In Depth
In Depth
Data centre
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Room to spare: Could space constraints slow London's record-breaking datacentre growth spree?
The London colocation market enjoyed another record year of growth in 2018, thanks to the hyperscale cloud community's insatiable demand for datacentre capacity. But is the capital running out of space? Continue Reading
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How Europe’s largest datacentre is helping to expand broadband access
NGD, the operator of the largest datacentre in Europe, is playing an unlikely role in helping expand access to full-fibre broadband in south Wales. We find out how, and why Continue Reading
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Choosing the right kind of hybrid cloud management
We look at the various factors businesses should consider when looking to solve their cloud management problems Continue Reading
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Interview: OVH CEO on offering a European alternative to the US public cloud giants
Six months into his tenure as OVH’s CEO, Michel Paulin sets out the work the firm is doing to stand out from the public cloud crowd through its local knowledge of the European data protection landscape and its open source credentials Continue Reading
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Counting the costs of IaaS and SaaS
Cost management is a priority for organisations seeking to use infrastructure and software as a service Continue Reading
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Steering a safe course through hybrid cloud
We look at why hybrid cloud can create a tricky infrastructure to manage Continue Reading
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Career choices for storage admins as technologies converge
There is collateral damage in datacentre convergence, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for storage administrators to stick with storage-centric skillsets. Two solutions exist Continue Reading
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What are the SD-WAN requirements for a multicloud environment?
SD-WAN is becoming an important option for businesses migrating branch and other edge communications to the cloud. But what makes a successful deployment? Continue Reading
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The pitfalls of multicloud network management
Migrating to and managing a multicloud network introduces new complexities into the network. We look at how to avoid the potential pitfalls Continue Reading
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Break free from traditional network security
Highly connected businesses put pressure on traditional network security. We look at how corporate networks are breaking out of their boundaries Continue Reading
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Docker management at scale: What enterprises need to know
Docker adoption within enterprises often starts at grass roots level, with developers leading the way, but as deployments scale and become larger in size, problems can occur Continue Reading
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Why VMware is betting big on containers, edge computing and IoT
With the server virtualisation game won, VMware is having to diversify into new areas, with cloud-native computing emerging as a top area of interest for the firm Continue Reading
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Casting the net for a software-defined future
The practical and cultural challenges of enterprises transforming to software-defined networking Continue Reading
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SDN: Where is it now and what is the future?
Software-defined networking is one of the great IT hype stories of this century – we look at where it stands now Continue Reading
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Data protection, backup and replication in the age of the cloud
A data protection and backup strategy has to take account of the expansion of the sphere of IT, from the datacentre to the public cloud to devices and locations at the edge Continue Reading
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How Australia is keeping pace with microservices
Adoption of microservices remains patchy in Australia, although some sectors pursuing digital transformation are catching up rapidly Continue Reading
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Intel Cascade Lake vs AMD Rome: Who will rule the datacentre roost in 2019?
Intel and AMD are both making a renewed push into the enterprise datacentre market in 2019, with both set to release new processors. We take a look at what they have to offer Continue Reading
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Cloud clearance: Working out the best way forward
Making sense of who does what in the cloud, and which providers are the best fit for your business, can be a difficult process for enterprises to work through Continue Reading
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Securing the SD-WAN: The next network challenge
Every time an enterprise weighs up whether or not to try SD-WAN, security is an essential part of the picture Continue Reading
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IT administrator 2.0: Adapting to life in the automation age
As the use of automation becomes increasingly pervasive in enterprise IT environments, systems administrators need to adapt and update their skills to remain relevant Continue Reading
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Is Azure ready to go cloud-native?
