Tips

Tips

• Cloud billing surprises help pinpoint app performance issues

  To assess cloud app performance, don't forget to closely monitor monthly bills from your IaaS provider. They might point to inefficiencies you'd otherwise overlook.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate Google Cloud TPUs for machine learning apps

  Machine learning apps have prompted a paradigm shift in the world of public cloud. Google is an early market leader with its TPUs and TensorFlow, but can it stay on top?  Continue Reading

• Overcome app deployment challenges in a multi-cloud strategy

  Looking to adopt a multi-cloud model? Be sure to address these common app deployment, redeployment and scaling challenges first.  Continue Reading

• Evolve IT staff, skill sets for a multi-cloud strategy

  To effectively implement and manage a multi-cloud architecture, enterprises first need IT team members who hold a unique mix of technical and business skills.  Continue Reading

• IPaaS tools aim to alleviate app integration troubles

  With the rise of hybrid cloud architectures, there's a heightened need for more sophisticated app and data integration tools. IPaaS can help but isn't necessarily a cure-all.  Continue Reading

• Manage Google cloud instances with images, templates

  Recent additions to Google Compute Engine, particularly around images and templates, streamline how admins can create and manage VMs.  Continue Reading

• Four signs you need a third-party cloud management platform

  In a multi-cloud deployment, IaaS providers' native tools for admins often fall short. These four signs indicate it's time to invest in a third-party cloud management tool.  Continue Reading

• Bolster multi-cloud security with these data privacy tips

  Data privacy is always a top priority for enterprise IT teams. And those with a multi-cloud model should adopt a mix of security techniques -- from erasure coding to encryption.  Continue Reading

• Azure PaaS strategy hones in on hybrid cloud, containers

  Microsoft's PaaS offerings might have a leg-up in terms of support for hybrid deployments, but the vendor still faces tough competition in a quickly evolving app-dev market.  Continue Reading

• Three ways to ensure app portability in a multi-cloud strategy

  As multi-cloud adoption grows, developers need to be careful they don't sacrifice application portability for the sake of using provider-native services.  Continue Reading

• Enterprises wrestle with OpenStack backup, DR challenges

  To work around the manual and often tedious processes associated with OpenStack DR and backup, some enterprises have turned to third-party tools.  Continue Reading

• Map hybrid cloud applications to your VPN address spaces

  Enterprise networks can easily become your Achilles' heel in hybrid cloud. Follow this advice to effectively manage your VPN, as well as scale and redeploy hybrid cloud apps.  Continue Reading

• Don't let Kubernetes services stall a multi-cloud strategy

  Despite the benefits of managed Kubernetes services from AWS, Microsoft and Google, these offerings can impede workload portability when tied closely to other provider-native tools.  Continue Reading

• Three ways to prepare applications for serverless platforms

  Compared to those that run in more traditional PaaS or IaaS environments, apps on serverless platforms bring a unique set of demands around performance, storage and more.  Continue Reading

• Build a CI/CD pipeline to simplify multi-cloud deployment

  While some cloud providers support simple app deployment processes and tools, they could hinder a multi-cloud model. Fortunately, there are some workarounds.  Continue Reading

• Azure Availability Zones enable more resilient cloud apps

  'Downtime' is a dreaded word for mission-critical applications. Learn how availability zones in Azure can promote uptime and keep your workloads running.  Continue Reading

• Don't let scalability ruin a cloud cost management strategy

  Scalability is one of the cloud's biggest advantages, but misuse of the feature can cost you. Pay special attention to these three rules to avoid unwanted billing surprises.  Continue Reading

• Four tips for a successful hybrid cloud POC

  A hybrid cloud proof of concept is an important step to ensure a deployment will fully meet IT and business needs. Mind these best practices around data, networks and more.  Continue Reading

• Five critical tests for cloud application performance, security

  To keep end users happy, dev teams should regularly test the performance and security of cloud-hosted applications. Tools from cloud providers and third-party vendors can help.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based applications pose tough integration challenges

