DevOps and IT Certifications and Training
The DevOps and modern operations professional development topic center stores valuable content on certifications and skills to advance an IT operations professional's career. Navigate the complexities of agile software, DevOps, systems management and automation to leave behind manual, rote IT tasks and engage on challenging, interdisciplinary projects.
Top Stories
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Tip
11 Apr 2022
9 IoT training certifications to take your next career step
IoT training certifications offering skills in IoT development, networking and security can give tech experts an advantage, especially when IoT skills are in high demand. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2021
12 DevOps KPIs you should track to gauge improvement
What's missing from your DevOps workflow? Cold, hard, impartial numbers. Track these key metrics to ensure DevOps processes achieve stated goals. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Aug 2021
Disperse documentation in DevOps processes, top to bottom
Your IT organization's pre-DevOps documentation practices aren't cutting it. Improve speed, accuracy and quality -- and don't leave it for last. Continue Reading
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Quiz
22 Jul 2021
Take this quick DevOps quiz to test your expertise
DevOps as a methodology and cultural movement has been around for years -- but how well do you know its concepts and best practices? Find out here. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Jul 2021
Top 5 certifications in IT infrastructure for beginners
With digital business growing in importance, organizations require strong IT infrastructures and certified network, systems and cloud administrators to support that infrastructure. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 May 2021
9 advanced IT certifications for operations experts
To be an IT expert requires dedication to the ever-changing technology and processes. Here's a list of certifications to demonstrate that skill and experience. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Apr 2021
Close the tech skills gap with the right training
Employee skills are a valuable business resource. The scarcity of new or emerging IT skills has led to a skills gap that impedes tech adoption and business competitiveness. Continue Reading
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Quiz
14 Apr 2021
Sample CCISO exam questions on security project management
This excerpt of 'CCISO Certified Chief Information Security Officer All-In-One Exam Guide' explains security project management fundamentals and provides practice CCISO exam questions. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Apr 2021
CCISO exam guide authors discuss the changing CISO role
Learn more about EC-Council's Certified CISO exam and how the certification helps CISOs at any organization manage successful infosec programs and a changing threat landscape. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Mar 2021
8 certifications and courses for admins, DevOps and IT ops pros
With a few years of experience now on your resume, it's time to boost or validate those skills you've gained. Explore these courses and certifications for one that fits your goals. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 Feb 2021
10 top project management courses and certifications for 2021
Obtain skills and certifications that demonstrate competence in the growing in-demand field of IT project management to further your career or change course. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Feb 2021
IT certification vs. degree: Which is better for your career?
IT professionals can further their skills through degree programs and certifications. While certifications are a cost-effective option, degrees offer a more well-rounded education. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Feb 2021
10 best IT certs for beginners
Certifications and courses from companies including CompTIA, AWS, Microsoft, Cisco and Oracle can provide a solid foundation when beginning to pursue a career in IT. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Feb 2021
Compare some of the top online IT training providers
Everyone learns differently. So, to find the right training provider to match your style, weigh the pros and cons of these five options before you subscribe. Continue Reading
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Quiz
30 Dec 2020
Review 6 phases of incident response for GCIH exam prep
'GCIH GIAC Certified Incident Handler All-in-One Exam Guide' takes a deep dive into the six phases of incident response to help security pros with GCIH exam prep and certification. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Dec 2020
Preparing for GIAC Certified Incident Handler certification
The author of 'GCIH GIAC Certified Incident Handler All-in-One Exam Guide' shares advice on how to prepare for the exam and why an incident response career can be so rewarding. Continue Reading
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Quiz
23 Dec 2020
Endpoint security quiz: Test your knowledge
Test your knowledge of SASE, split tunneling, and device discovery tool capabilities and best practices in this endpoint security quiz for IT professionals. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Dec 2020
11 certifications for entry-level IT operations roles
Looking to start a career in IT operations? Check out these courses and certifications for beginners to gather all the foundational skills you'll need. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2020
How to pass the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam
Author of 'AWS Certified Security - Specialty Exam Guide' Stuart Scott shares insights on how to prepare for the exam and reap the professional benefits of certification. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Nov 2020
Practice AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam questions
Explore the security and compliance capabilities of the AWS Config service to prepare for the wide-ranging AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification exam. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Nov 2020
Compare 5 SecOps certifications and training courses
Explore five SecOps certifications available to IT professionals looking to demonstrate and enhance their knowledge of threat monitoring and incident response. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Nov 2020
A look inside the official Cisco DEVASC 200-901 guidebook
