Cloud infrastructure design and management

Cloud computing delivers numerous benefits, but only if an IT organization is prepared to manage a cloud environment. Proper cloud infrastructure design and management entails an understanding of automation, orchestration, monitoring, compliance, pricing, availability, and other key elements of cloud services.

Top Stories

Opinion 25 May 2023
Dell Apex updates support enterprise 'cloud to ground' moves

Dell's latest Apex updates puts the company in a position to capitalize on the hybrid, multicloud, and edge computing needs of enterprises. Continue Reading
Tip 25 May 2023
Prepare for the Azure Security Engineer Associate certification

Are you ready to boost your resume or further your cloud career path? Review this preparation guide to get ready for Exam AZ-500 to become Microsoft certified. Continue Reading

Tip 27 Aug 2019

Top 8 cloud administrator interview questions and answers

Hoping to become a cloud administrator? There's a lot to cover -- from tools to certifications. Prepare for your interview with these eight questions. Continue Reading
Tip 22 Aug 2019

Use modern cloud security best practices

Enterprises still worry about the security of cloud and if migrating will put data at risk. Explore modern methods, technologies and tools that help strengthen cloud environments. Continue Reading
Tip 19 Aug 2019

Public cloud services grow HPC market, but work remains

HPC applications need a lot of resources, but not all enterprises can meet those requirements. However, new cloud services are emerging to address that gap in the market. Continue Reading
News 16 Aug 2019

Virtual Instruments expands portfolio with Metricly acquisition

Virtual Instruments added more offerings to its cloud migration and hybrid infrastructure management portfolio with an acquisition of Metricly. Continue Reading
Feature 14 Aug 2019

Cloud compliance strategies for a multi-cloud world

Cloud computing and compliance don't need to be at odds -- even when an organization uses services from multiple cloud providers. Here's how to meet your compliance goals. Continue Reading
Tip 14 Aug 2019

How to live with loss of control with cloud software updates

IT pros don't have the same control over updates and versions in the cloud as they do on premises. Stay ahead of the changes and communicate to staff to lessen any negative impacts. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Aug 2019

Ensure cloud migration security with these tips

Security is always a concern in the data center, as well as in cloud -- but what about during a migration? Learn how to protect sensitive data both in transit and before it goes live. Continue Reading
Feature 29 Jul 2019

Azure resource management tips to optimize a cloud deployment

Prepare -- or revamp -- an Azure cloud strategy with these essential resource management tips for workload resiliency, access control and more. Continue Reading
Tip 26 Jul 2019

CASB tools evolve to meet broader set of cloud security needs

When choosing a CASB, enterprises face two primary options: a stand-alone service from a third party or a bundled tool set from some of the large cloud providers. It's important to pick your flavor wisely. Continue Reading
Tip 22 Jul 2019

Conduct cloud security training across the business

A well-educated staff is one of the best tools in the fight against security breaches. Consider these tips to prepare your employees for the risks in the cloud. Continue Reading
News 19 Jul 2019

Microsoft Azure feature targets application latency woes

An additional Microsoft Azure function can place VMs associated with a multi-tier application inside the same cloud data center to reduce latency. Continue Reading
Tip 19 Jul 2019

Best practices for negotiating a SaaS SLA

SaaS apps offer convenience, but enterprises still need to do their due diligence with prospective vendors. Follow these tips to get the best SaaS service-level agreement. Continue Reading
News 18 Jul 2019

Hearst puts cloud governance first in move to AWS, Azure

Cloud governance, both from a security and cost perspective, was crucial for Hearst Corp. as it moved its IT operations to AWS and Microsoft Azure. Continue Reading
News 12 Jul 2019

Alluxio updates data orchestration platform, launches 2.0

The latest version of the Alluxio data orchestration platform includes several new capabilities and features designed with hybrid and multi-cloud environments in mind. Continue Reading
Feature 02 Jul 2019

An introduction to the 6 OpenStack orchestration components

Cloud orchestration is a critical part of workflow simplification and task automation. If you prefer open source options, see what OpenStack has to offer. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Jun 2019

Navigate public cloud availability zones for optimal performance

Google's recent outages show that AZs aren't a panacea for high availability. See how differences in cloud vendors' approaches to isolation can affect workload performance. Continue Reading
News 25 Jun 2019

Oracle layoffs hit Dyn team's sales, marketing staffs

Oracle Dyn cuts sales and marketing jobs as Oracle plans to end some Dyn services in 2020. The layoffs come amid other Oracle downsizing as the vendor moves toward the cloud. Continue Reading
News 19 Jun 2019

