Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• Want better cloud infrastructure management? Re-examine your IT tool set

  Among the many changes a cloud migration brings to an enterprise, IT teams must take a long, hard look at their existing infrastructure management tools. Continue Reading

• The true definition of cloud computing is still lost on some IT pros

  The misuse of the phrase 'cloud computing' has created misperceptions of the technology. Remember that the cloud isn't a location -- it's a more agile way to design IT services. Continue Reading

• Specialty IaaS cloud providers meet unique IT demands

  IT shops with specific workload requirements continue to choose specialty IaaS offerings over the more rigid services from cloud giants like AWS, Azure and Google. Continue Reading

• Cloud engineering jobs demand mix of technical, business skills

  Cloud computing has become the norm for many enterprises -- and the IT job market reflects that. Learn what it takes to be a cloud engineer, and the skill set you need to succeed. Continue Reading

• Weigh virtual private cloud benefits for enterprise IT teams

  Many enterprises understand the benefits of public cloud, but would rather have them in a single-tenant environment. Here's how virtual private clouds help meet that need. Continue Reading

• Event-driven applications drive next wave of IaaS evolution

  As the IaaS market evolves, the next wave of competition for public cloud providers won't be about price, but about web services and event-driven computing.Continue Reading

• Microsoft snaps up Deis in latest container play

  Deis, in its own words, "helps developers and operators build, deploy, manage, and scale their applications on top of Kubernetes." We all want to do that.Continue Reading

• Build an effective API management system for multicloud

  APIs play a critical role in cloud, allowing apps and services to communicate with each other. But with multiple cloud providers in the mix, API management gets complicated.Continue Reading

• How to get started with IAM services in the cloud

  Security is critical in the cloud, so it isn't surprising that identity and access management services are in high demand. Learn why you need IAM, and what services to consider.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

• Streamline cloud operations with Google automation tools

  Cloud admins can choose from a number of tools to drive automation in Google Cloud Platform. Learn how managed instance groups, Deployment Manager and other options stack up.Continue Reading

• OpenStack remains sole choice for open source cloud platform

  OpenStack is the only open source cloud platform available for enterprise customers. But few use the software, mainly because administrators have yet to master the necessary skills.Continue Reading

• Consider OpenStack benefits, but lack of automation must be overcome

  OpenStack is the only show in town when it comes to open source stack options. While it's popular and can partner with major vendors, it likely requires significant automation.Continue Reading

• GPU cloud instances aid compute-intensive apps, but at a cost

  Public cloud providers increasingly offer GPU-based cloud services for compute-heavy applications, but organizations need the right skill sets -- and budget -- to deploy them.Continue Reading

• Choose cloud configuration management tools for multiple platforms

  The multicloud model presents unique configuration management challenges. When choosing a tool, enterprises should compare cloud native and third-party options carefully.Continue Reading

• Cloud machine learning still an answer in search of a question

  Cloud machine learning is still a talking point in IT circles as vendors try to make it more palatable to mainstream enterprises.Continue Reading

• Combat OpenStack scalability issues with the latest Ocata release

  Scalability is a major benefit of the cloud, but enterprises have struggled to achieve the scale they need with OpenStack. A new Ocata release offers a few services to help.Continue Reading

• Get the most from a serverless application in public cloud

  Serverless computing can cut application costs in the public cloud, but enterprises need the right set of skills to reap that and other benefits.Continue Reading

• Awareness of shared-responsibility model is critical to cloud success

  When companies move to the cloud, it's paramount that they know where the provider's security role ends and where the customer's begins. The shared-responsibility model is one of the fundamental ...Continue Reading

• State of the cloud quiz: Do you know the latest cloud computing trends?

  Every new year brings changes to the cloud computing mandate. What mattered in the past has likely diminished in importance. How well is your company aligned with current trends?Continue Reading

• IoT edge computing presents next big challenge for cloud

  IoT adoption continues to grow, but can public cloud keep up? Data gravity will affect how enterprises process data, prompting some cloud providers to rethink their strategy.Continue Reading

• Cloud security concerns shift beyond shared-responsibility model

  Cloud security concerns may be less prominent in the enterprise, but users and vendors still need to work to ensure data stays safe, especially in higher-level services.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

• The end is near for cloud computing. Or is it?

