

Enterprises wrestle with OpenStack backup, DR challenges

To work around the manual and often tedious processes associated with OpenStack DR and backup, some enterprises have turned to third-party tools. Continue Reading

Pulumi aims to become standard cloud dev platform

Aiming to help developers build and scale applications for multi-cloud environments, Seattle-based startup Pulumi has delivered a cloud development platform. Continue Reading

Unchecked cloud IoT costs can quickly spiral upward

IoT sensors can produce seemingly endless streams of data, so users must beware how much to send back to the cloud to avoid jaw-dropping monthly bills. Continue Reading

Avoid runaway costs to keep a cloud budget in check

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Emerging PaaS model puts cloud app dev into the fast lane

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Map hybrid cloud applications to your VPN address spaces

Enterprise networks can easily become your Achilles' heel in hybrid cloud. Follow this advice to effectively manage your VPN, as well as scale and redeploy hybrid cloud apps. Continue Reading

Evaluate PaaS vendors based on these two types of features

To determine whether a PaaS provider will meet their needs, buyers should look closely at what the vendor offers for development tools, automation, collaboration and more. Continue Reading

Google adds single-tenant VMs for compliance, license cares

Google continues its quest to be a more enterprise-friendly cloud, as it adds VMs with isolated hardware that could help companies with specific legacy requirements. Continue Reading

JEDI cloud contract looms large for customers, providers

Public sector IT and private sector IT can be very different animals, but a looming decision by the Department of Defense has the potential to send shock waves through both sides of the IT world. ... Continue Reading

Success of GitHub deal hinges on Azure's open source appeal

Microsoft's ongoing détente with the open source community advances with a deal to purchase GitHub, the world's largest open source code repository. Continue Reading

Don't let Kubernetes services stall a multi-cloud strategy

Despite the benefits of managed Kubernetes services from AWS, Microsoft and Google, these offerings can impede workload portability when tied closely to other provider-native tools. Continue Reading

Let cloud orchestration tools do the hard work

A smart cloud strategy requires a smart automation strategy. These steps will help position your cloud to benefit from automation and orchestration technologies. Continue Reading

Hybrid cloud adoption trends and strategies explained

Hybrid cloud deployments are gaining traction because they enable private cloud security and public cloud flexibility, and orchestration between the two cloud models has improved. Continue Reading

Three ways to prepare applications for serverless platforms

Compared to those that run in more traditional PaaS or IaaS environments, apps on serverless platforms bring a unique set of demands around performance, storage and more. Continue Reading

Build a CI/CD pipeline to simplify multi-cloud deployment

While some cloud providers support simple app deployment processes and tools, they could hinder a multi-cloud model. Fortunately, there are some workarounds. Continue Reading

Top IaaS providers slowly warm up to multi-cloud

While major IaaS vendors all offer some flavor of multi-cloud support, they still have work to do to help customers achieve the dream of seamless portability. Continue Reading

An OpenStack management guide for the enterprise

The OpenStack platform brings unique management challenges for IT teams. Use this essential guide to break down the key do's and don'ts of OpenStack management in the enterprise. Continue Reading

Developers set to build AI for Accessibility apps

Developers will support Microsoft's $25 million push to get software makers to build apps that benefit disabled individuals. Continue Reading

Evaluate private cloud service providers in the market

Red Hat, Microsoft and VMware all provide private cloud environments that offer security and compliance, but it's important to consider other business needs, as well. Continue Reading

Weigh the benefits of PaaS providers against lock-in risks

The right PaaS environment enables developers to focus on what they care about most: building a successful application. But it also brings new risks -- particularly around lock-in. Continue Reading

Azure Availability Zones enable more resilient cloud apps

'Downtime' is a dreaded word for mission-critical applications. Learn how availability zones in Azure can promote uptime and keep your workloads running. Continue Reading

Cloud certifications play supporting role in IT hiring decisions

Certifications that are specific to a particular cloud provider are a great way for IT professionals to grow their foundational knowledge, but they shouldn't stop there. Continue Reading

In a serverless architecture age, infrastructure still matters

Sorry, developers, but infrastructure still matters, even as serverless architectures and containers diminish its central role to build new applications. Continue Reading

Test your private vs. public cloud knowledge

Although public and private clouds might seem similar on the surface, they differ greatly in terms of their architecture and use cases. Take our quiz to see if you know your stuff. Continue Reading

Are AWS certificate authority services trustworthy?

AWS now operates as its own CA. What are the potential risks of the new AWS certificate authority services? Expert Dave Shackleford outlines the pros and cons of this new setup. Continue Reading

Top 5 features to look for in private cloud services offerings

When evaluating private cloud services, consider offerings that provide an intuitive self-service portal, RBAC, capacity planning and policy enforcement for tenant workloads. Continue Reading

Don't let scalability ruin a cloud cost management strategy

Scalability is one of the cloud's biggest advantages, but misuse of the feature can cost you. Pay special attention to these three rules to avoid unwanted billing surprises. Continue Reading

Four tips for a successful hybrid cloud POC

A hybrid cloud proof of concept is an important step to ensure a deployment will fully meet IT and business needs. Mind these best practices around data, networks and more. Continue Reading

Google acquisition aims to simplify big data projects

Google Cloud analytics tools are well-regarded for their technology, but not necessarily for their ease of use. Google's acquisition of Cask Data could solve that shortcoming. Continue Reading

Amazon Virtual Private Cloud 101: Features, pricing and more

Evaluate the key features of Amazon Virtual Private Cloud, learn about its advantages and disadvantages, and consider pricing and best practices before implementing the platform. Continue Reading

Are you on the right cloud computing career path?

