Cloud architecture design and planning
Top Stories
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Conference Coverage
10 May 2022
IBM Think 2022 news, trends and analysis
AI adoption is driving advancement of cybersecurity and other business processes. At IBM Think 2022, enterprise leaders will learn how to capitalize on game-changing technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2021
An overview of Amazon EC2 vs. AWS Lambda
EC2 and Lambda meet different needs in an AWS cloud environment -- but can also work together. The only limits are in the minds of cloud architects. Continue Reading
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Conference Coverage
10 May 2022
IBM Think 2022 news, trends and analysis
AI adoption is driving advancement of cybersecurity and other business processes. At IBM Think 2022, enterprise leaders will learn how to capitalize on game-changing technologies. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 Oct 2021
An overview of Amazon EC2 vs. AWS Lambda
EC2 and Lambda meet different needs in an AWS cloud environment -- but can also work together. The only limits are in the minds of cloud architects. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Oct 2021
HPE GreenLake vs. AWS Outposts: 2 approaches to hybrid cloud
GreenLake and Outposts both deliver on-premises, cloudlike services, yet have stark differences in the approaches they take. Determine which fits your organization's needs. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Sep 2021
Operational strategies for isolation in cloud computing
While it's inevitable that certain cloud-hosted applications will share resources, the vulnerabilities these connections expose make isolation strategies an absolute necessity. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Jul 2021
Dive into DigitalOcean Droplets and App Platform
DigitalOcean vies with AWS, Azure and others by targeting developers and startups. See what it has to offer and how it competes with other VM instances and PaaS tools. Continue Reading
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Quiz
15 Jul 2021
Ace the Google cloud engineer certification with this prep
This quick 12-question quiz will help you assess exactly where you stand in your preparation to take the career-making Google Cloud certification exam. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Jul 2021
Edge-to-cloud architecture turns key for digital initiatives
Enterprises pursuing digital transformation initiatives may need to reexamine their infrastructure architecture to bring compute and storage closer to data generated at the edge. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jun 2021
Amazon Lightsail
Amazon Lightsail is an Amazon cloud service that offers bundles of cloud compute power and memory for new or less experienced cloud users. Continue Reading
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Feature
26 Apr 2021
Tips to prepare for Google Cloud Architect certification
Author of 'Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect All-in-One Exam Guide' Iman Ghanizada explains how to approach the cloud architect certification and role in this Q&A. Continue Reading
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Quiz
16 Apr 2021
Ready to be a GCP architect? Try this quiz and see
This 10-question quiz, drawn from a new GCP certified professional cloud architect prep guide, helps identify your strengths and weaknesses to improve your odds of passing the exam. Continue Reading
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Answer
22 Mar 2021
Choose the right Google Cloud serverless service
When it comes to selecting a serverless tool, Google Cloud users have plenty of options. Evaluate the platform's suite of serverless offerings to make the right choice. Continue Reading
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Answer
15 Mar 2021
Cloudflare vs. Amazon CloudFront: Which CDN is right for you?
