In Depth
In Depth
Virtualisation management strategy
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Growing prospects for edge datacentres
Although the value that edge datacentres provide is not in question, for many companies, the journey to adoption is far from fixed Continue Reading
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A waste of energy: Dealing with idle servers in the datacentre
Servers can be the slackers of the datacentre, consuming power without doing much work. Why not whip them into shape? Continue Reading
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Software firm saves storage array costs with Nutanix hyper-converged
Banking SaaS provider Vialink needed more IOPS when its NetApp arrays slowed up, but Nutanix hyper-converged proved a better package than Pure Storage and Dell EMC, too Continue Reading
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Sharp end of the edge: Managing micro-datacentres in a shared environment
Ongoing diversification in datacentre types gives rise to management challenges for operators, prompting a rethink about how they run their sites Continue Reading
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Five ways the hyper-converged infrastructure market is changing
We look at changes in the hyper-converged infrastructure market as suppliers go cool, go soft, disaggregate HCI nodes, provide as-a-service options and look to containers Continue Reading
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Could Iceland be the best place in the world for high-performance computing?
Most of Iceland’s cheap, sustainable energy is currently used by aluminium smelters, but recognising the need to diversify, the Landsvirkjun power company now promotes other uses Continue Reading
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Hybrid IT: Making datacentre and cloud work better together in the enterprise
Enterprises are increasingly trying to balance and manage IT assets in a variety of environments, but there are plenty of tools and technologies out there to make the job a lot easier Continue Reading
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Private cloud deployments: Beating the blind spots and bottlenecks
Private cloud can be challenging to manage while meeting the ramped-up demands of data-driven enterprises Continue Reading
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Preparing for enterprise-class containerisation
As more workloads are deployed in containers, IT teams will need to assess how to manage container sprawl, reduce cloud bills and support databases Continue Reading
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Containers for a post-pandemic IT architecture
One of the positive effects of Covid-19 is that it has put IT at the top of the business agenda – and containerisation is part of that strategy Continue Reading
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Hyper-converged infrastructure: Why software-defined everything might not work for all datacentres
Choosing the right converged infrastructure in the first instance can pivot on a trade-off between security and agility requirements Continue Reading
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Prioritising workloads in a hyper-converged infrastructure migration
A cost-effective approach to combining virtualisation and unified management probably means deploying it workload by workload, experts suggest Continue Reading
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Five key questions about Kubernetes backup answered
We look at when to back up containers, what to protect, the main methods of backup for Kubernetes and the main Kubernetes backup products available in the market Continue Reading
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How long until cloud becomes the preferred environment to run HPC workloads?
The high-performance computing market is growing, but enterprises that have already made large investments in on-premise HPC will need to weigh up whether a move to the cloud would be worth their while Continue Reading
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Cloud DR from the Big Three: Who’s best at what?
We look at cloud disaster recovery from AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google to see which is best for provision of turnkey solutions, breadth of portfolio and modular building blocks Continue Reading
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Five hyper-converged infrastructure use cases to watch
We look at workloads ripe for hyper-converged infrastructure deployment. These include virtual servers and desktops, SMEs/remote offices, Kubernetes, and analytics and machine learning Continue Reading
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Intel Optane Persistent Memory aims to fill the gap DRAM can’t
We look at Optane and its PMem product that Intel believes will fill a big gap between memory and storage that DRAM technology just cannot deal with Continue Reading
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Forrester: Why tagging should be used to manage hybrid assets
With complex hybrid environments, there is a need to apply IT asset management best practices across cloud and on-premise systems Continue Reading
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How intelligent workload management tools can help IT admins cut through cloud complexity
IT administrators have to manage an increasingly complex and varied range of application types and IT environments, and intelligent workload management tools offer a helping hand with that Continue Reading
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Aerospace and satellite comms: The next growth frontier for cloud service providers?