  The need for instantaneous information exchange makes peer mesh networks inevitable. The network latency associated with a device-to-datacenter model and the corresponding datacenter-to-device ...Continue Reading

• What users can expect as cloud providers add new data centers

  As the price wars die down, cloud providers now target new land to expand their data center footprints. But will these new data centers impact users' workloads?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

• Cloud computing startups help admins manage containers, hybrid IT

  As containers, open source and hybrid cloud move into the mainstream, tools to manage those technologies are in high demand. New companies have surfaced to respond to those needs.Continue Reading

• A roundup of hybrid cloud management software for IT teams

  Hybrid cloud management software may still be an emerging market, but there are some vendors and tools that buyers should consider for monitoring, cost accounting and other tasks.Continue Reading

• Determine multicloud app placement based on these three factors

  For apps to perform optimally in multicloud, IT teams need to determine which public cloud platform will support them best. Use these three factors to help guide that decision.Continue Reading

• Compare offline data migration services from AWS, Azure and Google

  Sending a storage disk to a cloud provider seems like an antiquated data-migration method, but it's a common choice. Here's how AWS, Azure and Google manage the process.Continue Reading

• Questions loom over Amazon-VMware cloud deal

  The recent AWS-VMware cloud deal has IT pros wondering about price, feature set and much more. Laz Vekiarides, CTO of ClearSky Data and former Dell executive, gives his take.Continue Reading

• Beyond shadow IT risks, opportunity awaits

  Enterprises have a love/hate relationship with shadow IT. When it comes with risks, its presence also drives technological innovation. Find out how to make shadow IT work for your enterprise.Continue Reading

• Is 30% of your cloud spending wasted? Survey says yes.

  Survey respondents estimate that 30% of cloud spending is wasted. How in the world -- or in the cloud -- did this happen, and happen so quickly?Continue Reading

• Cheaper by the dozen: Uncover usage-based cloud discounts

  Enterprises constantly seek new ways to reduce cloud computing costs. Take time to review your instance types from AWS, Azure and Google to see if certain discounts apply.Continue Reading

• Public versus private cloud debate rages on

  As public cloud adoption rises, many IT pros wonder if the private cloud is doomed. But some experts think on-premises clouds still have their place -- even if it's in a hybrid cloud.Continue Reading

• Application containers got you boxed in? Break out with this quiz

  The race is on to deploy application containers wherever possible. Or is it? Portability and simplification are clear benefits, but the rate of adoption might surprise you.Continue Reading

• Identify and reduce multicloud integration costs

  When using multiple cloud providers, application integration costs can grow quickly. To prevent billing surprises, carefully plan application deployments and workflows.Continue Reading

• Using Azure Site Recovery for data and VM replication

  Data replication is a critical part of a disaster recovery plan, and the devil is in the details. Ease your plan with automation through Azure Site Recovery.Continue Reading

• Is IoT turning into the Internet of Thugs?

  Hackers hold a hotel's guestroom cardkey access system for ransom. And it's not the first time. Now, the hotel reportedly is planning a return to good, old-fashioned metal keys.Continue Reading

• New on-premises cloud systems look to redefine hybrid cloud

  Hybrid cloud management continues to be a challenge for IT. Providers have stepped up to address those challenges with public cloud-like, on-premises systems -- but hurdles remain.Continue Reading

• Three cloud computing skills to make your resume stand out in 2017

  As enterprises evolve their cloud strategies in 2017, expertise in vendor-specific services, containers and machine learning will pique the interest of IT hiring managers.Continue Reading

• Unwrap containers-as-a-service challenges and best practices

  Despite the benefits of containers as a service, integration and security issues can plague a deployment. Pick the right provider and follow best practices to ease those troubles.Continue Reading

• No-code/low-code app development evolves from loathed to loved

  Learn why no-code/low-code development tools are set to stay and are being employed more often by various software departments for rapid project deployment.Continue Reading

• Get creative and use the cloud for faster software development

  From low-code/no-code to containers and microservices, expert Tom Nolle outlines how the cloud can dramatically shorten the software development process.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of big data cloud services

  Big data in the cloud is a big deal. But without the right management and analytic tools, you won't get far. Test your knowledge of big data tools in the cloud with this quiz.Continue Reading

• Why to use APIs, explained in 18 words

  18 words is all you need: "Every feature, function, and use is transmitted through APIs, which gives us the ability to grow our platform."Continue Reading

• Cloud, IoT to drive enterprise IT trends in 2017

  Cloud computing has evolved quite a bit in the last few years, but it still has far to go. Technologies such as big data, containers and IoT will have a big part to play in the future.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

• Breaking down the costs of cloud storage

  Storage is a primary reason enterprises move workloads to the cloud. But before shipping off your data, learn how region, capacity and other factors shape cloud storage costs.Continue Reading

• Cloud partnerships, acquisitions to shake up market in 2017

  With rising competition between cloud vendors, more will pursue partnerships or acquire other companies to boost their own offerings. AWS and VMware provide one recent example.Continue Reading

• The what, why and how of the TOSCA cloud standard

  As the acceptance of DevOps rises, the TOSCA standard has become a popular option for cloud application deployment. Here's a closer look at how it works.Continue Reading

• Is application code walking out your door when developers jump ship?

