IT systems management and monitoring
Learn about the tools and technologies that enable more visibility into IT infrastructure, integration between IT management tools, tailored alerts for IT professionals and new areas of performance monitoring and management.
Top Stories
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Feature
07 Mar 2025
Benefits and challenges of IT automation
Adopting IT automation comes with improved process efficiency, greater scalability, lower costs and the power of AI, yet implementation, integration and maintenance issues persist. Continue Reading
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News
04 Mar 2025
JFrog integrates with Hugging Face, Nvidia; intros JFrog ML
The partnership aims to give developers a clearer guide on safe models. It also aims to ensure enterprise-grade safety and security with the deployment of open models. Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Dec 2023
Top enterprise hybrid cloud management tools to review
The techniques used to build hybrid cloud architectures have come a long way, but managing these environments long term is plenty more complex without the right software. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Dec 2023
Top 8 benefits of hybrid cloud for business
Why choose between public cloud and private systems when you can have both? With hybrid cloud, enterprises can address workload requirements, business demands and budgetary needs. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Dec 2023
supply chain risk management (SCRM)
Supply chain risk management (SCRM) is the coordinated efforts of an organization to help identify, monitor, detect and mitigate threats to supply chain continuity and profitability. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Dec 2023
CLI for Microsoft 365: A guide for administrators
The options to manage the Microsoft 365 platform are seemingly endless, but the CLI for Microsoft 365 offers distinct advantages for admins in the enterprise. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2023
Microsoft delivers light December Patch Tuesday for admins
IT operations teams should prioritize deploying the Windows cumulative update to dispatch a critical MSHTML bug affecting Microsoft Outlook. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Dec 2023
The pros and cons of a layered architecture pattern
Layered architecture patterns provide a consistent and secure way to organize code when implemented correctly. However, the way those layers interact should remain a top concern. Continue Reading
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Feature
12 Dec 2023
Multi-cloud vs. hybrid cloud: The main difference
As businesses digitally transform across increasingly distributed environments, know the benefits, challenges, similarities and differences between hybrid cloud and multi-cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Nov 2023
Hybrid cloud connectivity best practices and considerations
Private and public clouds stress networks in different ways and don't always play well together. Here's what to know to set up a cost-effective hybrid cloud network architecture. Continue Reading
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Opinion
17 Nov 2023
Security highlights from KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2023
KubeCon + CloudNativeCon provided valuable insights for security teams supporting cloud-native development, including securing GenAI, platform engineering and supply chains. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Nov 2023
platform engineering
Platform engineering is a specialized discipline within software development that focuses on designing, building, maintaining and improving the toolchains and workflows software developers use. Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2023
Microsoft halts 3 zero-days on November Patch Tuesday
Microsoft addresses 67 vulnerabilities, including six critical, and shuts down four bugs in the Exchange Server email platform this month. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Nov 2023
What should admins know about Microsoft Entra features?
