Get started

Get started

Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.

• Lay the groundwork for a SecOps team structure

  A good partnership between IT operations and security teams requires trust, mutual commitment and continual work -- but results in significantly reduced security exposures and a healthier work culture for all. Continue Reading

• What to expect as AI for DevOps advances in the enterprise

  While still an emerging practice, the use of artificial intelligence in DevOps shops will have major implications on monitoring, cost optimization and more. 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

• Target tangible IT goals during a DevOps culture shift

  Fail fast, pivot and keep going: There's no better way to develop a DevOps culture than by living it. But be sure to set concrete goals along the way. Continue Reading

• Kubectl commands and best practices for new Kubernetes users

  Kubectl is a simple and powerful means to control containers in Kubernetes. But as with any CLI, it demands familiarity with available operations, resource types and associated syntax. Continue Reading

• Definitions to Get Started

  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
  • What are containers (container-based virtualization or containerization)?
  • ModelOps (model operations)

  • Docker image
  • GitOps
  • Knative
  • DevOps engineer

  View All Definitions

• Perform Nagios configuration step by step

  Nagios Core helps IT teams monitor system uptime and availability -- but first, they have to install and configure the tool properly. Follow this video tutorial to get started.Continue Reading

• Docker

  Docker is an open source software platform to create, deploy and manage virtualized application containers on a common operating system (OS), with an ecosystem of allied tools.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes

  Kubernetes, also referred to as K8s, is an open source system used to manage Linux Containers across private, public and hybrid cloud environments.Continue Reading

• 3 ways IT teams can use PowerShell in AI initiatives

  As they embark on AIOps strategies, IT admins -- particularly those in Windows shops -- can lean on a familiar tool for data gathering and issue remediation: PowerShell.Continue Reading

• What are containers (container-based virtualization or containerization)?

  Containers are a type of software that can virtually package and isolate applications for deployment.Continue Reading

• A step-by-step tutorial for Kubernetes implementation

  This Kubernetes implementation example demonstrates how to create a single-node cluster on Windows 10 to get a containerized application up and running.Continue Reading

• Follow this Ansible Vault example for encryption best practices

  IT admins can choose between two types of encryption methods when they use Ansible Vault: file-level and variable-level. Walk through each model with this brief video.Continue Reading

• Incident communication best practices to avoid user frustration

  Proper communication can prevent an IT outage or incident from spurring chaos. Use these techniques -- at home and abroad -- to keep end users well informed.Continue Reading

• Dig into Kubernetes pod deployment for optimal container use

  Improve your Kubernetes deployment strategy with balanced application hosting and sound pod-to-nodes mapping. Learn the ins and outs of resource pools and Kubernetes communication.Continue Reading

• Master these 3 common Kubernetes troubleshooting tasks

  Not enough nodes? Have some noisy neighbors? Plenty of things can cause containers to underperform. Here's how to chase down and resolve three common Kubernetes problems.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

• Build a SaaS disaster recovery plan for IT automation tools

  While cloud-based IT automation software offers speed and flexibility, it poses the same potential risk of other hosted tools: a loss of availability during an outage.Continue Reading

• ModelOps (model operations)

  ModelOps (model operations) is a holistic approach to enable analytics models to progress from the lab to production so that they can be scaled and managed to meet organizations' demand.Continue Reading

• Why to use staging environments for IT infrastructure testing

  A well-built and efficient staging environment pays off in a more stable production deployment. For this reason, IT ops teams should perform isolated infrastructure tests in staging.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

• Use this Nagios monitoring tutorial for proactive IT monitoring

  Learn how to install and run Nagios to monitor your organization's IT assets. Follow these steps so you're prepared to catch problems before they get out of hand.Continue Reading

• Optimize platform costs, use with an IT asset management strategy

  Without a thorough asset management plan that accounts for the complexities of today's IT environments, organizations risk cost inefficiencies and suboptimal support for the business.Continue Reading

• Practical advice to integrate IT systems after a merger

  A merger or acquisition can devour an IT administrator's time in many ways -- from running and supporting parallel sets of infrastructure to managing automation and security.Continue Reading

