March into the new year with the knowledge you need to achieve—not just list—your IT resolutions, starting with the foundation of it all: your IT infrastructure.
It’s a big topic, so you might be wondering, “where do I start?” If you’re reading this blog, you’re basically there! We’re guessing you’ve got a lot of IT resolutions this year—from enabling DevOps to optimizing your resource utilization to refreshing your datacenter technology, we’ve compiled 20 must-have reads to make your resolutions a reality.
(P.S., Not sure how you’ll read ‘em all? We’ve done the math. With 52 weeks in a year, you get about 2 ½ weeks for each piece. You’ll be meeting your IT resolutions and reading more. Win, win!)
1. Enterprise Cloud for Dummies
One of our most-downloaded, most-read pieces, this eBook is a favorite among IT pros! More businesses have realized that silos and aging architecture simply won’t enable the innovation and competitive advantage they need to stay at the top of their industry.
Learn how to migrate to a powerful enterprise cloud while maintaining the control and security you need in this all-encompassing eBook.
2. The Gorilla Guide to Hyperconverged Infrastructure Foundations
How familiar are you with hyperconverged infrastructure? Regardless of your answer, you can always learn more! It’s the core of thousands of the world’s most high-performing datacenters, but you might need to brush up on the basics before you move forward with it as your solution of choice.
This easy-to-follow Gorilla Guide has everything you need to know about the hyperconverged architecture and includes best practices for getting started, tips for managing it, and hard-to-ignore benefits real businesses have realized.
3. The Gorilla Guide to Modern Enterprise Infrastructure
Now that you understand the foundations of hyperconvergence, it’s time to talk about implementing it into your datacenter. You’ll learn how to start with HCI at the core, and then build on top of it with file, block, and object storage, add security standards, enable end-user computing through desktop-as-a-service (DaaS), and way more.
It’s essentially your blueprint to a powerful, well-rounded enterprise!
4. The Unicorn Project
DevOps genius and author of The Phoenix Project Gene Kim is back again with a fictional take on DevOps. Here’s the hook: After developer Maxine is exiled for her role in a payroll outage, she and a gang of IT misfits join together to revolutionize the way developers do what they do.
She rises the ranks and leads the Rebellion into battle, aiming to free developers from the pangs of bureaucracy, reignite the joy of working in IT, and enable digital disruption.
5. NEXT Magazine Issue 6
In our most recent issue of NEXT Magazine, we brought together IT’s best thinkers, some of the world’s brightest leaders, and even a man who can hear in color (what?) to weigh in on all things business and IT.
Here are a few things you’ll read about:
- How to provide radical, yet valuable feedback for your team
- The biggest business achievements in the last 10 years
- 10 things you likely don’t know about Kubernetes
- How Noma, one of the world’s best restaurants, keeps its title
- ...and so much more.
6. Next-Generation Hyperconverged Infrastructure for Dummies
If you haven’t heard, everything’s going digital—and your infrastructure should be, too! Modern datacenters no longer depend on antique hardware and vintage systems to keep operations running. Today, we’re seeing software-defined hyperconvergence outpacing (and outlasting) yesterday’s technology.
Curious how it got there and what’s next in the world of HCI? This Dummies guide’s got you covered.
7. NEW: Gartner Magic Quadrant for Hyperconverged Infrastructure
So, let’s say you’re on board with hyperconvergence as your chosen transformation tool of 2020. Do you know which vendor to go with to make it happen?
Before you make a move, be sure to consult the most recent Gartner Magic Quadrant (published just 2 months ago!) for an evaluation of the industry’s top 12 vendors, an assessment of the hyperconverged space overall, and best practices for successfully implementing HCI into your organization.
Tip: Look in the upper righthand corner for this year’s leaders!
8. Enterprise Cloud Index 2019
Let’s talk clouds. Specifically, cloud adoption. Do you know what IT leaders around the world think about various cloud models? Or what they prioritize when moving to the cloud?
In partnership with Vanson Bourne, we interviewed 2,650 of them for answers to those questions and more. Here are just a few insights we’ve gleaned:
- 85% say hybrid cloud is their preferred IT model
- 73% are moving out of public cloud and back to private cloud
- 60% cite security as their #1 cloud decision factor
9. Datacenter Modernization Done Right
Talking about datacenter transformation is good, but seeing it in action within real-world organizations is even better. In this eBook, you’ll get insights from 10 organizations including Ports America, IGT, Zentura, and Trek Bikes.
You’ll see how one business reduced its datacenter footprint by 75%, how another is now able to deliver comprehensive disaster recovery within minutes, and how one reduced the need for dedicated management by 66%, up-leveling their team to more value-added work.
10. O’Reilly Designing and Building a Hybrid Cloud
If you read the first page of the 2019 Enterprise Cloud Index, you’ll know hybrid cloud is THE ideal operating environment for IT. But do you know what it takes to build one yourself?
