How Linux is Winning in the Azure Cloud for Tier One Workloads

“The industries that are spending the most – discrete manufacturing, professional services, and banking – are the ones that have come to recognize the tremendous benefits that can be gained from public cloud services. Organizations within these industries are leveraging public cloud services to quickly develop and launch 3rd Platform solutions, such as big data and analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT), that will enhance and optimize the customer’s journey and lower operational costs,” – Eileen Smith, program director, Customer Insights and Analysis, IDC

As the public cloud matures, companies are looking for more from a flexible, on-demand architecture to help them solve their perennial IT challenges.

Executives and operations managers responsible for technology spend are asking the real questions: My renewal is up on infrastructure for my mission-critical, high-performance Linux workloads – do I invest the six or seven figures to refresh? Or can the public cloud finally support all of my Tier One applications? And how much time, cost and special skills are needed to migrate Hadoop, SAP, Oracle, and other Linux workloads, particularly since the file capabilities in the cloud are different than you get in the data center?

The scale, agility and economics of public cloud such as Microsoft’s Azure Cloud are attractive to enterprises, which have been using public cloud for many secondary workloads such as Dev/Ops, Testing, Back-Up, Archive, DR and other non-mission-critical applications.

But deploying Linux file-based applications in Azure has been a challenge because there are few options. From the complex path of creating, managing and maintaining your own file server built on compute and storage resources to the extensive (and expensive) re-architecting of applications, duplicate administration and management, and difficulty managing costs, when it comes to Tier One Linux workloads in the cloud, most organizations have been stuck between a rock and a hard place.

NetApp and Microsoft Engineers Meet the Challenge

It was a question that NetApp and Microsoft decided to tackle about a year ago, and the results of our jointly developed solution – Azure NetApp Files – have since been tried and tested by many of the biggest brands in the world.

Customers working closely with us represent oil and gas, fin/serve, retail, manufacturing, public sector, media, healthcare, transportation, technology and more.

“Now you can take your native applications to hybrid and public cloud,” said Tad Brockway, GM, Microsoft Azure Storage. “This powerful new concept for customers is fundamentally unique.”

A one-of-a-kind service running natively in Azure, Azure NetApp Files sits in Azure. It supports multiple protocols, integrated data protection, security and compliance features – all first-party Azure. This complete file service reduces management overhead and essentially has zero learning curve, as you only need to choose your file capacity and required service level and you are set. NetApp brings advanced features to the service that help you protect your data, comparable to that of native data center environments.

The service provides a new way of provisioning workloads in the cloud, putting the power of cloud into the hands of customers and their users, and allowing the migration of Linux applications and the development of new solutions in Azure.

Azure NetApp Files has been purpose built to:

• Bring any workload to Azure in minutes
• Support tiered levels of service that can be changed on-the-fly
• Support NFS, including NFSv3, which accounts for nearly 80% of all Linux file environments
• Manage everything directly through the Azure Portal, or automate via API
• Run exceptionally fast on a platform optimized for rich datasets
• Eliminate hundreds of hours of specialist time needed to re-architect applications

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Automated FlexPod for SAP and SAP Applications - The Most Important Building Block for IT Transformations

Many companies think that the basis of digital transformation is in analytics platforms and applications. However, central business process systems such as SAP are just as important. It is essential to combine the worlds of real-time analytics and core systems in order to leverage the full potential of experience and expertise.

But that’s easier said than done. As dynamic and flexible as the IT systems in the area of web applications, container technologies and analytics frameworks are, the complexity of daily work with SAP (HANA) systems is increasing rapidly. SAP specialists are often missing here. So how should ERP systems be connected to analytics frameworks?

A tower of strength

You may already know: the answer is FlexPod. The converged IT architecture is one of the most widely used and valued architectures for SAP systems in Europe. It consists of NetApp Flash data systems, Cisco network and compute components, the middleware ProMS by LNW Soft and the respective integrated NetApp and Cisco system management software.

