Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• What is the difference between Amazon MSK and Kinesis?

  When it comes to data stream processing and analysis, AWS offers Amazon Kinesis or a managed version of Apache Kafka. Compare these two options to pick the best fit for your app.  Continue Reading

• Amazon ECS vs. Kubernetes: Which should you use on AWS?

  How can you approach container orchestration on AWS? Learn the basics about ECS, EKS, DIY Kubernetes and Fargate before you choose an application architecture for your workloads.  Continue Reading

• How do I configure AWS Lambda functions in a VPC?

  Lambda and VPCs are essential to many AWS architectures, but they don't come together as intuitively as you might think. Learn how to configure Lambda functions within a VPC.  Continue Reading

• Why is high availability important in cloud computing?

  How many "nines" does your own cloud app really need? High availability is still an important factor in a cloud SLA, but uptime needs vary for each service and company.  Continue Reading

• DynamoDB on-demand vs. provisioned capacity: Which is better?

  There are two primary ways to handle capacity in DynamoDB: on-demand or provisioned. Learn the advantages, concerns and use cases for each option.  Continue Reading

• When should I use Amazon RDS vs. Aurora Serverless?

  Before choosing between Aurora Serverless and Amazon RDS, consider each service's benefits and limitations to ensure you find the right use case and stick to your cloud budget.  Continue Reading

• 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

• When should you use cloud vs. on-premises storage?

  Choose the right data storage approach with this breakdown on the differences between cloud and on-premises storage. Consider cost, compliance, performance and other factors.  Continue Reading

• 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

• What are the different types of cloud load balancing?

  Learn how load balancing in the cloud differs from a traditional network traffic distribution, and explore the different services available from AWS, Google and Microsoft.  Continue Reading

• 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

• How do I compare AWS Lambda vs. Azure Functions for serverless?

  Assessing serverless computing offerings from AWS and Microsoft Azure? Evaluate differences in price, language support and deployment models for AWS Lambda and Azure Functions.  Continue Reading

• 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

• What is data separation and why is it important in the cloud?

  Some enterprises avoid the public cloud due to its multi-tenant nature and data security concerns. Learn what data separation is and how it can keep your data safe.  Continue Reading

• How do I integrate cloud AI APIs into existing apps?

  Learn how to build AI into your apps with the help of cloud services and prepare for some of the challenges you can expect to face along the way.  Continue Reading

• What are common uses for cloud AI APIs?

  Curious about AI? See top use cases of how cloud-based AI APIs and services can boost application functionality.  Continue Reading

• What's a cloud migration factory, and how does it work?

  When properly implemented -- and understood -- a cloud migration factory combines the right mix of people, processes and tools to smoothly transition an app into the public cloud.  Continue Reading

• Explore the revert-to-snapshot feature in OpenStack Cinder

  OpenStack Cinder has added a revert-to-snapshot function, enabling enterprises to recover from corrupted data sets. However, if the feature falls into the wrong hands, risks arise.  Continue Reading

• Should you build your own tools for diagnostics?

  Learn which makes more sense for your enterprise: building your own cloud-based diagnostic tooling or purchasing an existing product. Expert Ken Milberg explains.  Continue Reading

• What is a Helm Chart and how can it improve microservices?

  Learn about Helm Charts and how Kubernetes supports a microservices architecture. Expert Ken Milberg discusses what you need to know before delving in.  Continue Reading

• What are the best SDK tools for automating blockchain services?

  As blockchain matures, an ecosystem of tools continues to sprout up around it. Learn how these offerings, including the Hyperledger Fabric Client SDK, can help with a deployment.  Continue Reading

• Implement a data purge strategy to reduce public cloud costs

  When you hold on to old data, cloud storage costs can become increasingly steep. Learn to let go with a formal policy for cloud data purges.  Continue Reading

• Use OpenStack Senlin, Heat templates to enable autoscaling

  As it is with other cloud platforms, autoscaling in OpenStack is important to meet changing workload demands. Here's how to enable that process with Senlin and Heat templates.  Continue Reading

• Which PaaS platforms support production needs best?

  Need a PaaS platform with strong production support? Explore production support and SLAs of AWS Elastic Beanstalk, IBM Bluemix, Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure.  Continue Reading

• What are the best database services for PaaS offerings?

  When you move to PaaS for your web-based apps, remember to think about database services. Consider the benefits of moving your database to a fully supported cloud infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• How do I choose a web development framework for PaaS?

