How it works: The basic tech behind the Internet
We all use the Internet, but few of us have an understanding of the fundamentals that propel it
How to pick the provider for a solid Ethernet WAN
Not all Ethernet-based WAN circuits are created equal; be sure to ask these questions when shopping for a carrier
What you need to know to build a solid Ethernet WAN
Sourcing solid network connectivity, such as for linking a pair of data centers, isn't always as straightforward as it might seem
Treat a cloud deployment as you would a home remodel
Cost, reliability, and security are obvious, but control and responsibility are often overlooked in choosing cloud services
The software licensing gotchas in the cloud
Some software vendors have embraced virtualization and the cloud, but others impose defensive licenses that serve no one
Here's why you really need SDN
Claims that software-defined networking can't scale in performance divert attention from SDN's huge benefit: flexibility
The conflicted rise of software-defined networking
Some vendors crippled their SDN offerings to protect their hardware profits, but smarter providers are switching now
Beyond backup: 5 other needs for World Backup Day
World Backup Day is a great reminder to make and test backups -- but what else might you be overlooking?
The impossible enterprise data security challenge
Securely deleting data in a personal context is hard enough, but it's far more complicated when enterprise storage is involved
Deleting data is the critical step you're likely doing wrong
Whether at home or in the data center, chances are your deleted data is easily available to others
Bad apples threaten small-business cloud adoption
Cloud providers often trade transparency for simplicity -- perhaps at the ultimate cost of their customers' trust
4 free tools to simulate a cloud connection
Linux-based WAN emulation tools can help you decide whether your planned cloud migration is the right move
Simulate access to the cloud before you commit
If you can't get a direct connection to the cloud, estimating user experience before migrating to the cloud is a critical task
Why recover from disaster when you can avoid it?
Sidestepping technology disasters is much easier -- and affordable -- now for businesses large and small
When WAN optimization really boosts network performance
As more and more data moves across WANs and into the cloud, making the most of your WAN connections is key
All IT pros need to understand TCP windowing
High-bandwidth replication over long distances, whether to a hot site or the cloud, requires a solid grasp of TCP to steer clear of bottlenecks
Data center power maxed out? Three-phase power to the rescue!
As load densities grow, three-phase power is becoming more and more prevalent in data centers of all shapes and sizes
The challenges of disaster recovery as a service
Backing up your data and running your systems in the cloud is attractive -- but likely to fail if you don't treat it like a physical warm-site backup
Data center planning: Surprising tools of the trade
Some skills required to be an excellent engineer might seem to have very little to do with actual engineering: Excel and Visio
The cloud isn't always cheaper -- and that's OK
Although the cloud is occasionally less expensive than on-premise deployment, focusing on cost alone misses the point
