Systems automation and orchestration
Get expert guidance and practitioner-written tutorials to improve your organization's automation and orchestration processes, offering advice for beginners and pros alike.
Top Stories
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Feature
20 Dec 2024
Platform teams draw on DataOps, MLOps to support GenAI
GenAI calls for more rigorous data discipline than previous forms of analytics, but there are lessons platform teams can learn from existing approaches. Continue Reading
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News
18 Dec 2024
AWS, Red Hat hybrid cloud wares court VMware converts
Broadcom has softened some of its stances on VMware licensing and public cloud, but competitors stay poised to pounce on customers looking to defect. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jun 2019
UPS delivers Agile plan for legacy application modernization
As UPS moved its package-tracking system from mainframe to open systems, it drew on the old adage about how to eat an elephant: one small bite at a time. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
03 Jun 2019
Build a successful Apache Mesos installation on Linux servers
As Apache Mesos gains traction for container orchestration, admins should try it out and evaluate its capabilities. Use this tutorial to set up the necessary software and avoid the pitfalls that plague the process. Continue Reading
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News
22 May 2019
DevSecOps evolution changes the game for IT ops
A DevSecOps shift and a move to public cloud have precipitated a sea change in what's expected of IT ops pros at a mobile video on-demand company. Continue Reading
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Video
22 May 2019
Mitigate IT risks with this vulnerability assessment tutorial
IT professionals can set up a home lab to learn the ins and outs of software vulnerability assessments. Follow this step-by-step video tutorial to install and configure VMs, and perform a security scan. Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2019
Enterprises anticipate IT ops benefits from GitOps
Infrastructure as code, configuration as code, security as code -- enterprise SREs set their sights on everything as code in pursuit of GitOps efficiency. Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2019
Former Chef Software CTO talks IT automation, open source
Chef Software's founder, Adam Jacob, built widely used IT automation software for the enterprise. Now that he's no longer CTO, he's taking a break and pondering what comes next. Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2019
Mainframe DevOps gets fresh integration option in LzLabs
Most mainframe DevOps tools make open source app delivery pipelines speak mainframe's language, but LzLabs brings mainframe apps to a Linux-based platform without recompilation. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 May 2019
Build a patch management process to stay cool in an IT crisis
Time is of the essence during a major IT crisis, but rushing to fix a problem can do more harm than good. Ensure version control, documentation and testing for effective patch deployment. Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2019
OpenShift shops chart a course for advanced IT automation
IT teams tackled containerization, developer self-service platforms and infrastructure provisioning automation in 2018. So, what's next? Continue Reading
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News
09 May 2019
Ansible roadmap offers open source automation with assurances
Ansible users can expect some key updates around the tool's certified content program, along with more options to assess the performance of their automated infrastructure. Continue Reading
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News
08 May 2019
Snow Software SAM expands Microsoft, Oracle and Adobe support
Snow Software's SAM platform has expanded to include new compliance and manageability capabilities for Microsoft Windows, Oracle and Adobe Creative Cloud. Continue Reading
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Tip
02 May 2019
Combine containers and serverless to optimize app environments
Rather than pick a side in the debate around containers vs. serverless computing, DevOps shops would benefit from putting both of these complementary technologies to use. Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2019
Experian credits incident management tool for IT efficiency
When Experian deployed xMatters, the IT landscape was very different. But the incident management tool's adaptability kept it useful through shifts in tech trends. Continue Reading
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News
18 Apr 2019
CloudBees' acquisition of Electric Cloud broadens focus
CloudBees folds in Electric Cloud and pledges to broaden its focus beyond Jenkins, while customers wait and see how that might impact long-term roadmap plans. Continue Reading
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News
12 Apr 2019
Opsgenie integrations expand under Atlassian
Opsgenie's induction into the Atlassian fold reflects a trend of incident management tools' absorption into broader DevOps platforms, but not every user prefers a one-stop shop. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
11 Apr 2019
Automate Windows configurations with Boxstarter and Chocolatey
Follow this Boxstarter tutorial to install the open source tool, and use it alongside PowerShell, Chocolatey and GitHub gists for streamlined and repeatable Windows configurations. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Apr 2019
Build up a DevSecOps pipeline for fast and safe code delivery
It's all well and good to automate the software build process, but without proper security practices in place, the DevOps pipeline can lead developers to deploy compromised code. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Apr 2019
Implement these 5 ALM best practices from dev to deployment
Enterprise applications are anything but simple. To wrangle the software, resources and code of these critical apps, be smart with IT tooling, management and other aspects of support. Continue Reading
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Tip
03 Apr 2019
How DevOps teams use a CMS for documentation, collaboration
DevOps teams should choose a CMS that enables continuous, integrated content management, and select tools for internal document sharing that build an easily searched and categorized knowledge base. Continue Reading
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News
02 Apr 2019
Chef licensing changes prompt debate among IT pros
IT pros who use Chef automation software have mixed reactions to the company's plan to revamp its software licensing strategy. Continue Reading