Microsoft Azure Bastion service seeks to secure VMs

Microsoft's Azure Bastion managed service provides a means for companies to remotely access their VMs without touching the public internet. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Jun 2019

Ask these 5 questions before deploying cloud HA

IT teams can build HA into their organization's cloud apps, but is it worth it? And how much is too much? Ask these and other critical questions before architecting for HA. Continue Reading
Tip 13 Jun 2019

Know the tools needed to bake cloud HA into apps

The cost for HA might outweigh the benefit for many cloud apps. But, before you can debate the need to architect a highly redundant system, you need to know the tools at your disposal. Continue Reading
News 05 Jun 2019

Google Cloud price change eyes AI and machine learning workloads

Google Cloud has expanded its committed use discount plan to include GPU, TPU and local SSD resources to spark more AI and machine learning workloads. Continue Reading
News 16 May 2019

Apptio buys Cloudability for cloud cost optimization

Apptio looks to strengthen its cloud cost optimization services with the addition of Cloudability, as the industry continues to coalesce around hybrid and multi-cloud management. Continue Reading
Feature 15 May 2019

Cloud cost management tactics that work

This guide looks at strategies and best practices for cloud cost savings. We'll focus on public clouds, although many of these tips apply to private and hybrid cloud architectures as well. Continue Reading
Quiz 15 May 2019

Test your knowledge of Google Cloud management tools

Are you a Google Cloud expert? Can you ace this quiz focused on Google's management and monitoring tools? Find out how you stack up against your colleagues. Continue Reading
News 10 May 2019

Microsoft to reduce Azure outages with Project Tardigrade

Microsoft's plans to make Azure more reliable include Project Tardigrade, which keeps running VMs alive even when their host platforms go down due to hardware problems. Continue Reading
Tip 09 May 2019

Explore multi-cloud Kubernetes deployment options

IT teams can use Kubernetes to deploy and manage containerized workloads across multiple clouds -- but it's not the best approach for everyone. Look at the benefits and implementation options. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Apr 2019

Cloud cost calculators come with some limitations

Enterprises that plan to move to the cloud should get a good idea of the costs upfront. While calculator tools can give you an estimate, they don't factor in external costs. Continue Reading
Tip 23 Apr 2019

Navigate serverless cloud SLAs for event-driven apps

Each cloud provider defines serverless uptime differently. Consider platform reliability, other guarantees and refund rates before building an event-driven app. Continue Reading
Tip 22 Apr 2019

What users should know about cloud governance models

Governance is on the mind of most enterprises, no matter where they store the data -- but the cloud adds another layer of risk. Examine the common security issues, and learn how to combat them. Continue Reading
News 15 Apr 2019

Kroger buys into Google Cloud migration, despite challenges

It wasn't easy for Kroger to migrate its customer-facing search engine to Google Cloud, but it happened fast, thanks to proper planning and the right mix of talent. Continue Reading
Tip 29 Mar 2019

Set the foundation for a solid cloud backup strategy

Behind any effective cloud DR strategy is a solid backup plan. Follow these tips around common backup methods, tools and replication to get started. Continue Reading
Tip 26 Mar 2019

Updated Microsoft Azure certifications emphasize IT roles

Microsoft revamped its public cloud certifications in a move away from holistic skill sets. Review the newly tailored exams you'll need to take to get the Azure seal of approval. Continue Reading
News 25 Mar 2019

Oracle layoffs underpin its IaaS ambitions

Oracle plans further investments in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, but to do so it has cut jobs and made plans to hire fresh talent to support its cloud business. Continue Reading
Feature 25 Mar 2019

Manage public cloud storage for optimal performance, costs

Storage is one of the most commonly used resources on public clouds, which means admins should be well-versed in performance and cost optimization strategies. Use these expert tips to get started. Continue Reading
Tip 04 Mar 2019

Google tool signals move to greater cloud transparency

Access Transparency users can review the work Google admins did on their cloud accounts. It's a step toward greater accountability, but large organizations will want even more. Continue Reading
Tip 27 Feb 2019

Overcome IoT challenges for cloud-based workloads

Organizations often build IoT apps on public clouds for their scalability, but these platforms introduce their own obstacles. Factor in these network, storage and security impacts. Continue Reading
Feature 27 Feb 2019

Words to go: Google cloud security services

Digging through all of Google's cloud security tools can seem overwhelming. Get a snapshot of key services, and when to use them, with this quick list. Continue Reading
Tip 25 Feb 2019

