Tips

Tips

• 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

• 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

• Get started with Microsoft Azure Security Center

  Azure Security Center offers tools to monitor and manage VMs and cloud resources within the Azure cloud. Learn about its features for threat detection, security policies and more.  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

• Things to consider before extending .NET cloud development

  In order to ensure the supporting role of .NET in development and deployment either enforce .NET middleware use on all developments or adopt component integration strategy.  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

• Prevent ransomware threats to cloud apps with backup, security tools

  As ransomware attacks become more sophisticated, cloud-based applications are at risk. Use continuous backup and educate end users to protect your data and apps.  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

• Managing a cloud resource pool for hybrid environments

  Cloud sprawl negatively affects enterprises by increasing IT costs and lowering efficiency. And with hybrid clouds, in particular, a fragmented resource pool could be to blame.  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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Don't migrate apps to the cloud without considering the costs

  For many organizations, the public cloud is a way to cut costs -- but some apps may be costing you more in the cloud than you think. Find out which enterprise apps are better left on premises.  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

• How and why to use system containers in production

  System container platforms, such as OpenVZ and LXD, make it possible to run complete operating systems inside of containers. Expert Christopher Tozzi outlines the options.  Continue Reading

• Optimize your enterprise network design for hybrid cloud

  New networking bottlenecks emerge as businesses put more of their workloads into the public cloud. Options such as VPNs, direct connections from cloud providers and internet exchange points can help.  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

• How do I determine which OpenStack version I have?

  Figuring out the OpenStack release or version running in your organization isn't as easy as it sounds. What are some quick tips to find that information?  Continue Reading

• Using Azure Site Recovery for cloud DR, backup

  Services like Azure Site Recovery can simplify the cloud backup and disaster recovery process, but smaller IT shops may want to opt for a SaaS-based alternative instead.  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

• Use cloud auto scaling, tagging to give unneeded resources the boot

  Auto scaling services help admins identify underused resources and reduce public cloud costs. Learn how load balancing and tagging can maximize those benefits.  Continue Reading

• Here's how in-memory computing just became cloud's new BFF

  Storage and the cloud don't always go hand in hand. That's where in-memory computing comes in. Expert Christopher Tozzi explains how to take advantage of these new cloud options.  Continue Reading

• Five alternatives to Docker you should consider

  Docker led the way to the container world, but now there are a variety of other options. Expert Mark Betz outlines five solid alternatives to Docker, complete with hands-on advice.  Continue Reading

• Explore OpenStack management options for private cloud

  IT pros face a variety of options when it comes to managing OpenStack -- and those options vary, depending on whether they take a DIY or vendor-supported approach.  Continue Reading

• How to succeed with hybrid cloud application integration

  In a hybrid cloud environment, it can be tricky to ensure all of your applications play nicely together. Expert Tom Nolle helps you think through the process.  Continue Reading

• BYOK grants users the key to cloud encryption kingdom

  BYOK options from public cloud providers like AWS and Azure give users more control over their data encryption keys -- but not without some tradeoffs.  Continue Reading

• The cloud IAM market evolves to meet old and new IT challenges

  Single sign-on continues to be the main driver for cloud identity and access management systems, but BYOD and shadow IT bring new challenges for these tools to solve.  Continue Reading

• Edge computing lets IoT systems tap into cloud efficiency

  Enterprises want their IoT systems to have ultra-fast response times, while also reaping the cost and efficiency benefits of cloud. Find out how edge computing bridges these two technologies together.  Continue Reading

• How to deploy microservices in a hybrid, multicloud environment

  Microservices can bring a number of benefits to a hybrid or multicloud deployment, but they can also introduce new challenges around networking, security and more.  Continue Reading

• Read between the lines of providers' cloud security assessments

  Certifications are a good starting point to evaluate a cloud provider's security, but users need to dig deeper than a simple checkbox to understand how much risk is involved.  Continue Reading

• Serverless showdown: Microsoft Azure Functions vs. AWS Lambda

  Serverless computing offers a way to more easily deploy and manage complex enterprise apps. Learn how options from AWS and Azure differ in terms of pricing, triggers and containers.  Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about creating a virtual container

  It's tempting think of containers as just another type of VM, but that's not accurate. Expert Mark Betz offers a look at what's easy and tricky about containers in the cloud.  Continue Reading

• Tips to right-size, not overprovision, public cloud capacity

  While enterprises want to be prepared in the cloud, they shouldn't have to pay for unused resources. Use these tips to right-size your cloud instances and avoid overprovisioning.  Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about securing microservices

  Microservices can make software development faster and easier. But they're also inherently insecure. Expert Christopher Tozzi offers step-by-step advice on how to safely use them.  Continue Reading

• Five open source cloud tools admins need to know

  Offering flexibility and minimal lock-in risk, open source cloud tools are gaining ground in the enterprise. Here's a look at five leading open source options for cloud deployment and management.  Continue Reading

