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
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Tip
26 Jul 2024
How to improve the contact center experience for customers
Customers want their contact center interactions to be fast, seamless, tailored and personal in the form of mobile apps, self-service, improved IVR and knowledgeable human agents. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Jul 2024
Explore options for FinOps certifications and training
Receiving a FinOps certification helps individuals develop their cloud financial management skills. Discover training and certification options that can help your resume stand out. Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Aug 2020
10 cloud computing experts you should follow
Get up to speed on what's happening in the cloud by following some of the top voices in the industry, including those who are building the technologies and other industry experts. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Aug 2020
Use this Amazon Cognito review to assess authentication tools
Amazon Cognito isn't as user-friendly as some competitors, but it does offer some unique advantages. Explore the pros, cons and alternatives for Cognito. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Aug 2020
Top 5 cloud news stories of 2020 -- so far
As cloud outages and acquisitions rolled on in early 2020, it seemed like the news cycle would never slow down. Review the top news articles to prepare for the rest of the year. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Aug 2020
4 tips to pick the right cloud database service
Before you migrate your data to the cloud, evaluate your cloud database options. Use these guidelines to choose the right database offering for your enterprise. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2020
How Azure, AWS, Google handle data destruction in the cloud
Data destruction is a topic that has been poorly covered until recently. Regardless of which cloud service provider you use, this review of the top three CSPs' data destruction documentation should improve your due diligence. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jun 2020
AWS Savings Plans vs. Reserved Instances, explained
AWS Savings Plans offer discounted EC2 rates to help reduce your AWS bill and compute costs. Learn why Savings Plans are a good alternative to Reserved Instances. Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Jun 2020
AWS, Microsoft and Google should retire these cloud services
Nothing lasts forever. Whether they've been supplanted by newer offerings or simply outlived their usefulness, these cloud services on AWS, Azure and GCP are ready to be retired. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 May 2020
10 open source cloud security tools to know
While cloud providers offer native security tools, there also are plenty of useful open source options. Here's a sample of open source tools for cloud security. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 May 2020
Identify the Google Cloud developer tools you need
Developers want more from their cloud than APIs and services; they want tools to accelerate and improve the app dev lifecycle. Use this rundown to assess Google Cloud's developer tool set. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 May 2020
How to deploy Terraform code in an Azure DevOps pipeline
Automation in the cloud will not only make you move faster, it will do so in an efficient way. Learn how to create an Azure DevOps pipeline with Terraform code. Continue Reading
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Answer
21 May 2020
What is the difference between AKS and Azure Service Fabric?
Azure users have a few ways to manage containers on Microsoft's cloud. Learn when and why to pick between two of them -- AKS and Service Fabric. Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2020
VMware Cloud Foundation to run on new Google Cloud service
VMware and Google signed their second deal in less than a year, this time to support VMware Cloud Foundation workloads on Google Cloud. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 May 2020
How do I store secrets in AWS so they don't appear in my code?
To secure a cloud environment, IT teams must keep their application's secrets under wraps. Learn how AWS users can keep sensitive information out of their code with tools like Secrets Manager. Continue Reading
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Answer
07 May 2020
How do I apply ECS auto scaling to my containerized apps?
