Tips

Tips

• Cloud optimization hinges on smart instance size selection

  App performance can suffer from poorly sized instances, the wrong instance type for the workload and other setbacks. Use these techniques and tools to optimize cloud operations.  Continue Reading

• What are the two types of hybrid cloud infrastructure?

  Hybrid cloud designs are shifting as public cloud providers push on premises with alternatives to a two-vendor approach. Learn the pros and cons of heterogeneous and homogeneous models.  Continue Reading

• Google tool signals move to greater cloud transparency

  Access Transparency users can review the work Google admins did on their cloud accounts. It's a step toward greater accountability, but large organizations will want even more.  Continue Reading

• Examine the top low-code development platform options

  Nontechnical users can now build applications with little or no coding experience. However, there are many factors to consider before you jump in.  Continue Reading

• Pick a cloud IDE that best fits developer projects

  Cloud IDEs give developers more flexibility with when, where and how they create, deploy and manage code. Although enticing, end users should understand all aspects -- the good and the bad -- of cloud IDEs.  Continue Reading

• The problems with cloud-based email security

  Cloud-based email security can be challenging for enterprises to achieve. Learn what makes it a challenge and how to secure email in the cloud from expert Dave Shackleford.  Continue Reading

• Explore FAQs on Azure subscription management

  For some IT teams, particularly those new to Microsoft's public cloud, Azure subscriptions spark a number of pressing questions related to billing, resource management and more.  Continue Reading

• Overcome IoT challenges for cloud-based workloads

  Organizations often build IoT apps on public clouds for their scalability, but these platforms introduce their own obstacles. Factor in these network, storage and security impacts.  Continue Reading

• Compare reserved instances pricing for AWS, Azure and GCP

  Got commitment issues? When it comes to long-term instance reservations, cloud users should look closely at what AWS, Microsoft and Google offer.  Continue Reading

• Compare tools for multi-cloud Kubernetes management

  For IT teams that need to manage Kubernetes deployments that span multiple cloud platforms, here are seven tools intended to simplify that process.  Continue Reading

• How to replicate Azure resources for speed, agility

  There isn't a one-click tool to quickly clone full-stack application environments in Microsoft Azure, but these techniques can make the process easier.  Continue Reading

• Follow these 6 serverless security best practices

  Optimal security for serverless architectures requires developers and ops teams to embrace best practices around dependencies, testing, access and more.  Continue Reading

• Keep an eye on these third-party cloud management tools

  Examine what third-party vendors can bring to the table before you choose your cloud provider's native management tools as a default option.  Continue Reading

• Get started with natural language processing APIs in cloud

  As the cloud makes AI technology increasingly accessible to enterprises, more developers look to incorporate natural language processing into their apps.  Continue Reading

• Cloud disaster recovery services evolve, but gaps remain

  A severe outage can cripple a business, which is why a disaster recovery plan is critical. While today's DRaaS offerings make it easier to recover, there's still room for growth.  Continue Reading

• Implement cloud failover, replication for workload protection

  Businesses increasingly use public cloud services as workload protection targets. But cloud failover and replication are hardly hands-off processes for IT teams.  Continue Reading

• 5 open source cloud monitoring tools to evaluate in 2019

  Open source monitoring tools can offer a number of advantages over cloud providers' native options. Review these five to find out which tool is best for your cloud strategy.  Continue Reading

• Build and share code via Azure Notebooks

  An Azure service enables enterprises to host Jupyter Notebooks in the cloud to ease access and management. Learn whether it could benefit your dev team, and how to get started.  Continue Reading

• Review Google cloud IAM fundamentals and best practices

  To learn the ins and outs of Google’s identity and access management service, start with the basic concepts of roles, permissions and policies.  Continue Reading

• Experienced cloud architects, engineers in high demand for 2019

  Despite all the buzz around emerging technologies such as serverless, many enterprises in 2019 will first look to round out their core cloud management and development skill sets.  Continue Reading

• Hybrid cloud technologies become table stakes in IaaS market

  In 2018, IaaS providers upped their commitment to hybrid cloud. Expect that trend to continue in full force next year -- with some key distinctions between vendors' strategies.  Continue Reading