We look at the suitability of Microsoft’s Azure platform for deploying cloud-native applications Continue Reading
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A guide to choosing cloud infrastructure services
We take a look at the considerations when choosing infrastructure as a service, and what needs to be in place for enterprises to get the most out of the cloud computing technology Continue Reading
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Hyper-converged backup appliances bring flexibility benefits
Backup appliances in scale-out format allow data protection to be scaled easily by simply adding extra nodes. But is it an idea that’s ready for the enterprise? Continue Reading
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Transform business with microservices and containers
We look at how DevOps and microservice-based technology have advanced IT architectures Continue Reading
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The importance of adopting an evergreen IT strategy
Today's modern IT systems are potentially tomorrow's legacy technology problems, without an "evergreening strategy" in place Continue Reading
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Google Cloud CTO Brian Stevens on using open source for competitive advantage in the public cloud
Google Cloud CTO Brian Stevens on how the enterprise cloud conversation is changing, and why not all supplier declarations about supporting open source technologies are quite what they seem Continue Reading
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GlaxoSmithKline R&D CDO on combining Hadoop and Docker to boost drug discovery efforts
Mark Ramsey, chief digital officer of research and development at GSK, describes how banking on big data, containers and on-premise technologies is speeding up the company’s efforts to uncover new drugs and improve the hit rate of its clinical trials Continue Reading
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Windows Virtual Desktops: Microsoft takes virtual Windows mainstream on Azure
Microsoft is fleshing out its virtual desktop proposition by allowing enterprises to access Windows via its Azure platform, but what does this mean for its competitors? Continue Reading
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Executive interview: Sebastian Krause, general manager, IBM Cloud Europe
IBM Cloud Europe general manager Sebastian Krause opens up about Big Blue's big bets on hybrid cloud, enterprise IT and why the public cloud market is not one it is interested in playing in Continue Reading
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Infrastructure patching at scale: What you need to know
Embarking on an enterprise-wide patching exercise can be a daunting process for IT departments, but there are few things that can be done to make it less fraught and ensure effectiveness Continue Reading
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Shell CTO Yuri Sebregts talks about using AI to amplify the human impact of its workforce
Digital transformation is a multi-decade process for Shell, with artificial intelligence presenting the oil and gas giant with new opportunities to ramp up the productivity of its workforce, its CTO explains Continue Reading
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Intelligent automation and the WAN: Is SD-WAN moving mainstream?
Take-up of software-defined networking in corporates is slower than expected. Where have we reached on the journey to software-controlled networks – and SD-WAN in particular – becoming the norm? Continue Reading
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Colocation and the hyperscalers: What the cloud giants want in a datacentre partner
The colocation market is booming on the back of the growing demand from the hyperscale cloud giants for readily available datacentre capacity, but why are some operators more successful than others when it comes to landing their business? Continue Reading
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Dividing lines: EU bid to curb server energy use has the European datacentre community split
An EU-backed push to curb European datacentre energy use has proven to be a divisive issue, as debate rages over the usefulness of using idle energy to determine the overall efficiency of servers Continue Reading
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Leading companies embrace DevOps to improve agility and flexibility
DevOps is an approach to improving the efficiency of software development roll-outs, but while the benefits are clear, companies face a number of challenges along the way Continue Reading
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DevOps and containers: How to get connected
We look at how to apply a DevOps approach to a container-based microservices architecture Continue Reading
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When networks collide: how M&A brings infrastructure together
Enterprise IT runs on networking, so fixing up the network should be a priority issue during mergers and acquisitions – but that’s not always the case. Find out how the pros manage it Continue Reading
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National Archives races to create electronic archive of EU law before Brexit
The National Archives faces challenges converting the EU's enormous library of laws into a publicly accessible UK archive ahead of Brexit. The Archives’ digital director, John Sheridan, explains how Continue Reading
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Tips on reducing unnecessary cloud service costs
As IT departments prepare their 2019 budgets, we assess how to avoid paying too much for cloud services Continue Reading
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Container storage: Docker in flash, HCI and software-defined
We look at what flash array, hyper-converged infrastructure and software-defined storage makers are doing to provide persistent storage for container-based deployments Continue Reading