In this book excerpt, readers can explore the Cisco DEVASC 200-901 official guide and get a flavor of one of Cisco's newest exams and its blend of networking and software topics. Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Nov 2020
Is Cisco DevNet worth it? Experts say yes, it's the future
Any IT professional who's heard the hype for Cisco's newest certification track may wonder, 'Is Cisco DevNet worth it?' Some experts say it's the future. Find out more in this Q&A. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Nov 2020
7 practice questions for Cisco 200-901 DevNet Associate exam
Ready for Cisco's introductory DevNet exam, DEVASC 200-901? Start your Cisco DevNet Associate training with this practice quiz directly from the official exam guidebook. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Oct 2020
Tips for attending virtual IT conferences like a pro
The coronavirus pushed all physical gathering events into the digital realm for public safety. But this completely disrupts our prep patterns. Here are some tips to help. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2020
Tips for a smooth DevSecOps transformation
DevSecOps is a natural progression of DevOps and spreads security responsibilities to other IT teams. Where to begin? Here are core concepts, helpful tools and ways to learn more. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Sep 2020
Build a DevOps culture using these key principles
Is your organization ready to adopt DevOps practices? There's a lot to it, so don't try to accomplish everything all at once. Start with these key ideas. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Sep 2020
Evolving DevOps roles demand Kubernetes, CI/CD skills
The rapid rate of change in IT coupled with the newness of many DevOps practices and technologies creates barriers for those who seek a career in DevOps. These skills can open the door. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Sep 2020
10 DevOps engineer skills to add to a resume
A DevOps engineer plays a critical role in modern IT. As app development and deployment practices change, orgs will seek pros with hands-on experience -- and the skills to show for it. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2020
Open source license issues stymie enterprise contributions
Business and ethical pressures have given rise to new types of open source licenses in the last year, presenting challenges to enterprises that want to contribute to projects. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jul 2020
Open source contributions face friction over company IP
Software engineers who want to contribute to open source projects must convince conservative corporate legal departments it's worth the potential risk to corporate IP. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 Jun 2020
From coding to automation, SRE skills reach far and wide
A site reliability engineer wears many hats. In addition to development and IT troubleshooting responsibilities, this role requires top-notch communication skills. Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2020
HashiCorp Consul service leads off post-funding roadmap
HashiCorp CEO David McJannet discusses the company's future, including a Consul managed service headed for public beta this week, overlap with Kubernetes and building a sustainable open source business. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Mar 2020
Container training can help admins stay relevant
IT admins might be good at managing IT systems -- until those systems are replaced with newer technologies. One way to keep pace with the changes is to learn container skills. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2020
Weave DevOps continuous learning into a CI/CD toolchain
DevOps shops can bake training materials into CI/CD workflows to ensure IT and development staff constantly advance their skills -- but be sure to keep those materials up to date. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Feb 2020
Evolve IT help desk skills to meet modern user demands
"Have you tried turning it off and then back on again?" is no longer the first question a help desk technician should ask. Widespread use of tech by just about everyone has changed the role. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2020
Obtaining professional business continuity certifications
Professional resilience certifications recognize those working in business continuity and disaster recovery, and the education that comes with them is a valuable resource. Continue Reading
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News
17 Dec 2019
Verizon, Walmart embrace DevOps dojo for IT training
Some IT training experts say 'Dojo is a no-go,' but companies such as Verizon and Walmart say the DevOps dojo approach has been well worth it for them. Continue Reading
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News
13 Dec 2019
Geek gifts 2019: Think Opex, not Capex with subscriptions
Why manage buying your own gifts for geeks, when there are so many subscription gift box services that will do that kind of undifferentiated heavy lifting for you? Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2019
National Australia Bank cashes in on AWS training and certification
Structured training got nearly 1,000 National Australia Bank employees certified on AWS, while AWS-honed tactics such as two-pizza teams can help enterprises build up cloud know-how. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Oct 2019
Acquire best practices with this system administration handbook
Often, books published about IT are obsolete the moment they hit the shelves: modern technology moves too fast for physical publishing. However, this particular volume aims for longevity. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Oct 2019
Gene Kim explores DevOps transformation in 'The Unicorn Project'
This chapter excerpt from Gene Kim's 'The Unicorn Project' touches on one of the book's core themes: Roadblocks occur when developers, ops and business leaders are misaligned. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Oct 2019
Compare AWS CodePipeline vs. Jenkins for CI/CD
Jenkins has more than a thousand third-party integrations, whereas AWS CodePipeline ties you closer to Amazon's cloud. Compare Jenkins and CodePipeline for cost, usability and versatility. Continue Reading
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Quiz
18 Sep 2019
Try a CCNA 200-301 practice quiz from the official cert guide
This practice quiz provides a sneak peek into the new 'CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 1,' which reflects Cisco's CCNA certification and exam redesigns. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Sep 2019
