Multi-cloud strategies
Multi-cloud strategies typically involve at least two public, infrastructure-as-a-service platforms from different providers. This deployment model can minimize downtime and maximize service options, but it also adds management complexity. Explore ways to combat common multi-cloud challenges, including with third-party management tools.
Top Stories
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News
25 Jan 2022
IBM hybrid cloud strategy driving revenue growth
IBM revenue for its hybrid cloud business showed little indication of slowing down, with the company reporting sales of $6.2 billion for the fourth quarter and $20 billion for 2021. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Nov 2021
9 cloud migration security considerations and challenges
Cloud migration may seem daunting to security teams. Follow these essential practices to safely and successfully migrate infrastructure and applications. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Nov 2021
How to transition to the cloud: 7 best practices
The cloud can help improve an app's performance and cost, but businesses need to plan for success. Follow these best practices to ensure cloud migration success. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2021
12 key steps for a successful cloud migration
Ready to move your on-premises apps to the cloud? From rehosting vs. redesigning to testing and monitoring, follow these key steps for a successful cloud migration. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Nov 2021
Top cloud migration and adoption trends for 2022 and beyond
Cloud migrations are inevitable for some enterprises as they navigate a move off premises or between clouds. Evaluate some of the latest migration trends and the pros and cons that come with each. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Nov 2021
3 factors that influence multi-cloud cost optimization
Without careful oversight, multi-cloud deployments can be costly. These data management and security practices can help IT teams control and reduce monthly costs. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Nov 2021
How to overcome 3 multi-tenancy security issues
Explore three major multi-tenancy security challenges and how to fix them, including lack of visibility, privilege overallocation and poor data security management. Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
Aruba introduces the distributed data center switch
Aruba's CX distributed switch, available in January, provides security through the embedded Pensando ASICs. Services powered by the chips include load balancing and a firewall. Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
Google adds hardware flexibility to distributed cloud
Google Distributed Cloud Edge, available in preview, takes the company's cloud computing infrastructure to the private data center, colocation facility or a remote location. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Sep 2021
Best practices and tools for public cloud monitoring
Public cloud adoption has ramped up in recent years. In these busy environments, certain cloud network monitoring tools can provide IT groups with crucial visibility. Continue Reading
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News
09 Sep 2021
Exium offers 5G network security to IBM EAM
Exium is IBM's latest partner in 5G network security. Enterprises have the option of using Exium's network as a service with the IBM Edge Application Manager. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Sep 2021
9 IBM Cloud Paks for app modernization and cloud efforts
While businesses seek benefits in outsourced and scalable infrastructure and services, moving to cloud creates challenges in workload modernization. See if IBM Cloud Paks can help. Continue Reading
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Feature
02 Sep 2021
Multi-cloud vs. hybrid cloud similarities and differences
Organizations sometimes struggle to understand the difference between hybrid cloud and multi-cloud. Check out this video and tips to get familiar with these architectures. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
10 Aug 2021
4 common traps to avoid in a multi-cloud strategy
Multi-cloud strategies are popular, but they do require planning and management. Review some ways to sidestep these four potential pitfalls. Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
HPE bolsters GreenLake with support for Microsoft Azure Stack
HPE took another step toward its goal of being mainly a software-as-a-services company by 2022 with new services for GreenLake and several partnerships, including Microsoft. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 May 2021
Build a cloud-ready, global distributed file system
Organizations that want to extend traditional network file shares across data centers, branch offices and public cloud infrastructure have many options. Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2021
IBM hybrid cloud, AI offerings ease data integration
IBM rolled out new hybrid cloud and AI offerings this week, while CEO Arvind Krishna offered his vision for how those technologies will reshape business. Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2021
IBM hangs its hopes on hybrid clouds, AI to revive growth
After a decade of stagnant growth, IBM is betting all of its chips that hybrid clouds, new partnerships and AI will catapult it to a more competitive position. Continue Reading
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News
07 Apr 2021
Microsoft pushes deeper into Dynamics 365 industry clouds
Microsoft's vertical industry strategy keeps pace with similar approaches from Oracle and Salesforce, which strive to woo users on the benefits of their platforms and data models. Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2021
VMware offers new subscription for hybrid cloud deployments
An offering dubbed VMware Cloud presents a new option for customers that want to pursue hybrid cloud strategies supported by a subscription model, but it has limitations. Continue Reading