Space projects of the near future are less sci-fi and more about driving efficiencies through business intelligence, edge analytics and cloud technologies Continue Reading
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A Dell of a deal: What a VMware spin-off could mean for datacentre operators
Analysts doubt that Dell would be fool enough to entirely divest itself of VMware, which continues to offer massive value to the enterprise. And how would a change affect the datacentre? Continue Reading
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APAC hybrid cloud adoption still cloudy
Although there are clear benefits of hybrid cloud, enterprises in Asia-Pacific aren’t making the most of them due to a lack of holistic understanding, strategic frameworks and skillsets Continue Reading
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How to apply zero-trust models to container security
Containers have become a common fixture in software development, but they have resulted in new concerns for security teams. Is zero-trust the answer to tackling them? Continue Reading
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Snapshots 101: Array vs backup software
We run the rule over snapshots in storage arrays and backup software and find a range of capabilities that go from mere support to fully snapshot-centric approaches Continue Reading
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Lean, mean and green: The datacentres of the future
Working out how to develop more efficient datacentres in an increasingly resource-hungry world is not easy, but it is possible Continue Reading
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Taking business transformation and disruption to the Extreme
Supporting business transformation and disruption seem to be on every supplier’s lips these days, but not many can say they are where they are today precisely because of their own business transformation and disruption. Extreme Networks can Continue Reading
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SME disaster recovery made easy with cloud, hybrid and HCI
Disaster recovery is a lot easier for small businesses than it used to be, with use of the cloud, hybrid cloud, physical and virtual appliances, and hyper-converged infrastructure all among the choices on offer Continue Reading
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Finding a fix for the IT industry's recruitment woes: A datacentre perspective
The datacentre industry is in the midst of a well-documented skills crisis, caused by a mix of sector-specific challenges and some more generalised ones Continue Reading
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Evolution in action: The changing face of the datacentre
The role datacentres play in the wider enterprise IT landscape is changing, fuelling the demand for a mix of different types of facilities that are capable of meeting the growing variety of enterprise data-processing requirements Continue Reading
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Uptime and availability: Making sense of supplier SLAs
Enterprises need to read the fine print of supplier service-level agreements (SLA) or risk finding themselves caught short during downtime incidents Continue Reading
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SAN vs NAS vs hyper-converged for virtual machine storage
The pros and cons of file and block access storage arrays vs the new breed of all-in-one server/storage architecture for storage of virtual machine systems and data Continue Reading
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Protecting your digital assets: Why it pays to invest in cyber insurance
Cyber insurance offers financial protection against the worst happening to a company’s data and digital assets, and is something few businesses can afford to be without Continue Reading
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Keeping cloud costs in check: What enterprises need to know
Organisations should not be rushed into moving to the cloud, because doing so could result in mistakes that are costly to put right Continue Reading
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EMIS Group CIO: Breaking down NHS patient data silos by going all-in on AWS
EMIS Group CIO Pete Malcolm is in the throes of a sizeable revamp of the healthcare provider's flagship software system for GPs that will see it go all-in on AWS, while addressing the government's push to make NHS data systems more open and ... 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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Staffordshire University goes all-in on Microsoft Azure for digital transformation
Andrew Proctor, director of digital services at Staffordshire University, describes how ditching its datacentres and moving to the Microsoft Azure public cloud has set the organisation on the path to digital transformation Continue Reading
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VMware eyes cloud opportunity in APAC
The company's top Asia-Pacific executive sheds light on how the virtualisation pioneer is tackling the region's diverse market in the cloud era 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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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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The Sanger Institute on using datacentre upgrades to help decode the human genome
Paul Woobey, IT director at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, tells Computer Weekly why the organisation's HPC workload requirements cannot be fulfilled by a move to the cloud Continue Reading
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Getting stuck on OpenStack: Overcoming the open source cloud platform's upgrade barriers
Some members of the OpenStack community are finding it a struggle to upgrade to newer versions of the open source cloud operating system. Could customisation be to blame? 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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Tips for buying hyper-converged systems
Hyper-converged infrastructure has become a commonly used term. But what is it? And is it necessary for your organisation? Continue Reading
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The evolution of OpenStack: Where next for the open source cloud platform?
The OpenStack Summit revealed details of how the seven-year-old open source platform is overcoming its growing pains and positioning itself for even greater enterprise adoption Continue Reading
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Changing tracks: Examining VMware's evolving hybrid cloud strategy
The past 12 months have seen VMware apply a number of tweaks to its hybrid cloud strategy. We look at what these changes means for the company’s future and technology roadmap Continue Reading
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Private cloud: Orchestration, storage and containers
We look at the key requirements and components of private cloud – including the use of container platforms – and the impact of private cloud on storage in the datacentre Continue Reading
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Hybrid cloud strategy offers best of both worlds
More and more businesses are adopting a hybrid cloud strategy for their datacentre needs. Computer Weekly looks at what’s on offer Continue Reading
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Backup 101: Incremental vs differential vs synthetic full backup
Backup methods pros and cons: Full, incremental, differential, synthetic full, incremental forever, and reverse incremental. We set out the advantages and drawbacks of each Continue Reading
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NFV helps telcos save money on WAN infrastructure
Telecoms providers are optimising their services through network function virtualisation,. How does this affect your network strategy Continue Reading
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How to beat Oracle licence audits
An eight-step guide to tame the Oracle auditors. Don't take the bait... Continue Reading
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How to add network flexibility by using NFV
Fixed network architectures can no longer cope with today’s networking needs Continue Reading
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Docker storage: how to get persistent storage in Docker
Docker, by default, doesn’t come with persistent storage, which presents an issue to some workloads customers that want to run in containers – however, there are ways to achieve persistent storage Continue Reading
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On-premise IT still the only way to run certain tasks
How to augment a public cloud strategy with on-premise IT by running workloads in a private cloud and bursting to the public cloud Continue Reading
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Why more people aren’t cloud bursting
The appeal of cloud bursting is easy to see, but the level of complexity involved negates its benefits – at least for now Continue Reading
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The pros and cons of cloud bursting
The much-vaunted benefits of cloud computing can be overshadowed by portability and interoperability issues Continue Reading
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Datacentre security: Why operators must give cyber and physical threats equal attention
Datacentre operators often talk up the physical security measures they have in place, but are they at risk of overlooking cyber threats? Continue Reading
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It makes sense to go hyperscale/hyper-converged
Hyperscale computing and storage are the norm for web giants. Hyper-converged scenarios make it possible for small and medium-sized enterprises to gain the advantages of combined server/storage nodes Continue Reading
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How to yield the benefits of converged infrastructure
Bringing together the elements of enterprise IT generates a litany of operational and cost-cutting advantages – but care must be taken in balancing risk and in implementation Continue Reading
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What datacentre experts must do to stay relevant
As datacentre operators focus on converged infrastructure to cut costs, IT professionals should keep their CVs aligned to the workplace Continue Reading
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[email protected]: The changing face of the datacentre over the past 50 years
As Computer Weekly prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, we take a look back at how the design and role of the datacentre has changed over the past five decades Continue Reading
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[email protected]: Storage – From punched cards to flash and the cloud
Since the launch of Computer Weekly in 1966, we have moved from a world of punched cards and paper tape to one where flash and the cloud have revolutionised data storage Continue Reading
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Why are telcos so readily adopting open standards for NFV?