  Departing employees routinely stuff their pockets with Sharpies and paper clips to stock their home offices. Are they walking out with application code, too?Continue Reading

• Quiz time: Popular programming language list shows changes at the top

  As tastes in fashion reflect changing times, the choice for most-popular programming language reflects computing advancements. And like blue jeans, some languages keep hanging on.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

• Choose the best Google cloud instance types for your workloads

  Not all workloads are the same -- some require more CPUs, while other require more memory. Fortunately, Google's range of cloud instance types offers enterprises a lot of options.Continue Reading

• Build cloud computing APIs for app portability

  Well-designed APIs are key for cloud platform portability. And documentation, release stability and security also all play roles in maintaining a cloud API.Continue Reading

• Cloud data recovery is critical, but won't always come easy

  The last thing an enterprise wants is to lose data in the cloud. Take a proactive approach by evaluating recovery services from cloud and third-party providers.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

• Jump into 2017 with these top cloud computing predictions

  The cloud market constantly evolves, from new models such as multicloud to services for big data, serverless and more. Learn what 2017 has in store and how cloud admins can prepare.Continue Reading

• A look back at the top cloud technology news stories of 2016

  From Verizon's public cloud exit to Google's big data wins, the cloud market was busy in 2016. Here's a look back at SearchCloudComputing's top stories.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

• The outlook for cloud computing 2017? Lower costs and more options

  In 2017, serverless computing technologies, data analytics and Docker containers will help drive innovation in the cloud. And you'll even get pay-as-you-consume time in the cloud.Continue Reading

• SMBs seek alternatives to hyperscale cloud providers

  There's no denying the dominance of AWS, Azure and Google within the cloud market. But for some companies, smaller or regional cloud providers offer a more attractive alternative.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about containers as a service

  Containers as a service provides an easy way to set up a container cluster. Choosing the right CaaS platform depends on hosting and the flexibility of a container stack.Continue Reading

• Ten ways to improve your private cloud self-service portal

  A private cloud portal allows users to tap into the self-service benefits of cloud. Follow these ten steps to guarantee user satisfaction, and ensure your portal runs smoothly.Continue Reading

• The hybrid cloud management platform and the modern enterprise

  Hybrid cloud management is a hot issue for modern IT operations. Read more to find out what it is, how it works and what it can do for your infrastructure.Continue Reading

• Editors' Choice for Innovation: Archive2Anywhere email migration tool

  The Archive2Anywhere legally compliant engine migrates legacy e-mail archives to local or cloud repositories while maintaining a clear chain of custody and ensuring data fidelity.Continue Reading

• Have you driven embedded software, lately?

  Hardware is nothing more than software that breaks if you drop it. Even today's vehicles are essentially little more than highly complex mobile computers with seating for five and cargo space.Continue Reading

• Perform a PaaS pricing comparison for public cloud

  When choosing a platform, enterprises need to focus on features and prices for Azure, Google and AWS. Take a look under the hood before you take it for a spin.Continue Reading

• Cloud orchestration tools become a must-have for hybrid IT

  Some IT shops try to force-fit legacy orchestration tools to cloud -- but that can backfire. Instead, evaluate new orchestration tools, especially those built for hybrid models.Continue Reading

• Learn how the changes in a PaaS business model impact application development

  With the evolution of PaaS in 2016, cloud spending has increased. Learn how these changes ease profit pressure on cloud providers and also reshape how applications are developed.Continue Reading

• Optimize load balancing methods for multicloud

  As enterprises move toward a multicloud model, IT shops need to evolve their load balancing strategy to optimize application performance across disparate cloud platforms.Continue Reading

• Explore Microsoft Azure automation options and tools

  Cloud admins can use a variety of tools and methods to automate Azure deployments. Decide whether runbooks, DSC or other alternatives would work best for you.Continue Reading

• Combat the latest cloud security challenges and risks

  Enterprises continue to put cloud security strategies at the top of their to-do lists. Learn the latest cloud security risks and trends, as well as tips to secure your deployment.Continue Reading

• Implement multifactor methods of authentication for public cloud

  Multifactor authentication is a critical step for securing IT apps and resources. Explore options for enabling and managing this model in public clouds like AWS and Azure.Continue Reading

• Developers are driving the advancement of cloud culture

  It's all very good for developers. You get to continually look at new technologies, new languages, and new opportunities to profoundly impact a business's operations and profitability.Continue Reading