  Even though SaaS applications are now indispensible to many enterprises, their lack of flexibility still presents a challenge around integration and management.  Continue Reading

• Cloud billing APIs enable greater cost transparency

  No enterprise wants to be surprised by its cloud computing bill. And, even as providers offer more visibility into users' costs through APIs and other tools, obstacles remain.  Continue Reading

• Prepare cloud-based applications for container technology

  To properly prepare cloud applications for containers, be sure to emphasize a service-based architecture and understand your management options upfront.  Continue Reading

• Know what to look for in a cloud management platform

  Like so many decisions in IT, choosing a cloud management tool takes time. Be sure to outline your key goals for resource deployment, cost monitoring and more.  Continue Reading

• Optimize load balancing for a hybrid cloud architecture

  Load balancing plays a critical role in ensuring application availability and high performance in hybrid cloud. Follow these general rules to get it right.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-native low-code platforms rival third-party options

  To choose between native and third-party low-code tools, application development teams need to weigh the benefits of consolidation against the risk of lock-in.  Continue Reading

• Factor performance into an application modernization strategy

  Dev teams increasingly use cloud, containers and microservices to modernize apps, but these technologies bring little value unless they boost performance, which is no guarantee.  Continue Reading

• Users demand more from containers in cloud

  Technology is always advancing, but it needs to march in the direction that users want. Containers are maturing, but plenty of IT pros still want more from the technology.  Continue Reading

• IaaS and PaaS blurred lines increase lock-in risks

  There are three distinct cloud service categories: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. However, IaaS and PaaS are getting a little too close, and you need to be aware of vendor lock-in risks.  Continue Reading

• Get started with Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform

  Despite its benefits, Red Hat OpenShift is just one technology amid a growing list intended to simplify container management and deployment for development and ops teams.  Continue Reading

• Compare management options for Google Kubernetes Engine

  Google supports various management options for its Kubernetes Engine service, and while each has its pros and cons, you should base your decision largely on experience.  Continue Reading

• Grasp the key concepts of hybrid cloud orchestration

  As hybrid cloud becomes increasingly common, organizations need an effective orchestration platform that can seamlessly span public and private infrastructure.  Continue Reading

• GDPR requirements loom over cloud providers, users

  Even if your cloud provider already complies with GDPR, you can't just take a backseat. Know what the requirements are and whether they apply to you -- or risk hefty fines.  Continue Reading

• Cloud application performance hinges on a solid testing plan

  When you neglect quality control testing, cloud app performance can suffer. Explore specific types of tests to run and tools that can guide the process.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud deployment demands a change in security mindset

  To fully protect data in a hybrid cloud model, enterprises need to scrutinize integration points, network access controls and the policies they have in place.  Continue Reading

• Four options to manage stateful apps in the cloud

  Stateful applications in the cloud pose an ongoing challenge for development and operations teams. Review four ways to address those issues and keep your apps running smoothly.  Continue Reading

• Azure Machine Learning services ease data science struggles

  With Azure machine learning services, such as Workbench, Experimentation and Model Management, Microsoft hopes to address common data science challenges in the enterprise.  Continue Reading

• Simplify multi-cloud management with two abstraction models

  To streamline management and reduce complexity in a multi-cloud model, enterprises can turn to two abstraction techniques: resource and orchestration.  Continue Reading

• Climb on the cloud network engineer career track

  Connectivity is a critical piece of any hybrid or multi-cloud deployment, which means there's a lot of new opportunity around the network engineer job.  Continue Reading

• BPM in cloud evolves to suit line of business, IoT

  While on-premises BPM tools have caused a tug of war between lines of business and IT, the cloud helps appease both sides. Here's what to expect from this cloud BPM trend and more.  Continue Reading

• Human error still poses a significant cloud security risk

  Even with the most sophisticated cloud security tools in play, human error -- both from end users and IT teams -- can open up your enterprise to numerous kinds of attacks.  Continue Reading