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News
23 Feb 2021
IBM leans on Red Hat to adapt Power servers for hybrid cloud
New Red Hat tools and integrated system offerings allow IBM Power users to run workloads across multiple cloud environments. Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2021
IBM-Palantir pact speeds AI app delivery for hybrid clouds
The new Palantir IBM Cloud Pak for Data is designed to help inexperienced users create AI-based applications that can work across multiple hybrid cloud platforms. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Feb 2021
Cloud security policy configuration in AWS, Azure and GCP
Explore cloud security policy configurations in AWS, Azure and GCP using native security tools in this excerpt of 'Multi-Cloud Architecture and Governance' by Jeroen Mulder. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Feb 2021
Secure multi-cloud with architecture and governance focus
Certified enterprise and security architect Jeroen Mulder explains why multi-cloud security architecture planning should be informed by the business and customer perspectives. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2021
IBM acquisition spree targets hybrid cloud consulting market
Acquiring five providers specializing in cloud-based consulting and managed services since November, IBM wants to make it easier for users to move workloads across multiple clouds. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Jan 2021
Evaluate these 15 multi-cloud management platforms
Dig into the benefits -- and drawbacks -- of the top tools and services to help enterprises manage their hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jan 2021
Juggle a multi-cloud security strategy with these 3 steps
Enterprise security best practices must account for changes in cloud landscapes. Learn how to overcome such challenges and bolster multi-cloud security with technology and policy. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Dec 2020
Tackle multi-cloud key management challenges with KMaaS
Cloud providers' tools for secrets management are not equipped to solve unique multi-cloud key management challenges. Learn how key management-as-a-service tools can fill the gaps. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2020
Multi-cloud networking -- how to choose the right path
There are a couple ways to connect the disparate pieces of a multi-cloud architecture. Review your networking options and choose the best fit for your environment. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Nov 2020
Multi-cloud services grow increasingly important for MSPs
As organizations expand their multi-cloud environments, they'll look to partners for support and expertise. It's time for the channel to board the multi-cloud train, experts say. Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Oct 2020
Hybrid cloud vs. hyper-converged: Hybrid wins hands down
When everything goes to cloud, why do you even need HCI? Who cares where server, storage, virtualization and networking are when IT adopts a 'run any app from anyplace' strategy? Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2020
Oracle launches Cloud Observability and Management Platform
Oracle's new Cloud Observability and Management Platform seeks to appeal to customers with complex multi-cloud and on-premises environments. Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2020
SODA Foundation improves Open Data Framework
An open source data management group enhanced its Open Data Framework with the Greenland 1.1 update, improving multi-cloud file support and expanding connectivity to data storage options. Continue Reading
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News
24 Sep 2020
Microsoft's Azure Arc reaches GA milestone
Microsoft has delivered a key component of Azure Arc -- the ability to manage Windows and Linux-based virtual and physical servers in on-premises environments and rival clouds. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2020
When -- and when not -- to use cloud native security tools
Security tools from cloud vendors are convenient, but that doesn't mean they are always the right choice. Learn how to decide when you should opt to use third-party security tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Sep 2020
How cloud security posture management protects multi-cloud
Improve control plane security at your organization by integrating a cloud security posture management tool into your existing multi-cloud strategy. Continue Reading
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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
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Tip
07 Aug 2020
5 critical capabilities for multi-cloud data management
Organizations face increasing challenges managing data across multiple clouds. Find out the features to look for in your multi-cloud data management products and services. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Aug 2020
10 cloud computing myths debunked
A range of public cloud misconceptions -- including those related to security and cost -- give enterprise adopters the wrong idea. Read on to dispel the myths and get the truth. Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Aug 2020
Accenture cloud computing paves way for integration plan
Penelope Prett, CIO at Accenture, aims to provide employees a holistic user experience, taking advantage of cloud computing to integrate various technology tools. Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2020
Google, Microsoft add to their cloud migration toolkits
New cloud migration tools and services from Google and Microsoft seek to meet customer demand for easier, faster deployments amid rising favor for multi-cloud deployments. Continue Reading
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Answer
24 Jul 2020
When should my company use cloud arbitrage?