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Guide
01 Apr 2019
Bookmark this expansive guide to DevOps for Windows
Native Windows DevOps tools and Azure DevOps services enable Microsoft shops to keep pace with Linux setups. Continue Reading
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News
01 Apr 2019
Google SREs test the limits of infrastructure automation
Google SRE veterans spoke publicly about infrastructure automation work, its future and its limitations. Continue Reading
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News
25 Mar 2019
SRE software refines DevOps incident response for enterprise
SRE workflows often emerge organically within enterprise IT teams, but software tools add measurability and automation for incident response and review in one DevOps shop. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Mar 2019
Build Terraform modules to make IT components into code
Modules enable reusability of infrastructure-as-code deployments with Terraform. Follow this example, which also features AWS for the hosting environment, to learn module structure. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Mar 2019
Start using Terraform variables for IT resource deployment flexibility
Infrastructure-as-code adopters should try Terraform input and output variables as a more flexible way to define and save values for deployment configurations. Continue Reading
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Quiz
21 Mar 2019
Can you accurately measure SLA expectations and results?
Realistic SLA expectations rely on accurately defined criteria, properly set. Test your knowledge of SLA measurements and learn to tailor contracts that avoid costly consequences with this quiz. Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2019
IT security monitoring at golf club lets IT ops play through
ClubCorp took stock of its IT security strategy last year, which led to freedom from grunt work and renewed focus for the IT ops team. Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2019
DevSecOps shift begins, but remains a work in progress
DevOps security has shifted left, but IT pros disagree on just how far into application design and away from infrastructure security practices will go. Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2019
DevOps security tools 'shift left' into CI/CD pipelines
DevOps security remains a work in progress, but many enterprise IT shops already plug collaboration points for IT security and operations pros directly into the app development pipeline. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Mar 2019
Learn how to use Salt orchestration with an example
Admins can use orchestration features in Salt to centrally control a group of minions and machines. Follow this example, which features Orchestrate Runner, to get started. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Mar 2019
Assess the micro VM market with AWS Firecracker
Consider the benefits of AWS Firecracker as it compares to other micro VMs and system containers, but be wary of its limitations before installing this virtualization technology. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2019
Release automation tools link legacy, modern app management
Release automation tools will evolve in 2019 to embrace advanced application development and infrastructure automation techniques. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Mar 2019
Steps to safely build and manage a preproduction environment
A well-run testing lab is a true asset to developers. An uncontrolled one, on the other hand, is a massive liability that can cost dearly. Plan lab builds along these guidelines. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Feb 2019
Grasp these basic Salt configuration management concepts
Not sure how Salt conveys configuration instructions to systems? Wonder if your programming skills will carry over to the tool? Use these best practices and tips to assess Salt. Continue Reading
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Tip
26 Feb 2019
Use Packer for Windows to enhance machine image automation
Packer can curtail time sinks for administrators, especially those dealing with rapid OS releases. But the DevOps tool can require additional effort to work for Windows. Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Mainframe DevOps forces platform reckoning for enterprises
DevOps has reached the mainframe world, where a few enterprise 'unicorns' have blazed a trail with new tools for the rest of the IT industry. Continue Reading
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Tip
18 Feb 2019
Non-IT software vendors stir up IT tool selection process
Many non-IT vendors now offer homegrown software -- a model that carries benefits and risks. Weigh the pros and cons around support, availability and other factors before making a decision. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Feb 2019
Maximize Ansible scalability, performance as IT deployments grow
There are several options to increase Ansible performance at scale -- a task that should move to the top of the to-do list as an IT deployment grows. Continue Reading
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Tip
01 Feb 2019
How the SaltStack architecture enables config management at scale
SaltStack's one-to-many communication model enables it to manage configurations in massive IT deployments without network strain. To get the most out of SaltStack, understand ZeroMQ. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
Uncertain future of open core software puts companies at risk
Many enterprises rely on commercial vendors for open source software support, but the open core business model isn't always a solid bet for longevity. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jan 2019
Open source in the enterprise presents a two-edged sword
The price is right for pure upstream open source IT management software, which also offers IT pros control over their own destiny. But some enterprises aren't prepared for the long-term costs. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
22 Jan 2019
Create Vagrant boxes with Packer for rapid IT environment builds
Vagrant boxes enable IT admins to test infrastructure updates in production-identical QA environments. Follow this Vagrant tutorial to build a machine and export it to a Vagrant box. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
21 Jan 2019
How to update configurations via the Salt state file
Salt users must grasp the concepts around state files for configuration changes and updates. Follow along with this tutorial, which also features Cassandra, to get started. Continue Reading
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Quiz
21 Jan 2019
Pop quiz: Can you identify these top IT trends of 2019?