  Making sure that your PaaS offering and the web development framework of your choice agree can be tricky. Learn how to choose the best framework for your enterprise needs.  Continue Reading

• Implement cloud storage snapshots to protect critical data

  Storage snapshots act almost like a rewind feature for admins, enabling them to roll back to uncorrupted versions of data. Unfortunately, they aren't as simple as hitting a button.  Continue Reading

• What are the pros, cons of PaaS offerings from AWS, Google, Microsoft?

  Get started with exploring these PaaS offerings: AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure. An IT veteran summarizes their pros and cons.  Continue Reading

• OpenStack Kolla looks to smooth container deployment process

  Containers are a hot technology, and the OpenStack platform continues to evolve to support them. But where does the Kolla service fit into the OpenStack container picture?  Continue Reading

• Infuse more flexibility into OpenStack Heat templates

  OpenStack admins use Heat templates to streamline cloud resource deployment. What are the templates' main components, and how can we use them in more flexible ways?  Continue Reading

• How do OpenStack Neutron, Dragonflow enable SDN?

  As the OpenStack community continues to advance its software-defined networking capabilities, what role will the Neutron and Dragonflow components play?  Continue Reading

• Compare OpenStack local storage options for now and in the future

  SSDs, HDDs and NVMe can all provide local storage for an OpenStack deployment. But what are the benefits and tradeoffs of each, and how will these technologies evolve?  Continue Reading

• How to modify rules in a default OpenStack security group

  OpenStack security groups allow admins to control traffic into cloud computing instances. But is it possible to change the rules within a default group?  Continue Reading

• Built to burst: Which apps work well in a cloud bursting architecture?

  Cloud bursting is one way to manage spikes in demand, but it's difficult to achieve with certain apps. So which application types burst best to the public cloud?  Continue Reading

• What are some ways to stop and restart OpenStack instances?

  Admins can pause, suspend, shelve or stop a compute instance in OpenStack. But what are the key differences between each option?  Continue Reading

• How should I choose the right cloud app development platform?

  It's an oft-asked question: Which cloud platform is the best choice for app development efforts? The answer: It depends. It's PaaS vs. AWS Lambda.  Continue Reading

• How many instances of Windows Nano Server can run on 1 TB of RAM?

  The biggest feature of Windows Server 2016 may the tiny Windows Nano Server. Tech expert Michael Otey explains how something so small can be so powerful and secure.  Continue Reading

• Which workloads benefit from GPU instances in the public cloud?

  GPU instances help enterprises run more compute-intensive workloads on the public cloud. But what kinds of apps, specifically, are a good fit for these instance types?  Continue Reading

• What are some warnings signs I need bigger cloud computing instances?

  Choosing a cloud instance is not an easy task, and picking the wrong size can cost you in the long run. What are some red flags that suggest I need a larger instance type?  Continue Reading

• How does Azure Premium Storage billing work?

  For Azure Premium Storage, are users billed by how much storage capacity they actually use or how much they reserve or allocate?  Continue Reading

• How can I use OpenStack Tempest to test my deployment?

  The OpenStack cloud platform consists of a range of different services and components. How can Tempest help me test that everything works properly?  Continue Reading

• Manage hybrid cloud policies with the right set of templates, tools

  The rising adoption of hybrid cloud has prompted admins to rethink their management strategies. What tools can help create and manage user policies for hybrid cloud?  Continue Reading

• How do I invoke Azure runbooks with a webhook?

  Runbooks help admins automate certain processes within the Azure cloud. But what capabilities do I gain if I kick-off Azure runbooks through a webhook?  Continue Reading

• How do I synchronize MFA devices for public cloud?

  Multifactor authentication helps organizations verify account and user identities in the public cloud. But what do I do when my MFA devices fall out of sync?  Continue Reading

• Which Microsoft tools can help me migrate to Azure?

  There are a number of Microsoft tools that can monitor workload performance. But which tools can help gauge if my apps are ready to migrate to the Azure public cloud?  Continue Reading

• How can I reduce private cloud costs during and after deployment?

  Whether using OpenStack, Azure Stack, or another private cloud platform, there are a number of hardware and tuning decisions IT pros can make to save some cash.  Continue Reading

• How can we customize the OpenStack Horizon dashboard?

  Admins can use the OpenStack Horizon dashboard to deploy and manage cloud services. But what are some options for customizing the dashboard's view?  Continue Reading

• How do I deploy secure open source code for cloud?

  Open source code can bring flexibility and agility to a cloud environment. But are there any quick ways to make sure it's secure?  Continue Reading

• How do I prevent an I/O bottleneck in hybrid cloud?

