Best practices for data center operations
This data center operations topic center explains the best practices for diverse data center ops, from maintenance to change management to compliance with regulations. Data center operations should be stable with no downtime or outages. That is easier said than done in modern, complex data centers. Reliability of resources depends on highly skilled data center ops.
Top Stories
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Tip
04 May 2023
Understand top public cloud repatriation use cases
Cloud technology can pose billing, management and compliance issues. Here are five reasons why repatriating cloud workloads back on premises might be a better option. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Feb 2023
Top 9 most in-demand tech jobs of 2023
For job seekers in 2023, it's important to find a role that will be in high demand both now and in the coming years. Here are nine of the most promising jobs in technology. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2022
Create data center electrical safety guidelines
Compose a comprehensive electrical safety strategy and keep your data center staff safe from electrical hazards. Learn what best practices and standards you should consider. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2022
Protect your data center from ransomware attacks
Consider how best to protect your data center from ransomware attackers: Keep safe, air-gapped backups; consolidate your infrastructure and prioritize critical assets. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jan 2022
ServiceNow throws AI at digital transformation ROI problem
Companies report they aren't getting their money's worth out of digital transformation projects. ServiceNow's new AI-based software looks to up the value of such projects. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
13 Jan 2022
What to consider when selecting an IaaS provider
A good IaaS should act like a partner, tailored to your infrastructure. Keep these criteria in mind when selecting a provider for your organization's IaaS. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Dec 2021
Monitor edge latency for IoT devices
Latency in edge devices can have several sources, stemming from software, network issues or old hardware. Here's how you can monitor and troubleshoot latency at the edge. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Nov 2021
Best practices for data center risk assessment
Data centers contain risks such as height, environmental and electrical hazards. Keep your staff safe by assessing the level of risk and creating a comprehensive safety plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2021
Evaluate air cooling vs. liquid cooling for your data center
Air cooling and liquid cooling for data centers offer different benefits and drawbacks. To decide which best suits your organization, consider the pros and cons of each. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jun 2021
4 key ways to prevent server sprawl
Take steps to cut back on costly and hard-to-manage server sprawl: consolidate your hardware, virtualize your servers, consider software-defined infrastructure and stay organized. Continue Reading
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Answer
08 Jun 2021
What are some examples of organizational resilience?
Organizational resilience encompasses everything a company needs to run in times of crisis. These examples show how businesses handle tough situations. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Feb 2021
Combine business continuity and crisis management practices
Together, business continuity and crisis management procedures help an organization prepare for the worst. But careful planning is key. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Feb 2021
Bolster an operational resilience strategy with these tips
What's the first step to achieve operational resilience? Knowing which assets and activities are most critical to the business. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Nov 2020
Avoid server overheating with ASHRAE data center guidelines
Finding the right server operating temperature can be tricky. ASHRAE standards provide guidance for all server classes and what factors can play into temperature readings. Continue Reading
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Answer
20 Nov 2020
Colocation data center outage response and support
Navigating data center malfunctions when hardware is off premises can be tricky. Organizations must have strong SLAs with their colo provider to ensure appropriate response times. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
26 Oct 2020
4 ways data center operations must adapt to the cloud era
The role of the traditional data center has changed dramatically as enterprises adopt cloud services, but IT operations professionals can evolve to remain relevant. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2020
IBM partners with HBCUs to promote quantum computing
IBM is partnering with a group of historically Black colleges and universities to set up a quantum computing center in hopes of attracting Black students to the field. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2020
IBM roadmap promises a 1,121-qubit quantum computer by 2023
IBM outlined plans to deliver a series of quantum computers over the next three years culminating with IBM Quantum Condor, a 1,121-qubit system capable of solving complex problems. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2020
Enterprise architecture heats up to meet changing needs
Forrester Research analyst sees barriers to enterprise architects moving forward in skills, tools' ROI and tech-savvy execs who don't want them collaborating with the business. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jul 2020
IT asset retirement in the data center
Is your data center equipment starting to show signs of aging? These performance metrics can evaluate hardware health and help you decide if assets should be maintained or retired. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Jun 2020
Organizations tackle data center operations during COVID-19
With an increased remote workforce, organizations must address infrastructure bandwidth, data center access and business continuity. The right software and staffing policies can help. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 May 2020
6 quick server troubleshooting tips
Understand, communicate, monitor, check logs, ask for support. Follow these guidelines, and make troubleshooting server problems quick and easy. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Apr 2020
Prepare for serious health threats with a pandemic recovery plan
COVID-19 has become a serious global threat and is rapidly becoming an issue for business continuity. Pandemic planning can help mitigate disruptive effects of disastrous events. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Apr 2020
12 key elements of a crisis management plan
Starting or revising your crisis management planning? Include these elements in a plan to make sure you don't leave anything out and your organization can run effectively. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Mar 2020
4 causes of SSD failure and how to deal with them
Although NVMe SSDs are a highly reliable storage technology, they are still prone to occasional failure. Here are some best practices to keep your SSDs humming along. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jan 2020