From serverless and AIOps to a widening tech skills gap, numerous IT trends bring momentum into 2019. See how ready you are for new opportunities and hurdles in IT with this quiz. Continue Reading
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Definition
15 Jan 2019
HashiCorp
HashiCorp is a software company that provides a suite of modular DevOps infrastructure provisioning and management products. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2019
Database DevOps tools ease app deployment at insurance firm
Colonial Life brought its SQL-based enrollment app into the DevOps fold with a tool from Datical to replace its faulty manual update process. Continue Reading
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Tip
07 Jan 2019
AIOps tools supplement -- not supplant -- DevOps pipelines
While the line between DevOps and AIOps often seems blurred, the two disciplines aren't synonymous. Instead, they present some key differences in terms of required skill sets and tools. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Jan 2019
Explore the new year's emerging IT trends
Small data centers, intelligent IT management tools -- digital diversity? Catch up on the 10 trends driving IT operations forward in 2019, and how they'll shape your organization. Continue Reading
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News
02 Jan 2019
DevOps security model hits organizational snags
DevOps security tools are on the market, and IT pros are acutely aware of the need to update their practices. But alignment with business teams hasn't gotten any easier. Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Dec 2018
Estimate the cost of open source software in 5 practical areas
Open source tools and technologies are free for the taking, as long as enterprise IT organizations correctly calculate the cost of implementation, support, contribution and more. Continue Reading
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Opinion
20 Dec 2018
IT organizations anticipate DevOps evolution in 2019
DevOps shifts around like ice cubes skate across water: quickly and always toward its outer limits. Kurt Marko explores some areas where DevOps will go in 2019. Continue Reading
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Infographic
18 Dec 2018
IT automation tops list of best uses of AI, survey shows
Early adopters of AI say they see promise in the technology, and most plan to boost their AI investment. Still, they have concerns about security risks and data availability. Continue Reading
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Feature
18 Dec 2018
Establish a configuration management strategy to guide transition
Humans are notoriously averse to change in routine -- even when it makes their jobs easier. Encourage innovation and be flexible: Strategy is a journey, not a destination. Continue Reading
- 18 Dec 2018
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News
18 Dec 2018
IT industry trends home in on containers, AIOps and CI/CD
IT ops pros should be on the lookout for enterprise-wide production container deployments, real-world AIOps usage and new approaches to CI/CD in 2019. Continue Reading
- E-Zine 18 Dec 2018
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Opinion
17 Dec 2018
AI for IT operations means smarter, safer deployments
Anticipate developments in AIOps and IT automation in 2019, particularly in major spaces such as IT security. Help your organization look forward and adopt smarter automation. Continue Reading
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News
14 Dec 2018
Knative project stokes interest in event-driven IT ops
The Knative project is nascent, but Kubernetes users said they believe it could facilitate the next generation of IT infrastructure management. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
12 Dec 2018
Manage Salt minions in large environments in symphony
IT organizations must create, enforce and update configurations in a standardized manner. Learn how to direct Salt minions to install software without repetitive manual work. Continue Reading
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Tip
11 Dec 2018
Use Puppet for Windows ops automation with dsc_lite
With DSC and dsc_lite, as well as a native option, users operate in Puppet within the familiarity of PowerShell settings. Here's how each approach works. Continue Reading
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Feature
07 Dec 2018
Put your IT disaster recovery plan to the test
Operations teams need to make DR planning and preparation a priority every day of the year -- not just at test time. Here's how to keep apps and systems out of harm's way. Continue Reading
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Tip
05 Dec 2018
Create an IT support process to take on any outage
Every IT incident must be met with a streamlined resolution procedure, all the way from critical to trivial. Ensure those plans are in place before it's do or die. Continue Reading
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Tip
30 Nov 2018
Simple-to-automate IT tasks: Stop doing these 3 things
There are certain tasks that no IT ops administrator should still do manually. No more excuses -- take these easy operations processes off your plate, and let scripts or tools take over. Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Nov 2018
As-a-service at your service: Cloud tools simplify DevOps automation