• Infrastructure as code complicates hybrid, multiple cloud management

  With every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The same rule applies to IaC: While it's beneficial, it creates some problems.  Continue Reading

• When to use an AWS Spot Instance, Google Preemptible VM

  For organizations with a tight cloud budget, AWS Spot Instances and Google Preemptible VMs offer a way to get spare capacity on the cheap. But beware -- that affordability comes with a catch.  Continue Reading

• A DevOps implementation plan for better cloud apps projects

  Learn how DevOps tactics can improve and ease the pain of cloud application projects. Christine Parizo discusses how organizational groups need to come together for cloud apps.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate cloud log management tools from top providers

  Log management is just as critical in the cloud as it is in the data center. Evaluate log management tools for public cloud, such as AWS CloudWatch and Google Stackdriver.  Continue Reading

• Aiming for portable cloud? Containers might be the answer

  If portability is your goal in the cloud, there are options including virtual machines and containers. But which is the best? Expert Tom Nolle spells out the differences.  Continue Reading

• Control the costs of cloud storage with these five steps

  Your cloud storage could be costing you more than it should. Follow these five steps to identify and eliminate any unnecessary cloud storage fees.  Continue Reading

• Optimize your cloud bursting architecture through data duplication

  Cloud bursting gives you the capacity you need during peak times, but won't work unless you properly manage private and public cloud data. Duplication and other strategies can help.  Continue Reading

• Use infrastructure as code to simplify hybrid, multicloud management

  Multicloud deployments create new IT challenges. Consider infrastructure as code to streamline the app development and management process across multiple cloud platforms.  Continue Reading

• Is your SLA in cloud computing negotiable?

  While some are more flexible than others, not all SLAs are set in stone. Review your requirements with your cloud provider to see if there are areas you can negotiate.  Continue Reading

• Build a cloud redundancy strategy using multiple providers

  No cloud platform is perfect; there is always a risk of an outage or data loss. Consider a multicloud model to ensure redundancy and backup.  Continue Reading

• Create a PaaS model for application portability

  Some PaaS offerings have specialized features that limit users, and their apps, to a specific vendor. Consider containers and other technologies for increased PaaS flexibility.  Continue Reading

• Create a cloud DDoS protection plan

  Hackers don't just steal data; they can also crash applications with spam requests and traffic. Protect your cloud against DDoS attacks by employing these tools and techniques.  Continue Reading

• Tips and tools to manage Azure roles, access controls

  Azure Resource Manager has a complete, but complex, set of role-based access controls that let admins create policies to manage who can access Azure cloud services.  Continue Reading

• Multiple screen sizes create mobile app challenges

  In nine years, app downloads went from zero to 225 billion. Yet, multiple device types, screen sizes and operating systems still spark lingering mobile app challenges.  Continue Reading

• Cloud storage issues are more complicated than you think

  Your app might be happy in the cloud, but it's possible your storage might not be. Find out why 'noisy neighbors' can make cloud storage so tricky and what to do about it.  Continue Reading

• Multicloud app performance a moving target for IT pros

  The design of your applications could impact their performance in a multicloud environment. Avoid app performance challenges with these monitoring and management techniques.  Continue Reading

• PaaS, present and future: How containers evolve PaaS frameworks

  As PaaS capabilities expand to support new technologies, such as containers and microservices, IT teams and developers face new challenges around visibility, monitoring and more.  Continue Reading

• Public cloud brings machine learning services to the masses

  Machine learning represents a new frontier for compute, and the public cloud is making it more affordable and available than ever. But that doesn't mean you should rush in.  Continue Reading

• Best practices for building apps with cloud computing tools

  To build better apps, developers should understand the nature of different cloud computing tools. It's essential to first evaluate these services. Expert Tom Nolle explains more.  Continue Reading

• Achieve better performance with cloud microservices and apps

  Cloud microservices can be powerful tools, but nothing is perfect. Users have reported performance issues, so how do you fix them? Tom Nolle has the answers.  Continue Reading

• A custom cloud instance lets admins get choosey

  Not satisfied with the standard instance types from your public cloud provider? Consider customizing your own to cut down on costs and unneeded resources.  Continue Reading

• Boost private cloud storage performance with SSDs, flash

  Sharing is great, but can do a number on private cloud storage performance. Consider new SSD and networking options to get the speed you need.  Continue Reading

• Expanded Azure licensing options give users more choice

  With expanded Azure licensing options from Microsoft, some enterprises moving workloads to the cloud won't have to repurchase software they already own.  Continue Reading

• Cloud performance monitoring tools eliminate IT's blind spot

  Using the public cloud doesn't mean you have to sacrifice visibility into app and workload performance. The right set of tools can give IT a fuller picture.  Continue Reading

• Four ways to streamline cloud access security broker adoption

  A cloud access security broker provides an extra layer of protection, but IT must choose the tool carefully to avoid weighing down cloud performance.  Continue Reading