• Google preemptible VMs reduce cloud costs -- with a catch

  With its preemtible VMs, Google offers spare compute capacity at a discounted price. But be careful not to run certain apps on these VM types, as they shut down at any time.  Continue Reading

• Use LinuxKit to increase container portability

  With LinuxKit, Docker continues its push for better container portability. Learn how the tool can help your apps run across various platforms, as well as its potential limitations.  Continue Reading

• Manage app dependencies carefully for serverless platforms

  Application dependencies are tough to manage in serverless computing. Developers need to take specific steps, including the establishment of a well-defined CI/CD process, to cope.  Continue Reading

• Optimize serverless apps with real-time troubleshooting

  Serverless computing demands a new way of thinking to successfully troubleshoot apps. Carefully define error states, and maintain logs to pinpoint and solve performance issues.  Continue Reading

• Four things to know before an Azure Stack deployment

  Intended to simplify management and development across public and private clouds, Azure Stack looks to address some of IT's biggest hybrid hang-ups.  Continue Reading

• Bare-metal cloud services lure legacy workloads off premises

  For some enterprises, bare-metal services in the cloud act as a crucial steppingstone to an IaaS deployment, and providers, including IBM, Oracle and AWS, have taken notice.  Continue Reading

• Structure public cloud accounts for optimal resource tracking

  As enterprises move to public IaaS or broaden their existing deployments, cloud account management gets tricky. Follow this example to find the structure that works best for you.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for hybrid cloud implementation with these key steps

  As enterprises mix public and private IT resources, they grapple with app workflows, network connections and more. Here are four ways to alleviate common hybrid cloud challenges.  Continue Reading

• Build a multi-cloud app with these four factors in mind

  A multi-cloud strategy reduces vendor lock-in and outage risks. But to realize those benefits, development teams must first design apps to successfully run on various platforms.  Continue Reading

• User self-service challenges mount in multi-cloud computing

  Self-service provisioning presents challenges with a single cloud provider, and a multi-cloud strategy only magnifies those issues, as IT seeks to integrate multiple interfaces.  Continue Reading

• Review chatbot development options in public cloud

  As users look to interact with applications via more natural language and text, chatbots become increasingly popular. And many developers turn to the public cloud to create them.  Continue Reading

• Azure B-series VMs reduce resource waste for bursty apps

  Paying only for the resources they consume is the ultimate goal for many enterprises in the cloud. Azure's B-series VMs make that goal more attainable -- for certain workloads.  Continue Reading

• Mitigate low-code/no-code platform security risks

  While you can't entirely avoid the security risks of low-code and no-code platforms, you can mitigate them. Here's a look at the top vulnerabilities and how to combat them.  Continue Reading

• Compare managed Kubernetes services from AWS and Azure

  AWS and Azure have both rolled out a managed service for Kubernetes, and while their overall aim is the same, there are key differences users should note.  Continue Reading

• Prep an OpenStack private cloud for a multi-cloud deployment

  Enterprises with an OpenStack private cloud can still jump on the multi-cloud bandwagon. But they should prepare for challenges around data management and platform compatibility.  Continue Reading

• Big data in cloud computing demands an IT skill set change

  Enterprises continue to shift big data workloads to the cloud. And while the move doesn't require a total overhaul of IT skills, it does demand some change for admin and dev teams.  Continue Reading

• CASBs address wide range of cloud security concerns

  Cloud and distributed apps create complex security challenges. CASBs aim to resolve these issues with features for threat protection, data loss prevention and more.  Continue Reading

• Google cloud features evolve to turn up the heat on AWS

  Google made several moves in 2017 in an attempt to close the gap between itself and market leader AWS. But will those efforts be enough to win over new customers?  Continue Reading

• Google Cloud Dedicated Interconnect offers VPN alternative

  Google's Dedicated Interconnect enables an enterprise to privately connect its data center to the public cloud. Here's a breakdown of key features and the requirements to use it.  Continue Reading

• BPM market advances around AI, cloud technology

  As AI, microservices and other emerging technologies transform the BPM industry, enterprises need to carefully navigate their business processes to the cloud to avoid GRC risks.  Continue Reading