NetApp data management technologies accelerate SAP projects from testing to production. The integrated connector by NetApp (In Place Analytic) enables real-time analytics data and ERP DB data to be seamlessly combined for any IoT concept with minimal memory footprint. Automated processes minimize the risk of failure. The whole thing is future-proof thanks to seamless scaling and integrated cloud connectivity.

Time is money and competitive advantage

This is how it looks in practice: A new SAP implementation or a conversion to SAP HANA usually takes between six to 18 months. Most of the time is spent providing suitable test environments, performing functional tests, and migrating tests. FlexPod, with its data management functionality and integration into higher-value SAP tools, helps to shorten the test phase.

Maintaining control with the right management

The daily operation of the SAP environment can then be mastered by IT departments with few personnel. The Proactive Management Suite (ProMAS) from LNW Soft in conjunction with FlexPod automates and documents complex work processes in an audit-compliant manner. It ensures the high availability of databases and SAP systems with cost-efficient utilization of resources – the key to success in operations. ProMAS and SAP Landscape Management (LaMa) form a perfect symbiosis.

Moving into the cloud

SAP landscapes are not static structures and must constantly be adapted for new requirements. For example, when it comes to the cloud. With Netapp’s integrated cloud data services from the large public cloud providers, hybrid cloud scenarios can be implemented without great effort.

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The Ultimate Guide to Learning IT Security - NetApp Certifications

What is IT Security and Why Should You Learn It?

Almost half of all UK businesses reported a breach or attack in the past year, and with it taking on average 120 days for a business to notice a breach; it’s vital that all measures are put in place to prevent information getting into the wrong hands.

With an expected 100,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs expected in the Uk by 2022; employers are in need of skilled workers in this field more than ever. As part of the GDPR, companies are also now required to put measures in place to protect any and all customer data, so the need for workers skilled in data protection is higher than ever before in the UK.

How to Get Into IT Security in the UK

Not only is IT Security one of the most secure when it comes to job security and boasts high demand across the UK; it’s also an easy industry to access no matter your background. It’s very possible to enter this field without a Degree, which is rare for a profession where senior analysts have salaries that can exceed £100,000.

While the typical pathway into this sector does vary, many entry-level IT security professionals are Certified in their chosen field, which is a short course or level 1-2 training which develops the skills needed for the workforce. Some positions, such as Digital Forensic professionals, tend to have much higher qualifications; including a Bachelor’s Degree in an area such as Computer Science, information Technology.

Choose Your Study Pathway

Vocational Courses

Vocational courses, or further education, is and training that falls outside of ‘school age’, or high school level. In the UK, further education and vocational courses are offered at Colleges, Universities throughout. Qualifications range from Certificate and Diploma at level 3-5 courses. There are plenty of National Vocational Qualifications, or NVQ level 3 and 5 courses available in IT security, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year to complete. Many moving into this industry, ether for the first time or looking to specialise, choose vocational qualifications for their ease, online accessibility and short duration.

IT Security Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are a less common pathway into IT and cyber security, but are very useful. The basis of all apprenticeships are hands-on learning, combined with academic theory in a course. The benefit of this in IT security, is that you can get real-world experience at a company or IT department, while earning your qualification. So, when you finish up, you’ll have both the certification and the experience needed in the real world. Apprenticeships are offered through University and Colleges, and while you do need to manage your time wisely, it’s a great progression route into the industry.

Work Experience in IT Security

It is possible to apply directly to a position as a trainee or an intern and develop your skills this way. While it’s not as common, much like an apprenticeship, you can work on your knowledge in a real-world setting, which is invaluable. This is an option for someone already working in IT who may want to move into an IT security role, or a recent school-leaver.

University Degree

For the more intricate iT roles, such as IT forensic specialists and Systems Engineers, a Bachelor degree is very common in the sector. Many professionals have qualifications in Computer Science or Information Technology, which can take anywhere between 3-4 years to complete. While a postgraduate course isn’t always necessary, some areas of IT security seem to prefer this when hiring for open positions.