  In a hybrid cloud deployment, what are some ways to eliminate I/O bottlenecks that hurt application performance?  Continue Reading

• Optimize hybrid cloud performance with these data management tips

  Hybrid cloud allows organizations to tap into the benefits of both public and private cloud. But how should IT manage data to avoid performance bottlenecks?  Continue Reading

• Will a cloud access security broker impact users' experience?

  Cloud access security brokers can protect cloud environments from threats, but what is their effect on application performance and the end-user experience?  Continue Reading

• What are my cloud requirements for implementing direct connections?

  Direct connections provide a more efficient way to move data to the public cloud. But how does my organization set one up?  Continue Reading

• How do I establish network security groups for public cloud?

  Network security groups control the lines of communication between network traffic and cloud instances. How do I set them up in AWS or Azure?  Continue Reading

• How can I use Azure Resource Manager more effectively?

  Cloud admins use Azure Resource Manager to track apps and resources in Microsoft's public cloud. What are some tips for getting started with the tool?  Continue Reading

• How does a shared responsibility model work in multicloud?

  Many public cloud providers share security responsibilities with their users. But how does that work in a multicloud model?  Continue Reading

• Is a cloud bursting architecture difficult to implement?

  Cloud bursting helps organizations use the public cloud to manage sudden spikes in demand. But what challenges or issues might it introduce?  Continue Reading

• MapReduce vs. Spark: Which should I choose for big data in the cloud?

  MapReduce and Spark are two common options for processing big data in the cloud. But what are the key differences between the two?  Continue Reading

• Does an app container make it easier to manage the cloud?

  It's a crazy world of distributed systems in the hybrid cloud. Now the app container adds to the craziness. Research expert Carl Lehman explains.  Continue Reading

• What are my options for a third-party Azure management tool?

  Microsoft offers a number of management tools for Azure, but what are some options for third-party or open source management tools?  Continue Reading

• Which container orchestration engine works with OpenStack Magnum?

  Containers and OpenStack are two hot technologies in cloud, but which container orchestration tools will work with the open source cloud platform?  Continue Reading

• When should I use Azure VM Scale Sets?

  Microsoft Azure VM Scale Sets help cloud admins manage a collection of VMs as a single unit. But what workloads are they best suited for?  Continue Reading

• Should I build a dedicated private cloud staff?

  Cloud computing requires a unique set of IT skills. What staffing changes should I make to build and maintain a successful private cloud?  Continue Reading

• How do I prep cloud automation tools for an upgrade?

  Hardware and software upgrades in a data center can cause big disruption to cloud automation tools. How can my organization prepare?  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of automation in a private cloud?

  No one likes repetitive, time-consuming tasks -- especially if they have to be done manually. Can private cloud automation free IT teams from this never-ending Groundhog's Day?  Continue Reading

• Should I use Rackspace Fanatical Support?

  For organizations lacking in-house cloud expertise, managed cloud services like Rackspace Fanatical Support could be a way to fill that gap.  Continue Reading

• How do OpenStack and CloudStack stack up against each other?

  When choosing an open source cloud platform, there are many options, including OpenStack and CloudStack. So what are the big differences between the two?  Continue Reading

• How is cloud penetration testing different for AWS, Google, Azure?

  Penetration tests help organizations spot vulnerabilities in their public cloud environments. But how are the testing requirements different for AWS, Google and Azure?  Continue Reading

• How are microservices and cloud computing related?

  Microservices and cloud are both on the up and up when it comes to enterprise adoption. But what exactly is the connection between the two technologies?  Continue Reading

• When should I use Red Hat OpenShift PaaS?

  Most major cloud providers have a platform as a service offering. So what makes Red Hat's OpenShift platform stand out?  Continue Reading

• Why should I consider a microservices architecture?

  Microservices-based architectures can provide greater flexibility to IT organizations and developers. But how exactly do microservices work?  Continue Reading

• What are the key DevOps roles in an enterprise?

  The DevOps model is taking off as cloud adoption grows. But what exactly are the key responsibilities of a DevOps team in the enterprise?  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of continuous cloud app development?

  Traditional software development processes are tedious and slow. How could continuous cloud app development benefit my business?  Continue Reading

• When should I use Azure SQL Data Warehouse?

  Amazon Redshift is the market leader in cloud data warehousing services. But what does Azure SQL Data Warehouse bring to the table?  Continue Reading

• How can I minimize cloud API security risks?