• Azure App Service Isolated boosts security and PaaS performance

  Aimed at organizations with unique security needs, Azure App Service Environment v2 lets applications run in a dedicated network without sacrificing scale or performance.  Continue Reading

• Master the basics of Azure Automation

  Automation offers a more efficient, hands-off approach to public cloud management. Explore the basics of Azure's automation service and the role of runbooks.  Continue Reading

• Forge your own Azure training and certification path

  IT professionals who want to achieve a Microsoft Azure certification can choose their own concentrations around areas such as infrastructure management, machine learning and more.  Continue Reading

• Ease OpenStack troubleshooting with AI, third-party tools

  As admins continue to seek more efficient ways to troubleshoot and debug in OpenStack, recent advancements to the platform, along with third-party tools, offer some relief.  Continue Reading

• Bolster a multi-cloud strategy with these three technologies

  While much of the optimization for multi-cloud needs to happen at the application layer, there are technologies that ease a multi-cloud deployment without requiring code changes.  Continue Reading

• Five cloud security threats to combat in 2018

  In 2018, IT security teams will continue to fight to keep their cloud deployments safe. Watch out for these common risks associated with APIs, IoT and human error.  Continue Reading

• Get a head start with IBM Bluemix tutorial

  Take the time to properly configure your environment with help from this IBM Bluemix tutorial in order to properly get started with cloud frameworks and application services.  Continue Reading

• Choose the right APIs and apps for serverless infrastructure

  While serverless platforms can reduce both infrastructure complexity and cost, they might not be your best bet for monolithic or multi-cloud apps.  Continue Reading

• Choose cloud integration tools based on application model

  An application's architecture greatly affects its integration abilities. Review three popular cloud app models, potential integration challenges and tools that can help.  Continue Reading

• Compare machine vs. deep learning services in the cloud

  Machine learning and deep learning increasingly make their way into the enterprise. Assess which AI technology is right for you, and the public cloud services that support them.  Continue Reading

• Assess serverless platforms based on performance, portability

  Serverless computing offers potential cost savings, but that shouldn't be the only factor enterprise IT teams keep in mind when they evaluate potential providers.  Continue Reading

• Build an application migration plan step by step

  To migrate apps to the cloud, start with nonessential workloads and move to more mission-critical ones from there. But, remember, some apps might not be suited for cloud at all.  Continue Reading

• Create action items with a predictive cloud analytic project

  Expert Tom Nolle discusses how using a predictive cloud analytic project can help with future -- and current -- cloud computing performance and management issues.  Continue Reading

• Crack open Google Cloud Shell for infrastructure management

  Shell commands and Bash scripts have been a staple of system administration, and for those who still prefer that management approach, Cloud Shell on GCP might be worth a look.  Continue Reading

• Three warning signs serverless computing isn't right for you

  Serverless technology is more accessible to enterprises through public cloud providers, but just because it's available, doesn't mean you should use it.  Continue Reading

• Multi-cloud computing demands careful IT cost allocation

  A multi-cloud environment has its benefits, but without proper management, cost allocation gets tough. Follow these tips for resource tagging, budget alerts and more.  Continue Reading

• What to know about cloud-native application development

  Developing an app should be about figuring out the what, where and why, not the how. Cloud-native app development combined with API-first development answers these questions.  Continue Reading

• Google Network Service Tiers grant cloud users more control

  For cloud networking, do you prefer higher performance or opt for the lowest possible cost? New Google cloud network tiers let enterprises make that call.  Continue Reading

• Fortify a DR strategy with automated failover in multi-cloud

  Disasters happen, but they don't have to bring business to a halt. With the right mix of tools and testing strategies, active-active failover in multi-cloud keeps things running.  Continue Reading

• Rearchitect applications for cloud with these five tips

  It's difficult to fully realize the benefits of cloud computing when you simply migrate an app as is. Instead, consider rearchitecting your app -- and start with these five steps.  Continue Reading