• Expand your IaaS reach beyond hosted infrastructure

  Public cloud is more than just hosted IT infrastructure. Organizations should evaluate other useful cloud services, such as those for workflow and deployment management.  Continue Reading

• Bridge the VMware and AWS hybrid cloud gap

  Integration is a common challenge when deploying hybrid cloud -- and bridging VMware and AWS is no exception. Luckily, the right mix of tools can help.  Continue Reading

• Spot cloud security strategy flaws before it's too late

  From compliance to encryption, there are many boxes an organization needs check to ensure its public cloud is secure. Use this flow chart to kick start that critical process.  Continue Reading

• How Azure Stack aims to solve hybrid cloud challenges

  With Azure Stack, Microsoft looks to help enterprises bridge their private and public clouds. But it's still a work in progress.  Continue Reading

• Boost public cloud reliability through direct connections

  Direct connections, such as those from AWS and Azure, can put data on the fast track to the public cloud. But organizations should be ready to pay a price.  Continue Reading

• The AWS vs. Azure race isn't over yet

  AWS has been king of the public cloud mountain for years. But now, Azure is steadily climbing up, with a host of new services in tow.  Continue Reading

• Cloud cost management tips for working with multiple vendors

  Using more than one cloud has its benefits, but can also get expensive. To manage costs, examine your providers' data access charges, as well as your application design.  Continue Reading

• Compare AWS vs. Azure vs. Google big data services

  Big data services are an attractive cloud lure for enterprises. AWS, Azure and Google are fighting for number one, but who will come out on top?  Continue Reading

• How to effectively work with multiple cloud providers

  Before working with multiple cloud providers, evaluate their services for compute, storage, security and more.  Continue Reading

• Implementing a tiered storage architecture with hybrid cloud

  By offering lower costs, higher performance and reduced data loss, hybrid cloud helps some organizations optimize their tiered storage systems.  Continue Reading

• Getting a grip on Azure Resource Manager and templates

  Azure Resource Manager is a critical tool for cloud admins that need to manage applications and services within Microsoft's growing public cloud.  Continue Reading

• White box servers turning tide back toward private cloud

  Offering an affordable alternative to most vendor-branded servers, white box systems could lure some enterprises out of the public cloud and back into private environments.  Continue Reading

• Cloud computing taxes pose big questions for vendors, users

  As states develop different standards for taxing cloud computing services, uncertainties remain for cloud vendors and users alike.  Continue Reading

• Cloud access security brokers fill critical enterprise void

  Enterprises are adding cloud access security brokers to their tool chain to protect data as it moves between on-premises and cloud provider platforms.  Continue Reading

• Master the CloudOps model with four key steps

  To evolve IT operations for cloud, organizations must embrace automation and change the way they think about resource provisioning.  Continue Reading

• Application workflow is key to cloud management success

  To build a solid cloud management strategy, take a closer look at your application workflow and select the right mix of tools.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for these multicloud security snags

  The interoperability hurdles that still exist in multicloud environments can create new security headaches for enterprise IT teams.  Continue Reading

• Managing OS and middleware platforms in the cloud

  Getting operating systems and middleware tools to work together in the cloud can be overly complicated. Tom Nolle shares some tips.  Continue Reading

• Overcoming OpenStack hybrid cloud integration challenges

  Many IT pros still have a long wish list when it comes to building a hybrid cloud with OpenStack and public cloud providers like AWS.  Continue Reading

• Microsoft OMS offers new functionalities

  Microsoft OMS was released in 2015. Learn what new IT management features have been recently released.  Continue Reading

• HPC in the cloud role intensifies as compute demands grow

  As more big data and IoT applications find their way into the enterprise, high-performance computing in the cloud will become more mainstream.  Continue Reading

• SaaS technology still requires preparation

  SaaS technology may be convenient for many reasons, but there are still some considerations enterprises need to remember. Expert Kurt Marko explains.  Continue Reading

• Build an effective IoT model with microservices, cloud

  Organizations embracing the Internet of Things should consider using microservices and the cloud as a way to boost efficiency and minimize costs.  Continue Reading

• How hybrid cloud adoption impacts ALM

  Learn how to update ALM processes in preparation for hybrid cloud adoption.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for your next cloud security manager interview

  When interviewing for a cloud security manager position, candidates should be ready to talk about everything, from encryption technology to DevOps.  Continue Reading

• Hone your cloud computing skills for 2016 and beyond

  As cloud adoption continues to grow, many organizations are on the hunt for IT pros with cloud management, automation and architecture skills.  Continue Reading

• Consider costs when selecting a cloud deployment model

  Choosing a cloud deployment model is a multivariate problem, but cost differences between hybrid and all public can be important. Kurt Marko offers his take.  Continue Reading

• Build a shadow IT strategy all departments will love

  To minimize shadow IT risks in the enterprise, some IT pros find that adhering to the old adage, 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em' is the best approach.  Continue Reading