Cloud provider platforms and tools
When a business is ready to proceed with a cloud migration, it's prudent to consider which cloud provider platforms and tools meet business objectives and align with a staff’s skills. Hyperscale providers AWS, Azure and Google lead the market, offering ever-expanding portfolios of tools and services, but other providers deliver competitive offerings as well.
Top Stories
-
Tip
28 Nov 2022
Amazon EBS vs. EFS: An 'elastic' comparison
Elastic Block Store and Elastic File System are two of Amazon's most popular storage types. Compare how they store data before deciding which one to use. Continue Reading
-
Feature
21 Nov 2022
A preview of the AWS re:Invent 2022 agenda
With AWS re:Invent 2022 offering in-person and virtual options this year, attendees can choose from a range of interactive session types. Continue Reading
-
News
14 Nov 2022
VMware adds multi-cloud management tools
VMware debuted HCX+, a managed service for multi-cloud data centers, as well as Kubernetes capabilities for private clouds and more SD-WAN points of presence. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Nov 2022
Top public cloud providers of 2023: A brief comparison
How do AWS, Microsoft and Google stack up against each other when it comes to regions, zones, interfaces, costs and SLAs? We break down the features of these cloud providers. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Nov 2022
Protect data with these Azure Key Vault best practices
Enterprises must secure, manage and monitor Azure key vaults correctly to ensure protection. Follow these best practices to effectively protect your data. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Nov 2022
Compare AWS Global Accelerator vs. Amazon CloudFront
AWS Global Accelerator and Amazon CloudFront solve similar problems. But users must know when to use one over the other. Discover how they differ to choose the right service. Continue Reading
-
Conference Coverage
07 Nov 2022
A conference guide to AWS re:Invent 2022
Explore the latest news, product releases and technology updates, as well as analysis and expert advice from AWS re:Invent 2022 in this updating conference guide. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
01 Nov 2022
Quiz yourself on cloud computing basics
To grasp a technology, it's best to start with the basics. Take this brief cloud computing quiz to gauge your knowledge of providers, deployment models and other 101-level topics. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
20 Oct 2022
Set up a basic AWS Batch workflow with this tutorial
AWS Batch enables developers to run thousands of batches within AWS. Follow this tutorial to set up this service, create your own workflow and manage your batch environment. Continue Reading
-
News
18 Oct 2022
Oracle partners can now sell Oracle Cloud as their own
Alloy, a new infrastructure platform, lets partners and Oracle-affiliated enterprises resell OCI to customers in regulated industries or at the edge. Continue Reading
-
News
12 Oct 2022
New Google service aims to move mainframe workloads to cloud
Google Cloud wants to shift workloads and applications from banks, healthcare and other industries into the cloud with a new mainframe migration service and performance tier. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Oct 2022
Choose the right on-premises-to-cloud migration method
One of the first steps in a cloud migration is to choose a data transfer model. There are two options to consider -- online and offline -- but you need to weigh the pros and cons. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Oct 2022
Microsoft, Kyndryl deal connects Azure to IBM mainframe data
Aiming to break the mainframe out of its silo, Microsoft and Kyndryl will collaborate on allowing mainframe users to send data across multi-cloud environments. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
30 Sep 2022
How to reduce Azure costs via automation
One way for Azure customers to reduce their spending is to be sure VMs deployed in the cloud aren't running when they aren't needed. Automation can help. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
29 Sep 2022
How to set up Azure budget alerts
Azure budget alerts can be configured to your specific needs by customized email notifications regarding financial budgets. Follow this tutorial to get started. Continue Reading
-
Tip
28 Sep 2022
Implement these 6 Azure cost optimization best practices
From resource tagging to serverless deployments, there are several ways cloud admins can optimize Azure spending to stay within their company's budget. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Sep 2022
Azure cost management tools to control cloud spending
With alerts, cost analysis dashboards and other features, Azure cost management tools can help admins more clearly see their cloud usage and optimize their spending. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 Sep 2022