• Container training options to bulk up a cloud resume

  Container skills are in high demand in the enterprise, as Docker and Kubernetes adoption grows. Bulk up your cloud resume with these training and certification options.  Continue Reading

• Navigate your options for public cloud database services

  Your choice of a cloud database, data warehouse or data lake depends on the structure of your data and your analysis needs. Follow these guidelines to know which to choose.  Continue Reading

• Cloud data backup services minimize outage, security risks

  Backups are critical in any cloud strategy, but where you store that data is just as important. Explore these automated backup tools and services to avoid risks later.  Continue Reading

• Get the most bang for your buck in multi-cloud architecture

  Learn how multi-cloud architecture can help with digital transformation, despite how many single-cloud structures exist. Expert Chris Tozzi talks security, availability and cost.  Continue Reading

• Use cloud efficiently in a predictive analytics project

  Learn how using cloud computing for a predictive analytics project can help with streamlining workflow, application scaling and deployment. Expert Tom Nolle explains.  Continue Reading

• Compare two types of cloud automation and orchestration tools

  There are two camps of tools for automation and orchestration in cloud: provider-native and third-party. To pick the right one, know your future needs, especially for multi-cloud.  Continue Reading

• Learn the basics of Azure Container Instances

  The popularity of containers continues to prompt major cloud providers to offer new services. See how Azure's most recent release -- Container Instances -- aims to ease deployment.  Continue Reading

• A look at digital transformation tools and strategies

  An expert looks at tools and techniques, like containers, microservices and ChatOps, that can help enable digital transformation by overcoming roadblocks that make the move challenging.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud security challenges remain tough to overcome

  While hybrid cloud continues to offer significant benefits to the enterprise, it also demands a cohesive security strategy that bridges on-prem and cloud-based systems.  Continue Reading

• Master Azure subscriptions with these key concepts and terms

  Azure's subscription structure lets admins break out responsibility for billing and resource management. But first, they need to know concepts such as accounts and departments.  Continue Reading

• Map the best Azure VM sizes and types to your cloud workloads

  When it's time to choose a cloud instance type, one size definitely does not fit all. Determine which cloud workloads run best on which Azure VM types and sizes.  Continue Reading

• Maximize the benefits of containers in multicloud

  Containers offer a number of benefits over VMs but still present challenges. Learn how containers can fulfill, but also fall short on, the promise of multicloud app portability.  Continue Reading

• Fortify a hybrid cloud network with these connectivity types

  The network has grown in importance as enterprises move more data to the cloud. While latency is an ongoing challenge -- especially in hybrid cloud -- two connectivity types can help.  Continue Reading

• Build and test a cloud-based disaster recovery plan

  A disaster recovery plan is essential to protect critical workloads in the cloud, but unless you perform regular and extensive tests, that plan might let you down.  Continue Reading

• Three new Azure monitoring services to add to IT toolkits

  For some IT teams, the lines are blurry when it comes to the monitoring features of three new Azure tools. Learn when to use Azure Advisor, Monitor and Resource Health.  Continue Reading

• VMware vs. OpenStack debate takes a turn toward hybrid cloud

  As VMware's hybrid cloud strategy advances, OpenStack continues to build out a rich portfolio of services, which revives comparisons between the two platforms.  Continue Reading

• Cloud management platforms come with a catch for some admins

  A multicloud model creates new management challenges, and while third-party tools help, they can also introduce some new operational headaches of their own.  Continue Reading

• GCE committed use discounts offer perks for predictable workloads

  Google's committed use discounts cut cloud costs, but they aren't right for all workloads. Learn when to use them, potential risks and how they compare to AWS Reserved Instances.  Continue Reading

• How to conduct performance testing using VSTS and Microsoft Azure

  Performance testing using VSTS and Azure helps you collect critical data and know what to expect from your apps. Here's how to get started.  Continue Reading

• Consider new PaaS model for appmod, digital transformation

  A new PaaS model offers a wider range of OS and middleware choices. Developers need to understand how this model can support their appmod and digital transformation plans.  Continue Reading