Microsoft Entra combines new and existing cloud-based products and packages them under a new name. Learn how this change affects identity access management in your organization. Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2023
Intel exec affixes OpenSSF, CNCF open source security efforts
Intel's Arun Gupta, now governing board chair of both the CNCF and OpenSSF, discusses his plans to bring all three organizations together to improve open source security. Continue Reading
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Opinion
02 Nov 2023
Emergent observability topics at KubeCon 2023
New use cases like cost management, sustainability and scalability will lead observability discussions in the North American KubeCon + CloudNativeCon 2023 conference. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Nov 2023
digital
Digital describes electronic technology that generates, stores and processes data in terms of positive and nonpositive states. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Oct 2023
Assign GPUs to virtual machines with VMware vGPU mode
Resource delegation across an IT system can be troublesome, but it doesn't have to be. Follow this guide to assign the right amount of GPU to support virtual machines on VMware. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
24 Oct 2023
How to use ChatGPT with PowerShell to write code for admins
Use of artificial intelligence tools is on the rise in many industries, and administrators can tap into these digital helpers to improve their scripting attempts. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Oct 2023
How to work with the new Windows LAPS feature
Microsoft updated this automated method to manage and back up passwords for local administrator accounts on Windows desktop and server systems. See what's new with Windows LAPS. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Oct 2023
How to source AI infrastructure components
Rent, buy or repurpose AI infrastructure? The right choice depends on an organization's planned AI projects, budget, data privacy needs and technical personnel resources. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2023
Microsoft tackles three zero-days for October Patch Tuesday
The company releases fixes for several products affected by the HTTP/2 "Rapid Reset" vulnerability to help curb widespread Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks. Continue Reading
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Opinion
26 Sep 2023
Observability, security unity in Cisco's Splunk acquisition
As more organizations merge security and observability, Cisco's acquisition of Splunk adds another intriguing element for IT shops to consider in their toolkits. Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Sep 2023
What Cisco's Splunk acquisition means for app modernization
Cisco's networking prowess and Splunk's data analytics power will now be under one roof. Here's what can IT teams expect with this mega acquisition between two tech giants. Continue Reading
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Opinion
22 Sep 2023
Cisco makes big splash with Splunk
The integration of Cisco and Splunk could result in a full-stack offering that provides comprehensive visibility across enterprise locations and AI-driven insights. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Sep 2023
The benefits of uniting product management with DevOps
If organizations can bring product managers deeper into the DevOps lifecycle, it can offer a competitive edge. But they must navigate through the initial challenges. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2023
IT pros react to blockbuster $28B Cisco-Splunk deal
Cisco goes through with its long-rumored acquisition of Splunk for security and observability. But the two aren't necessarily a perfect fit, according to some industry observers. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Sep 2023
What's new in Microsoft Graph PowerShell v2?
The company overhauled the new version of its software development kit and updated PowerShell modules that replace legacy methods for managing Microsoft's cloud-based services. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Sep 2023
Windows Sysinternals
Windows Sysinternals is a collection of 70 freeware utilities that Microsoft offers IT administrators and developers to help them monitor, manage, diagnose and troubleshoot Windows systems and their applications. Continue Reading
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News
13 Sep 2023
Meet MLSecOps: Industry calls for new measures to secure AI
Open source security, already in the software supply chain spotlight, must expand to include AI models, according to the OpenSSF and DevSecOps vendor JFrog. Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2023
Microsoft solves two zero-days for September Patch Tuesday
Microsoft addresses 62 vulnerabilities this month, including a Microsoft Word flaw and a Windows bug that have both been exploited in the wild. Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2023
Cisco Full-Stack Observability draws on channel clout
Cisco's latest tie-in between app security and observability doesn't break new ground, but the vendor can use its network security cachet and partners to woo enterprise buyers. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Sep 2023
5 IT operations management best practices you need to know
ITOM staff play a vital role in IT platform performance, but limit human interaction and utilize tools and automation to keep everything running smoothly. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Sep 2023
email security
Email security is the process of ensuring the availability, integrity and authenticity of email communications by protecting against unauthorized access and email threats. Continue Reading
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Opinion
31 Aug 2023
New features show VMware Tanzu's impact on dev community
Despite questions of a sale, VMware Tanzu remains a strong influence in the developer community, especially with added features announced at VMware Explore 2023. Continue Reading