Review the similarities and differences between CloudFront and Cloudflare to help your IT team choose between these two popular CDN services. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Mar 2021
Modernize and migrate mainframe apps to the cloud
Mainframe apps are typically difficult to move to the cloud without modernization. Review migration options and determine if it will be worth the effort. Continue Reading
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Guest Post
11 Dec 2020
Cloud security: The building blocks of a secure foundation
Before going ahead with digital transformation, ensure your organization has created its cloud security strategy to ensure that moving to the cloud doesn't create vulnerabilities. Continue Reading
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Tip
10 Dec 2020
How to become a cloud administrator
Although the cloud admin role varies from company to company, there are key skills every successful one needs. Explore seven areas of expertise and how they relate to this role. Continue Reading
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News
09 Dec 2020
HPE GreenLake delivers high performance computing cloud
Looking to protect its advantage in the HPC market, HPE showed off a series of cloud services to be delivered via its GreenLake cloud platform. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Dec 2020
What the critics get wrong about serverless costs
While critics say serverless is an expensive, clunky way to deploy software, it really isn't -- if you use it right. Let's debunk some myths around the costs of using serverless. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2020
Multi-cloud networking -- how to choose the right path
There are a couple ways to connect the disparate pieces of a multi-cloud architecture. Review your networking options and choose the best fit for your environment. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Oct 2020
Admins eye on-premises and cloud hybrid IT management
Most organizations now support a mix of on-premises and cloud infrastructure. This has vendors and analysts reshaping tools that can address hybrid IT requirements. Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2020
IBM to spin off IT services to focus on hybrid cloud, AI
IBM will spin off its Managed Infrastructure Services unit as a public company to focus on hybrid cloud and AI. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Oct 2020
How to approach a GCP-to-AWS migration
Before you move your GCP workloads to AWS, you need a clear cloud migration plan in place and a framework to understand the challenges and additional costs. Continue Reading
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Quiz
05 Oct 2020
Test your knowledge of microservices architectures
Review microservices basics. Take this short quiz on microservices to find out how much you really know about this approach to application architectures and app development. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Sep 2020
Top 6 complexity challenges of operating a cloud at scale
It's not unusual for enterprises to scale their applications to meet demand, but they need to be aware of the associated cloud complexity issues. Look out for these six common problems. Continue Reading
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Answer
09 Sep 2020
DynamoDB on-demand vs. provisioned capacity: Which is better?
There are two primary ways to handle capacity in DynamoDB: on-demand or provisioned. Learn the advantages, concerns and use cases for each option. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2020
Chart an Azure administrator certification path
Advance your career as an IT administrator with Azure certifications. Review the requirements and exams associated with Azure administrator roles with this guide. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Aug 2020
3 SD-WAN cloud connectivity options to explore
Enterprises can connect their SD-WAN infrastructure to cloud providers' platforms using three methods: back-to-back access, private PoP connections and internet VPN. Continue Reading
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News
18 Aug 2020
IBM debuts Power10 processor, aimed at hybrid clouds
IBM's Power10 chip promises to make life easier for IT pros installing hybrid clouds -- but they will have to wait until late next year to see for themselves. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2020
Hands-on guide to S3 bucket penetration testing
Attention AWS pen testers: The trick to understanding the indicators of AWS S3 bucket vulnerabilities is setting up an insecure bucket. Learn how in this actionable guide. Continue Reading
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Feature
17 Aug 2020
How to handle Amazon S3 bucket pen testing complexity
Security researcher Benjamin Caudill shares details from his book, 'Hands-On AWS Penetration Testing with Kali Linux,' and advice on Amazon S3 bucket pen testing for ethical hackers. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Jul 2020
Compare on-premises migration to cloud server migration
A cloud migration is not too different from an on-premises server-to-server migration. Compare the two processes before you organize and implement your plan. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2020
Review the top sessions from recent cloud conferences
Build your own cloud conference from home. Watch sessions from the past year to learn about modern application architecture, cloud security, machine learning and cost management. Continue Reading
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Quiz
25 Jun 2020