Break down ECS auto scaling options for container-based applications on AWS. Learn how to automatically scale at the service and cluster level to match user demand. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Apr 2020
12 AWS security tools to protect your environment and accounts
AWS manages the security of the cloud, but it's your job to secure your data in the cloud. Continue Reading
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Video
07 Apr 2020
Get started with this AWS IoT tutorial for beginners
Learn how to connect a device to AWS IoT Core in this video tutorial. Go through the IoT connection, workflow and security process to get your fleet of devices up and running. Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2020
AWS security options grow with Amazon Detective
AWS has released Amazon Detective, a managed threat hunting service that generates visualizations out of log data from native Amazon Web Services. Continue Reading
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Infographic
31 Mar 2020
Follow the evolution of AWS Lambda
AWS Lambda sparked the rise of serverless computing in the cloud. Explore how the function-as-a-service platform developed over time with this infographic. Continue Reading
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Infographic
31 Mar 2020
Use this EC2 instance type comparison to power your AWS apps
To get the most out of AWS, organizations need to get the most out of their EC2 instances. Use this infographic to help choose the right AWS instance type and pricing plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Mar 2020
How to protect and manage Azure Pipelines secrets with Key Vault
Follow along with this Azure Key Vault tutorial to securely manage passwords and other sensitive information in an Azure DevOps pipeline. Continue Reading
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Video
05 Mar 2020
Watch this Azure Arc tutorial on hybrid cloud management
Get to know Microsoft's hybrid cloud service. Learn to use Azure Arc to connect a local machine to Azure, apply configuration policies and check configurations. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2020
Get to know the core Oracle IaaS offerings
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure may not be for everyone, but it does have its appeal for certain workloads. Learn about the core IaaS tools that act as the service's foundation. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Feb 2020
Learn how to negotiate your way to Azure cost savings
Discover how to counter Microsoft's sales playbook. ClearEdge Partners licensing specialist Steve Paradis explains how to navigate your next negotiation and get the best price for Azure. Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Feb 2020
Lower your cloud bill with these AWS cost control tips
Without an AWS cost management strategy in place, cloud bills can spiral out of control. Explore these tools and best practices to optimize your AWS spending. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2020
Google adds single-tenant cloud options to court enterprises
Google Cloud has added more features to its single-tenant cloud deployment option, such as live migration for Windows BYOL scenarios, that cater to the needs of certain workloads. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2020
Use these CloudWatch features to improve AWS app monitoring
Amazon CloudWatch ServiceLens, Synthetics and Contributor Insights give users more ways to monitor their AWS applications. Find out how these features work before you get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2020
AWS Local Zones offers low latency, with clear limitations
Get to know Local Zones, the AWS infrastructure deployment service built for customers that need to run low-latency applications in specific areas far from AWS Regions. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jan 2020
Learn best practices for cloud automation on Microsoft Azure
Check out these best practices for workload automation on Microsoft Azure. Review the tools and techniques that can free your IT team to focus on more important responsibilities. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2020
A look at AWS antipatterns: What not to do in the cloud
In this Q&A, Clive Harber, co-author of "Implementing Cloud Design Patterns for AWS," breaks down why traditional enterprises sometimes struggle to establish efficient cloud design patterns. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
AWS multi-account management best practices with Control Tower
With the help of AWS Control Tower, organizations who own and operate multiple cloud accounts can manage them all under one roof -- but not without challenges. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Beat vendor lock-in with a cloud exit strategy
Without a comprehensive cloud exit strategy, an organization might fall victim to vendor lock-in and find itself dependent on proprietary tools and services. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2020
Google Cloud support premium tier woos enterprise customers
Google Cloud has rolled out a new Premium Support offering aimed at deep-pocketed enterprises with larger, more complex implementations. Experts say the timing is right. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jan 2020
IBM Power Systems lands on Google Cloud
Google Cloud has added IBM Power Systems to its lineup of instance types. It's available via monthly subscription and could appeal to customers moving SAP apps onto the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Jan 2020
Niche cloud providers take on market giants
Choose the cloud that best fits your enterprise's needs. While one of the Big Three may seem like the most logical choice, a niche vendor might actually serve your needs better. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2020
AWS Serverless Application Repository explained
To address the needs of its serverless users, AWS released its Serverless Application Repository. Explore the ways users can benefit and a few best practices everyone should follow when they use this feature. Continue Reading
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Video
27 Dec 2019
Learn to run a CI pipeline with this Google Cloud Build tutorial
Follow this Google Cloud Build tutorial to build a continuous integration pipeline in Google Cloud. Incorporate Cloud Build with Cloud Source Repositories to make it work. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Dec 2019
Use these 8 tools to deploy microservices on Azure
IT teams deploy microservices to quickly build and scale apps, but it can get complicated fast. Check out these Microsoft Azure tools and best practices to get started the right way. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Dec 2019
Get started with Azure tags
The more Azure resources an organization consumes, the harder it becomes to track those resources. Proper tagging can help manage and automate workloads, as well as control costs. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Dec 2019