Organizations can escape vendor lock-in with a cloud arbitrage model. However, it requires an upfront investment and a solid understanding of the limitations of this approach. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jul 2020
Follow 3 key steps to improve multi-cloud monitoring
Successful multi-cloud monitoring anticipates security vulnerabilities unique to operating across several environments. Follow these steps to improve multi-cloud security. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jul 2020
Explore the benefits of multi-cloud -- and the drawbacks
The use of multi-cloud is trending up, but is it right for your workloads and business? Review the advantages and disadvantages with Gartner expert Daryl Plummer. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jul 2020
Compare hybrid clouds: AWS Outposts vs. Azure Stack vs. Google Anthos
Azure Stack, AWS Outposts and Google Anthos all have similar objectives but operate in different ways. Find out which hybrid cloud platform offers the right model for your company. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jul 2020
Why enterprises choose multi-cloud environments
Multi-cloud environments have become more popular with enterprises, but this isn't a vendor lock-in issue. Find out how and why enterprises adopt multi-cloud computing. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2020
Cloud lock-in fears aren't as prevalent as you might think
Enterprises are using multiple clouds, but not because they're afraid of lock-in. See why they're being smarter about cloud selection and forgoing portability in favor of speed. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2020
HPE adds a little edge to its cloud services strategy
HPE took another step toward being an as-a-service company with several new cloud services that the company claims make it easier for users to connect the cloud to edge devices. Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Jun 2020
Third-party cloud services for images, search and authentication
Don't limit your cloud services to just what your provider offers. Consider these third-party alternatives to handle images, search and authentication. 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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Tip
12 May 2020
Comparing single cloud vs. multi-cloud security challenges
A multi-cloud environment is not inherently more secure than a single cloud. Learn how to choose between single cloud vs. multi-cloud for your organization from a security perspective. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 May 2020
Design a cloud application with portability in mind
Writing apps for easier portability between clouds takes some work and comes with tradeoffs. Yet, the effort required to design a portable app can pay off in the long run. Continue Reading
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News
30 Apr 2020
Big Blue weaves Red Hat OpenShift into the IBM Cloud
With versions available on its Z and Power servers, IBM's delivery of Red Hat OpenShift for the IBM Cloud underlines the strategic importance of the cloud orchestration platform. Continue Reading
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News
22 Apr 2020
Google Anthos multi-cloud platform now GA on AWS
Kubernetes-based Anthos is generally available on AWS, giving customers the ability to manage workloads there, as well as across Google Cloud and on-premises environments. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Mar 2020
Successful digital ecosystems depend on cloud services
Business models are changing in the digital age, requiring companies to create sometimes unexpected partnerships, enabled by the widespread availability of cloud services. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Mar 2020
What to make of AWS' multi-cloud strategy, or lack thereof
AWS eventually caved when it came to hybrid cloud. Some experts and partners say the same will happen with its multi-cloud strategy. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2020
Boost security with a multi-cloud workload placement process
IT must incorporate a multi-cloud workload placement process into its multi-cloud strategy in order to maintain or improve cloud security and cloud operations. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Feb 2020
Put these Terraform best practices into action
Terraform enables IT teams to complete a range of tasks, from deployment to multi-cloud management. Apply this collection of best practices to get started with, or optimize your use of, the IaC tool. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Feb 2020
Don't miss these multi-cloud management tools and tips
Multi-cloud adoption is growing throughout the IT industry. Boost your multi-cloud strategy with third-party tools for management, container orchestration, infrastructure automation and more. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2020
5 tips for multi-cloud strategy and management success
Multi-cloud environments can unleash a host of management challenges. Cloud solutions architect Jacob Picart offers advice on making multi-cloud work. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2020
Oracle-Microsoft partnership to connect clouds expands to EU
Oracle and Microsoft have added to their cloud interconnect strategy with the addition of a high-speed, private connection between Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Azure in the EU. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2020