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Data protection for containers: Why and how to do Docker backup
Containers such as those from Docker are agile, lightweight and can be short-lived, but they and their data often need to be protected. We look at the key options available Continue Reading
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Streamline infrastructure management through robotic automation
Robotic automation is changing the infrastructure management game, helping IT departments make fewer mistakes and boost their productivity Continue Reading
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Guinness World Records bets on Office 365 and AWS to boost business expansion
Rob Howe, director of IT at Guinness World Records, opens up about how cloud is supporting the organisation’s ongoing push to diversify its business Continue Reading
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Enhance efficiency by automating IT services
We look at the role of artificial intelligence and chatbots in IT service management Continue Reading
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DevOps done right: Securing grassroots support for a top-down DevOps enterprise push
As more and more enterprises rush to join the DevOps movement, practitioners share details of how they secured grassroots support for their senior leadership team's top-down agile adoption mandates Continue Reading
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Cloud HCI survey: Cloud functionality in hyper-converged infrastructure
We look at how you can use hyper-converged infrastructure to build private clouds and link up with public cloud services to develop hybrid and multi-cloud working Continue Reading
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Containers and storage: Array suppliers’ container capabilities
We look at what the big five storage array makers – Dell EMC, Hitachi, HPE, IBM and NetApp – are doing to provide persistent storage for container-based deployments Continue Reading
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Let automation take away the tedium
Computer Weekly looks at how far the suppliers of systems management tools and associated products have progressed with automation Continue Reading
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Adapting to the rise of the holistic application
A containerised, componentised and compartmentalised approach to software presents CIOs with the challenge of managing a more complex environment Continue Reading
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Assessing the hyperscale squeeze on G-Cloud's SMEs
The latest government spend data suggests public sector IT buyers are increasingly using G-Cloud to procure services from the hyperscale cloud community, prompting concerns about the impact this might have on the SME-friendly framework Continue Reading
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Need for speed: designing a modern campus LAN
Just like datacentres before them, campus LANs are increasingly being defined by virtualisation and software-based controls. Next to this shift, the hardware also continues to improve as network owners look to keep pace with user demand Continue Reading
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DevOps done right: How to break down the IT department silos without alienating developers
Enterprise DevOps adoption rests on securing buy-in at all levels of the company, but developer support is not a given, particularly when it means taking on responsibilities outside their traditional roles Continue Reading
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Making sense of Microsoft’s cloud developer platform
We assess how Microsoft is aligning its development tools to support Linux and open source, in light of its acquisition of GitHub Continue Reading
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Is DevOps the best approach to software development?
A DevOps model builds on an agile approach to software development, but a different approach to tooling is needed Continue Reading
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Beyond Docker and Kubernetes: The container ecosystem continues to evolve
Enterprise interest in container technologies is on the rise, and organisations need to get clued up on who does what and how it can benefit them Continue Reading
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Lessons from GE’s flight to digital platforms
Examining the challenges industrial giant GE has encountered on its digital journey and the lessons learned for CIOs heading in the same direction Continue Reading
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Why Kubernetes is emerging as a critical enabler of multi-cloud
The buzz around containers is showing no signs of stopping, with Kubernetes fast emerging as the technology of choice for enterprises looking to build multi-cloud environments Continue Reading
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GDPR compliance: Addressing the overlooked in enterprise IT infrastructures
As the GDPR compliance deadline approaches, enterprises need to ensure they have looked beyond the headline-grabbing aspects of the regulation so they do not fall foul of the incoming data protection regulations Continue Reading
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Mergers and acquisitions: Bringing together separate IT departments
Bringing together the assets of two separate companies can be a fraught business, particularly when it comes to merging IT departments Continue Reading
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Enterprise accessibility: How Cray is using HPC to open up AI use cases from the datacentre
Enterprises interest in HPC is reportedly being fuelled by the rising demand for artificial intelligence-based applications and services, and Cray is one of a number of providers looking to cash in Continue Reading
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Software-defined networking: gathering momentum in the enterprise?