How to evaluate CASB tools for multi-cloud deployments
When it comes to evaluating CASB tools, it's essential to be an informed customer. Identify your organization's usage and security goals to get the context you need before you buy. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Dec 2019
Review these Azure Service Bus best practices
When applications talk, you need to listen. Learn about Microsoft's cloud messaging service, its main features, best practices to follow and practical applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Nov 2019
Decipher how and when to utilize the Azure logging options
Logging is a big piece of the cloud management puzzle. Do you know which logs to track in Azure Monitor, and when to use them? Learn more about Azure log types and best practices. Continue Reading
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News
19 Nov 2019
Google boosts VMware public cloud support with CloudSimple buy
Google has acquired CloudSimple to get a slice of the VMware public cloud deployment market. Indications are that CloudSimple will continue to support Google's rival Azure as well. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Nov 2019
A primer on Alibaba Cloud for enterprises outside of APAC
When Western cloud users think of major cloud providers, it's typically the top three: AWS, Google Cloud Platform and Microsoft Azure. But what about the world's fourth largest cloud provider? Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2019
Microsoft cybersecurity training to become mandatory for its workers
Microsoft's cybersecurity training program, which uses AI-powered tools to reinforce learning, is mandated for all employees. It will also be launched in a version for customers. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2019
IBM's financial services cloud offers developer opportunity
IBM hopes to bring developers to its new financial services cloud that runs on the IBM Cloud platform and uses Red Hat OpenShift as its Kubernetes environment. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Nov 2019
Integrate applications with these 4 Azure integration tools
Integration can ensure consistent and scalable workflows in cloud applications, even connected to on-premises resources. Evaluate tools and services Azure offers for the task. Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2019
Microsoft Azure Arc faces cautiously interested user base
The hybrid cloud offering, announced this week at Ignite, will let users manage across multi-cloud, on-premises and edge environments -- but is it relevant? Customers weigh in. Continue Reading
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Tip
04 Nov 2019
How Google Cloud Composer manages workflow orchestration
Before users get started with Google Cloud Composer, a workflow orchestration service, they need to grasp key concepts of the Apache Airflow software that underpins it, including DAGs. Continue Reading
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News
04 Nov 2019
Microsoft hybrid cloud strategy expands with Azure Arc
Azure Arc will bring Microsoft's public cloud management tools together for use by customers on any type of infrastructure. The move underscores the drive toward hybrid cloud deployments as customer needs evolve. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Oct 2019
Google Cloud Anthos
Google Cloud Anthos is a hybrid, cloud-agnostic container environment. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2019
Licensing changes reveal Microsoft's cloud strategy
IT analysts share insights on the Microsoft licensing updates, and what it says about the on-premises giant's push for Azure adoption and the impact on current and future workloads. Continue Reading
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News
29 Oct 2019
Microsoft JEDI contract leaves AWS to weigh its options
Losing the $10 billion JEDI cloud computing contract to Microsoft forces AWS to consider its next steps in trying to reverse the government's surprise decision. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Oct 2019
Get up to speed on Azure's serverless functionality
With so many serverless tools on the market, it can be difficult to pick the right one. Review some of the features of Azure serverless options to help you choose. Continue Reading
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News
26 Oct 2019
Microsoft wins $10 billion JEDI contract over AWS
In a surprise move, the DOD has awarded Microsoft, not AWS, its controversial JEDI cloud computing contract. The deal has a price tag of up to $10 billion over 10 years. Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2019
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to add 2,000 jobs in bid for growth
Oracle plans to hire 2,000 workers to boost Oracle Cloud Infrastructure IaaS. It’s part of an aggressive global expansion as Oracle seeks to differentiate from AWS and others. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Sep 2019
An Azure subscription management how-to
Subscriptions are not as black and white as they seem. Review the concepts, roles and challenges involved when planning and managing subscriptions for Azure. Continue Reading
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Video
27 Sep 2019
Get started with this Azure cloud migration tool
There are a lot of moving parts to a cloud migration, which leaves a lot of room for error. Follow Douglas Francis as he demonstrates how to seamlessly migrate to Microsoft Azure. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2019
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure SVP shares competitive strategy
Former AWS engineer Clay Magouyrk was one of the first people Oracle hired to build OCI and says Oracle has plenty of time -- and a solid strategy -- to catch up to competitors. Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2019
Early Oracle Cloud Infrastructure customers take its measure
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is seeing early adoption from a diverse array of customers, although OCI's market share remains modest compared to AWS, Microsoft and Google. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2019
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure updates hone in on security
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure is getting a multifaceted security boost as the company seeks to gain ground against AWS, Microsoft and Google for enterprise IaaS workloads. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2019
Oracle and VMware forge new IaaS cloud partnership
Joint Oracle and VMware customers will soon be able to run VMware Cloud Foundation on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, with support from Oracle. Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Sep 2019
What are the best criteria to use to evaluate cloud service providers?