Success Secrets: How you can Pass NetApp Certification Exams in first attempt

Understanding the Concepts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) - NetApp Certifications

A short swing down to the depths of neuronal nets

In artificial intelligence (AI) there is sometimes a confusion of language that can be easily prevented. AI in the narrower sense (also called “Strong AI”) aims to develop machines that act as intelligently as humans – but this is an academic vision out of reach. Instead, let’s focus on the “Weak AI” – Machine Learning (ML). Most AI developers would rather describe their specialty as ML. Others may have Reasoning, Natural Language Processing (NLP) or Planning (automated planning) in their email signature. Like ML, these terms can also be understood as AI subareas. How closely the technologies are interwoven is illustrated by the highly acclaimed Google Translator: since the end of 2016, the system has achieved surprisingly good results for some of the 103 supported languages because it translates entire sentences context-sensitively. This is due to the use of neural networks, which have generally improved speech recognition.

Neural networks play in their own league

Artificial neural networks, as I have already reported on in a previous post, are the heart of ML systems. This is a mathematical abstraction of information processing, similar to how it takes place in the brain. A neuron is modeled as a function (algorithm), including input, parameters and output. Photos, text, videos or audio files are used as data input. During learning, the parameters are changed. By modifying the weighting, the model learns what is important and what is not, independently recognizes patterns and thus increasingly delivers better results. After the learning phase, the system can also evaluate unknown elements.

In contrast to neural networks, expert systems – another AI subarea – do not teach themselves anything. They process large amounts of data and are connected to databases or datalakes. For data access, experts usually have to program filters. The fact that expert systems also have a learning capacity was demonstrated, for example, in chess: in 1997, the Deep Blue system developed by IBM defeated the legendary chess world champion Garri Kasparow in six games. In the much more complex board game Go, neuronal nets had to be used. It was only thanks to self-learning processes that the AlphaGo system was able to beat Lee Sedol, probably the world’s best Go player, four to one in five games in March 2016.

From Machine Learning to Deep Learning

In the past, ML systems used to work with an upstream feature recognition system called Feature Engineering. While the task was to recognize a face, the system initially searched for indispensable features such as eyes, nose or mouth. Today’s Deep Learning (DL), on which the German computer scientist Jürgen Schmidhuber, among others, worked, opens up completely new dimensions. Such a neural network consists of different layers with artificial neurons. From input to output, a query in each layer usually goes through a very simple operation, for example the application of a filter. The neurons may identify image features, as was the case with feature engineering in the past. However, the model is largely left to itself. It can therefore decide for itself which type of elements it best analyzes or extracts to predict the content of the image as well as possible. The layers give the neural networks a greater depth.

Great computers are available for ML today, but until recently the limitation was in reading and writing data (I/O) from storage media. With the introduction of the NVMe mass storage interface and 100 Gigabit Ethernet in 2017/2018, this hurdle fell as well. NVIDIA and NetApp have demonstrated what is now possible by combining a DGX supercomputer with the AFF A800 all-flash storage system as a “converged infrastructure”. The figures for the ONTAP AI Proven Architecture solution are also impressive: in addition to a latency of less than 500 microseconds, users can achieve a throughput of up to 25 GB/s. This allows a 24 node cluster to analyze more than 60,000 training images per second (ResNet50 with Tensor Core). The solution can be an option, innovation or vision. These terms do not all interpret equally, which is a good thing.

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Helping RapidScale Scale Rapidly - NetApp Certifications

You know how it is: a lot of data, a lot of costs. Backing up data in the cloud can quickly drain your budget and impede your growth. RapidScale, a managed cloud service provider, had this issue, too. Its data was projected to triple in 9 months and the company didn’t have a cost-effective way to handle it.

Implementing NetApp solutions® like the StorageGRID® object-based storage solution allowed RapidScale to store and manage unstructured data securely, at scale; keep pace with their data growth; and plan for further expansion in Europe – all while lowering TCO.