Compare reserved instances pricing for AWS, Azure and GCP

Got commitment issues? When it comes to long-term instance reservations, cloud users should look closely at what AWS, Microsoft and Google offer. Continue Reading
Opinion 20 Feb 2019

Automation drives next wave of multi-cloud management tools

The current cloud landscape indicates a clear need for management tools that can span multiple platforms -- and they'll likely place an emphasis on automation, abstraction and orchestration. Continue Reading
Feature 14 Feb 2019

Control the cloud bill and avoid unexpected costs

Don't get discouraged by high cloud costs. Use these four tips to whip your bill into shape. Continue Reading
News 06 Feb 2019

UK news org plots move from AWS to Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Platform has scored one against rival AWS with The Telegraph's plan to switch providers to prep the British newspaper for continued success in digital publishing. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Jan 2019

Follow these 6 serverless security best practices

Optimal security for serverless architectures requires developers and ops teams to embrace best practices around dependencies, testing, access and more. Continue Reading
Tip 10 Jan 2019

Cloud disaster recovery services evolve, but gaps remain

A severe outage can cripple a business, which is why a disaster recovery plan is critical. While today's DRaaS offerings make it easier to recover, there's still room for growth. Continue Reading
Tip 09 Jan 2019

Implement cloud failover, replication for workload protection

Businesses increasingly use public cloud services as workload protection targets. But cloud failover and replication are hardly hands-off processes for IT teams. Continue Reading
Tip 07 Jan 2019

5 open source cloud monitoring tools to evaluate in 2019

Open source monitoring tools can offer a number of advantages over cloud providers' native options. Review these five to find out which tool is best for your cloud strategy. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Dec 2018

Review Google cloud IAM fundamentals and best practices

To learn the ins and outs of Google’s identity and access management service, start with the basic concepts of roles, permissions and policies. Continue Reading
Tip 26 Dec 2018

Secure data in the cloud with encryption and access controls

Enterprises can't rely on their IaaS provider to protect sensitive information in the cloud. Implement these data security techniques to mitigate potential risks. Continue Reading
Tip 04 Dec 2018

An overview of ARM templates for Azure resource deployment

Azure Resource Manager templates streamline the way IT and development teams deploy cloud resources. To get started, grasp these key concepts around formatting, syntax and more. Continue Reading
Tip 30 Nov 2018

5 best ways to minimize cloud scaling costs

Many factors can contribute to a high public cloud bill -- one of which is scalability. Apply these five practices to effectively scale cloud resources without breaking the bank. Continue Reading
Tip 30 Nov 2018

How to use Azure Site Recovery Deployment Planner

A successful disaster recovery procedure is more complicated than most people think. Learn how an Azure service can streamline the process of VM replication and failover. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Nov 2018

Evaluate 3 cloud-native CI/CD pipeline tools

When it comes to continuous integration and delivery tools, there is no shortage of comparable options -- including those from public cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure and Google. Continue Reading
News 02 Nov 2018

CockroachDB managed database service rises into the cloud

The Managed CockroachDB distributed database cloud service targets megascale workloads but faces stiff competition from public cloud players Microsoft, AWS and Google. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Oct 2018

Here's what it takes to become a cloud automation engineer

A cloud automation engineer is a challenging role for any IT professional because of the varied requirements. Find out what education, experience and skill sets you need to get the job. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Oct 2018

Azure Reserved Instances boost flexibility around VM size

A recent Azure update for Reserved Instances offers enterprises increased flexibility in terms of VM size, but it also comes with some additional management tasks. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Oct 2018

Avoid these app design mistakes to save a cloud budget

Certain oversights during app design can increase cloud costs. Dive into the details of four often-overlooked mistakes, and learn how to avoid them to keep your budget in check. Continue Reading
Tip 31 Oct 2018

Properly configure resources to reduce cloud security threats

Misconfigured cloud resources can quickly open the door to IT risks. Be mindful of access controls, and don't brush off your cloud provider's recommended security practices. Continue Reading
Blog Post 29 Oct 2018

Three events that spooked cloud admins in 2018

So far this year, outages, security breaches and GDPR compliance have haunted cloud admins in the enterprise. Take a closer peek at each of these three big scares. Continue Reading
Tip 18 Oct 2018

Estimate cloud computing costs prior to app migration

Enterprises should enlist a number of resources, including cost calculators and third-party tools, to assess what they'll pay for cloud computing -- before they start migration. Continue Reading
Opinion 16 Oct 2018