• Learn how New Relic works, and when to use it for IT monitoring

  New Relic is one of many tools that can help an IT team track application performance and health. Before adoption, understand primary use cases and SaaS installation requirements.Continue Reading

• Visual Studio Code vs. the native console for PowerShell debugging

  Unsure whether to debug a PowerShell script in Visual Studio Code or the PowerShell console? Follow this tutorial to make the decision a little easier.Continue Reading

• Apply the K-means clustering algorithm for IT performance monitoring

  Modern machine learning frameworks reduce the heavy lifting in IT performance monitoring. Follow this example, using Apache Mesos and the K-means clustering algorithm, to learn the basics.Continue Reading

• Docker image

  A Docker image is a file, comprised of multiple layers, that is used to execute code in a Docker container.Continue Reading

• DevOps roles in 2020 zero in on Kubernetes, CI/CD and more

  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. Core skills can open the door.Continue Reading

• Build a DevOps feedback loop with these CI/CD tools

  From Azure DevOps to Jenkins, DevOps teams can choose from a number of CI/CD tools to enable and maintain a continuous loop of feedback.Continue Reading

• Ensure Kubernetes high availability with master node planning

  Kubernetes ensures high availability in its worker nodes, but for a mission-critical workload, IT teams should take these extra steps for redundancy in the master node components.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

• GitOps

  GitOps is a paradigm designed around Kubernetes to allow developers and IT operations teams to use Git for cluster management and application delivery.Continue Reading

• Walk through common use cases for built-in Terraform functions

  Follow along with this Terraform tutorial to learn and apply various types of built-in functions -- including Numeric, String, and Date and Time -- within the IaC tool.Continue Reading

• Knative

  Knative is an open source project based on the Kubernetes platform for building, deploying and managing serverless workloads that can run in the cloud, on premises or in a third-party data center.Continue Reading

• How and why to set up an automation CoE for DevOps

  As DevOps automation efforts spread across IT and the business, use a center of excellence to establish standards, secure executive sponsorship and organize staff trainings.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes networking explained: Start with these building blocks

  To understand Kubernetes networking, admins must first master the core components of the container orchestration platform. Then, they need to map deployments to the right virtual networking model.Continue Reading

• Use this Kubernetes and Helm tutorial to simplify app deployments

  Helm charts are a helpful tool to deploy applications onto Kubernetes clusters. Follow this tutorial, which also features Windows and Chocolatey, to get started with the package manager.Continue Reading

• DevOps engineer

  A DevOps engineer is an IT professional who works with software developers, system operators and other production IT staff to create and oversee code releases and deployments.Continue Reading

• Emphasize app modernization in 2020 IT budget plans

  IT budgeting can be stressful and complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Communicate with business leaders and users to identify -- and capitalize on -- the right opportunities.Continue Reading

• Follow this Jenkins video tutorial to set up a project

  Jenkins can help IT operations admins perform a number of IT automation tasks -- but first, they have to be familiar with the tool. Learn how to create a Jenkins project, or job, with this video.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

• container repository

  A container repository is a collection of related container images used to provide different versions of an application.Continue Reading

• application containerization (app containerization)

  Application containerization is an OS-level virtualization method used to deploy and run distributed applications without launching an entire virtual machine (VM) for each app.Continue Reading

• Say 'yes' to NoOps with the right technology and team structure

  Before embracing a NoOps model, be sure IT team members have a clear understanding of how the methodology changes the technologies they'll work with, along with their day-to-day roles.Continue Reading

• Kubernetes explained in 5 minutes

  Kubernetes brings order to enterprise container deployments -- but it's a complex technology to learn. Use this video to grasp core Kubernetes concepts in under 10 minutes.Continue Reading

• IT operations

  IT operations is the overarching term for the processes and services administered by an organization's information technology (IT) department.Continue Reading

• Build a Graphite dashboard for data analysis, visualization

  Data visualization is a powerful capability for IT admins and business managers alike. In this tutorial, learn how to create charts and dashboards in Graphite, an open source monitoring tool.Continue Reading