Test your cloud knowledge: VMs vs. containers vs. serverless
Take this quiz to help guide your choice between virtual machines, containers and serverless functions. Identify the uses, features and services associated with each computing approach. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Jun 2020
Cloud lock-in fears aren't as prevalent as you might think
Enterprises are using multiple clouds, but not because they're afraid of lock-in. See why they're being smarter about cloud selection and forgoing portability in favor of speed. Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2020
HPE adds a little edge to its cloud services strategy
HPE took another step toward being an as-a-service company with several new cloud services that the company claims make it easier for users to connect the cloud to edge devices. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jun 2020
Cloud onboarding best practices for users and applications
There are a number of ways organizations can prepare both users and applications for the cloud. Use these onboarding best practices to ensure a smooth transition -- even during uncertain times. Continue Reading
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Tip
16 Jun 2020
The pros and cons of adding edge computing to a cloud architecture
Edge computing won't make sense for every IoT device or workload. Follow these edge computing examples to know where and when you should use it as part of your cloud architecture. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jun 2020
VPC security best practices and how to implement them in AWS
To best secure network access, AWS administrators need to create rules for network resources. Learn how to implement Amazon VPC security best practices in this book excerpt. Continue Reading
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Feature
11 Jun 2020
Overcome AWS security vulnerabilities with VPCs, IAM
Securing network access in AWS requires the right rules to be in place. Learn more about Virtual Private Clouds and how implementing them can prevent common cloud security attacks. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 May 2020
Step-by-step guide to develop an AWS runbook
Runbooks enable anyone on the team to execute a task and jump in when things go wrong. Learn how to create one to handle repetitive tasks like monitoring and incident response. Continue Reading
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Feature
22 May 2020
Compare the 3 types of private cloud
Private cloud isn't on-prem computing, but it can be. And on-prem IT isn't private cloud, but it can be. IT teams have many choices for private cloud, even within the public cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Apr 2020
4 DIY cloud projects to make your business more cloud-friendly
Show your business there's value in doing more in the cloud. Even in a work-from-home world, you can start small with projects that will be catalysts for broader adoption. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Apr 2020
Support remote workers with front-end cloud computing
If a company has a lot of remote workers, a standard VPN might not be able to do the job. More companies are turning to cloud computing front ends to ensure secure remote access. Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2020
Short-depth Supermicro SuperServer targets 5G telecoms
New 2U Supermicro SuperServer provides compute in micro data centers. The vendor said it aims to help telecommunications firms adopt open systems to support edge computing. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Apr 2020
Comparing SASE vs. traditional network security architectures
Today's dispersed environments need stronger networking and security architectures. Enter cloud-based Secure Access Service Edge -- a new model for secure network access. Continue Reading
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Infographic
31 Mar 2020
Use this EC2 instance type comparison to power your AWS apps
To get the most out of AWS, organizations need to get the most out of their EC2 instances. Use this infographic to help choose the right AWS instance type and pricing plan. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Mar 2020
The trouble with cloud evaluations amid too many choices
Enterprises are inundated by choices in the cloud, but don't let the deluge stop your IT team from analyzing what's available. Make experimentation a regular part of your plans. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Mar 2020
Get to know the elements of Secure Access Service Edge
Cloud services use cases continue to expand, but implementation challenges remain. Discover Secure Access Service Edge, or SASE, offerings and how they can simplify connectivity. Continue Reading
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News
16 Mar 2020
Rockset brings Query Lambdas to real-time database
Real-time cloud database looks to help better enable developers to build applications with Query Lambdas capabilities that execute queries and lookups from REST endpoint triggers. Continue Reading
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News
14 Feb 2020
Google adds single-tenant cloud options to court enterprises
Google Cloud has added more features to its single-tenant cloud deployment option, such as live migration for Windows BYOL scenarios, that cater to the needs of certain workloads. Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2020
Oracle-Microsoft partnership to connect clouds expands to EU
Oracle and Microsoft have added to their cloud interconnect strategy with the addition of a high-speed, private connection between Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Azure in the EU. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Feb 2020