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Tip
29 Aug 2023
How to configure shadow copies on file servers
When you enable the shadow copies service on your shared folders, you give your end users the flexibility to restore deleted files or revert a file to an earlier version. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Aug 2023
Managing open source components in the software supply chain
Software supply chain attacks are becoming increasingly common. There is no single measure that can stop attacks, but implementing security precautions can reduce risk. Continue Reading
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News
24 Aug 2023
VMware, Cisco prep generative AI for SecOps
Generative AI has the potential to go beyond identifying anomalies in known data to create new information, such as incident summaries or security policies -- as well as new risks. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Aug 2023
RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools)
RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) refers to a set of tools from Microsoft that enable IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server from a computer that is running Windows 11, Windows 10 or Windows 7 Service Pack 1. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Aug 2023
Microsoft SCOM (System Center Operations Manager)
Microsoft SCOM (System Center Operations Manager) is a set of tools for infrastructure monitoring and application performance management. Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Aug 2023
Local Group Policy Editor
Local Group Policy Editor is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides a user interface for managing local Group Policy settings on a Windows computer. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
21 Aug 2023
How to set up PowerShell remoting over SSH
Microsoft recommends using WinRM to manage Windows machines remotely, but OpenSSH offers other advantages, particularly in organizations that also use Linux systems. Continue Reading
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News
17 Aug 2023
Vendor-led group vows to fork HashiCorp Terraform
HashiCorp Terraform is a flashpoint of contention in the wake of the vendor's move to a Business Source License, including allegations that it ignored open source contributions. Continue Reading
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Answer
14 Aug 2023
How to roll back Git code to a previous commit
Git reset and git revert can be lifesavers for developers. Follow these examples to see which command makes the most sense when mistakes arise during development. Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2023
Several Exchange Server flaws fixed on August Patch Tuesday
Microsoft addresses 74 vulnerabilities this month with the on-premises email server platform returning to the spotlight with corrections to close six security holes. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Aug 2023
How to use Reliability Monitor to manage servers
The utility gives administrators a way to look back over time to see what driver updates, software installations or hardware crashes might be related to the sudden instability. Continue Reading
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News
03 Aug 2023
IT pros mull observability tools, devx and generative AI
Observability as a common language for both developers and operations teams still has plenty of room for improvement in the era of platform engineering, according to experts. Continue Reading
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News
01 Aug 2023
Experts expect Sumo Logic match post-New Relic acquisition
New Relic and Sumo Logic were both taken private by the same firm, as consolidation -- and attrition -- continues among observability tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
31 Jul 2023
Enterprises rework log analytics to cut observability costs
Organizations such as Netflix could be a harbinger of an observability cost crisis, where monitoring cloud-native apps comprises an untenable portion of operational costs. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Jul 2023
Tips and tools for collecting helpful Kubernetes metrics
Metrics are an integral part of any Kubernetes deployment. But teams often struggle with identifying the right metrics and choosing the right tools to gather the most helpful data. Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jul 2023
Industry tackles observability's data management problems
Enterprises and the vendors they buy from have begun to fundamentally rethink data management for observability, including a new startup with close ties to Cisco. Continue Reading
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News
20 Jul 2023
Dell Moogsoft AIOps buy could start filling gaps post-VMware
Dell's purchase of Moogsoft this week could help it regain some enterprise software appeal it lost when it spun out VMware. But the future is unclear for Moogsoft users. Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Jul 2023
Why AIOps will look at generative AI tools to grow adoption
AIOps generally sees limited results in its current implementations, but generative AI can potentially help expand and monetize these processes for organizations. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Jul 2023
Exchange Online post-migration steps for admins
A move to the hosted email platform is an opportunity to streamline how users work with other Microsoft 365 services. But it requires IT to stay current with the product roadmap. Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2023
Chainguard automates SBOMs, but has Images-based agenda
Container images, that is. Chainguard Enforce now automates SBOMs, but execs and an early customer say they aren't the ultimate answer to software supply chain security. Continue Reading
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Opinion
19 Jul 2023
Sessions at FinOps X highlight FOCUS, sustainability
