Features

Features

• A day in the life: What does a site reliability engineer do?

  Site reliability engineering is still a relatively new job role, and it's challenging to get a clear picture of the day to day. Learn what one SRE's role looks like with this profile.  Continue Reading

• ITSM and DevOps don't have to be at odds

  Is it possible for ITSM and DevOps to coexist within the same organization? It is, but it raises plenty of questions about how and whether they are a good fit.  Continue Reading

• Containers bring cloud-agnostic workloads closer to reality

  Cloud-agnostic workloads have been a largely elusive goal in enterprise IT. But has containerization -- and, particularly, Kubernetes -- made agnosticism feasible?  Continue Reading

• Configuration management vs. asset management simplified

  Configuration management and asset management are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. While similar in certain ways, they are not the same thing.  Continue Reading

• 11 certifications for entry-level IT operations roles

  Looking to start a career in IT operations? Check out these courses and certifications for beginners to gather all the foundational skills you'll need.  Continue Reading

• Review the top configuration management tools in DevOps

  Configuration management tools ease the IT burden. And if you're implementing DevOps practices, be sure to consider that during the tool evaluation process.  Continue Reading

• Ansible vs. Chef vs. Puppet vs. SaltStack: A comparison

  For teams that oversee ecosystems and software packages, configuration management tools have the power to boost operational consistency. But which products deserve attention?  Continue Reading

• The evolution and history of software configuration management

  IT and software configuration management challenge tech professionals. It's been that way for decades, and best practices continue to evolve.  Continue Reading

• Infrastructure as code benefits and DevOps use cases

  Code flexibility, automation and security top the list of reasons to use IaC for DevOps use cases. But without careful management, they can quickly present problems.  Continue Reading

• Tips for attending virtual IT conferences like a pro

  The coronavirus pushed all physical gathering events into the digital realm for public safety. But this completely disrupts our prep patterns. Here are some tips to help.  Continue Reading

• 3 DevOps antipatterns to avoid at all costs

  A DevOps initiative is not a single task, but an evolution of an organization's technology, processes and culture -- and without a collaborative mindset, it will likely fail.  Continue Reading

• KubeCon 2020 preview: Session guide for fine-tuning Kubernetes

  Hosted as a low-cost virtual event, KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2020 offers a broad array of technical sessions that can help you scale and improve Kubernetes deployments.  Continue Reading

• KubeCon 2020 preview: Session guide for Kubernetes professionals

  The virtual format of KubeCon 2020 means Kubernetes adopters can learn from their peers and take in expert presentations on Kubernetes and related technologies.  Continue Reading

• KubeCon 2020 preview: Session guide for Kubernetes beginners

  Want expert advice to kick off a container and Kubernetes implementation at your company? Many of the sessions at KubeCon North America are made for you.  Continue Reading

• 3 key ways DevOps benefits a business

  DevOps adoption can strain an organization. Is it worth the effort? Here's what a business should expect to gain when implementing DevOps and continuous delivery.  Continue Reading

• 5 DevSecOps best practices to prioritize

  Successful DevSecOps isn't just about secure code -- it's securing the flows of data through code, methods and tools. Review these five security tips to button up your DevOps work.  Continue Reading

• Evolving DevOps roles demand Kubernetes, CI/CD skills

  The rapid rate of change in IT coupled with the newness of many DevOps practices and technologies creates barriers for those who seek a career in DevOps. These skills can open the door.  Continue Reading

• Know the key DevOps roles and responsibilities for team success

  More than most IT initiatives, DevOps is built around people. Involve the right professionals, and get those people primed to work in concerted ways.  Continue Reading

• 16 DevOps books to level up your skills

  Is your organization and IT staff ready to tackle DevOps, from culture to strategies and toolchains? Start with these 16 books from learning DevOps basics to fine-tuning specific DevOps skills and practices.  Continue Reading

• Top 15 DevOps blogs to read and follow

  The DevOps community is big, but here are some of the top DevOps blogs to read that cover everything from tips for beginners, the latest news and how-tos.  Continue Reading

• Just what can AI in IT operations accomplish?

