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
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Tip
21 Sep 2023
3 rules to avoid high multi-cloud integration costs
When using multiple cloud providers, integration costs can grow quickly. To prevent billing surprises, enterprises must carefully plan application deployments and workflows. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2023
Oracle databases in OCI now run on Microsoft Azure
A new partnership between two enterprise technology giants adds Oracle's hardware and software for Microsoft Azure customers, as former rivals unite to compete against AWS. Continue Reading
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Feature
23 May 2017
Choose the best public cloud instances for your apps and budget
Cloud computing instances can make or break application performance -- and costs. Evaluate your workloads to determine the right instance type and size before deployment. Continue Reading
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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
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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
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Tip
26 Apr 2017
Scale resources automatically with Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
Scalability is an attractive capability of cloud computing that reels in enterprises of all sizes. Learn how Virtual Machine Scale Sets in Azure can help you achieve that benefit. Continue Reading
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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
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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
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Tip
23 Mar 2017
Choose cloud configuration management tools for multiple platforms
The multicloud model presents unique configuration management challenges. When choosing a tool, enterprises should compare cloud native and third-party options carefully. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
20 Mar 2017
Awareness of shared-responsibility model is critical to cloud success
When companies move to the cloud, it's paramount that they know where the provider's security role ends and where the customer's begins. The shared-responsibility model is one of the fundamental ... Continue Reading
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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
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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
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Tip
16 Jan 2017
Breaking down the costs of cloud storage
Storage is a primary reason enterprises move workloads to the cloud. But before shipping off your data, learn how region, capacity and other factors shape cloud storage costs. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jan 2017
The what, why and how of the TOSCA cloud standard
As the acceptance of DevOps rises, the TOSCA standard has become a popular option for cloud application deployment. Here's a closer look at how it works. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Dec 2016
Perform a PaaS pricing comparison for public cloud
When choosing a platform, enterprises need to focus on features and prices for Azure, Google and AWS. Take a look under the hood before you take it for a spin. Continue Reading
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Quiz
29 Nov 2016
Test your cloud knowledge in this cloud computing quiz
In this quiz on cloud computing skills, find out how much you know about the IT functions and programming languages being used in the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jul 2016
Build a cloud redundancy strategy using multiple providers
No cloud platform is perfect; there is always a risk of an outage or data loss. Consider a multicloud model to ensure redundancy and backup. Continue Reading
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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
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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
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Quiz
13 May 2016
Quiz: Are you ready for digital technology disruption?
Cloud, mobile and IoT are shaking up not just IT, but entire industries. Is your organization part of the digital disruption technology revolution? Take this quiz and find out. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Mar 2016
Prepare for your next cloud security manager interview
When interviewing for a cloud security manager position, candidates should be ready to talk about everything, from encryption technology to DevOps. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2016
Managing containers requires right mix of tools, IT skills
Choosing the right tool is only the first step when building a container management strategy. Continue Reading
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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
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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
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Feature
14 Dec 2015
How to plan for the cost of cloud computing
Choosing a multicloud solution can save up to 74%, if you review the cost of cloud computing first. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2015
Five things to know to land a cloud architect job
Demand for cloud architects is growing in the enterprise, but competition for jobs is tough. Here are five questions to help you ace a cloud architect interview. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jul 2015
How to define hybrid cloud service-level agreements
Defining hybrid cloud service-level agreements takes more forethought and planning than traditional SLAs. Here is what you should consider. Continue Reading
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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
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Feature
20 Nov 2014
Cloud data security comes with hefty price tag
As attacks on IT systems with sensitive data continue, cloud security becomes a top concern. Users won't find the best security practices on a clearance rack. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jul 2014
Attain magical five nines availability for cloud applications
Every company seeks the magical five nines -- or 99.999% availability. If major providers can't promise it, how can you get it? Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Jun 2014
Protecting cloud networks against DDoS and DoS attacks
DDoS and DoS attacks are simple to implement but more difficult to prevent. How can these attacks on cloud services be avoided? Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Apr 2013
Cloud computing services: Lease vs. own
Many services and applications can be handled by cloud computing providers. But enterprises should look carefully at cost before deciding whether to lease or own. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Feb 2013
Security considerations for IaaS cloud
Learn about the necessary security considerations for IaaS cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jan 2013
Building redundancy into your cloud outage strategy
Any effective cloud computing strategy should include measures to protect against outages. The best defense you can have is to plan for redundancy. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2011
Defining and allocating vCloud Director resources
For IT shops configuring VMware vCloud Director, here are the first four steps needed to make the service aware of a vSphere environment. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jan 2011
Connecting to virtual servers in the cloud
For IT shops that must move content from an enterprise network or desktop to a cloud-based server, here's how to set up remote connections to virtual servers. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Mar 2010
Intrusion detection in a cloud computing environment
Make sure that your cloud computing environment is equipped to detect and respond to attacks with the appropriate intrusion detection systems. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Jan 2010
Understanding cloud compliance issues
Concerns about compliance have made companies wary of storing their data in public cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
08 Jan 2010
Understanding cloud computing pricing
Someday, cloud computing providers may simplify pricing models. But until that day, when determining total pricing for a cloud computing service, consider the services offered by the provider and how each pricing structure is worded. Continue Reading