Costs and sustainability are two hot topics in the FinOps world. Sessions at the FinOps X conference in June focused on these areas and how teams can make better buying decisions. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jul 2023
Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP)
Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) refers to all the group policies applied to a user and computer. Continue Reading
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News
18 Jul 2023
Splunk AI update adds specialized models for SecOps tasks
Splunk AI updates this week included specialized models for SecOps that detect and automatically respond to common issues such as DNS exfiltration and suspicious processes. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jul 2023
real-time monitoring
Real-time monitoring is the delivery of continuously updated data about systems, processes or events. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jul 2023
flash memory card
A flash memory card -- sometimes called a storage card -- is a small storage device that uses non-volatile semiconductor memory to store data on portable or remote computing devices. Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Jul 2023
proportional control
Proportional control is a control system technology in which the response (output) is proportional to the difference between a setpoint value and the current value of a process variable. Continue Reading
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Definition
17 Jul 2023
Microsoft System Center
Microsoft System Center is a suite of software products designed to simplify the deployment, configuration and management of IT infrastructure and virtualized software-defined data centers. Continue Reading
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Definition
14 Jul 2023
System Restore (Windows)
System Restore is a Microsoft Windows utility designed to protect and revert the operating system (OS) to a previous state. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Jul 2023
8 benefits of data center virtualization
Organizations with virtualized data center components can save on hardware, comply easier with regulations and increase speed. Consider virtualization for your infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2023
Microsoft repairs 5 zero-days for July Patch Tuesday
The company addressed 130 vulnerabilities and provided additional instructions to fully resolve several bugs, which will require extra attention from IT this month. Continue Reading
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Definition
10 Jul 2023
server hardware degradation
Server hardware degradation is the gradual breakdown of the physical parts of a server. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Jun 2023
Alpine Linux
Alpine Linux is a small, security-oriented, lightweight Linux distribution based on the musl C standard library and BusyBox utilities instead of GNU. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Jun 2023
blade server
A blade server, sometimes referred to as a high-density server, is a compact device containing a computer used to manage and distribute data in a collection of computers and systems, called a network. Continue Reading
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Feature
29 Jun 2023
Cued by breach postmortems, fintech refines zero trust
In a quest to continuously improve, Mercury's security leader takes inspiration from other companies' lessons learned, then updates tools and practices accordingly. Continue Reading
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Definition
22 Jun 2023
uptime and downtime
In computing, uptime is a measure of how long a computer or service is on and available. Downtime is the measure of how long it is not available. Continue Reading
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Quiz
20 Jun 2023
10 WebAssembly questions to test your Wasm knowledge
Test your knowledge of WebAssembly with this tough, ten-question quiz on the benefits and applications of the new Wasm standard. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Jun 2023
Explore Red Hat's bring-your-own-subscription model for RHEL
Many organizations use pay-as-you-go models with public cloud providers to run their Red Hat products in the cloud. Explore how bring-your-own-subscription differs. Continue Reading
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Definition
16 Jun 2023
moves, adds and changes (MAC)
Moves, adds and changes (MAC) refers to a set of tasks that IT teams regularly perform to keep computing equipment up to date and aligned with user and business requirements. Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2023
CISA SBOM standards efforts stymied by confusion, inertia
Efforts to establish SBOM standards and guidance have progressed, but unanswered questions persist -- including how the federal government plans to enforce its own requirements. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jun 2023
When and how to run databases on Kubernetes
Deciding whether to move your database onto Kubernetes requires careful consideration, especially when choosing among deployment options. Here's what to keep in mind. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
HashiCorp Vault trims SaaS; Boundary hooks up Enterprise
HashiCorp Vault's appeal to a broader field of users gets a boost from a new entry-level cloud service, while a new Boundary Enterprise targets the high end of the market. Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2023
June Patch Tuesday settles two Exchange Server bugs
Microsoft's plans for upcoming security hardening in Kerberos and Netlogon protocols will have admins busy with testing over the next several weeks. Continue Reading
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Definition
09 Jun 2023
storage pool
A storage pool is capacity aggregated from disparate physical storage resources in a shared storage environment. Continue Reading
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Opinion
08 Jun 2023
ESG study reveals benefits of modern IT service management