Compare Azure Data Factory vs. SSIS
Discover the differences between Azure Data Factory and SSIS, two ETL tools. These contrasts include key data management features, GUI layout, performance, data volumes and more. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
16 Sep 2022
Ease package management with this Azure Artifacts tutorial
An extension of the Azure DevOps service, Azure Artifacts can help developers manage and share packages to streamline the overall development process. Continue Reading
-
News
13 Sep 2022
Oracle hones in on AWS cost, multi-cloud database support
Oracle is allowing its database users to access those services on rival clouds, while aggressively pursuing AWS customers in search of lower-cost cloud infrastructure. Continue Reading
-
Tip
09 Sep 2022
Compare AWS Glue vs. Azure Data Factory
AWS Glue and Azure Data Factory have key differences despite being similar services. Learn which best suits your organization's data integration and ETL requirements. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
08 Sep 2022
How VMware Explore 2022 changed my mind
Multi-cloud and cloud-native strategies emerged as major themes at VMware Explore 2022. Explore key announcements from the conference and their impact here. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Sep 2022
Which should I choose? AWS Shield vs WAF vs Firewall Manager
AWS WAF focuses on Layer 7 protection, while Shield protects against DDoS attacks. Firewall Manager manages the protection. Learn their key features, pricing and use cases. Continue Reading
-
News
31 Aug 2022
VMware CEO reveals big changes amid multi-cloud shift
VMware plans to change products, strategic direction and marketing to keep up with customers rushing to deploy multi-cloud architectures. Continue Reading
-
News
30 Aug 2022
IBM, VMware to jointly develop services for hybrid clouds
IBM and VMware expanded their long-held partnership with a deal to provide hybrid cloud services and consulting to IT pros in regulated industries. Continue Reading
-
News
30 Aug 2022
VMware expands vSphere, vSAN for hybrid cloud enterprises
Updates to VMware's flagship vSphere and vSAN software keep pace with enterprise interest in hybrid cloud infrastructure for applications and workloads. Continue Reading
-
Tip
23 Aug 2022
Break down Azure VM pricing models and discounts
Azure offers three VM pricing models. Learn the benefits and drawbacks of each, which model works best for you and discount options to help you save. Continue Reading
-
Guest Post
17 Aug 2022
Tips for smoother, more secure cloud performance
It's easy for an unanticipated glitch to create a significant disruption to a cloud environment. To get around these pitfalls, here are some key things to watch out for. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
15 Aug 2022
An Azure Data Factory tutorial for beginners
Azure Data Factory can be used to create data pipelines to process data from multiple sources. Learn how to effectively create these pipelines within Azure Portal. Continue Reading
-
Tip
05 Aug 2022
Gain insights from Azure Advisor recommendations
Microsoft's Azure Advisor service offers recommendations based on five categories. Learn these categories and the roles they play in a cloud management strategy. Continue Reading
-
News
27 Jul 2022
Microsoft Azure revenue continues to climb, despite slowdown
Microsoft Azure revenue extended its rocket rise in the latest quarter -- but a variety of industry and geopolitical issues put a lid on the company's overall revenue growth. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
11 Jul 2022
Can HPE change what it means to use the cloud?
The latest updates to HPE GreenLake demonstrate the tech vendor's commitment to "everything-as-a-service." Will it be enough to transform the cloud computing model? Continue Reading
-
News
29 Jun 2022
IT buyers respond to HPE GreenLake cloud pitch
Tech buyers are interested in the breadth and depth of services sold through the HPE GreenLake service, but want proof of cost savings and data control. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
28 Jun 2022
How to create an EC2 instance using PowerShell
PowerShell has practical integrations that provide users with cross-platform capabilities. Get to know prerequisites and resources to create an EC2 instance using PowerShell. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
07 Jun 2022
What the Broadcom-VMware acquisition means for cloud users
How will the Broadcom acquisition affect VMware's cloud strategy? As-a-service models, observability and partnerships are some key factors to consider. Continue Reading
-
Tip
19 May 2022
Evaluate key Azure Data Factory benefits and limitations
Organizations have plenty of options for data integration tools, some on premises and others in the cloud. Find out which type is the better fit and whether Azure is a good choice. Continue Reading
-
Tip
18 May 2022
What is multi-cloud visibility, and how do I achieve it?