  How should the 'AI' in 'AIOps' work? The idea is for it to identify and solve problems in ways similar to how the human mind would -- except faster and without prompting.  Continue Reading

• Overcome these 5 DevOps challenges

  DevOps adoption isn't easy, but the results are worth it. Learn how to collaborate, cooperate and coordinate with better organization and DevOps tooling.  Continue Reading

• Modern IT KPIs emphasize cloud, DevOps and user experience

  When it comes to KPIs, IT ops teams have typically prioritized process-centric metrics, but recent technical and cultural shifts have started to change that.  Continue Reading

• Why -- and how -- to use Docker image tags

  Version control is a critical part of software development and deployment. IT teams can use Docker tags to better manage and organize container images.  Continue Reading

• Lessons learned: Strategies to adjust IT operations in a crisis

  Curious how other businesses adjusted their IT operations strategies in light of COVID-19? Look back at these five recent SearchITOperations news stories to find out.  Continue Reading

• ServiceNow vs. Jira Service Desk for ITSM workflow management

  ServiceNow and Jira Service Desk are both big names in ITSM, but which one is better for your workflow management needs? Compare the two tools in terms of flexibility, integration support and more.  Continue Reading

• The definitive guide to enterprise IT monitoring

  This comprehensive IT monitoring guide examines strategies to track systems, from servers to software UIs, and how to choose tools for every monitoring need.  Continue Reading

• Your Golden Ticket: The Hidden Power of CMDB in IT Digital Transformation

  Learn how a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) can be a powerful tool in your organization’s IT digital transformation journey.  Continue Reading

• How to integrate DevOps into an IT monitoring strategy

  When it comes to IT monitoring, a DevOps toolchain presents opportunities and challenges. Follow best practices to ensure your teams see and fix problems appropriately.  Continue Reading

• Composing a CMDB requires new rules for navigating today’s modern enterprise

  Learn what the four new rules are for composing a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) for navigating today’s modern enterprise.  Continue Reading

• ServiceNow Configuration Management Database

  Learn how to maintain current and accurate data, identify performance and user experience improvement, visualize complex data to drive better decisions, and more with the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database.  Continue Reading

• Learn Kubernetes step by step with this interactive book

  SearchITOperations spoke with author Zach Arnold about what IT pros can expect from The Kubernetes Workshop, an interactive book that progressively builds readers' knowledge of container orchestration.  Continue Reading

• Optimize Kubernetes cluster management with these 5 tips

  Effective Kubernetes cluster management requires operations teams to balance pod and node deployments with performance and availability needs.  Continue Reading

• Lean on these core Ansible features for IT automation success

  These six articles break down Ansible playbooks, roles and other key concepts for IT pros who are new to the tool -- or could benefit from a refresher.  Continue Reading

• 6 articles to modernize an IT log management strategy

  Enterprises must adapt IT log management best practices and tools to handle an ever-growing volume of log files. Here are several modern approaches to tackle IT logging efficiently.  Continue Reading

• Find value in real-time application monitoring

  What started as a way for administrators to know if a system went offline has morphed into a broad combination of monitoring that involves admins, engineers and operations staff.  Continue Reading

• The evolution of containers: Docker, Kubernetes and the future

  Container technology is almost as old as VMs, although IT wasn't talking about the topic until Docker, Kubernetes and other tech made waves that caused a frenzy of activity.  Continue Reading

• Walk through 5 common PowerShell uses for IT ops teams

  PowerShell use cases have expanded past Microsoft's original design -- but IT automation is still at the tool's core, whether it's to support an AIOps strategy or monitor server performance.  Continue Reading

• Set IT vendor selection criteria to evolve with the times

  As enterprises' IT tool sets expand to include more specialized providers for cloud and DevOps deployments, they face new vendor management challenges.  Continue Reading

• Compare Grafana vs. Datadog for IT monitoring

  Before committing to either Grafana or Datadog, understand how the two monitoring tools compare in terms of supported data sources, visualization features and more.  Continue Reading

• How to approach Kubernetes multi-tenancy for resource isolation

  Multi-tenancy in Kubernetes can partition IT resources and operations, but it can be tricky to determine just how much isolation is necessary.  Continue Reading

• Understand the role of infrastructure as code in DevOps

  Infrastructure as code plays a prominent role in enterprise DevOps shops. Use this chapter excerpt to understand why -- and to learn the basics of some common IaC tools.  Continue Reading

• Put these Terraform best practices into action

  Terraform enables IT teams to complete a range of tasks, from deployment to multi-cloud management. Apply this collection of best practices to get started with, or optimize your use of, the IaC tool.  Continue Reading

• IT incident management best practices to minimize disruptions

  IT issues can come out of nowhere, but an incident response plan can guide teams through troubled times. Follow these best practices to optimize each part of the plan.  Continue Reading

• ICYMI: Kubernetes ecosystem updates IT teams should know

  Need to catch up on some recent developments within the Kubernetes vendor and tool ecosystem? This roundup of articles can help.  Continue Reading

• Containers, automation and AI shape 2020 IT trends

  In 2019, Kubernetes took Docker's crown and DevOps matured. As IT operations teams ring in the New Year, they should keep an eye on these 2020 IT predictions.  Continue Reading

• Review top container deployment and management tips from 2019

  Check out our top advice for container technology throughout 2019 -- and use it to shape your 2020 plans.  Continue Reading