A guide to data center maintenance outsourcing
Data centers have a lot of moving mechanical parts to maintain. It's beneficial to leave electrical and fire system upkeep to the professionals instead of doing it all in-house. 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
26 Nov 2019
Increase efficiency with data center temperature monitoring
Data centers must track multiple temperature components. Organizations can use ASHRAE standards and on-premises hardware for easier monitoring. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Oct 2019
Cloud adoption a catalyst for IT modernization in many orgs
Sloppy and insecure IT procedures that had been overlooked before the cloud arrived must evolve with the times to prevent data exposure and system breaches. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jul 2019
Fortify your business resilience with consequence management
Is there something lacking in your incident response strategy? Consequence management could be the missing piece in your organization's IT resilience plan. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jul 2019
Underscore preparation in your natural disaster recovery plan
When it comes to recovering after a natural disaster, you'll need more than just basic business continuity and recovery planning. Being informed about severe weather events is key. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jul 2019
Use ASHRAE guidelines to get server temperature right
The main factors that affect server efficiency are inlet air temperature, humidity and contaminants. Follow these ASHRAE guidelines to set up the right facility for your hardware and save energy. Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Jun 2019
Tech communities offer more than just a quick fix
IT professionals who join tech meetups and online communities might find there's more than just troubleshooting help available when they invest their time in a group. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2019
4 essential KPIs for edge computing management
If you want to track edge deployment activity, look at storage, network and processing resources to guide workload configuration and maintenance needs. Continue Reading
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Quiz
30 May 2019
Colocation vs. cloud: Quiz yourself on these workload expansion options
Colocation or cloud? Data centers have plenty of expansion options beyond building a new facility. Learn about each option -- and test your knowledge -- with this quiz. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Feb 2019
How to get the most out of your SIEM system
When it comes to threat protection, antivirus software is no longer enough. Data center admins need cloud-based SIEM to ensure their environments are fully protected. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2019
Tips for selecting a data center testing provider
Finding the right service provider for data center tests can be time-consuming. To pick the right one, be sure to have realistic objectives and a detailed SLA. Continue Reading
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Podcast
19 Dec 2018
IBM and Microsoft open up to open source in 2018
With IBM's purchase of Linux market leader Red Hat and Microsoft buying GitHub, 2018 could prove to be a watershed year for the open source community. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Dec 2018
Edge computing architecture helps IT support augmented reality
Augmented reality benefits greatly from reduced latency, which makes edge computing a perfect partner in the data center. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Dec 2018
Admins now require data center skills 'a mile wide'
The role of a data center professional is changing in the face of cloud, the internet of things and evolving security. One hiring manager talks about the changes and why admins need broader skill sets. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Oct 2018
Minimize downtime during a data center upgrade
End users don't want their productivity interrupted by IT maintenance. With the right technology, testing and planning, you can reduce or eliminate downtime in the data center. Continue Reading
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Answer
18 Sep 2018
Can I use server automation for remote management?
Depending on your server management workflow, you might want to consider automation and orchestration. Before going forward, you should figure out what scripts are necessary. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
23 Aug 2018
PowerShell logging boosts security in the enterprise
Want to track any suspicious PowerShell activity across your network? Use these PowerShell logging techniques to curb potential threats that originate from scripts. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Aug 2018
Active-active data centers key to high-availability application resilience
Enterprises dependent upon a high-availability application should investigate active-active data center designs to ensure reliability and resiliency. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Jul 2018
Agile workflows shift admins' IT procurement strategy
Changing business needs and the move toward Agile workflows affect how data center managers make decisions about daily operations and IT purchasing. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Jun 2018
Why data centers need log management tools
Log files contain rich and useful management data. With the right software tools and a few navigation tips, you can maximize and implement the information that logs provide. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Jun 2018
Build your PowerShell command cheat sheet with these basics
Even if you've previously used PowerShell, it's beneficial to add new commands to your reference sheet and keep your overall knowledge as current as possible. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jun 2018
Data center monitoring best practices simplify software choice
Metrics are essential to keep any data center operating smoothly. With monitoring software and best practices, admins can simplify their workflows and get usable data. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 May 2018
SIEM benefits include automated monitoring, malware mitigation
SIEM tools deliver automated alert actions, normalize log data and provide intelligent filtering, all of which can help IT administrators lighten their workloads. Continue Reading
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Answer
27 Apr 2018
What are the top SIEM use cases?
SIEM tools help organizations detect and mitigate malware and viruses, but they also allow administrators to offload traffic when an attack hampers performance. Continue Reading
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News
11 Oct 2005
New Windows licensing simplifies server virtualization
In a radical shift that may spur the adoption of emerging virtualization technology, Microsoft is moving away from licensing per instance of Windows on a physical server, at least for its premium server editions. Continue Reading
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News
07 Dec 2004
Top tips for buying wisely
Best practices for purchasing storage include sticking to your plan, comparing apples to apples and being upfront with vendors. Continue Reading