AWS offers the widest range of cloud-integrated DevOps tools. But Google Cloud has a strategy with more focus on integration, and Azure closely ties in with other Microsoft products. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
21 Nov 2018
Try this Chocolatey tutorial to pick up Vagrant provisioning for Windows
To install a Linux-based tool on a non-Linux machine, at least one intermediary tool is necessary. On Windows, use the Chocolatey package manager for a smooth process. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Nov 2018
Why teams create DevOps platforms to match projects
Prebuilt platforms offer a wealth of capabilities without the hassle to integrate everything. But cherry-picking for exact needs yields tighter resource management. Continue Reading
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Feature
15 Nov 2018
When a NoOps implementation is -- and when it isn't -- the right choice
NoOps skills and tools are highly useful regardless of the IT environment, but site reliability engineering brings operations admins into development when an organization can't afford to lose them. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
14 Nov 2018
Boost DevOps cred with script management in Git version control
DevOps teams use configuration management to automate patches and provisioning. They use version control to increase collaboration and change control. Learn how to combine the two. Continue Reading
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Tip
13 Nov 2018
Use Active Directory for testing environments in DevOps shops
AD enables admins to create testing environments almost identical to production environments through duplicated trees, interconnected forests and authentication best practices. Continue Reading
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News
09 Nov 2018
Terraform orchestration matures as multi-cloud lingua franca
Terraform offers cloud-agnostic infrastructure as code to highly skilled DevOps pros, and its latest release looks to extend its appeal beyond early adopters. Continue Reading
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Tip
06 Nov 2018
Compliance automation prevents regulation audit snafus
Many IT organizations address compliance issues manually, even though Puppet, Fugue and other tools can enforce configurations that comply with regulations and even provide an audit trail. Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2018
HashiCorp Vault maturity prompts strategy speculation
HashiCorp is valued at $1.9 billion for its IT management software, such as Vault 1.0, and the IBM-Red Hat merger has set off speculation about the firm's future. Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2018
Grow rapidly into a continuous delivery pipeline
IT organizations that undertake continuous delivery and deployment initiatives must find strategies to enable that nonstop rush into production without any space for massive or prolonged user-facing problems. Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2018
Nomad vs. Kubernetes talk prompts HashiCorp managed service plan
HashiCorp's founders say Nomad and Kubernetes are not mutually exclusive, but the company will launch a Nomad managed service to match cloud providers' turnkey Kubernetes services. Continue Reading
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Opinion
25 Oct 2018
Quantum supremacy and the path to encryption chaos
Widespread use of quantum computing isn't as far into the future as some might think. When it arrives, this powerful computing technology could turn IT security upside down. Continue Reading
- 25 Oct 2018
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Tip
23 Oct 2018
Keep IT project planning on track with 5 principles
Whether you're a seasoned IT vet about to take on the biggest project yet or a new team member spearheading an important build, follow a project planning approach that limits scope and hits goals. Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Netflix Spinnaker pipelines tighten bond with Kubernetes
The Netflix- and Google-led Spinnaker continuous deployment software project has added enterprise appeal with revamped Kubernetes integration. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2018
Chef InSpec 3.0 horns in on Terraform territory
Chef InSpec 3.0 can scan Terraform infrastructure-as-code files for security and compliance gaps, which knocked HashiCorp Sentinel off the evaluation list at Chef customer Pacific Life. Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Oct 2018
Strive for real-world technical debt management in DevOps orgs
Technical debt is a bit like the kitchen junk drawer: It's cobbled-together, useful stuff that just needed to go somewhere. But the longer you wait to sort it out, the worse it gets. Continue Reading
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Tip
12 Oct 2018
Implement security for DevOps across the board
Security for DevOps isn't about the devices or the data center facility anymore. Learn how to protect valuable data as it moves beyond the corporate network into hybrid cloud and among various applications composed of microservices. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2018
Puppet Enterprise updates give IT ops pros a leg up on DevOps
Puppet Enterprise 2019, Puppet Bolt 1.0 and Puppet Insights broaden enterprise IT ops pros' options for DevOps support and infrastructure automation tools. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2018
Embrace DevOps innovation to modernize legacy applications