• Optimize application deployments with this expert advice from 2019

  As the year comes to a close, review SearchITOperations' most popular tips on app deployment and support, covering topics such as DevOps automation, SLAs and tool tutorials.  Continue Reading

• Compare Red Hat OpenShift vs. Cloud Foundry in a Kubernetes faceoff

  Looking for a container ecosystem platform? OpenShift and Cloud Foundry have similar roots as PaaS platforms, but this comparison identifies a clear winner for most organizations.  Continue Reading

• Ramp up carefully during AIOps implementation

  Sound IT automation and data management practices -- along with a healthy dose of patience -- are prerequisites for a smooth AIOps implementation.  Continue Reading

• Put infrastructure automation at the heart of modern IT ops

  IT automation, DevOps at scale and hybrid infrastructure management are three critical -- and interconnected -- IT operations initiatives for 2020.  Continue Reading

• IT security best practices for DevOps, cloud and more

  Technology is in constant motion, making it difficult for enterprise IT shops to maintain steadfast security. Explore ways to protect DevOps, microservices and cloud environments.  Continue Reading

• Decipher real-world AIOps use cases from the hype

  There are many AIOps use cases that apply to enterprise IT, but make sure you are familiar with what exactly the technology can -- and can't -- do before adoption.  Continue Reading

• Compare 3 distinct types of Kubernetes platforms

  There are three types of Kubernetes deployment options, each with its own benefits and challenges. Use this in-depth comparison to choose the best fit for your organization.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise IT weighs pros and cons of multi-cloud management

  IT ops pros are getting used to multi-cloud management, especially for disaster recovery, but moving from cloud to cloud via container portability is still rare.  Continue Reading

• Acquire best practices with this system administration handbook

  Often, books published about IT are obsolete the moment they hit the shelves: modern technology moves too fast for physical publishing. However, this particular volume aims for longevity.  Continue Reading

• Security automation charges IT ops to build the 'paved road'

  As IT ops pros evolve into SREs, they play a key role in security automation and create secure paths to production deployment for application developers.  Continue Reading

• Kubernetes use cases extend beyond container orchestration

  Enterprises use Kubernetes for much more than they did when Google released the platform in 2015. Discover how Kubernetes' uses have grown, and where it might be heading.  Continue Reading

• Gene Kim explores DevOps transformation in 'The Unicorn Project'

  This chapter excerpt from Gene Kim's 'The Unicorn Project' touches on one of the book's core themes: Roadblocks occur when developers, ops and business leaders are misaligned.  Continue Reading

• Kubernetes networking face-off: VMware NSX-T vs. Nokia's Nuage

  VMware NSX-T and Nokia's Nuage Networks both provide Kubernetes networking functionality -- but they have important differences and resonate with distinct user bases.  Continue Reading

• Three keys to successful DevOps automation

  An effective CI pipeline starts with build automation. But there are other steps needed to produce results.  Continue Reading

• Compare 10 leading container management systems

  Ready to select a vendor or open source tool to build and manage your container-based infrastructure? This roundup lays out the benefits and complexities of the many options.  Continue Reading

• 6 tips to drive infrastructure-as-code best practices

  Evaluating an infrastructure-as-code setup? Use these six tips to grasp IaC benefits, challenges, tool considerations and more before you make the move.  Continue Reading

• Assess container hosting, management options based on these criteria

  A company's plans to maintain traditional data centers, move to the public cloud or adopt microservices all play a major role in its container hosting and management decisions.  Continue Reading

• How to craft a future-proof enterprise container strategy

  There are many ways to plan an IT container management strategy. Follow these steps to map out an enterprise's needs for container software and tools.  Continue Reading

• Explore container deployment benefits and core components

  As container adoption grows, the ecosystem of tools surrounding the technology expands as well. Explore the benefits of container systems for enterprise app deployments.  Continue Reading

• IT training flaws compound DevOps skills shortage

  Before investing in an online course to learn new IT skills, heed this warning from brain scientists: there is a big difference between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it.  Continue Reading

• 5 IT video tutorials admins don't want to miss

  The best way to ramp up with a new technology or IT practice is to see it in action. Use these five video tutorials to visually walk through GitOps workflows, CI/CD pipelines and more.  Continue Reading

• Compare Linkerd vs. Istio for service mesh technology

  To decide between Istio and Linkerd for a service mesh platform, consider everything from performance and ease of use to support from major public cloud providers.  Continue Reading

• Check out this free chapter excerpt from ITIL 4 -- A Pocket Guide

  In ITIL 4 -- A Pocket Guide, author Jan van Bon walks readers through the core updates to the ITSM framework, and how they apply to the modern enterprise IT landscape.  Continue Reading

• Get creative with feature flags in IT operations

  Feature flags give IT operations a range of possibility as broad as the imagination -- once you learn this dev-centric technique.  Continue Reading