Achieve multi-cloud data protection with archiving, backup and DR
How can multi-cloud users effectively use DR, backup and archiving together? Although multiple clouds complicate infrastructure, they also offer benefits for data protection. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Feb 2020
Maintain multi-cloud security parity with these practices
Establish consistent security measures across distributed environments. Automate configuration management and increase monitoring and training to reduce multi-cloud vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Feb 2020
The hybrid cloud challenge CIOs need to address
Your IT team needs a standardized approach to application development to truly benefit from a hybrid cloud. Containers and Kubernetes may be the key to making that happen. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Feb 2020
SD-WAN requirements for a multi-cloud world
With the emergence of a multi-cloud world, SD-WAN vendors must upgrade their platforms to ensure secure and reliable SD-WAN connectivity to cloud services. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jan 2020
Multi-cloud adoption is the future, so be prepared
The move towards multi-cloud is imminent for most enterprises, according to IDC. Find out what this means for organizations and how they will need to adapt. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Jan 2020
Use multi-cloud software-defined storage to prevent storage silos
Looking for a way to keep data moving freely and efficiently among cloud platforms? Check out how software-defined storage in a multi-cloud environment works. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jan 2020
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure SVP shares 2020 growth strategy
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure isn't just about IaaS, but all levels of the cloud. That's the message Oracle SVP Steve Daheb gave in this Q&A, along with the IT giant's 2020 plans. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jan 2020
3 steps to prepare IT operations for multi-cloud
Organizations must ready their IT operations for multi-cloud and the unique security challenges ahead. Equip your IT ops team with the right people and processes to adapt smoothly. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Dec 2019
Manage and secure cloud sprawl in multi-cloud systems in 2 steps
As enterprise cloud adoption increases, so too does the risk of cloud sprawl -- and, with it, cloud security threats. Learn how to beat cloud sprawl in two steps. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2019
Computer vision technology, chatbot reboot on tap for 2020
Look for retailers to emerge in 2020 as a key adopter of AI in vision applications. Other anticipated developments include chatbot integration and a boost for cloud-native apps. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2019
Guidelines to tackle multi-cloud and hybrid IT management
Managing infrastructure isn't just the on-premises data center anymore. Software selection, architecture configuration and governance are key components of any hybrid IT setup. 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
25 Nov 2019
VMware Cloud on AWS cost and capabilities -- then vs. now
When you compare VMware Cloud on AWS' initial release to its state in 2019, the cost of entry has lowered, the feature set has expanded and it now meets most compliance standards. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2019
AWS, Azure and Google peppered with outages in same week
Cloud outages hit AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud within the past week, an outcome that suggests customers must take a more sophisticated approach to ensure maximum uptime. Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Nov 2019
How the Microsoft and Oracle partnership affects IT workloads
Oracle and Microsoft's move to unite sometimes-competitive applications and cloud environments means that businesses can focus less on architecture rewrites and more on capabilities. Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2019
Microsoft cybersecurity strategy, hybrid cloud in focus at Ignite
Microsoft will reveal its latest plans to extend its cybersecurity strategy and a new architectural approach to hybrid clouds during Ignite. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2019
How to use multi-cloud data management and protection
Data protection vendors are continuing to add more data management features in their products. How does this convergence affect multi-cloud environments? Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Oct 2019
3 potential multi-cloud challenges that could go unnoticed
Disaster recovery, vendor lock-in and cost are major factors as organizations evaluate multi-cloud strategies. However, these pros can become cons if teams aren't careful. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2019
AWS ups the ante to win SAP cloud ERP workloads
New AWS high-memory instances geared for SAP ERP implementations reflect an ongoing push by hyperscalers for these lucrative workloads. But many SAP customers are early in their move to the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Oct 2019
Weigh the challenges of multi-cloud disaster recovery