• OpenStack skills shortage makes deployment an ongoing challenge

  Enterprises that pursue OpenStack deployments often scramble to find IT professionals experienced with the open source platform. Will that skills gap close any time soon?Continue Reading

• Practice cloud resource management to reduce sprawl, cut costs

  Some organizations go overboard with cloud deployments, paying for more resources than they actually need. Follow these steps to decrease wastefulness and increase cost efficiency.Continue Reading

• How the Microsoft-LinkedIn acquisition could reshape cloud apps

  The Microsoft-LinkedIn deal could create a new cloud approach, similar to microservices, that is more personalized for workers' needs.Continue Reading

• Learn the benefits of using software containers to build cloud apps

  Explore what types of cloud applications can be developed using containers, depending on their requirements, such as memory efficiency, application tenancy and network connectivity.Continue Reading

• Three IT nightmares that haunted cloud admins in 2016

  For admins, the cloud may trick as much as it treats. Here are three IT nightmares that spooked SearchCloudComputing Advisory Board members in 2016.Continue Reading

• Managing Azure resources with ARM vs. the classic admin portal

  Azure constantly changes to meet new IT demands, so management tools have to keep up. ARM replaces the classic Azure management portal, but be smart about moving your resources.Continue Reading

• Serverless computing helps enterprises reduce cloud resource worries

  New serverless options, such as AWS Lambda and Azure Functions, help enterprises distance themselves from traditional server management to obtain more flexibility and cost efficiency.Continue Reading

• NativeScript eases cross-platform app development for music app

  ShoutOutPlay app records and then blends user greetings with Spotify streams. The app runs natively on Android and iOS from a single NativeScript code base that compiles to JavaScript.Continue Reading

• IBM's cloud strategy advances, but more work remains

  IBM appears to be on the right track with its cloud computing plans, but bumps in the road remain, especially when it comes to targeting line-of-business users.Continue Reading

• How a hyper-converged appliance affects private cloud deployments

  Simplifying data center management, HCI continues to grow in popularity. Learn how these integrated systems affect private cloud performance and administration.Continue Reading

• NativeScript framework eases cross-platform app development woes

  Building apps to run natively on Android and iOS used to mean coding twice. NativeScript with Angular 2 solves this problem by leveraging the JavaScript developers already know.Continue Reading

• Why Google Cloud Platform services deserve a second look

  Google Cloud services have evolved significantly over the past year, with an eye toward the enterprise. But there's still room for improvement in 2017.Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about Docker and Windows Server 2016

  Docker and Windows are now compatible, but there's more work to do before they will provide everything a developer needs. Expert Christopher Tozzi breaks down the issues.Continue Reading

• Test yourself: Global IT spending trends and outlook

  IT spending in 2016, which was first expected to dip, will finish the year level with 2015. Take this quiz and see if you know what the experts are predicting for the next few years.Continue Reading

• Is it acceptable to write sloppy, inefficient, bloated code -- or just easy?

  Business cycles that demand frequent changes in application functionality make it difficult to write compact, efficient code.Continue Reading

• Podcast: Use cognitive analytics to reveal data's hidden patterns

  Rigid rules-based analytics falls short with unstructured data arriving from multiple sources. Cognition allows analytics to flex and consider a wider range of possibilities.Continue Reading

• Evaluate Swift vs. Ceph for OpenStack object storage

  Both Swift and Ceph are open source, object storage systems. But despite their similarities, there are differences to consider when choosing one for OpenStack storage.Continue Reading

• How the vertical cloud market is growing with PaaS

  Expert Tom Nolle explains three different ways the vertical cloud market is changing with PaaS.Continue Reading

• It's time for developers to become experts in artificial intelligence

  If you're an applications developer, You must add AI, cognitive computing, machine learning, and analytics expertise to your skills portfolio.Continue Reading

• Cloud computing employment trends shift from generalists to specialists

  Preparing to enter the cloud computing job market is tough, especially with DevOps, serverless computing and other trends. The SearchCloudComputing Advisory Board points you in the right direction.Continue Reading

• API technology helps developers glue services and data together

  As the number of APIs used by enterprises soars, tight control and security must be balanced against unfettered access and ease of use. Such is the state of API technology.Continue Reading

• What you need to know about Windows Server 2016 containers

  Deciding which container route to take while using microservices can be tricky. Expert Mike Otey explains what the differences are and how to best take advantage of the options.Continue Reading

• Public cloud deployment lessons learned from IT pros

  Public cloud adoption may be growing in the enterprise, but the experiences of two IT shops show that legacy apps and infrastructure aren't simply taking a back seat.Continue Reading