Suppliers are pushing the benefits of software-defined networking harder than ever, and enterprises are starting to take the plunge rather than remaining on the sidelines Continue Reading
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Assessing Alibaba Cloud
AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform rule the public cloud market – but Chinese IaaS challenger Alibaba is targeting world domination Continue Reading
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The ins and outs of cloud portability
Public cloud portability comes in many forms – the secret is to research and plan appropriately Continue Reading
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Data recovery disasters: Kroll Ontrack on how it helps enterprises bounce back
Data recovery expert Kroll Ontrack provides a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges enterprises and consumers face getting their files and information back when disaster strikes Continue Reading
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Keeping cloud costs in check: Why good governance is key
Without proper checks and controls in place, it is all too easy for the cost of using cloud to spiral out of control in enterprises, but it doesn't have to be Continue Reading
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How to find the right mobility strategy for your SME
Small businesses still need a strategy to make the most of mobility, so what should business owners look out for? Continue Reading
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DR 101: The disaster recovery plan and disaster recovery strategy
We walk through the key steps and essential building blocks required to develop a disaster recovery strategy and how to write a disaster recovery plan Continue Reading
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The bitcoin boom: How colocation datacentres are cashing in on cryptocurrency mining
Cryptocurrency miners are turning to colocation providers to help scale up their operations, drive profits and boost their resiliency, but the benefits could be relatively short-lived for all concerned, it seems Continue Reading
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Serverless computing: What it is and why it matters
Enterprises might be forgiven for thinking serverless computing is just the latest in a long line of hyped technology concepts, but there is serious substance to it Continue Reading
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Inside the distros: A year in Linux development
Linux will turn 30 in three years. We look at how far the major Linux distributions – or distros – have come over the past year and what they might be able to bring in the future Continue Reading
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Intel vs AMD: Server rivals battling it out for edge datacentre supremacy
Chipmakers Intel and AMD are targeting edge computing environments with their latest embedded chips. What do each firm's propositions have to offer? Continue Reading
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Are gas-powered datacentres all hype and hot air?
As concerns about how the proliferation of datacentres will affect electricity supplies continue to be raised, some are experimenting with natural gas as an alternative energy source. But is it a viable, long-term solution? Continue Reading
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Cloud management platforms: Getting started and making it work
Choosing the right cloud management platform for your organisation is one thing, but embarking on a deployment brings its own challenges Continue Reading
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Cloud DR: Key choices in cloud disaster recovery
Flexibility and low cost make the cloud well-suited to disaster recovery, but there is no one-size-fits-all route to cloud disaster recovery. We look at the key choices Continue Reading
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The EURECA moment: Counting the cost of running the UK’s public sector datacentres
The EU-backed EURECA project has spent the past 36 months assessing the state of public sector datacentres across Europe, and is revealing what it found Continue Reading
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Hyper-converged infrastructure 2018 technology and market survey
We look at the latest in hyper-converged infrastructure – server and storage hardware nodes that can be built into scale-out clusters – and the players in the market Continue Reading
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Cloud management platforms: What you need to know to make multi-cloud happen
Deploying a cloud management platform can make adopting a multi-cloud approach to consuming IT resources easier, but choosing one that is the right fit for your enterprise can be a challenge for CIOs Continue Reading
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Net gain? Why networks matter when it comes to hyper-convergence
The rise of hyper-convergence is radically changing how enterprises manage their IT estates, but its effect on the network has yet to be fully realised Continue Reading
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Inside DBS Bank’s digital journey
The Singapore-based bank laid the foundation for its digital strategy a decade ago, starting with an overhaul of its IT systems before going big on cloud computing in later years Continue Reading
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Storage in containers: The answer to persistent storage needs?