Containers, cloud orchestration tools rattle DevOps foundation

Any form of virtualization that disconnects infrastructure from apps threatens the foundation of DevOps and could push IT toward more cloud-native and container orchestration tools. Continue Reading
Tip 28 Sep 2018

The first 5 steps to build a private cloud infrastructure

To implement a private cloud, IT teams must start at the beginning -- and define what a cloud strategy will mean, exactly, to their organization -- before they proceed. Continue Reading
Feature 26 Sep 2018

Cost management the next big issue in multi-cloud computing

Multi-cloud computing continues to make its way into the enterprises and, as it does, introduces some significant cost management challenges. Continue Reading
Tip 19 Sep 2018

Compare IaC tools for hybrid, multi-cloud environments

Infrastructure-as-code tools come in two flavors: third-party and those native to a certain cloud provider. Keep these factors in mind to choose the right one. Continue Reading
Blog Post 13 Sep 2018

Learn from these Microsoft's Azure outage postmortem takeaways

Microsoft shed more light on last week's major Azure outage that generally confirm what everyone already knew - a storm near the Azure South Central US region knocked cooling systems offline and ... Continue Reading
Feature 30 Aug 2018

Cloud vendor lock-in fears dwindle for enterprises

Vendor lock-in concerns are slowly dissipating as enterprises prioritize functionality and speed to market. Other concerns continue to climb up the list, including skills and compliance. Continue Reading
Tip 16 Aug 2018

Establish a data classification model for cloud encryption

Not all data requires the same level of encryption. Use data classification to gauge your security needs, including for workloads that span on-premises and cloud environments. Continue Reading
Opinion 31 Jul 2018

It's time to tap into the business value of cloud computing

With increasing market maturity, all cloud adopters -- not just the Netflixes of the world -- have a chance to translate the technology into a competitive business edge. Continue Reading
Answer 31 Jul 2018

What's a cloud migration factory, and how does it work?

When properly implemented -- and understood -- a cloud migration factory combines the right mix of people, processes and tools to smoothly transition an app into the public cloud. Continue Reading
Tip 24 Jul 2018

Cloud billing surprises help pinpoint app performance issues

To assess cloud app performance, don't forget to closely monitor monthly bills from your IaaS provider. They might point to inefficiencies you'd otherwise overlook. Continue Reading
Tip 29 Jun 2018

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
Feature 29 Jun 2018

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
Tip 26 Jun 2018

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
Blog Post 21 Jun 2018

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
Opinion 21 Jun 2018

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
Tip 21 Jun 2018

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
18 Jun 2018

Avoid runaway costs to keep a cloud budget in check

Continue Reading
Feature 05 Jun 2018

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
Feature 24 May 2018

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
Tip 22 May 2018

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
Feature 17 May 2018

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
Tip 08 May 2018

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
Tip 02 May 2018

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
Opinion 27 Apr 2018

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
News 26 Apr 2018

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
Feature 13 Apr 2018

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
Tip 12 Apr 2018

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
Opinion 30 Mar 2018

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
Feature 28 Mar 2018

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
Tip 21 Mar 2018

Human error still poses a significant cloud security risk

Even with the most sophisticated cloud security tools in play, human error -- both from end users and IT teams -- can open up your enterprise to numerous kinds of attacks. 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
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 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
Feature 12 Feb 2018

Four tips to manage costs in a multi-cloud architecture

For some enterprises, it's difficult enough to manage and optimize the costs of a single cloud platform. And in a multi-cloud environment, those challenges only increase. 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 26 Jan 2018

CASBs address wide range of cloud security concerns

Cloud and distributed apps create complex security challenges. CASBs aim to resolve these issues with features for threat protection, data loss prevention and more. 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
Tip 17 Jan 2018

Google Cloud Dedicated Interconnect offers VPN alternative

Google's Dedicated Interconnect enables an enterprise to privately connect its data center to the public cloud. Here's a breakdown of key features and the requirements to use it. 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
Tip 08 Dec 2017

Crack open Google Cloud Shell for infrastructure management

Shell commands and Bash scripts have been a staple of system administration, and for those who still prefer that management approach, Cloud Shell on GCP might be worth a look. Continue Reading
Tip 02 Nov 2017

Cloud data backup services minimize outage, security risks

Backups are critical in any cloud strategy, but where you store that data is just as important. Explore these automated backup tools and services to avoid risks later. 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