It's not always clear how visibility relates to monitoring or observability or how these terms fit together in a multi-cloud environment. Let's sort it out. Continue Reading
-
News
13 May 2022
IBM steps up its cloud partnership strategy with AWS deal
Still lagging behind the Big Three in the cloud market, IBM hopes its coopetition partnership agreement with AWS will help close down the market share gap. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
12 May 2022
Examine IBM's hybrid cloud strategy
IBM's focus on hybrid cloud efforts, including Cloud Paks and OpenShift, makes for a competitive option. See if its strategy fits your enterprise needs. Continue Reading
-
Feature
10 May 2022
8 native Google Cloud management tools admins should know
IT teams can use a range of native management and monitoring tools from Google to ensure their public cloud deployments are reliable and cost-effective. Continue Reading
-
Tip
02 May 2022
Why and how to enable Azure Backup Instant Restore
Azure Backup Instant Restore has minimal wait time, is set at a modest price and has backup options via policies. Learn how to configure this service to restore failed VMs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Apr 2022
Follow these examples to use CloudWatch Logs Insights
CloudWatch Logs Insights helps organizations gain insights from a deluge of log data on applications and services. Learn how to implement key features. Continue Reading
-
Feature
21 Apr 2022
Azure surpasses AWS for some enterprise cloud uses
Flexera's new 'State of the Cloud Report' puts Azure ahead of AWS for the first time as enterprise IT pros' preferred public cloud, but analysts say AWS still leads the market. Continue Reading
-
Tip
20 Apr 2022
How to launch an EC2 instance using Terraform
With Terraform, developers can lean on familiar coding practices to provision the underlying resources for their applications. Follow these steps to use the IaC tool to create an Amazon EC2 instance. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
19 Apr 2022
Steps to launch an EC2 instance using AWS CloudFormation
Admins can use AWS CloudFormation templates and resource stacks to deploy an EC2 instance using an infrastructure-as-code approach. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 Apr 2022
How cost and complexity factor into AWS DR strategies
To choose the right AWS disaster recovery plan, understand how much downtime your business can tolerate -- and how DR scenarios affect your monthly costs. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
06 Apr 2022
Use the AWS CLI to create an EC2 instance
IT admins can use the AWS CLI to launch and manage EC2 instances. Follow these steps to learn how. Continue Reading
-
Tip
18 Mar 2022
Compare high availability vs. fault tolerance in AWS
To achieve high availability and fault tolerance in AWS, IT admins must first understand the differences between the two models. Continue Reading
-
Tip
17 Mar 2022
Compare Amazon ECS vs. EKS
Amazon ECS and EKS are similar, but their differences are enough to set them apart for AWS users. Learn which best fits your needs in terms of flexibility, pricing and more. Continue Reading
-
News
16 Mar 2022
Oracle Cloud adds ZFS high availability, block provisioning
New storage additions such as Flexible Block Volumes and high availability for ZFS grow Oracle's cloud platform to compete against public cloud giants like AWS. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
11 Mar 2022
How to create an EC2 instance from AWS Console
AWS has made launching EC2 instances an easy task, but there are still many steps to the final result. Learn how to successfully create an EC2 instance from AWS Console. Continue Reading
-
Tip
04 Mar 2022
Stay online with these 5 AWS disaster recovery best practices
Solve disasters in an AWS deployment by having a disaster recovery strategy in place. Learn how to pick the right recovery methods and prevent more problems. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Mar 2022
Compare Azure instance types for cloud workloads
Deciding on the best Azure compute instance type for a cloud workload involves many choices. Use these tips to help select the right size VM, optimized for the right tasks. Continue Reading
-
Tip
01 Mar 2022
Compare DigitalOcean vs. Vultr for cloud deployments
Sometimes a cloud provider that isn't a big name can be just what you're looking for. Vultr and DigitalOcean are such two providers, and here's how they compare. Continue Reading
-
Tip
24 Feb 2022
Compare Azure Bicep vs. Terraform to provision infrastructure
In comparing Azure Bicep vs Terraform, Azure cloud admins can make an informed decision on which IaC service they want to use to automate deployment of their cloud. Continue Reading
-
Feature
24 Feb 2022
Top 10 PaaS providers of 2022 and what they offer you
PaaS is a good option for developers who want control over application hosting and simplified app deployment, but not all PaaS tools offer the same feature set. Continue Reading
-
News
17 Feb 2022
Akamai aims Linode acquisition at improving edge services
Akamai's $900 million acquisition of IaaS vendor Linode would add a distributed computing platform to Akamai's content delivery network. The deal is expected to close this quarter. Continue Reading
-
Tip
15 Feb 2022
Use Amazon CloudWatch metrics to monitor Aurora
Application owners need to know the vital metrics that affect database health. CloudWatch and DevOps Guru monitor Amazon Aurora performance to give users valuable insights. Continue Reading
-
Tip
03 Feb 2022
When to use Amazon RDS vs. Redshift
Let's look at the similarities and differences between Amazon RDS and Redshift. Discover key factors, such as price and scalability, to consider in the database choice. Continue Reading
-
Tip
01 Feb 2022
Compare Google Cloud Run vs. App Engine for enterprise software
Google's Cloud Run and App Engine both aim to accelerate app development and simplify deployment. Developers will want to choose between the services on a case-by-case basis. Continue Reading
-
Tip
31 Jan 2022
Dig into Oracle Cloud's Always Free offerings
Oracle's Always Free services let developers build and experiment with cloud-native apps without incurring costs. There are, however, important limitations to note. Continue Reading
-
News
07 Dec 2021
Major Amazon Web Services outage downs businesses, services
An AWS outage slowed or took offline popular websites and services for several hours. The outage reportedly disrupted parent company Amazon's package delivery service. Continue Reading
-
Tip
16 Nov 2021
What are the main features of Azure Storage Explorer?