Many cloud providers are tight-lipped about internal security control details. Learn how to evaluate cloud security providers with certifications and third-party assessments. Continue Reading
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News
28 Aug 2019
Microsoft Azure edge site expansion targets cloud latency
Microsoft will expand its edge site footprint for Azure networking, a move that should help lower latency for cloud applications. Continue Reading
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News
21 Aug 2019
Oracle's IaaS, cloud database in the spotlight at OpenWorld
This year's Oracle OpenWorld should provide answers for customers eager to understand its plans for IaaS, cloud databases, AI and machine learning. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Aug 2019
Compare Google Cloud Firestore and Firebase Realtime Database
Managed NoSQL databases are increasingly popular for app development. Compare two such options from Google -- Realtime Database and Cloud Firestore -- to see if they meet your needs. Continue Reading
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News
07 Aug 2019
Microsoft licensing terms change will impact some cloud customers
Microsoft customers who want to deploy its software on dedicated cloud hosts, including Microsoft Azure, face new licensing terms as of Oct. 1. Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2019
VMware on Google Cloud deal gives users another choice
VMware's deal with Google is the latest among top-tier players supporting each other's cloud. The question now is: How will Microsoft and IBM-Red Hat respond? Continue Reading
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Video
28 Jun 2019
How to build Azure Functions with PowerShell
Follow along with Anthony Howell as he gives a step-by-step demonstration to help you use PowerShell to kick start your Azure Functions app. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2019
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure seeks a spot in the IaaS market
Don't count out Oracle IaaS before knowing what it has to offer. Learn where Oracle Cloud Infrastructure excels and what to expect from this public cloud offering. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jun 2019
Microsoft Azure AD complements Active Directory
Azure users have a cloud-based version of Active Directory at their fingertips, but it's not a carbon copy of the on-premises version. Learn how to use the services in tandem. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Jun 2019
What do the top cloud security providers offer in 2019?
Cloud security providers need to play catch-up with the evolving advancements in cloud technology. Find out what the top CSPs offer today and which one is right for you. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jun 2019
Evaluate the Azure serverless tools to ease deployment anxiety
So you want to build a serverless application on Microsoft Azure? Explore the tools and features that support those apps and determine how you want to manage your eventflow. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2019
Deploy Azure low-priority VMs -- strategically
Microsoft's low-priority VMs come with big savings -- and a catch. Learn how to incorporate them into your cost optimization efforts and see how they stack up to the competition. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2019
Oracle, Microsoft forge cloud pact
Once bitter arch rivals, Oracle and Microsoft have formed an alliance around cloud interoperability, which is good for customers and both vendors. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2019
Microsoft gives developers a sneak peek into Azure updates
Here's a look at three of the Azure-related projects developers got a glimpse of at Build, including a new open source project. Continue Reading
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News
07 May 2019
Microsoft expands Azure cloud database options
A raft of expansions across Microsoft's Azure cloud database tier adds capabilities that target high-end workloads and shops that prefer open source options. Continue Reading
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Guide
22 Apr 2019
Guide to Google Cloud Platform services in the enterprise
This Google Cloud Platform guide brings admins and developers up to speed on the vendor's portfolio following Google Cloud Next '19 and offers best practices to deploy and manage Google VMs, containers and more. Continue Reading
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News
19 Apr 2019
Steep Google Anthos pricing geared toward large enterprises
Google Anthos is the company's multi-cloud management play, but customers and prospects should mull the full picture when it comes to cost. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
17 Apr 2019
Microsoft Build 2019 agenda reveals .NET, Azure insights
Microsoft's Build conference for developers and IT operations professionals is just a few weeks away, but a close look at the session catalog reveals clues to the event's likely highlights. Here's ... Continue Reading
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News
11 Apr 2019
Google expands Windows support with managed SQL Server
Google's decision to add SQL Server to its Cloud SQL family of managed database services is an appeal to Google Cloud Platform customers with ample Windows workloads. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
10 Apr 2019
Google Cloud CEO Kurian conducts enterprise-savvy concert at Google Next
Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian's keynote at the Google Next show delivered a measured balance aimed to resonate with large enterprises as they weigh various cloud strategy options. Continue Reading
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Opinion
10 Apr 2019
Google Cloud Next 2019: End user computing news
BeyondCorp gets revamped and more Google Cloud security product announcements. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 Apr 2019
Must-attend cloud conferences in the second half of 2019
Ready to expand your knowledge and skill sets? Check out these popular cloud conferences from April to December 2019. Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2019
CEO switch continues BMC's multi-cloud management push
BMC has reappointed company veteran Bob Beauchamp as CEO as it forges ahead with a strategic shift into multi-cloud management tools and away from its ITSM roots. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2019
Get started with Google Cloud Deployment Manager
Deployment Manager is Google's infrastructure-as-code tool. Learn about its features and how to automate use of resources such as Compute Engine, GKE and BigQuery. Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2019
Azure Anomaly Detector service spots business data deviations
Microsoft's Anomaly Detector service for Azure applies AI to customers' time-series data sets to find deviations or patterns that suggest problems. But humans still have the final say. Continue Reading
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News
19 Mar 2019
Expansions to VMware Cloud on AWS continue hybrid cloud push
Wider availability of VMware Cloud on AWS to 13 worldwide regions, along with VMware's adjusted software release cadence, reflects the realities of the cloud and hybrid cloud world. Continue Reading
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News
01 Mar 2019
Azure Sentinel adds AI-driven SIEM for cloud security
Azure Sentinel, Microsoft's take on a security information and event management platform, relies on AI for threat detection and competes with the likes of Splunk. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Feb 2019
Explore FAQs on Azure subscription management
For some IT teams, particularly those new to Microsoft's public cloud, Azure subscriptions spark a number of pressing questions related to billing, resource management and more. Continue Reading
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News
20 Feb 2019
Google buys Alooma to bolster its cloud data migration chops
Google Cloud will acquire Israeli startup Alooma in a bid to add to its data migration portfolio. The move follows last year's acquisition of cloud migration vendor Velostrata. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
14 Feb 2019
Google cloud head Kurian tips off future Google cloud plans
Thomas Kurian has kept a low profile since he replaced Diane Greene as CEO of Google's cloud division -- until now. The longtime former Oracle executive spoke publicly for the first time as ... Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2019
How to replicate Azure resources for speed, agility
There isn't a one-click tool to quickly clone full-stack application environments in Microsoft Azure, but these techniques can make the process easier. Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2019
Cisco expands CloudCenter for multi-cloud management
Cisco hopes additions and changes to its CloudCenter software will appeal to companies that want to work with multiple clouds. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2019
Google Cloud certifications fuel race for cloud talent
Google has expanded its cloud certification program to include tests for developers, security, networking and G Suite. Continue Reading
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Quiz
21 Dec 2018
Test your knowledge of 2018 cloud acquisitions
To extend their offerings, top cloud providers made numerous acquisitions in 2018. Take this quiz to see if you remember some of the biggest deals that went down. Continue Reading
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News
17 Dec 2018
GitLab Serverless augments developers' multi-cloud toolbox
GitLab has added multi-cloud serverless computing capabilities to its CI/CD tool set through a partnership with TriggerMesh. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2018
Microsoft ups its AI game with Azure Machine Learning service
Microsoft looks to keep up in the AI race with a machine learning service that competes with offerings from AWS and Google, among others. Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2018
Azure database updates court on-premises installed base
Microsoft hopes a series of features, deployment options and price changes can convince more customers to migrate their database workloads to Azure and not to rival clouds. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2018
IBM multi-cloud portfolio grows with more tools, acquisitions
IBM continues to build out its multi-cloud management portfolio, but it's still far from alone in a highly competitive market. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Nov 2018
Google Cloud Filestore lends itself to legacy enterprise apps
Among other uses, Google's cloud file storage service can simplify the migration of legacy apps to the cloud. Learn about its main features, and how it compares to the competition. Continue Reading