Cost-Effective, Scalable Storage

NetApp eliminates RapidScale’s slow ingestion rates and related public cloud performance challenges. Scale-out architecture and a single global namespace allow RapidScale to easily manage the data pouring in from various areas of the business. Storage tiers and policy-based data placement keep the company’s data in the most cost-effective location for its usage requirements.

The company uses NetApp ONTAP® integration with its AFF and FAS systems as well as  NetApp Snapshot™ and SnapMirror® capabilities for data backup and disaster recovery, letting it scale effectively and cut costs.

Investment Monetization

Stopping the hemorrhage of expensive data management costs wasn’t RapidScale’s only priority. With the ability to place data at the optimal storage tier in a multitenant environment, RapidScale was able to turn its attention to its newest offering: Veeam as a Service (VaaS).

NetApp’s policy-based approach enables RapidScale to isolate various data and workflows so that its VaaS data is separate from internal backups. RapidScale Chief Operating Officer William Hiatt said, “The ability to monetize our investment and offer that value to our customers is a huge added benefit. NetApp StorageGRID is more than just the data infrastructure for RapidScale. It’s become a differentiator as well.”

Expansion into New Geographies

NetApp solutions are also enabling RapidScale to continue its European expansion. Its policy engine and application-defined metadata tags can automatically specify where data is distributed, protected, or even deleted to provide GDPR compliance.

Now, with its NetApp foundation, RapidScale has the scalability to handle quick data growth – even when it triples in a matter of months – and the potential to reduce TCO by a whopping 75%.

Success Secrets: How you can Pass NetApp Certification Exams in first attempt 

Drive Your Success with NetApp Partner Enablement

A thoughtful plan for your career can break down barriers and improve your chances of advancement, along with better compensation. More compensation can give you upward mobility. Over time, you build your professional equity, the combination of your accumulated job skills, expertise, and experience, along with your reputation and the relationships that you have developed.

As a partner-first company, NetApp continues to empower partners like you to be successful. How can we better enable you in your career as far as the sale, implementation, and support of NetApp® based solutions? We view this effort as a continuous journey.

The journey starts with great onboarding. The NetApp Partner Enablement Guide functions as a comprehensive onboarding tool if you are new to NetApp as a partner. In the guide, you will find everything from a welcome to a channel strategy overview, how to get started, how to engage, and ultimately how to win. Use the newest, streamlined version of the Enablement Guide as a launchpad into role-based enablement content on the Partner Hub. There, you can find marketing, sales, and technical messaging and tools that help you have productive, consultative conversations with prospects and customers. Use the Enablement Guide to get started quickly with NetApp.

It continues with excellent enablement. The global NetApp GetSuccessful™ Partner Enablement Program empowers channel partners like you to successfully position and sell NetApp solutions. This program uses a “learn your way” approach, with resources such as videos, online events, channel playbooks, Lunch & Learn sessions, and workshops. Check out a recent example of an enablement tool that helps you stay current with the latest technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), which is quickly shaping business possibilities everywhere. Listen to the NetApp podcast that’s dedicated to growing your business with analytics and AI, and learn how to help your customers take full advantage of these powerful new technologies.

It endures with the latest information and ongoing education. The NetApp Partner Academy is a regularly scheduled educational networking event that takes place in most major cities and in other regional locations around the world. Through the Partner Academy, we continue to engage with partners like you in the long-running cloud story. We bring you up to date on what’s new in the industry and how it affects the outcomes that customers want. You also learn how you can meet these customer demands with the NetApp portfolio. Attend a local Partner Academy event in your area to:

• Foster relationships with the NetApp sales and technical team.
• Gain meaningful opportunities to connect with peers and with the larger partner ecosystem.
• Develop new relationships that promote fresh ideas and that generate leads and new business opportunities.

Success Secrets: How you can Pass NetApp Certification Exams in first attempt