With Azure Storage Explorer, cloud admins can centrally manage storage accounts and resources. Here are some key features to tap into. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Nov 2021
How to create an AWS Lambda function
Many developers are turning to AWS Lambda as an alternative to EC2 instances. Here are two ways to create a Lambda function. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Oct 2021
Compare products within the Azure Stack portfolio
Azure Stack Hub, Azure Stack HCI and Azure Stack Edge all support a hybrid cloud architecture. Learn their key differences in terms of form factor, management options and more. Continue Reading
-
Tip
18 Oct 2021
Break down the different AWS Graviton2 instance types
AWS Graviton2 processors power a range of EC2 instance types. To select the right one, consider an application's specific compute, memory and storage requirements. Continue Reading
-
Tip
30 Sep 2021
When to use Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling vs. AWS Auto Scaling
They sound similar, but Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling and AWS Auto Scaling have different purposes. Let's break down what each enables you to do and how exactly they differ. Continue Reading
-
Tip
21 Sep 2021
How to avoid 4 common errors in EC2 Instance Connect
The EC2 Instance Connect feature enables users to securely connect instances, but there are certain pitfalls to avoid. Here are some issues to look out for. Continue Reading
-
News
02 Sep 2021
Verizon, Microsoft partner on 5G edge
The alliance connects Verizon's 5G Edge mobile edge computing platform with Microsoft's Azure Stack Edge cloud computing product. Verizon has a similar deal with AWS. Continue Reading
-
Tip
10 Aug 2021
Compare Azure Private Link vs. service endpoints
When dealing with PaaS services running within a cloud environment, private connectivity is a must to secure resources. Compare these two services to see which one is a good fit. Continue Reading
-
News
06 Jul 2021
DoD scraps politically fraught $10B JEDI cloud deal
The Pentagon's $10 billion cloud contract with Microsoft is no more. The DoD will solicit bids from Microsoft and AWS for a new pact called Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
01 Jul 2021
Get Azure Fundamentals exam practice with this quick quiz
Getting officially certified in MS Azure Fundamentals is a career-booster. This 12-question quiz will help assess your readiness for this key professional exam. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Jun 2021
AWS Outposts: What you need to know to get started
AWS Outposts is a managed device that brings Amazon cloud services into your data center. Review its requirements, use cases and a step-by-step guide to the installation process. Continue Reading
-
Tip
02 Jun 2021
An introduction to AWS IAM best practices
Follow this AWS IAM overview to better understand Amazon's core access management service. Implement these tips to get the most out of this foundational security service. Continue Reading
-
News
25 May 2021
Oracle's new Arm-based cloud instances target penny pinchers
Oracle enters the Arm-based processor market alongside other top-tier cloud providers to improve price-performance for cloud app development. Continue Reading
-
Tip
07 May 2021
Get started on AWS with this developer tutorial for beginners
Kick-start your AWS cloud developer journey with this breakdown of essential services, deployment options and other cloud basics you'll need to get started. Continue Reading
-
Answer
29 Apr 2021
Google Anthos features and updates
Review the latest improvements to Google's hybrid cloud platform, such as bolstered multi-cloud and on-premises support. Here are the Anthos updates you won't want to miss. Continue Reading
-
Feature
26 Apr 2021
Tips to prepare for Google Cloud Architect certification
Author of 'Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect All-in-One Exam Guide' Iman Ghanizada explains how to approach the cloud architect certification and role in this Q&A. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
21 Apr 2021
Elastic vs. AWS highlights open source monetization dilemma
The fight between AWS and Elastic over the commercial usage of Elasticsearch highlights how open source software vendors need to change in the era of cloud computing. Continue Reading
-
News
23 Mar 2021
Amazon taps Tableau CEO Selipsky to lead AWS
Amazon has named a familiar face to lead AWS in Tableau CEO Adam Selipsky. AWS is poised for massive growth under his leadership. Continue Reading
-
Tip
12 Mar 2021
Compare Amazon VPC vs. Azure VNet for private networking
Evaluate the core private networking services from AWS and Azure to see which one could best serve your organization's needs. Continue Reading
-
Tip
26 Feb 2021
How to create snapshots for Azure VMs and managed disks
Learn best practices for creating VM snapshots in Microsoft Azure. Follow along with these step-by-step examples to try in your Azure environment. Continue Reading
-
Feature
17 Feb 2021