As more advanced cloud technologies and deployment models emerge, it's important to future-proof your career. Check your resume against these expert suggestions. Continue Reading

Five critical tests for cloud application performance, security

To keep end users happy, dev teams should regularly test the performance and security of cloud-hosted applications. Tools from cloud providers and third-party vendors can help. Continue Reading

Find a way forward in the cloud vs. virtualization debate

IT admins weighing the options available for cloud and virtualization services against use cases and economics must navigate a complex market with an uncertain future. Continue Reading

Cloud-based applications pose tough integration challenges

Even though SaaS applications are now indispensible to many enterprises, their lack of flexibility still presents a challenge around integration and management. Continue Reading

Google buys Velostrata to take the lead on cloud migrations

The latest Google acquisition is all about the enterprise market, as it aims to fold in Velostrata to ease the transition from private data centers to its public cloud. Continue Reading

Red Hat OpenShift tie-ups target hybrid cloud portability

Partnerships with major cloud providers help position Red Hat OpenShift as a hybrid cloud management platform that customers hope can solve lock-in troubles. Continue Reading

Azure Cosmos DB flexes joints for multiple data stores

Microsoft added multi-master write replication and more granular cost controls to Cosmos DB to cover the broadest number of uses in the hotly competitive managed database market. Continue Reading

Microsoft showcases Azure DevOps Project enhancements

Microsoft continues to reach out to developers with an updated tool to help them configure a DevOps pipeline and connect it to the cloud, regardless of the app dev platform. Continue Reading

Understand major private cloud services advantages

Consider the benefits of private cloud services before jumping on the public cloud bandwagon. There's more to private clouds than control over infrastructure and better security. Continue Reading

Google tips open source cloud tools so customers can be free

Three new tools illustrate Google's strategic approach to its cloud platform customers and echo an old proverb: Set them free, so they can return and stay. Continue Reading

Azure IoT Edge tool set stirs AI into Microsoft's cloud

Microsoft extended more of its AI capabilities to connected devices to resolve some of the IoT shortcomings of the public cloud's consolidated data center model. Continue Reading

Cloud billing APIs enable greater cost transparency

No enterprise wants to be surprised by its cloud computing bill. And, even as providers offer more visibility into users' costs through APIs and other tools, obstacles remain. Continue Reading

Prepare cloud-based applications for container technology

To properly prepare cloud applications for containers, be sure to emphasize a service-based architecture and understand your management options upfront. Continue Reading

C3 IoT simplifies AI and IoT app development

The C3 IoT low-code development platform helps developers of all skill levels build AI and other next-generation applications without having to write any code. Continue Reading

Create a private cloud in SCVMM with these factors in mind

The process of creating a private cloud with System Center Virtual Machine Manager starts with getting to know major private cloud components and calculating resource requirements. Continue Reading

Know what to look for in a cloud management platform

Like so many decisions in IT, choosing a cloud management tool takes time. Be sure to outline your key goals for resource deployment, cost monitoring and more. Continue Reading

Optimize load balancing for a hybrid cloud architecture

Load balancing plays a critical role in ensuring application availability and high performance in hybrid cloud. Follow these general rules to get it right. Continue Reading

Google cloud database updates reinforce enterprise IT allure

Google looks to make Cloud Spanner, Cloud Bigtable and Cloud SQL more attractive to corporate IT with some key updates to its fully managed database lineup. Continue Reading

The best multi-cloud strategy is to just ignore the hype

Vague vendor and analyst definitions for multi-cloud only confuse business leaders and put IT professionals in a precarious position. Continue Reading

Compare virtual private cloud server providers

Cost is an important factor to consider when evaluating different VPC providers, but the kind of hardware and data lines the providers offer plays a role, too. Continue Reading

Cloud-native low-code platforms rival third-party options

To choose between native and third-party low-code tools, application development teams need to weigh the benefits of consolidation against the risk of lock-in. Continue Reading

GDPR compliance requirements don't come cheap

GDPR has more teeth than any previous data privacy directive, but that looming threat hasn't motivated many companies to get their audit trail in order. Continue Reading

Factor performance into an application modernization strategy

Dev teams increasingly use cloud, containers and microservices to modernize apps, but these technologies bring little value unless they boost performance, which is no guarantee. Continue Reading

Virtual private cloud vs. private cloud differences explained

Virtual private clouds and private clouds differ in terms of architecture, the provider and tenants, and resource delivery. Decide between the two models based on these distinctions. Continue Reading

Users demand more from containers in cloud

Technology is always advancing, but it needs to march in the direction that users want. Containers are maturing, but plenty of IT pros still want more from the technology. Continue Reading