AWS Local Zones offers low latency, with clear limitations
Get to know Local Zones, the AWS infrastructure deployment service built for customers that need to run low-latency applications in specific areas far from AWS Regions. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jan 2020
Top 4 cloud block storage challenges to beware of
Block storage comes with challenges, including high data egress costs, confused billing, inconsistent performance and availability issues. Find out how to cope with the top four. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jan 2020
A look at AWS antipatterns: What not to do in the cloud
In this Q&A, Clive Harber, co-author of "Implementing Cloud Design Patterns for AWS," breaks down why traditional enterprises sometimes struggle to establish efficient cloud design patterns. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jan 2020
Beat vendor lock-in with a cloud exit strategy
Without a comprehensive cloud exit strategy, an organization might fall victim to vendor lock-in and find itself dependent on proprietary tools and services. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2020
AWS Serverless Application Repository explained
To address the needs of its serverless users, AWS released its Serverless Application Repository. Explore the ways users can benefit and a few best practices everyone should follow when they use this feature. Continue Reading
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News
26 Nov 2019
Accenture cloud tool aims to shorten decision cycle
Consulting firm Accenture has launched a cloud tool that industry watchers find interesting for its simulation capabilities and potential to speed up adoption. Continue Reading
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News
20 Nov 2019
Google joins bare-metal cloud fray
Google could attract more legacy application workloads through new bare-metal cloud instances, but it's unclear how they measure up to competitors on manageability and cost. Continue Reading
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Tip
17 Oct 2019
Top 5 cloud architect interview questions and answers
Job candidates need technical skills and much more to work in the cloud. Prepare for your cloud architect interview with these potential questions and answers to stand out from the crowd. Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2019
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to add 2,000 jobs in bid for growth
Oracle plans to hire 2,000 workers to boost Oracle Cloud Infrastructure IaaS. It’s part of an aggressive global expansion as Oracle seeks to differentiate from AWS and others. Continue Reading
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News
01 Oct 2019
Bulletproof host raided in former NATO bunker
German authorities arrested seven in raid of bulletproof hosting company CyberBunker -- which was housed in a former NATO bunker -- for allegedly hosting dark web marketplaces. Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Sep 2019
The future of cloud storage: Experts look 5 years out
Industry experts weigh in on key cloud storage developments of the last five years and where they see the technology and its use headed in the next five. Continue Reading
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Tip
24 Sep 2019
When to use AWS OpsWorks vs. CloudFormation or Elastic Beanstalk
There are multiple ways to define and deploy resources on AWS. Break down when to use the different AWS configuration management tools and how they integrate together. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Sep 2019
The Boomi Platform
The Boomi Platform, previously known as Boomi AtomSphere, is a low-code and cloud-native integrated Platform as a Service (iPaaS). Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Aug 2019
Test your knowledge of CNCF projects and tools
From Kubernetes to Envoy, the Cloud Native Computing Foundation has ushered in many leading open source technologies for the IT enterprise. So, how well do you know them? Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Aug 2019
Apigee
Apigee, pronounced App-ih-gee, is an API gateway management tool offered by Google to exchange data across cloud services and applications. Continue Reading
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News
14 Aug 2019
Compute-optimized cloud VMs boost WP Engine's web performance
High demand for increasingly dynamic, personalized websites means that compute-optimized VMs are relevant for companies such as WordPress hosting provider WP Engine. Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Aug 2019
Support for production-level hybrid cloud use cases on the rise
A recent Taneja Group survey reveals that hybrid cloud and multi-cloud are the preferred cloud storage architectures for a variety of enterprise storage use cases. Continue Reading
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Tip
08 Aug 2019
Cloud adoption questions every IT admin should ask
For all of a cloud service's benefits, there are limitations, such as restricted access to infrastructure, that cause IT teams to be leery of adoption. Continue Reading
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News
30 Jul 2019
VMware on Google Cloud deal gives users another choice
VMware's deal with Google is the latest among top-tier players supporting each other's cloud. The question now is: How will Microsoft and IBM-Red Hat respond? Continue Reading
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Answer
30 Jul 2019
Which SD-WAN features truly comprise SD-WAN technology?