• Secure data in the cloud with encryption and access controls

  Enterprises can't rely on their IaaS provider to protect sensitive information in the cloud. Implement these data security techniques to mitigate potential risks.  Continue Reading

• Learn how to use Terraform for multi-cloud management

  Terraform provides a highly configurable platform to manage infrastructure in a cloud-agnostic way. However, enterprises need to prepare for some challenges.  Continue Reading

• When to manage APIs with cloud-native vs. third-party tools

  As enterprises break out applications into smaller components, both in the development cycle and for operational scalability, APIs become more important -- as does proper management.  Continue Reading

• An overview of ARM templates for Azure resource deployment

  Azure Resource Manager templates streamline the way IT and development teams deploy cloud resources. To get started, grasp these key concepts around formatting, syntax and more.  Continue Reading

• 5 best ways to minimize cloud scaling costs

  Many factors can contribute to a high public cloud bill -- one of which is scalability. Apply these five practices to effectively scale cloud resources without breaking the bank.  Continue Reading

• How to use Azure Site Recovery Deployment Planner

  A successful disaster recovery procedure is more complicated than most people think. Learn how an Azure service can streamline the process of VM replication and failover.  Continue Reading

• IBM multi-cloud portfolio grows with more tools, acquisitions

  IBM continues to build out its multi-cloud management portfolio, but it's still far from alone in a highly competitive market.  Continue Reading

• Integration tactics to ease hybrid, multi-cloud environments

  Hybrid and multi-cloud are increasingly common deployment models, which makes integration a priority. Review three specific approaches to connect on-premises and cloud-based systems.  Continue Reading

• Compare Docker containers vs. VMs for app dev environments

  While there are important technical distinctions between VMs and containers, the reasons developers opt for the latter are often more philosophical, or cultural, in nature.  Continue Reading

• Google Cloud Filestore lends itself to legacy enterprise apps

  Among other uses, Google's cloud file storage service can simplify the migration of legacy apps to the cloud. Learn about its main features, and how it compares to the competition.  Continue Reading

• Assess native cloud monitoring tools from top IaaS providers

  Monitoring tools from Google, AWS and Azure all share a common goal: help developers optimize application performance. But they also have key differences that users should note.  Continue Reading

• Cloudlets extend cloud power to edge with virtualized delivery

  Cloud computing power for IoT and mobile devices is within reach due to the capabilities of cloudlets, which use virtualization and small data centers to extend computing power.  Continue Reading

• Design data center redundancy based on cloud outage lessons

  Public cloud providers have had catastrophic outages, but IT administrators can learn from cloud redundancy failures and successes -- and apply them to on-premises infrastructures.  Continue Reading

• Control resource sprawl in multi-cloud architectures

  Resource sprawl can occur quickly and easily in a multi-cloud deployment. Learn how to dodge this costly, yet common, issue with these five best practices.  Continue Reading

• Compare cloud container registries from AWS, Azure and Google

  Many developers use the Docker Hub container registry, but there are other options from AWS, Azure and Google. Explore these provider-native registries, and their key differences.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate 3 cloud-native CI/CD pipeline tools

  When it comes to continuous integration and delivery tools, there is no shortage of comparable options -- including those from public cloud providers, such as AWS, Azure and Google.  Continue Reading

• Cloud-based quantum computing inches slowly toward enterprise

  A lot of questions -- and complexity -- still surround quantum computing. But as enterprises eventually ramp up with the technology, most will do so through cloud-based services.  Continue Reading

• Break down the main features of Azure DevOps Services

  DevOps continues to influence how vendors shape their cloud offerings, and this was the case behind Microsoft's recent rebranding of Visual Studio Team Services.  Continue Reading

• Here's what it takes to become a cloud automation engineer

  A cloud automation engineer is a challenging role for any IT professional because of the varied requirements. Find out what education, experience and skill sets you need to get the job.  Continue Reading

• Azure Reserved Instances boost flexibility around VM size

  A recent Azure update for Reserved Instances offers enterprises increased flexibility in terms of VM size, but it also comes with some additional management tasks.  Continue Reading