Prepare for the CCNA 200-301 exam with this guide preview
Here's a sneak peek at what to expect from Cisco's redesigned CCNA exam directly from 'CCNA 200-301 Official Cert Guide, Volume 1' by author Wendell Odom. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Sep 2019
Cisco author says new CCNA exam undergoes largest change ever
Cisco said goodbye to most CCNA tracks, and hello to a consolidated exam. Here's what you need to know about the new CCNA, from the author of every official CCNA guidebook. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Sep 2019
What it takes to be a DevSecOps engineer
To address security early in the application development process, DevSecOps requires a litany of skills and technology literacy. Learn what it takes to be a DevSecOps engineer. Continue Reading
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Opinion
09 Sep 2019
ITIL 4 framework brings long-awaited flexibility to ITSM
After eight long years, the ITIL 4 framework finally saw the light of day in 2019 -- but what can enterprises expect to gain from the latest version, and those to come? Continue Reading
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News
27 Aug 2019
IT training programs stall amid search for best practices
Without a standard set of best practices to refer to for IT training programs, or any industry consensus on the best general approach to training, large enterprises have begun to trail smaller, more nimble counterparts in the efficiency of their software releases. Continue Reading
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Guide
19 Aug 2019
How to create a successful DevOps organizational structure
To build a DevOps organizational structure for speed and quality, align various skill sets with shared goals -- a process that requires a revolution, or evolution, of the status quo. Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Aug 2019
IT training flaws compound DevOps skills shortage
Before investing in an online course to learn new IT skills, heed this warning from brain scientists: there is a big difference between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 Aug 2019
5 IT video tutorials admins don't want to miss
The best way to ramp up with a new technology or IT practice is to see it in action. Use these five video tutorials to visually walk through GitOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines and more. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Jul 2019
Check out this free chapter excerpt from ITIL 4 -- A Pocket Guide
In ITIL 4 -- A Pocket Guide, author Jan van Bon walks readers through the core updates to the ITSM framework, and how they apply to the modern enterprise IT landscape. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Jul 2019
PKI authentication explained: The basics for IT administrators
Public key infrastructure is part and parcel of modern digital business, from secure communications to data transmission and beyond. Admins must understand PKI to optimize its benefits. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Jul 2019
Don't neglect your IT architect skills in public cloud projects
Public cloud infrastructure is beyond the veil for IT admins: unknown and untouchable. But depending on the deployment -- and the cloud -- admins still have architecture to manage. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Jul 2019
5 DevSecOps interview questions employers are likely to ask
To land that DevSecOps dream job, prepare to answer questions not only about specific IT and security tools, but about DevOps team culture as a whole. Continue Reading
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News
21 Jun 2019
AI help desk software frees IT ops to take on SRE skills
A financial services company will retrain its help desk staff to be app developers and SREs, while AI handles the grunt work for the company's call center employees. Continue Reading
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Tip
31 May 2019
DevOps security best practices span code creation to compliance
Developers and operations staff who split security responsibilities as part of a DevOps workflow should apply these best practices to ensure no vulnerability goes unnoticed. Continue Reading
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News
14 May 2019
AWS IQ marketplace taps demand for AWS experts
AWS is at work on IQ, a job marketplace that matches AWS experts with customers. Similar in appearance to the likes of Upwork, IQ is set for launch later this year. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 May 2019
Study tips to ace the CNCF's CKA exam
IT certifications are an IT admin's superpower, lending official credibility to technology expertise. Know what to expect -- and practice -- to become Kubernetes certified. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 May 2019
Adapt IT operations skills for QA roles
IT admins who want to transition into a QA role can lean on their existing skill sets around data analysis, documentation and more, but the move still presents a learning curve. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2019
Why a VMware certification is still a valuable asset
In the cloud era, renewing or upgrading a VMware certification might feel like a waste of time, effort and money. But for some admins, it might still be a good idea. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Mar 2019
Prepare for ITIL framework updates in version 4
The much-anticipated release of ITIL v4 not only changes the framework's certification structure, but emphasizes many modern software development and IT service delivery practices. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Mar 2019
Evaluate the COBIT framework 2019 update
ITSM frameworks must adapt as IT changes swiftly or risk stagnation. COBIT ended its six-year silence with its 2019 update. Get an overview of the new information and how to use COBIT. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Feb 2019
Non-IT software vendors stir up IT tool selection process
Many non-IT vendors now offer homegrown software -- a model that carries benefits and risks. Weigh the pros and cons around support, availability and other factors before making a decision. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Jan 2019
Hone your skills to be an IT infrastructure architect
IT architecture relies on most skills that sys admins have picked up already but also demands a few more. Learn the responsibilities and the requirements for this advancement. Continue Reading
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Quiz
21 Jan 2019
Pop quiz: Can you identify these top IT trends of 2019?