To bring legacy applications into the DevOps fold, IT teams must be creative and collaborate in ways that may differ sharply from approaches to greenfield projects. Continue Reading
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Tip
09 Oct 2018
Tap the Chocolatey package manager to usher in Windows DevOps
Create a Chocolatey package with this tutorial on DevOps for Windows. Simplify package management and installation, and swap the GUI for a CLI client. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2018
Users mull Ansible Tower features' config management controls
Ansible users know their way around a CLI, but some envision an all-inclusive IT automation platform based on the Ansible Tower management console UI and features. Continue Reading
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News
05 Oct 2018
Automated root cause analysis moves into the mainstream
DevOps monitoring tools that offer automated root cause analysis are now in production within mainstream enterprises. When it comes to their ease of use, however, there is still room to improve. Continue Reading
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News
04 Oct 2018
Ansible roadmap steers toward network, security via integrations
Through simply written automation and granular access control, Ansible will attempt to put networking and security teams in step with IT infrastructure and DevOps counterparts. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
02 Oct 2018
Compare Go vs. Python for infrastructure programming
Both code languages get the infrastructure-as-code job done, but each from a different angle. This comparison tutorial puts their similarities and differences center stage. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2018
CloudBees sets a path to Cloud Native Jenkins
CloudBees advanced its core CI/CD platform to broaden developers' options to create apps and access additional services in the cloud. Continue Reading
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News
20 Sep 2018
Jenkins on Kubernetes is promising, but integration needs work
Jenkins and Kubernetes are a natural fit for automated application development and delivery, and the open source community has plans to improve how Jenkins runs on containers. Continue Reading
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Tip
20 Sep 2018
A fine-tuned change request template minimizes user discontent
Change management is an essential ITSM practice, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of end users. Use templates to clarify expectations and set changes in motion without disruption. Continue Reading
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News
19 Sep 2018
CloudBees Core sets its sights beyond enterprise Jenkins
CloudBees and its competitors vie to offer the visibility and data-driven performance measurement into CI/CD processes that enterprises need to strive for better DevOps governance. Continue Reading
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News
18 Sep 2018
DevOps security takes on the dark side of digital transformation
Without better organizational discipline, digital businesses are at risk for massively disruptive data breaches and attacks. Can DevSecOps transform IT in time to avert disaster? Continue Reading
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Guide
17 Sep 2018
How to achieve application performance improvement in ops
With more complex infrastructure and applications comes increased need for sophisticated performance monitoring and management tools, accompanied by strengthened processes. Continue Reading
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Tutorial
12 Sep 2018
Adopt the Git version control system for configuration as code
Configuration files define infrastructure as code, which enables IT admins to control updates and enforce standardization. Start using a version control system to codify configurations with just a handful of commands. Continue Reading
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Guide
05 Sep 2018
Rev up IT with continuous delivery and DevOps
IT operations is on the software team with continuous delivery, continuous deployment and DevOps. Done right, the collaboration in tools and culture produces better software faster than previous methodologies. Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2018
Atlassian shops size up OpsGenie buy, Jira for incident management
Atlassian snapped up OpsGenie and rolled out Jira Ops as part of a shift in focus to IT incident management. Users will follow the strategy cautiously. Continue Reading
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Tip
27 Aug 2018
Continuous delivery pipeline tools build IT efficiency
The range of CD tools available is as varied as the organizations that need them. Choose between three primary tool set constructions to suit your organization's structure. Continue Reading
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Opinion
23 Aug 2018
Big data processing could be the way all data is processed
Some organizations take their time with new technologies to let first adopters suffer the growing pains. But there's no treading water in the big data stream; the current won't wait. Continue Reading
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Feature
23 Aug 2018
Benefits of infrastructure as code range from speed to scaling
Provisioning large numbers of servers takes time. One of infrastructure as code's benefits is that once you declare a desired state, code maintains that environment with ease. Continue Reading