• Avoid these app design mistakes to save a cloud budget

  Certain oversights during app design can increase cloud costs. Dive into the details of four often-overlooked mistakes, and learn how to avoid them to keep your budget in check.  Continue Reading

• Support for SaaS applications demands a hands-on approach

  While they reduce some management burdens for enterprise IT teams, SaaS apps don't exactly run on autopilot, either. Be sure to put a proper support model in place.  Continue Reading

• Properly configure resources to reduce cloud security threats

  Misconfigured cloud resources can quickly open the door to IT risks. Be mindful of access controls, and don't brush off your cloud provider's recommended security practices.  Continue Reading

• Understand the ins and outs of private cloud architecture

  Private clouds are based on server virtualization, but they aren't the same. Organizations must consider private cloud's specific use cases in comparison to server virtualization.  Continue Reading

• Choose the right workloads for serverless platforms in cloud

  Serverless might be the next big thing in cloud, but that doesn't mean it's a fit for all enterprise workloads. See if your requirements align with these common use cases.  Continue Reading

• Don't dwell on the nuances of low-code vs. no-code

  As more and more business users acquire basic programming skills, enterprises shouldn't get too caught up in the nuances between low-code and no-code platforms.  Continue Reading

• Estimate cloud computing costs prior to app migration

  Enterprises should enlist a number of resources, including cost calculators and third-party tools, to assess what they'll pay for cloud computing -- before they start migration.  Continue Reading

• Machine learning tools ease cloud security, log management

  Machine learning has increasingly found a home in enterprise cloud management teams, but the technology is still far from being a magic fix for complex tasks, such as multi-cloud cost optimization.  Continue Reading

• Map out a smooth migration to Azure Resource Manager

  As the classic Azure portal becomes outmoded, enterprises need to migrate to ARM -- but the change doesn't always come easy. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth move.  Continue Reading

• Manage microservices in cloud with these native tools

  AWS, Microsoft and Google all offer native resources and tools to support microservices-based architectures, most of which rely heavily on containers and service mesh technology.  Continue Reading

• Google Stackdriver enhances alerts, adds Kubernetes support

  A recent round of updates to Google's monitoring tool gives IT and development teams more options to set up alerts, track usage and support Kubernetes, both in the cloud and on premises.  Continue Reading

• Navigate your options for Oracle cloud certifications

  Oracle certifications, including those for cloud, can build foundational knowledge or expand existing IT skills. The first challenge, though, is to find the right training path.  Continue Reading

• The first 5 steps to build a private cloud infrastructure

  To implement a private cloud, IT teams must start at the beginning -- and define what a cloud strategy will mean, exactly, to their organization -- before they proceed.  Continue Reading

• Single-tenant cloud services help alleviate security concerns

  What happens when an enterprise wants the benefits of cloud but without the multi-tenancy? Isolated services are available for those willing to pay.  Continue Reading

• Serverless platforms limit programming language options

  Serverless computing can reduce infrastructure costs and streamline development processes, but don't assume that your programming language of choice will be available.  Continue Reading

• Compare IaC tools for hybrid, multi-cloud environments

  Infrastructure-as-code tools come in two flavors: third-party and those native to a certain cloud provider. Keep these factors in mind to choose the right one.  Continue Reading

• Improve hybrid cloud monitoring through automation, alerts

  To effectively monitor hybrid cloud infrastructure -- without being overloaded with data and alerts -- IT teams need to rethink some of their existing processes. Use these five best practices to get started.  Continue Reading

• How Azure Cloud Shell can streamline resource management

  Azure Cloud Shell's browser-based model frees IT teams from installation headaches but presents some formatting and timeout issues that admins need to watch for.  Continue Reading

• Overcome 9 microservices challenges for platform flexibility

  It's all well and good to tear apart your monolith, but a careless microservices approach can result in the same old problems. Watch out for these nine hurdles.  Continue Reading

• Open source low-code platforms extend app dev capabilities

  Enterprises want their apps to go to market as fast as possible. Low-code platforms accelerate development processes, and with open source, these platforms are more customizable.  Continue Reading