• IT automation

  IT automation is the use of instructions to create a repeated process that replaces an IT professional's manual work in data centers and cloud deployments.Continue Reading

• Demystify the DevOps process, step by step

  While varying definitions and vendor marketing spins can make the meaning of DevOps tough to nail down, there are concrete principles and processes that underpin the methodology.Continue Reading

• Try out the Graphite monitoring tool for time-series data

  Combined with third-party tools, Graphite provides a number of benefits for IT performance monitoring. Explore its core components -- including Carbon and Whisper -- and basic guidelines for installation.Continue Reading

• Master DevOps security with the right team setup and tools

  Before implementing a DevSecOps strategy, software developers, security engineers and IT ops pros need a firm grasp on their unique roles in the process.Continue Reading

• What is the Puppet configuration management tool, and how does it work?

  With Puppet, enterprises can manage configurations and simplify the DevOps process as a whole. Grasp how it works, and see if it's the right choice for your organization.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

• Grasp Docker networking basics with these commands and tips

  For a containerization novice, networking poses one of the biggest challenges. Use this breakdown of essential Docker networking commands and concepts, including host and bridge setups, to reduce complexity.Continue Reading

• Let DevOps automation tools deliver for you

  With a good strategy and the right tools, you can create a workable pipeline at every stage. Here's how to approach the key areas of DevOps automation.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

• How to create PowerShell modules with a Plaster template

  Follow along this tutorial to create templates in Plaster, an open source tool, and accelerate the development of PowerShell modules.Continue Reading

• Perform a Windows event log search with PowerShell

  Event log monitoring is vital to an IT environment's health and success, but finding a specific event in the flood is challenging. PowerShell enables admins to simplify this task.Continue Reading

• Apply staging environment best practices to an app lifecycle

  From the public cloud to blue/green deployment, there are a myriad of ways that IT teams can make the most of their staging environments -- and use resources they already have.Continue Reading

• How do I manage ACL folder permissions with a PowerShell script?

  PowerShell scripts make short work of repetitive Windows tasks, saving admins time, effort and frustration. One simple area admins can manage with scripts is the access control list.Continue Reading

• configuration management (CM)

  Configuration management (CM) is a governance and systems engineering process for ensuring consistency in an operational environment.Continue Reading

• Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR)

  Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR) is an AWS product that stores, manages and deploys Docker images, which are managed clusters of Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances.Continue Reading

• Explore Docker vs. LXC through the lens of a three-tier app

  Containers are not small virtual machines, and they're not all the same under the hood. To make smart deployment choices, understand the nuanced differences between container types.Continue Reading

• MIS (management information systems)

  MIS, or management information systems, is the software and hardware to support critical business applications. MIS also refers to the staff who select and manage these systems.Continue Reading

• Follow this Terraform and AWS tutorial to create a VPC

  As an infrastructure-as-code tool, Terraform simplifies and streamlines resource deployments. Follow along with this example, which features Amazon VPCs, to get started.Continue Reading

• Explore the basics of Kubernetes cluster networking

  IT admins who need a crash course in basic Kubernetes networking concepts can follow along with this four-minute video.Continue Reading

• 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

• serverless computing

  Serverless computing is an event-driven application design and deployment paradigm in which computing resources are provided as scalable cloud services.Continue Reading

• How to create a successful DevOps organizational structure

  To build a DevOps organizational structure for speed and quality, align various skill sets with shared goals -- a process that requires a revolution, or evolution, of the status quo.Continue Reading

• Follow these 6 steps to deploy microservices in production

  To succeed with microservices, IT organizations need to rethink the way they design and deploy applications -- and not all the necessary changes are technical ones.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

• Use this Mesos and Marathon tutorial to try resource abstraction

  Marathon, the Mesos-based tool, eases large-scale container orchestration. Before you begin deployments, set up Zookeeper and Mesos with Marathon, and try a simple task.Continue Reading

• Can I install Ansible for Windows system management?