  Without proper security measures, cloud APIs can be a gateway for hackers. So how do I ensure cloud API security?  Continue Reading

• Will a cloud provider's API update disrupt my environment?

  When cloud providers update their APIs, developers have to update and re-test their own software. How can I prepare for that process and minimize disruption?  Continue Reading

• What is a cloud-based system?

  Get an overview of what a cloud-based system is and what would work best in your enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Which open source cloud infrastructure tool is right for me?

  Choosing the wrong open source cloud infrastructure tool can take a toll on your IT environment. So which one is right for my business?  Continue Reading

• Should I back up data on Google Cloud Platform or another option?

  Find out whether Google Cloud Platform is the best option for backing up data.  Continue Reading

• Should PaaS providers fear the Docker invasion?

  Docker and platform as a service providers offer similar features, making the container platform a PaaS alternative. So will Docker fully replace PaaS?  Continue Reading

• Is Google's PerfKit a reliable cloud benchmarking tool?

  As the IaaS market grows, choosing the right vendor becomes challenging. Google's PerfKit Benchmarker can help, but will it provide unbiased results?  Continue Reading

• Would Azure Data Factory benefit my cloud data?

  Azure Data Factory helps move large volumes of data between the cloud and on-premises environments. But how else could it impact my big data strategy?  Continue Reading

• How do I move between Google Compute Engine instances?

  Organizations often have to move workloads from one Google Compute Engine instance to another. So how should IT pros plan for such a move?  Continue Reading

• When should a developer transition to DBaaS?

  Managing and scaling from a DB to a DBaaS takes a significant effort for a developer. Find out to make those updates a little easier.  Continue Reading

• What should I include on my hybrid cloud roadmap?

  Given how rapidly IT evolves, it's tough to shape a long-term cloud strategy. So how can I build a hybrid cloud roadmap that lasts?  Continue Reading

• Should I move my cloud computing application in-house?

  Despite its many benefits, cloud isn't a good fit for all applications. So how do I know if it's time to move my cloud app back on-premises?  Continue Reading

• How do I ensure hybrid cloud security and performance?

  Deployment is only half of the hybrid cloud battle. How can I guarantee my hybrid environment is secure and high-performing?  Continue Reading

• Is my public cloud provider right for hybrid cloud?

  Not all public cloud providers are created equal. So how can I tell if my provider sets me up for hybrid cloud success?  Continue Reading

• Which cloud management tools can track my cloud budget?

  Cloud costs can fluctuate as user demands change. Are there cloud management tools that can help me track my cloud budget and spending?  Continue Reading

• Who should be crafting my cloud budget?

  IT plays a crucial role in planning and tracking cloud budgets. But should my business and finance executives also have a heavy hand in the process?  Continue Reading

• How does cloud change IT budget planning?

  Cloud services, such as SaaS, introduce a lot of change into an organization. But how exactly do they affect my IT budget and approval process?  Continue Reading

• Does my cloud broker hold the key to service success?

  Cloud services brokers serve as valuable intermediaries between an organization and its cloud provider. But what other benefits do they deliver?  Continue Reading

• What's the best cloud services broker option?

  A cloud services broker role can be filled by a third party, a cloud provider or even in-house IT. So which is the best option for my business?  Continue Reading

• Is the cloud services brokerage model redefining IT?

  Cloud brokers connect a growing landscape of service providers with busy business users. But what impact would they have on my IT team?  Continue Reading

• Does Hadoop in the cloud give big data a boost?

  Hadoop is an option for handling the vast and diverse data sets that come with big data. But how exactly can it be used in an organization?  Continue Reading

• Which cloud model is best for your big data project?

  Cloud computing comes in three distinct flavors: public, private and hybrid. But which is best for my big data project?  Continue Reading

• Should cloud and big data go hand-in-hand?

  Cloud and big data are major focuses for many businesses right now. But how are the two technologies related? Does your big data project require cloud?  Continue Reading

• Should I use Go as my cloud programming language?

  With a number of available programming languages, it's hard for enterprises to find the best option. Is Go the right language for my cloud project?  Continue Reading

• What are the differences among types of integration?

  What are the differences among cloud application integration, cloud integration and iPaaS? Chris Moyer lends his expertise to this reader question.  Continue Reading

• How do iPaaS and SaaS integration vendors differ?

  What's the difference between iPaaS and SaaS integration vendors? Are they the same? Get the facts in this expert answer.  Continue Reading

• What apps are suited for being hosted in the cloud?

  What types of applications are best suited for being hosted in the cloud? Read this expert answer to find out.  Continue Reading