From serverless and AIOps to a widening tech skills gap, numerous IT trends bring momentum into 2019. See how ready you are for new opportunities and hurdles in IT with this quiz. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Jan 2019
Explore the new year's emerging IT trends
Small data centers, intelligent IT management tools -- digital diversity? Catch up on the 10 trends driving IT operations forward in 2019, and how they'll shape your organization. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Dec 2018
10 tips to approach IT operations processes with confidence
Stuck in the NOC over the holidays? To pass the time, improve your ability to plan projects and quash production infrastructure incidents with confidence. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Dec 2018
Top 10 IT tutorials of 2018 for professional development in 2019
Most IT admins take control of their education via home labs and tutorials. Refresh skills in PowerShell or Python -- or learn new ones like Kubernetes -- with these popular walkthroughs. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2018
Establish a configuration management strategy to guide transition
Humans are notoriously averse to change in routine -- even when it makes their jobs easier. Encourage innovation and be flexible: Strategy is a journey, not a destination. Continue Reading
- E-Zine 18 Dec 2018
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Opinion
10 Dec 2018
Key IT skills to make you current and capable in an ops role
With the rapid pace of IT, it's easy to lose your edge -- even for technologically curious ops professionals. Master a balance of the best IT and people skills to get ahead in modern operations. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2018
Simple-to-automate IT tasks: Stop doing these 3 things
There are certain tasks that no IT ops administrator should still do manually. No more excuses -- take these easy operations processes off your plate, and let scripts or tools take over. Continue Reading
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Quiz
28 Nov 2018
Pop quiz: Desktop virtualization certifications for Citrix and VMware
VMware and Citrix offer numerous certifications for their virtual desktop and app products. Test yourself on the different levels and types of certifications and what each one covers. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
21 Nov 2018
What does an IT person do? Answers from around the globe
The holiday season is fast approaching, when IT and DevOps professionals around the world answer a perennial question at the family dinner table: What does an IT person do? While you might only ... Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Nov 2018
6 emerging technologies that belong in an IT operations plan
A penny saved is a penny earned. But when it comes to AI, specialized compute engines and these other key emerging IT operations areas, a penny saved today is a dollar wasted -- or worse -- in the future. Continue Reading
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Feature
08 Nov 2018
How VDI admins can earn VMware and Citrix certifications
Certifications from Citrix and VMware validate an IT professional's skills with respect to a certain program or tool, and they can help VDI pros improve their careers. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
07 Nov 2018
Get started with your first Docker container build
Many admins have a purely theoretical understanding of containers -- despite the technology's seeming ubiquity. This tutorial offers container newbies the opportunity to get hands-on. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Sep 2018
What IT pros need to know about Citrix certifications
Citrix offers a slew of certifications that prove how well an IT pro knows a certain technology. To earn a certification, IT pros must pass exams that Citrix issues. Continue Reading
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Opinion
24 Aug 2018
The DevOps hiring process should be audition-based
How do we ensure competence? Certification is now a big business, but the way we test a 6 year old should differ from the way we test a doctoral candidate or DevOps engineer. Continue Reading
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Opinion
03 Jul 2018
Salary snapshot: Embrace an entry-level DevOps role
New DevOps engineers make much more than their software engineer counterparts. If you have DevOps skills, maybe it's time to rebrand. Continue Reading
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Answer
01 Jun 2018
What is the best DevOps tool for my career?