  Even though Ansible has its roots in open source software and Linux, is it possible to use the configuration management tool for Windows environments?Continue Reading

• DevOps

  In its most broad meaning, DevOps is an operational philosophy that promotes better communication between development and operations as more elements of operations become programmable. In its most narrow interpretation, DevOps describes the part of ...Continue Reading

• Build a PowerShell performance monitoring script step by step

  Admins familiar with PowerShell can bypass a third-party server monitoring tool and instead write scripts to track key performance metrics. Learn how with this tutorial.Continue Reading

• Combine Puppet and Chocolatey to drive Windows DevOps

  Through the use of Puppet and Chocolatey side by side, Windows IT professionals can use Linux-like DevOps tools to automate the deployment and configuration of their systems.Continue Reading

• PKI authentication explained: The basics for IT administrators

  Public key infrastructure is part and parcel of modern digital business, from secure communications to data transmission and beyond. Admins must understand PKI to optimize its benefits.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

• What are Ansible roles and when and how should I use them?

  Roles are one of several functions in Ansible that simplify and streamline IT automation processes. Dig into this quick overview to learn the basics of roles and potential use cases.Continue Reading

• Use Puppet Bolt to simplify configuration management

  Bolt, Puppet's cross-platform automation tool, is designed to minimize the learning curve for ops teams, but users still need to grasp its primary commands and elements.Continue Reading

• 5 DevSecOps interview questions employers are likely to ask

  To land that DevSecOps dream job, prepare to answer questions not only about specific IT and security tools, but about DevOps team culture as a whole.Continue Reading

• How do I get started with an Ansible playbook?

  An Ansible playbook boosts admin productivity when they manage configurations across machines. Learn how playbooks work and how to avoid live errors.Continue Reading

• Perform this infrastructure as code tutorial with Pulumi and AWS

  Learn the basics of an infrastructure as code deployment with this tutorial, which features the open source tool Pulumi, along with Python and AWS.Continue Reading

• How AIOps monitoring eases modern IT challenges

  Operations teams can apply artificial intelligence to modernize their IT monitoring strategy for distributed architectures. Use this guide to learn the basics and get started.Continue Reading

• Build a GitOps pipeline with this Kubernetes, Jenkins X tutorial

  Follow the steps outlined in this video tutorial to establish a GitOps deployment workflow with Google Kubernetes Engine, GitHub and Jenkins X.Continue Reading

• 5 critical features that put the 'AI' in AIOps tools

  Don't fall victim to AI-washing in the IT systems management market. Instead, know what to look for in a truly 'intelligent' operations platform -- starting with these 5 capabilities.Continue Reading

• 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

• 8 common Docker commands beginners should know

  IT professionals who are new to Docker can use this cheat sheet of common commands to quickly ramp up with container deployment and management basics.Continue Reading

• IT monitoring

  IT monitoring is the process to gather metrics about the operations of an IT environment's hardware and software to ensure everything functions as expected to support applications and services.Continue Reading

• COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language)

  COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) is a high-level programming language for business applications. It was the first popular language designed to be operating system-agnostic and is still in use in many financial and business applications ...Continue Reading

• AIOps (artificial intelligence for IT operations)

  AIOps is an umbrella term for the use of big data analytics, machine learning and other AI technologies to automate the identification and resolution of common IT issues. AIOps is generally used in companies that use DevOps and cloud computing.Continue Reading

• 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

• Study tips to ace the CNCF's CKA exam

  IT certifications are an IT admin's superpower, lending official credibility to technology expertise. Know what to expect -- and practice -- to become Kubernetes certified.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

• AIOps explained in 5 minutes

  There are many uses for AIOps in an IT organization, including advanced monitoring, reporting and analysis, and fault prevention. This video describes how AIOps works.Continue Reading

• Review this ops checklist for containerized applications

  So you're ready to adopt containers? Successful implementation will require infrastructure and operational practices that account for the specific requirements of containerization.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

• Manage Elasticsearch documents with indices and shards

  Before they can put the search capabilities of Elasticsearch to use for their organization, admins need to properly organize and manage documents via indices, shards, replicas and mapping.Continue Reading