O’Reilly does, and this eBook outlines a strategy to design and build your own flexible, high-performing hybrid cloud. Plus, you’ll learn how to conduct a needs assessment, how to implement automation into your cloud, and even more.
11. IDC Infobrief: End-User Computing
Hope this isn’t the first time you’re hearing this, but today’s modern workforce isn’t (and shouldn’t be) confined to a single location. We’re seeing less reliance on physical desktops and laptops and more workers using smartphones and other mobile devices to perform their duties wherever and whenever.
It’s a productivity win, but what technology is enabling this shift, and what could be hindering it? Check out this IDC brief, complete with telling stats, for answers.
12. End-User Computing for Dummies
Now that you know the importance of enabling end-user computing, it’s time to get started with implementing it yourself. This Dummies guide walks you through the milestones of the history of EUC, identifying the rise of VDI and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) and how it’s changed the way we see EUC.
You’ll also learn how to enable centralized management, provide bring-your-own-device support, and accelerate desktop deployments with desktop-as-a-service (DaaS).
13. Top 10 Benefits of DaaS
Without a doubt, DaaS plays a critical role in accelerating EUC initiatives, but there’s even more than meets the eye.
And while we can go on and on (and on) about its benefits, we’ve identified 10 of the most important ones that make DaaS an important business investment. Your end users will thank you for enabling greater flexibility and collaboration, and your IT teams will rejoice at the simplicity of adding new services to their digital workspace.
14. Why is DevOps so Hard?
On the topic of collaboration, you’ve likely heard the term “DevOps” floating around. Perhaps on IT discussion boards, or perhaps in lengthy meetings with your team. For many, while the allure of DevOps is there—especially when it comes to eliminating internal silos created by disparate developers, testers, and operators—adopting it remains a pipedream.
Why? We’ve found 7 of the most common roadblocks to DevOps and explain how to overcome them all in this eBook. You’ll walk away with practical advice that’ll help you turn your DevOps dreams into reality.
15. 10 Steps to DevOps at Scale
This eBook is for those of you who maybe only have one toe aboard the DevOps train. Reasonably, you might’ve asked yourself, “Why should I go all-in on DevOps when my IT and Operations teams are doing just fine separately?”
It’s a fair question, but if you’re looking to elevate your Operations into a force of innovation, DevOps is the way to go. But to go from 0 to DevOps, you’ll need a clearly defined strategy. This eBook will do just that.
16. Are You Still Paying for Virtualization?
Let’s play fortune teller. I’m guessing reducing IT costs is one of your 2020 resolutions? (Nod if I got that right.)
Businesses of all sizes rely on virtualization, and so many have come to accept the costly reality of purchasing, licensing and managing their hypervisor software. But here’s the truth: it doesn’t have to be that way. You shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for virtualization; it should be included in your infrastructure stack. Check out this eBook to learn how to reduce that fee.
17. IDC Infobrief: Surviving and Thriving in a Multi-Cloud World
How many clouds do you rely on? One, many? More organizations are adopting multi-cloud technologies to keep pace with competitors, but juggling multiple clouds isn’t always an easy, breezy task.
A recent IDC survey uncovered the benefits and challenges of running a multi-cloud environment, and best of all, they present best practices for making the most out of adopting and managing it. Click through for:
- Cloud adoption rates throughout various industries
- Public and private cloud repatriation rates
- The impact of multi-cloud on data protection
- ...and more.
18. Modernizing Your Datacenter: A Security-First Approach
Let’s address the looming elephant in the room. As you start to modernize your datacenter, there’s one critical component to keep in mind: data security. Even if your role doesn’t include the word “security,” it’s a priority for every level of work.
In fact, 89% of businesses say their cybersecurity plan simply doesn’t make the cut. The solution lies in taking a security-first approach, eliminating the strain of dedicated security management. This eBook has everything you need to get started.
19. 7 Most Common Cloud Adoption Mistakes
When it comes to cloud adoption, a lot can go wrong. From not investing enough in the right areas to investing too much in others, knowing the best avenue to take—and which ones to avoid—will help you make the most out of your cloud investment.
We’ve identified 7 of the most common adoption mistakes we’ve seen over the years, and we’ll show you how to tackle each of them in this eBook.
20. Competing in the Connecting World: The Future of Your Industry Is Already Here
The Internet of Things (IoT) has made the world we live in more connected than ever—and that statement becomes more true every day. Authors Gregg Garrett and Warren Ritchie reveal just how much IoT has transformed the way we interact with each other and the world around us.
This best-selling book provides business leaders a framework and important strategies for transforming their organizations to thrive in the digital age. Complete with real-world examples, you’ll learn just what it means to live—and succeed in—the Connecting World.
Conclusion
Your datacenter isn’t going to modernize itself, so take a proactive approach this year to up-level your business to where it belongs: at the top! Happy reading!
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