What does it mean to shift left? The development pipeline typically starts from the left as an idea and ends on the right with shipping software. Thus, when we speak of something « shifting left, » we mean the action or activity taking place earlier in the application development cycle. The « shift left » philosophy moves a later-stage […]

What is a Cloud Strategy? A cloud strategy is a set of detailed steps that outline how an organization can leverage cloud technology to accomplish its primary business objectives. The strategy is just as important as the adoption process on the IT road map.  A solid strategy ensures that all implemented cloud solutions are deployed […]

What is a Cloud Native JVM? The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is the component of the Java Development Kit (JDK) responsible for running an application and executing its functions. A cloud-native JVM is designed specifically to run on cloud environments, meaning they can leverage shared, highly scalable elastic cloud resources for greater efficiency and improved […]

What is Cloud Security? Cloud security is a practice adopted by enterprises that focuses on the oversight and management of security vulnerabilities, threats, and exposures in cloud components. As enterprises expand their operational components on the cloud, cloud security will continue to grow in importance and include the monitoring of networks, infrastructures, applications, and services.   […]

What is cloud cost management? Cloud cost management is the planning that enables an enterprise to understand and manage the costs, needs, and opportunities associated with its cloud technology. In particular, it includes finding cost-effective ways to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of cloud usage.   Why is cloud cost management important? Companies often face a […]

What is Cloud Cost Optimization? Cloud cost optimization is the process of maximizing the performance and efficiency of cloud resources to ensure that investments in cloud technology are creating value and increasing profitability. Cloud cost optimization isn’t about reducing cloud expenditure entirely; it is about deriving the maximum value from cloud investments.  What are the […]

What is a Cloud Center of Excellence? A Cloud Center of Excellence (CCOE) is a cross-functional approach to centralized governance of cloud costs and of cloud performance. The CCOE is operated by a team of stakeholders, often chaired/overseen by a cloud architect, that focuses on driving cloud value by setting policy, guiding vendor selection, and […]

What is Cloud Adoption? Cloud adoption is the transition from a local, on-premises application and/or IT infrastructure to a framework that operates in a public, private, or hybrid cloud environment. With companies increasingly relying on digital technology to reach and service their customers, the demand for a more flexible and scalable IT infrastructure is urgent. […]

What is a CISO? A CISO, or a Chief Information Security Officer, is a company executive responsible for overseeing, managing and mitigating security risks. While the general responsibilities remain consistent across most CISO roles, successful CISOs take initiative over security management by strategically investing in security technology, creating a company culture around security awareness, and […]

What is a CFO? A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of a company, working to manage the spending, budgeting and investment decisions of their company. CFOs differ in their approaches and mindsets to financial management, resulting in varying strategies and outcomes for their companies.  What are the responsibilities of […]

What is Kubernetes? Kubernetes is the most popular orchestration software for deploying and operating containerized applications. Read this article to learn more about Kubernetes and its purpose.  Containerized applications — apps that run in isolated runtime environments called « containers » — can be difficult to manage. Not only do you have to watch out for security […]

What is big data? Big Data is a common description of the massive volume of data being generated every day through business operations and daily consumer behavior. The data is collected from a wide variety of sources, ranging from social media and surveys to sensors and monitoring devices.  Coined in 1990 by American computer scientist […]

What is Open Source Technology? Open-source technology is software that is developed by a community of users, who each can play an active role in creating new code, adapting existing code, or replicating someone else’s code. Open-source technology allows users to develop the technology together, working to accelerate the growth of opportunities and the introduction […]

What is Java Licensing? A Java license outlines the rights of developers who use the Oracle Java Development Kit (JDK) to create and deploy applications. Oracle provides both paid and open-source licensing for the JDK.  The most current version of Oracle’s Java license is the Oracle Technology Network License Agreement (OTNLA) for the Java SE […]

What is Operational Intelligence (OI)? Operational intelligence (OI) is the process of gathering and implementing data into an application instantaneously, so that information is immediately available to help maximize performance capabilities and user experiences. Operational intelligence is used to locate real-time opportunities in newly gathered information, improving application performance by allowing services to follow patterns […]

What are Java Microservices? Java microservices are independent components within a Java application that are each tasked with their own specialized function. Applications can be composed of many microservices, with each microservice contributing its own unique and critical component for achieving the application’s overall objectives.   Microservices in applications are self-contained and designed to run independently. […]

What is Cloud Governance? Cloud governance is a rule set and a framework of policies and procedures that govern how companies manage operations in a cloud environment. A cloud governance framework centers around three core components: people, processes and technologies. By setting benchmarks and KPIs around all three, it is possible to control IT costs, […]

What are Graph Databases? Graph databases are a method of data organization that allow complex relationships in data to be prioritized and stored. Unlike other databases, graph databases highlight the relationships between data points as much as the points themselves.  What are the differences between graph databases and relational databases? There are two commonly used […]