• When you create a DevOps workflow, avoid these missteps

  How can DevOps help? And how can you apply it correctly? These are important questions to consider before you attempt to create a DevOps pipeline.  Continue Reading

• An ITSM tool comparison for enterprises with an eye on AI

  All AI-enabled ITSM tools aim to streamline and automate IT operations, but buyers must make the right selection to get the most out of these products.  Continue Reading

• Reality strikes when enterprises deploy Kubernetes in production

  It's easy to run containers with Kubernetes, but Kubernetes in production -- with enterprise security, monitoring and compliance demands -- is a different story.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate AI-based ITSM tools using these key points

  After determining that artificial intelligence would benefit an IT environment, the next big challenge is to assess AI-based ITSM tools in terms of feature set and pricing model.  Continue Reading

• Accenture turns to ITSM integration tool for data compilation

  IT orgs that subscribe to help desk management services must access huge quantities of information for analysis. Read how one company overcame this challenge.  Continue Reading

• Artificial intelligence for IT operations pays off -- with time

  IT professionals say AIOps holds great potential to optimize day-to-day operations tasks. First, though, teams must lay a foundation of data, consistency and trust.  Continue Reading

• Managed container services face-off: Enterprise PKS vs. OpenShift

  VMware Enterprise PKS and Red Hat OpenShift are two leading container platforms with many differences. Assess the technologies in terms of hybrid cloud support, tool ecosystems and more.  Continue Reading

• Explore the benefits, challenges of AI in ITSM

  Are your ITSM processes ready to reap AI's rewards? Discover how AI can benefit your ITSM implementation, as well as the requirements for that transition to be a success.  Continue Reading

• The DevOps paradigm shift: Avoid obsolescence in IT

  DevOps is an appealing paradigm shift in IT, part and parcel with app componentization and containers. But despite the hype, IT pros still face a few hurdles to actual implementation.  Continue Reading

• ICYMI: Advice for aspiring site reliability engineers

  IT ops pros looking to land an SRE job can use these four articles to absorb the key responsibilities and challenges that site reliability engineering entails.  Continue Reading

• How to properly prep a container infrastructure

  To deploy containers in production, an organization must put in place the appropriate infrastructure. Here are the specific steps to take to begin that process.  Continue Reading

• Kubernetes underpins Docker container technology dominance

  Given the ever-evolving nature of enterprise technology, some IT predictions just never come to be. Let's see how one particular forecast for Docker containers held up.  Continue Reading

• AI in ITSM reshapes operations practices and tasks

  AI capabilities are merging within ITSM practices to augment IT's performance and enhance the user experience. Read on to learn more about AI uses for ITSM, and how to approach them.  Continue Reading

• Prepare for ITIL framework updates in version 4

  The much-anticipated release of ITIL v4 not only changes the framework's certification structure, but emphasizes many modern software development and IT service delivery practices.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate the COBIT framework 2019 update

  ITSM frameworks must adapt as IT changes swiftly or risk stagnation. COBIT ended its six-year silence with its 2019 update. Get an overview of the new information and how to use COBIT.  Continue Reading

• Improve help desk management for smooth IT operations

  A streamlined help desk benefits both IT ops teams and end users. Learn how to improve your organization's help desk with these expert tips on templates, automation and AI.  Continue Reading

• ICYMI: How IT monitoring systems take on modern challenges

  Don't lose track of IT monitoring as you come to grips with containers and AI advantages. These articles gear up IT and cloud admins to refine processes and improve efficiency.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Words to go: Aspects of an IT monitoring strategy

  To establish an IT monitoring strategy can feel overwhelming, but guarantee efficiency in systems and application performances. Review the core methods and fundamental tools.  Continue Reading

• 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

• Major acquisitions, Kubernetes evolution top IT news in 2018

  In the second half of 2018, IT industry vendors and their users worked to tame Kubernetes and containers, and inject open source innovation into tried-and-true enterprise IT.  Continue Reading

• 10 tips to approach IT operations processes with confidence

  Stuck in the NOC over the holidays? To pass the time, improve your ability to plan projects and quash production infrastructure incidents with confidence.  Continue Reading

• Bookmark 10 popular tips on containers and Kubernetes

  Should we go with an open source or commercial option? What about DevOps? These 10 essential tips explain how containers fit into complex modern IT environments.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 IT tutorials of 2018 for professional development in 2019

  Most IT admins take control of their education via home labs and tutorials. Refresh skills in PowerShell or Python -- or learn new ones like Kubernetes -- with these popular walkthroughs.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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

• Improve microservices management in operations with 5 tips

  Distributed applications are the future of IT, thanks to their scalability and flexibility, but growth means growing pains. Tackle microservices issues with this expert advice.  Continue Reading

• 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

• 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