How providers' industry-specific cloud offerings impact IT
Vertical industry offerings are a trend among the leading cloud providers. IT teams will have to learn to adapt to the complications and changes these efforts will spark. Continue Reading
-
Tutorial
05 Feb 2021
Build a custom VM image for Azure deployments
Follow this step-by-step guide to create a custom virtual machine image for Microsoft Azure deployments. Continue Reading
-
News
27 Jan 2021
Microsoft cloud revenues soar on digital transformation trend
Momentum for Microsoft Azure continues to build with the company reporting a 50% increase in sales of the cloud platform, helping lift sales of the company's other cloud offerings. Continue Reading
-
Tip
27 Jan 2021
How to develop a cloud backup ransomware protection strategy
Deploying cloud backups for ransomware protection has become a common security strategy. Here's how to properly vet cloud storage vendors to ensure backups stay secure. Continue Reading
-
Tip
11 Jan 2021
Review these 7 CASB vendors to best secure cloud access
CASB technology offers threat protection, increased visibility and policy enforcement. Explore how these seven vendors stack up and protect access to cloud applications. Continue Reading
-
Feature
11 Jan 2021
Explore CASB use cases before you decide to buy
CASB tools help secure cloud applications so only authorized users have access. Discover more about this rapidly evolving technology and its use cases. Continue Reading
-
Feature
21 Dec 2020
Top cloud computing tips of 2020
As the saying goes, hindsight is 20/20. Check out the articles that caught the attention of IT pros this year and learn what that says about the current state of the market. Continue Reading
-
Feature
18 Dec 2020
Re:Invent recap: Week 3
Another re:Invent is -- mostly -- in the books. Check out the highlights from the third week of the virtual conference, including product news and thoughts from AWS leadership. Continue Reading
-
Feature
04 Dec 2020
Re:Invent recap: Week 1
AWS' annual December deluge is in full swing. Check out this recap of all that happened in week one of re:Invent as you get up to speed on the biggest conference in cloud. Continue Reading
-
Tip
04 Dec 2020
Analyze Google's cloud computing strategy
After a few false starts, Google has taken a different, more open approach to cloud computing than AWS and Azure. Let's take a look at this strategy and roadmap to date. Continue Reading
-
News
01 Dec 2020
AWS re:Invent 2020 underscores push toward cloud in pandemic
AWS re:Invent 2020 launches with a slew of public cloud news announcements, as well as new motions by the company toward hybrid and multi-cloud scenarios. Continue Reading
-
Answer
23 Nov 2020
What is the difference between Amazon MSK and Kinesis?
When it comes to data stream processing and analysis, AWS offers Amazon Kinesis or a managed version of Apache Kafka. Compare these two options to pick the best fit for your app. Continue Reading
-
Feature
20 Nov 2020
Cognito user pools vs. identity pools -- what AWS users should know
Familiarize yourself with user pools and identity pools in Amazon Cognito and learn how to better protect your workloads in a cloud environment. Continue Reading
-
Feature
27 Oct 2020
A list of AWS networking services cloud users should know
Get to know AWS cloud networking services for load balancing, traffic routing, content delivery and more with this overview. Continue Reading
-
Quiz
13 Oct 2020
Test your knowledge with this Microsoft Azure cloud quiz
Fancy yourself a Microsoft Azure cloud expert? Put your knowledge to the test with this quiz on Azure services, tools and recent market news. Continue Reading
-
Feature
25 Sep 2020
The cloud shared responsibility model for IaaS, PaaS and SaaS
The shared responsibility model defines cloud security, but it changes for IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. Get to know the ins and outs of cloud security and learn exactly what your company is responsible for. Continue Reading
-
Opinion
08 Sep 2020
How can AWS, Azure and GCP increase cloud market share?
The Big Three dominate the cloud market, but they all have room for improvement. See what each vendor needs to do to increase its market share and attract more enterprises. Continue Reading
-
Feature
31 Aug 2020
See if Azure Arc fits in your hybrid and multi-cloud strategy
Azure Arc is central to Microsoft's hybrid cloud strategy. Discover how it compares to competing services from AWS and Google and see where it might be headed next. Continue Reading
-
Feature
27 Aug 2020
Get a quick rundown of 12 cloud developer tools from AWS
With so many available options, it can be difficult to keep track of all the developer tools AWS has to offer. Check out 12 tools that are a part of AWS' toolkit. Continue Reading
-
Answer
13 Aug 2020
When should I use Amazon RDS vs. Aurora Serverless?
Before choosing between Aurora Serverless and Amazon RDS, consider each service's benefits and limitations to ensure you find the right use case and stick to your cloud budget. Continue Reading