Communications services providers are lining up to make their future virtualised networks as open as possible. What’s the attraction? Continue Reading
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What are containers and microservices?
Independently deployable bits of code can be used to build agile applications. We look at some of the main players Continue Reading
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Modular datacentre helps Belgian IT firm support Dutch and German customers
Cegeka commissioned a new datacentre when its customer base expanded and decided on a modular approach to get it up and running quickly Continue Reading
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The state of all-flash versus hybrid storage in Australia and New Zealand
Magnetic disk drives are yesterday’s technology. Soon all servers will be based on all-flash arrays – or will they? Continue Reading
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Top 10 datacentre stories of 2015
Computer Weekly's top 10 datacentre stories and trend pieces of 2015 Continue Reading
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Four CIO tips for implementing DevOps
Esure CIO Mark Foulsham shares his advice for IT leaders about successfully implementing DevOps methods to become a more agile organisation Continue Reading
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Virtualisation and storage: Five ways to do it better
Server and desktop virtualisation bring many savings, but you have to work smart to ensure storage performs efficiently. We survey the top five pitfalls and how to avoid them Continue Reading
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Barriers to adoption: Why are local councils holding back on G-Cloud?
Is outsourcing, the dominance of incumbent providers, or a lack of central government guidance to blame for the low number of councils using G-Cloud? Continue Reading
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Case study: Open University uses Microsoft Azure to create course content clearance hub
The Open University recently scooped the award for Best Cloud Project at the CW European User Awards, and here's why Continue Reading
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How database virtualisation helped the European Bioinformatics Institute save datacentre space
The European Bioinformatics Institute recently scooped the award for Best Datacentre Project at the CW European User Awards, and here's why Continue Reading
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Where next for virtualisation?
CIOs met to discuss the past, present and future of virtualisation at Computer Weekly's CW500 Club in June 2015 Continue Reading
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Software-defined networking in Europe: The state of play
What stage of the evolution of software-defined networking are we really at, and when will the hype turn to reality? Continue Reading
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No more excuses - VDI is ready
Over the years, it’s been easy to make excuses about why virtual desktop infrastructure projects failed or why VDI wasn’t ready for your environment Continue Reading
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Cloud boosts demand for datacentres in Poland and eastern Europe
The datacentre market in both central and eastern Europe and Poland has recorded double–digit growth Continue Reading
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Preparing for mainstream cloud IT
2015 is set to become the breakthrough year for cloud computing – and now the challenge of making the IT department cloud-ready begins Continue Reading
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How to achieve optimum performance in a hybrid cloud
As hybrid cloud systems become increasingly popular, we look at how to implement them and the advantages they can offer Continue Reading
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Why 2015 won't be the year of software-defined everything
With the technical and market parameters of SDE still taking shape, CIOs are in no rush to adopt, despite the hype going into overdrive Continue Reading
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Making the most of AWS’s reserved instances
What makes the CIO choose a cloud service? Is it the reliability of the service being offered, or the range of products? Continue Reading
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Software-defined datacentres a work in progress
IT managers need to adopt interim SDDC offerings and build on them as the technology matures Continue Reading
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How to make applications resilient on AWS
Cloud services are susceptible to network and other outages. There is no silver bullet to boost the resilience of an AWS-hosted application Continue Reading
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Network strategies for 2015
Looking at the bigger picture provides an opportunity to assess what emerging companies are doing to redefine networking thinking Continue Reading
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Cisco is missing the transition to software-defined networks
Little doubt remains that the future of networking will be defined by software, but market-watchers warn Cisco is missing this move Continue Reading
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Cloud, frozen pizza model and the immutable infrastructure
The architecture pattern for immutable infrastructure is based on the made-to-order pizza model Continue Reading
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Backup and disaster recovery in the age of virtualisation
One of the benefits of using virtual machines is the scope for improved backup. We look at the product offerings from traditional and new suppliers Continue Reading
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Microsoft vies with VMware in the virtual machine market
VMware launched live migration in 2003. Since then, its capabilities have seen many enhancements, but Microsoft is starting to catch up Continue Reading