• Accelerate API dev with documentation-driven development

  A missing cloud API doesn't mean all work needs to stop. Engineering and development teams can work with a mock API server until the real API is production-ready.  Continue Reading

• Dig into Azure Kubernetes Service networking options

  Enterprises that choose the wrong AKS networking option could face poor performance and higher costs. Evaluate the advantages and limitations of each option before you rush in.  Continue Reading

• Azure management groups ease policy enforcement

  It isn't easy to manage Azure subscriptions, but with management groups, admins can now simplify policy enforcement on a larger scale.  Continue Reading

• Write your first Google Cloud Function with these three tips

  To build a serverless function, many developers require a shift in mindset. Use these three tips to create a cost-effective and high-performing function in Google Cloud Platform.  Continue Reading

• Right-size a cloud VM for better performance, lower costs

  Most companies don't pay enough attention to VM selection during cloud app deployment -- which can drive up costs. Follow these steps to right-size a VM and stay within budget.  Continue Reading

• Azure Stack growing pains could weigh on enterprise appeal

  Microsoft's hybrid cloud platform continues to pique the interest of enterprise IT shops but still lacks the maturity and breadth of the Azure public cloud.  Continue Reading

• Optimize serverless function performance for faster deployments

  Serverless computing offers numerous benefits, but poor performance can negatively affect deployment time. Follow these strategies to fine-tune and optimize serverless functions.  Continue Reading

• Incorporate virtual private clouds in a hybrid IT environment

  Don't let the added complexity of VPCs deter you from integrating them with your hybrid cloud. Simply keep these configuration factors in mind to ensure seamless interoperability.  Continue Reading

• Compare cloud API management tools from AWS, Azure and Google

  While the API management tools from top cloud providers share some functionality, there are key differences that developers -- especially those in a multi-cloud model -- should know.  Continue Reading

• Establish a data classification model for cloud encryption

  Not all data requires the same level of encryption. Use data classification to gauge your security needs, including for workloads that span on-premises and cloud environments.  Continue Reading

• Legacy roots still hinder Oracle and IBM cloud strategies

  As IBM and Oracle look to shift away from legacy systems and hone in on IaaS, it won't be a clean cut. Still, each vendor has its sweet spot in the overall cloud market.  Continue Reading

• Map application dependencies to prepare for cloud migration

  The practices a development team puts in place to manage dependencies before a move to the cloud will determine how smoothly apps run long after they get there.  Continue Reading

• Nvidia GPU Cloud marries data science and containers

  With its GPU Cloud, Nvidia offers a way to deploy data science workloads that span on-premises systems and the public cloud -- with containers playing a big role.  Continue Reading

• A cloud migration assessment lets IT look before it leaps

  Some workloads simply aren't cut out for cloud -- at least not without modification. Here's how to carefully assess your apps for public cloud migration before you make the move.  Continue Reading

• Serverless infrastructure demands new roles for IT admins

  Serverless technology is going to disrupt the data center, and IT administrators will need to shift their expertise from management to configuration and from servers to services.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Harden cloud apps with a secure software development lifecycle

  Wouldn't it be nice if every application were 100% cloud-ready? Unfortunately, that's often not the case, which can lead to security risks down the line if not properly addressed.  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

• Evaluate private cloud service providers in the market

  Red Hat, Microsoft and VMware all provide private cloud environments that offer security and compliance, but it's important to consider other business needs, as well.  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

• Are AWS certificate authority services trustworthy?

  AWS now operates as its own CA. What are the potential risks of the new AWS certificate authority services? Expert Dave Shackleford outlines the pros and cons of this new setup.  Continue Reading

• Top 5 features to look for in private cloud services offerings

  When evaluating private cloud services, consider offerings that provide an intuitive self-service portal, RBAC, capacity planning and policy enforcement for tenant workloads.  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

• Amazon Virtual Private Cloud 101: Features, pricing and more

  Evaluate the key features of Amazon Virtual Private Cloud, learn about its advantages and disadvantages, and consider pricing and best practices before implementing the platform.  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