With compute requirements often fragmented, short-lived and bursty, traditional storage architectures can struggle to cope – so is storage in containers the solution? Continue Reading
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The death of the mainframe is greatly exaggerated, says CA
With mainframe software tools forming a key part of its overall growth strategy, CA Technologies remains proud of its mainframe heritage Continue Reading
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From consumers to contributors: The evolution of open source in the enterprise
The use of open source software is commonplace in enterprises, but many organisations are still reluctant to contribute their own code, despite the benefits it can bring Continue Reading
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The multi-cloud myth: Why workload portability is still a pipe dream
While IT providers are fond of suggesting moving workloads between clouds is as easy as dragging and dropping apps between environments, the reality can be far more complex Continue Reading
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What ‘born in the cloud’ means for developers
When it comes to building cloud-native apps, developers must code with an inherent appreciation for where processing, storage and analytics happens Continue Reading
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CIO interview: How River Island is using cloud to fend off its fast fashion competitors
River Island's CIO, Doug Gardner, discusses how embracing cloud, online and mobile devices is driving sales in its high street stores Continue Reading
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Container technologies for cloud-native apps
A deep dive exploring the layers that go into a container-based platform for enterprise applications Continue Reading
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OpenStack vs hyper-converged: Open-source cloud in the datacentre
We look at how to deploy OpenStack on hyper-converged infrastructure and how HCI suppliers’ products can support deployment of the open-source cloud in the datacentre Continue Reading
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Hyper-converged choices: DIY HCI software deployments
What are the advantages of do-it-yourself hyper-converged infrastructure deployment and who are the key suppliers of HCI software? We run the rule over the DIY hyper-converged market Continue Reading
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Upset in Athenry: Examining the impact of Apple's delayed Irish datacentre build
Apple is set to hear at the end of this month whether its much-delayed Irish datacentre build can go ahead. Computer Weekly examines the ins and outs of this complex case Continue Reading
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Nando's technology director explains using cloud to digitally disrupt its own business
Nando’s technology director, Richard Atkinson, describes how the restaurant chain is using cloud to get closer to its customers and build stronger ties with its 14,000-strong workforce Continue Reading
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Datacentre decisions: Converged vs hyper-converged infrastructure
Converged and hyper-converged infrastructure are ready-tested ways to put compute and storage into the datacentre. But which should you choose for your deployment? Continue Reading
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DevOps practitioners open up about enterprise adoption challenges
Ahead of next week’s DevOps Enterprise Summit in London, practitioners have warned enterprises to stop thinking of DevOps as something only Silicon Valley firms and startups can do successfully Continue Reading
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MyRepublic sharpens competitive edge with open source
Singaporean internet service provider has disrupted broadband markets, thanks to the agility and speed afforded by open source technologies Continue Reading
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Backup testing: What to test, when to test, how often to test
We run the rule over what’s involved in backup testing in virtual and physical server environments, how often you should test and the key pitfalls to avoid Continue Reading
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How cloud, IoT and mobile devices are driving demand for edge datacentres
The demand for edge datacentres and computing resources is steadily rising, but what's driving the trend? Continue Reading
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Time to restore from backup: Do you know where your data is?
Making a backup is only the start of the process. You must be sure you can restore, that backups contain what you need, and that they will work with the applications that need them Continue Reading
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Australian startups find their way in the cloud
Public cloud services have empowered Australian startups to scale up and go global from day one Continue Reading
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How composable applications can improve software development
We speak to experts in the field of software development about the pros and cons of componentising application software Continue Reading
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DevOps done right: Why work-life balance matters to digital transformation success
DevOps practitioners warn enterprises off neglecting the health and well-being of the IT staff responsible for delivering their digital transformation projects Continue Reading
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Cloud contracts are still a minefield
Cloud computing is maturing in the enterprise space, but the contracts that underpin cloud services have not evolved at the same pace Continue Reading