An enterprise could craft a multi-cloud backup strategy, but that doesn't mean it should. Weigh the potential benefits against the myriad challenges presented by this approach. Continue Reading
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News
25 Sep 2019
Cloudera Data Platform gives big data users multi-cloud path
Cloudera released a big data platform combining its technologies and ones from Hortonworks, initially in the AWS cloud but with multi-cloud support to come. Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2019
Microsoft bolsters cloud migration tools with Movere acquisition
Microsoft's move to acquire Movere is a bet that the startup's IT infrastructure monitoring and analysis tools can help it attract more on-premises workloads to Azure. Continue Reading
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News
04 Sep 2019
Oracle and Microsoft expand OCI, Azure cloud connections
The multi-cloud capabilities offered by Oracle and Microsoft are now available in the U.K. via a link between the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Azure platforms. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Aug 2019
Using multiple cloud providers can benefit your DR plan
Incorporating a cloud-to-cloud strategy using multiple providers may not simplify your DR plan, but it can offer peace of mind in the event of a disaster. Continue Reading
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News
15 Aug 2019
Potential VMware-Pivotal deal raises opportunities, challenges
VMware is in talks to buy Pivotal for about $1.45 billion in a move that could benefit both companies but also require some strategic realignment. Continue Reading
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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
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News
08 Aug 2019
Mesosphere's Kubernetes pivot sets stage for IT vendor attrition
Mesosphere becomes D2iQ, and affirms that Kubernetes is eating the world. Is IT entering a golden age of interoperability, or on the verge of mass consolidation? Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Aug 2019
Support for production-level hybrid cloud use cases on the rise
A recent Taneja Group survey reveals that hybrid cloud and multi-cloud are the preferred cloud storage architectures for a variety of enterprise storage use cases. 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
06 Aug 2019
IBM-Red Hat juggernaut seeks to boost multi-cloud deployments
IBM and Red Hat executives believe they are well positioned to capture a generous share of shops yet to implement hybrid clouds. Some analysts say that is easier said than done. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
Google VM, microservices tools advance cloud migration strategy
Google wants more enterprise workloads on its cloud, and has launched an Azure VM migration service and other features in pursuit of them. Continue Reading
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Quiz
30 Jul 2019
Test your multi-cloud disaster recovery expertise
Multi-cloud DR is growing in popularity as a reliable recovery strategy in businesses of all sizes. Put your knowledge of multi-cloud DR to the test with this quiz. Continue Reading
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Answer
26 Jul 2019
What's the best way to approach multi-cloud security?
Multi-cloud security can be challenging, but new tools promise to ease some of the problems associated with managing resources across multiple CSPs. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jul 2019
DoD's JEDI cloud contract favors AWS, with Microsoft on deck
AWS is expected to win the DoD's $10 billion JEDI cloud contract. The single-cloud vendor deal has brought criticism and some believe Microsoft will eventually play an important role, too. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2019
Red Hat-IBM deal closes, both promise a friendly coopetition
IBM and Red Hat formally signed off on its $34 billion deal as the combined company sets off to make its mark in the hybrid cloud market. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jun 2019
HPE hybrid cloud poised for coopetition with AWS, Microsoft
HPE's newest offerings improve its chances in the hybrid cloud market, but may draw fire from its cloud partners, AWS and Microsoft. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2019
HPE GreenLake composable cloud services get a boost
HPE's latest products support hybrid cloud strategies by allowing users to tie composable and hyper-converged infrastructure technologies more tightly together. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jun 2019
Get realistic about your multi-cloud strategy aspirations
Multi-cloud is attractive to software teams that want to expand their development toolboxes, but be careful about the complexity it can add to your overall development lifecycle. 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
30 May 2019
Azure Cost Management adds AWS, reflects multi-cloud strategies
Microsoft's Azure Cost Management tool now integrates with AWS to track spending across both cloud platforms, a nod to customers' increased shift toward multi-cloud strategies. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 May 2019
A guide to a cloud-to-cloud migration with 7 key steps
When an enterprise migrates between cloud environments, planning and process are more important than products and technology -- at least in the short term. Continue Reading