How do you protect your organization and network against SD-WAN washing? Here are four key SD-WAN features that your system must have in order to be called SD-WAN. Continue Reading
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Tip
23 Jul 2019
What to expect -- and not expect -- from serverless computing
The scope of serverless computing continues to evolve as cloud providers try to reduce the drawbacks and join the technology with containers. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2019
VMware on Azure gains early adherents
Microsoft's Azure VMware Solutions service will compete with the VMware Cloud on AWS offering, and reflects a move to the cloud for virtualized workloads. Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2019
Amazon CTO Werner Vogels on transparency, developers, multi-cloud
In this Q&A, Amazon CTO Werner Vogels dishes on transparency, technology roadmaps, developers, multi-cloud and more. Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2019
Red Hat-IBM deal closes, both promise a friendly coopetition
IBM and Red Hat formally signed off on its $34 billion deal as the combined company sets off to make its mark in the hybrid cloud market. Continue Reading
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News
25 Jun 2019
Oracle layoffs hit Dyn team's sales, marketing staffs
Oracle Dyn cuts sales and marketing jobs as Oracle plans to end some Dyn services in 2020. The layoffs come amid other Oracle downsizing as the vendor moves toward the cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jun 2019
8 practical serverless design patterns for enterprise devs
Serverless app teams can turn to architecture patterns to guide the way to a successful product. Learn the criteria to narrow your options and the key differences between eight patterns. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Jun 2019
Ask these 5 questions before deploying cloud HA
IT teams can build HA into their organization's cloud apps, but is it worth it? And how much is too much? Ask these and other critical questions before architecting for HA. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jun 2019
Get realistic about your multi-cloud strategy aspirations
Multi-cloud is attractive to software teams that want to expand their development toolboxes, but be careful about the complexity it can add to your overall development lifecycle. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jun 2019
Deploy Azure low-priority VMs -- strategically
Microsoft's low-priority VMs come with big savings -- and a catch. Learn how to incorporate them into your cost optimization efforts and see how they stack up to the competition. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 May 2019
TOSCA and other cloud standardization efforts stall
As enterprises continue to work with multiple cloud models, they are sure to face integration, interoperability and portability issues. Cloud standards may still be the answer. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 May 2019
3 hyper-converged cloud infrastructure benefits
A hyper-converged cloud enables IT managers to overcome the challenges of managing compute, storage and network resources as separate tiers and move to the cloud in stages. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Mar 2019
Oracle cloud adoption and hybrid cloud adoption pros and cons
More businesses are adopting cloud systems or thinking about it. But cloud and hybrid cloud setups have pluses and minuses that Oracle users should be aware of. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Mar 2019
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
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Tip
18 Feb 2019
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
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Feature
06 Feb 2019
New cloud service models put providers in the data center
All of the major cloud players now offer on-premises hardware or specific technologies to make a data center look and feel more like the public cloud. What's driving this trend? Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Dec 2018
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
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Tip
30 Nov 2018
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
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Tip
31 Oct 2018
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
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Tip
29 Oct 2018
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
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Tip
28 Sep 2018
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
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Tip
26 Sep 2018
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
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Tip
25 Sep 2018
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
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Tip
27 Aug 2018
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
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Tip
24 Aug 2018
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
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Answer
31 Jul 2018
What's a cloud migration factory, and how does it work?
When properly implemented -- and understood -- a cloud migration factory combines the right mix of people, processes and tools to smoothly transition an app into the public cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
22 May 2018
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
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Tip
21 May 2018
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
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Tip
09 May 2018
Understand major private cloud services advantages
Consider the benefits of private cloud services before jumping on the public cloud bandwagon. There's more to private clouds than control over infrastructure and better security. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2018
Azure IoT Edge tool set stirs AI into Microsoft's cloud
Microsoft extended more of its AI capabilities to connected devices to resolve some of the IoT shortcomings of the public cloud's consolidated data center model. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 May 2018
Create a private cloud in SCVMM with these factors in mind
The process of creating a private cloud with System Center Virtual Machine Manager starts with getting to know major private cloud components and calculating resource requirements. Continue Reading