IaaS and PaaS blurred lines increase lock-in risks

There are three distinct cloud service categories: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. However, IaaS and PaaS are getting a little too close, and you need to be aware of vendor lock-in risks. Continue Reading

Hybrid cloud advantages and disadvantages explained

Hybrid cloud is touted as providing the best of both private and public clouds, but this type of infrastructure comes with its own pros and cons, such as flexibility and complexity. Continue Reading

Single pane of glass for multi-cloud management still elusive

Unified management for multi-cloud remains a work in progress. Vendors have yet to produce the perfect single-pane-of-glass tool -- and some IT teams can't afford to wait for one. Continue Reading

Microsoft takes holistic approach to IoT security concerns

Azure Sphere extends security from the cloud to the device. It's the most holistic approach on the market and provides another example of Microsoft abandoning its insular past. Continue Reading

Get started with Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform

Despite its benefits, Red Hat OpenShift is just one technology amid a growing list intended to simplify container management and deployment for development and ops teams. Continue Reading

Overcome hybrid cloud deployment challenges

Before adopting a hybrid cloud, think about how it will benefit the business and the ultimate goal. Also, hire IT staff with the appropriate level of expertise and start small. Continue Reading

Compare management options for Google Kubernetes Engine

Google supports various management options for its Kubernetes Engine service, and while each has its pros and cons, you should base your decision largely on experience. Continue Reading

Microsoft, Google polish cloud budgeting tools

Recently added Google and Microsoft cloud cost control tools are critical for users who want to gain insight into how corporate cloud budgets are spent. Continue Reading

Grasp the key concepts of hybrid cloud orchestration

As hybrid cloud becomes increasingly common, organizations need an effective orchestration platform that can seamlessly span public and private infrastructure. Continue Reading

Manage private cloud performance and troubleshoot issues

Management tools intended for private clouds are key to troubleshooting performance issues because they provide insight that traditional virtualization management tools might not. Continue Reading

Accounting for cloud computing costs requires a new approach

As cloud waste takes a big bite out of IT budgets, cloud administrators must shift their spending mindsets and consider management tools to help avoid unnecessary costs. Continue Reading

Single pane of glass for multi-cloud management still elusive

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Hybrid cloud providers offer different architecture types

Hybrid cloud means different things to different vendors; some set aside part of the public cloud for private cloud purposes and others simply support an on-premises private cloud. Continue Reading

GDPR requirements loom over cloud providers, users

Even if your cloud provider already complies with GDPR, you can't just take a backseat. Know what the requirements are and whether they apply to you -- or risk hefty fines. Continue Reading

Flow logs sharpen visibility into GCP network

Google Cloud juiced up its networking capabilities with the addition of VPC Flow Logs. It's an important feature for enterprises accustomed to these insights on their own networks. Continue Reading

Cloud application performance hinges on a solid testing plan

When you neglect quality control testing, cloud app performance can suffer. Explore specific types of tests to run and tools that can guide the process. Continue Reading

Hybrid cloud deployment demands a change in security mindset

To fully protect data in a hybrid cloud model, enterprises need to scrutinize integration points, network access controls and the policies they have in place. Continue Reading

Brace your IT operations team for a cloud migration

A cloud migration isn't as easy as some providers suggest. Use these five tips to prep your IT ops teams for the big management and support changes that lie ahead. Continue Reading

Four options to manage stateful apps in the cloud

Stateful applications in the cloud pose an ongoing challenge for development and operations teams. Review four ways to address those issues and keep your apps running smoothly. Continue Reading

Azure Machine Learning services ease data science struggles

With Azure machine learning services, such as Workbench, Experimentation and Model Management, Microsoft hopes to address common data science challenges in the enterprise. Continue Reading

Azure serial console update addresses cloud troubleshooting

An Azure debugging tool gives admins a better handle on problems when VMs don't boot properly, with a familiar feel for those more comfortable with on-premises architectures. Continue Reading

Azure Migrate aims to attract VMware workloads to the cloud

A new Azure service removes a lot of the guesswork for IT teams that want to move VMs to Microsoft's public cloud. But will a lack of early support from VMware hurt its appeal? Continue Reading

With more providers, security issues in cloud computing rise

We hear a lot about the pros and cons of a multi-cloud strategy, but a surprising number of organizations don't think they need to worry about it. They do. Continue Reading

Blockchain and cloud combine to fuel enterprise adoption

While still in its infancy, blockchain technology is no longer theoretical. And cloud providers will line up to cash in, as enterprises plan to invest millions. Continue Reading

Simplify multi-cloud management with two abstraction models

To streamline management and reduce complexity in a multi-cloud model, enterprises can turn to two abstraction techniques: resource and orchestration. Continue Reading

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

BPM in cloud evolves to suit line of business, IoT

While on-premises BPM tools have caused a tug of war between lines of business and IT, the cloud helps appease both sides. Here's what to expect from this cloud BPM trend and more. Continue Reading

IBM PAIRS Geoscope brings geospatial-temporal data to devs

IBM Research's Geoscope service targets developers who build complex applications that require data from large, disparate geospatial-temporal data sets. Continue Reading