I have no prior knowledge on DevOps. I'm doing an online course and understand Unix. I get the concepts, so what tool should I concentrate on learning to advance my DevOps career? Continue Reading
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Tip
16 May 2018
Top-tier ITSM skills go beyond a good tool set
An organization can supply all the tools IT wants and still struggle to succeed. Build up key soft skills in IT and you'll boost productivity and business relationships. Continue Reading
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Feature
09 May 2018
Which IT security roles fall to the ops team?
To help secure data and applications, an IT ops team needs to do much more than put up firewalls and apply other traditional security measures. Here's where to begin. Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Apr 2018
Salary snapshot: What is a lead DevOps engineer paid today?
Our monthly salary snapshot looks at lead DevOps engineer salaries, which are high and getting higher due to the worsening developer shortage. Here's how the paychecks stack up. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Apr 2018
Become an infrastructure developer to get code to production faster
Wondering where to take your IT career in a future that is increasingly software-defined? Learn the role of an infrastructure developer from one expert with experience in the field. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Apr 2018
How to bridge the network engineering skills gap
Training for new network engineering skills should emphasize basic concepts behind building a network, whether it's software-defined, intent-based or disaggregated. Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Mar 2018
Salary snapshot: Which city has the highest DevOps pay scale?
Salary data from Glassdoor shows DevOps experience continues to give paychecks a substantial advantage over other developer roles. If you want to make the most money, move to San Francisco. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
26 Mar 2018
Learn Kubernetes infrastructure in a personal lab
Live servers are not the place to build up Kubernetes skills. Instead, set up a Kubernetes cluster, and start experimenting with it on a laptop in a lab. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2018
Secure DevOps: Inside the five lifecycle phases
Secure DevOps and cloud computing are altering the design, build, deployment and operation of online systems. Learn more from Eric Johnson and Frank Kim of the SANS Institute. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Feb 2018
Learn Ruby language skills with these online resources
Systems administrators spend more time programming than ever before. To excel in your current role or find a new, DevOps-heavy one, invest the time to learn a new language. Continue Reading
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News
16 Feb 2018
Pluralsight IQ, Stack Overflow boost developer street cred
Tying the Pluralsight IQ skills test to the Stack Overflow Developer Story helps developers measure their technical skills and better highlight them for jobs. Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Feb 2018
Salary snapshot: It's a very good time to be a DevOps pro
In 2017, the number of job postings for DevOps jumped 15% over the previous year, and salaries increased, too. Do you have today's most in-demand skills? Continue Reading
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Tip
31 Jan 2018
Sharpen IT effectiveness to go from cost center to business nexus
IT departments must work to keep user experience positive to avoid a perception as a resource vacuum. If users can't manipulate the app effectively, what does uptime matter? Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jan 2018
Error budget instills reckless IT project management mindset
Just how many errors is the IT operations team allowed to make? Trendy organizations are answering this question with a budget, but it possesses some admins to push the envelope. Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Dec 2017
Why you need to think carefully about DevOps certification training
A certificate can be a career blessing, but the wrong one can be a curse. Expert Bob Reselman explains how to make the right choices for DevOps and other areas. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Oct 2017
Container OS options abound: Make the right selection
There is an assortment of OSes that support containerized applications, so go into the decision with a set of wants, needs and must-avoids. Continue Reading
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Guide
28 Sep 2017
Learn DevOps techniques in a home lab
Not allowed to put work projects on GitHub? Want to run containers even though your company is still virtualizing servers? Get ahead with techniques and tools in a DevOps home lab. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Sep 2017
An IT operations job description written for the future
Forward-looking IT ops jobs require more Python and less cable management. To reach valued positions in the IT organization, align your skills with these popular job requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Sep 2017
Build a DevOps version control process for IT infrastructure
Infrastructure admins can turn to the DevOps version control process for all IaC updates. Learn the basics, then follow along with an example in Git. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
22 Jun 2017
Step up from ops on your IT career path
IT operations professionals with accumulated skills in application management, cloud migration or security enforcement could make a forward move to one of these specialist roles. Continue Reading