ITSM's evolution from a traditional help desk model to an integrated, automated approach has notable benefits for organizations, according to research by Enterprise Strategy Group. Continue Reading
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News
08 Jun 2023
Sysdig CNAPP runtime threat detection wins over BigCommerce
Sysdig's fast, comprehensive data collection, now part of a larger CNAPP product, sealed the deal with the e-commerce company. Next, it might replace vulnerability management tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Jun 2023
Compare two Linux security modules: SELinux vs. AppArmor
Use SELinux or AppArmor to protect Linux servers, but examine the differences between them. AppArmor is easier to use but does not give admins as much control as SELinux. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jun 2023
Atlassian cloud preps threat tool as security boss departs
Atlassian Beacon shores up cloud security as it adds transparency around security issues, but the chief trust officer role at the company is also changing hands. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Jun 2023
mean time to detect (MTTD)
Mean time to detect (MTTD) is a measure of how long a problem exists in an IT deployment before the appropriate parties become aware of it. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
30 May 2023
Manage IT infrastructure with NSX's multi-tenant features
VMware NSX now supports multi-tenancy, which can help admins manage complex IT environments. Explore what's new and get started with this step-by-step walkthrough. Continue Reading
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Feature
25 May 2023
Learn about the Azure Stack HCI benefits for admins
The hyper-converged infrastructure offering promises to reduce the headaches associated with running virtualized workloads on hardware sourced from multiple vendors. Continue Reading
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News
24 May 2023
Event-Driven Ansible early adopters share lessons learned
Beta testers of the new Event-Driven Ansible tool from Red Hat said expanding automation and moving toward self-healing systems requires fresh skills and organizational shifts. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 May 2023
How CXL 3.0 technology will affect enterprise storage
Understand CXL 3.0 technology before its impacts on storage take serious effect. While the specification improves on previous generations, it could also demand more from storage. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 May 2023
Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA)
Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA) is a service used to watch and report on application and system health on a Windows computer. Continue Reading
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Definition
12 May 2023
disaggregated server
A disaggregated server is a server whose components and resources are divided into subsystems. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 May 2023
Follow these steps to decommission Exchange Server
An Exchange Server migration includes a lot of moving parts but it's important to cover the training aspect to make sure your users aren't left behind. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2023
Cloud repatriation vs. multi-cloud: IT seeks cost relief
Amid fiscal worries, IT orgs reassess cloud investments. Whether they go back on-premises or expand to multi-cloud, they face similar distributed computing management challenges. Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2023
Light May Patch Tuesday will weigh heavily on Windows admins
A zero-day that targets the Secure Boot feature will require extensive work from sysadmins to protect Windows systems from the Black Lotus bootkit. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 May 2023
ControlUp
ControlUp is a monitoring software company that sells tools IT professionals can use to manage, monitor and analyze virtual desktop and application performance. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 May 2023
phased rollout
Phased rollout is a hardware or software migration method that involves incrementally implementing a new system. Continue Reading
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News
03 May 2023
Observability maven 'cranky' about AIOps embraces GPT
Honeycomb's observability tools will add natural language queries via OpenAI's GPT API, a departure from its co-founder and CTO's broader stance on AI in IT ops tools. Continue Reading
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Tip
28 Apr 2023
Get a grip on your infrastructure with a custom MMC
Microsoft provides great administration tools, such as PowerShell and Server Manager. But don't neglect the venerable Microsoft Management Console for its flexibility. Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Apr 2023
At KubeCon 2023, observability and FinOps high on the agenda
With data sprawl increasing as IT budgets shrink, observability and FinOps were hot topics at KubeCon Europe 2023. Get an industry analyst's perspective on trends to watch. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Apr 2023
IT monitoring
IT monitoring is a process that gathers metrics on the operations of an IT environment. Continue Reading
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Definition
24 Apr 2023
systems operator (sysop)
In IT, a systems operator (sysop) is a person who runs computer servers and other devices on a daily basis in a data center. Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Apr 2023
Tips to avoid a bumpy Exchange 2010 migration to Office 365
Now that Exchange Server 2010 and Exchange 2013 are legacy products, administrators should make the push to migrate to avoid becoming the next ransomware target. Continue Reading
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Definition
19 Apr 2023
Microsoft Hybrid Configuration Wizard
The Microsoft Hybrid Configuration Wizard (HCW) is a tool provided by Microsoft to help organizations set up and configure a hybrid deployment between their on-premises Exchange Server and Exchange Online, which is part of Microsoft 365. Continue Reading
