Author: Jeff Eveland

Cloud Options 101: Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, SaaS, or PaaS?

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

Cloud Options 101:
Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, SaaS, or PaaS?

 

There are a lot of options these days for cloud offerings.

If you are looking for a deep dive into the complexities underneath the covers, this document might be a bit too 101 level for you. We’ll discuss here at a high level, some of the different terms used to discuss cloud options, and some of the major players as well.

Cloud

Simply put, the old joke goes “there is no cloud, there’s just somebody else’s computer”; this is pretty accurate, really.

This is more of a marketing term than a hard definition. Cloud refers to someone else’s data center, usually (more to come on this…); where usually some level of virtualization is in play. By some level, I refer to the many layers of virtualization in use today: from hardware, to OS, to network and storage, and I/O.
To back up a minute, a data center I will assume is a construct we all understand. Basically it’s an empty building with power, climate control, and high speed (hopefully) redundant internet feeds into which companies (or a single company) puts their servers and storage.
Most of the websites we know and love, live in someones data center, somewhere. Space in a data center can be rented out to store YOUR systems, that you move there, or ‘bare metal’ servers onto which you load whatever you like. Or, as we will discuss, the operator or Cloud Services Provider (CSP) may have a proprietary layer, or a ‘platform’ they offer to run certain types of applications.
So if you have an application, and want to run it somewhere else, not on site, that’s moving to the cloud, no matter the vagaries or the options used.

Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid Cloud is a mixed solution; mixed, in that it means there is some software that still runs on premise, and some that runs in the cloud.
Hybrid: This doesn’t mean necessarily splitting applications, though sometimes that is done, this is just a general term referring to a situation where not everything is moved to the cloud.

SaaS: Software as a Service

SaaS, or Software as a Service, is where one accesses a ‘canned’ software product that just simply runs in the cloud, and is delivered via browser. The most obvious example of this is Salesforce.com, though there are countless others.

PaaS: Platform as a Service

Finally, we have PaaS, or Platform as a Service.
While a little more involved than other cloud options, there are CSPs that offer platforms for .net applications, Linux applications, specialized IBM centric applications requiring DB2, WebSphere, and more. The licensing for the application subsystems (database, OS, web app servers, etc.) is included in the base metered price.

Which cloud options are right for you? 

Reach out for a consultation with us, and we’ll help you begin the journey to find the best cloud options for you.

How much do you know about Blockchain and is it just hype?

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

Blockchain Basics: a Primer

Every short while, a technology comes along that promises to turn everything upside down.

Sometimes this happens, sometimes it’s hype.

Think of Yahoo’s search in it’s early days, later overturned by Google’s better algorithms and business model (they did, after all, download the entire internet at one time). There was peer-to-peer networking, popularized by Napster, Application (App) stores, and now, Blockchain has the valley, and startups buzzing away.

But is this hype or reality? Perhaps some of both.

Let’s start by defining Blockchain & Bitcoin

So what is Blockchain?

Blockchain is, at it’s a core, a new way to code, somewhat specific to assets, and primary as things relate to chain of custody.

It started with Bitcoin; but what is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is one of many (though perhaps the most well known) of a new type of currency called crypto currency (aka digital currency).

The crypto references the highly secure nature of it. It is a virtual currency. There is no physical coin, bill, or other instrument. It’s computer code, plain and simply.

Bitcoin was first mentioned in a now infamous white paper authored by a person, or persons using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008.

Though by no means the first reference to a digital currency, this paper detailed an innovative peer-to-peer electronic monetary system called Bitcoin that enabled online payments to be transferred directly, without an intermediary: person-to-person, or institution-to-institution.

It was built on what we now call Blockchain.

While obvious on the surface, there are dramatic limitations to physical transactions that are one-to-one. Person-to-person, entity-to-entity; both parties have to agree on value, typically both parties have to be present, and both parties have to bring along the matter and currency to be transacted.

In short, this doesn’t scale well.

This process led to the evolution from the barter systems of days gone by, to the establishment of monetary systems by the Romans and other societies to set published values for marks, coinage, and other instruments of currency (aka – a common currency).

Common currency led to the development of banks and other intermediary systems, like Federal Reserve banks, central banks, and other regulatory bodies, who set established value for mutually agreed upon instruments, whether they be coins, or paper money.

Yet these intermediaries have grown in power, can delay processing, and some feel, do not always add the value to the transaction that they charge to conduct it. These intermediaries do still provide valuable services; they track our funds, lend funds, and clear transactions for us when needed.

Imagine showing up to a house closing with a bag of gold.

No need, a cashier’s check from the bank, against a mortgage (another monetary instrument) is all you need (plus lots of contract paperwork).

So how might we move forward to a system both digital, yet trusted by all, whilst not compromising security?

Let’s track back to where we began: Bitcoin vs Blockchain

Bitcoin is a digital currency, built on a technology we call Blockchain. Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology; distributed, meaning, that multiple systems across the internet store identical information about an asset, or a data file.

Technically, these are redundant data files, kept in synchronization, that can be stored on the public internet, or in a closed, secured system, or both.

In the current, traditional banking system, our accounts are stored in a single centralized database. If a person transacts business (think of going to an ATM, or cashing a check) at a bank that they don’t hold an account at, the system we are accessing must link to and validate our information from said person’s home bank where the account records live.

When a digital transaction is carried out on a currency built on Blockchain (Bitcoin is but one of many digital currencies), it is grouped together in a cryptographically protected block with other transactions that have occurred in the last set amount minutes (typically ten minutes) and sent out to the entire network. From there, Miners (members in the network with high levels of computing power-basically powerful, specially constructed servers) then compete to validate the transactions by solving complex coded problems. The first miner to solve the problems and validate the block receives a reward. (In the Bitcoin Blockchain network, for example, a miner would receive Bitcoins).

The validated block of transactions is then timestamped and added to a chain in a linear, chronological order. New blocks of validated transactions are linked to older blocks, making a chain of blocks that show every transaction made in the history of that blockchain. The entire chain is continually synched with each instance so that every ledger in the network is the same, giving each member the ability to prove who owns what at any given time.

The Evolution of Blockchain

One example of the evolution and broad application of blockchain, beyond digital currency, is the development of the Ethereum public blockchain, which is providing a way to execute peer-to-peer contracts.

It is this decentralized, open and secure attribute, that allows for trust between parties, and eliminates the need for intermediaries. It’s also important to note that traditional hacking type attacks would struggle to crack this widespread system. You might be wondering why and/or how would hackers struggle to crack this widespread system? They would struggle since multiple systems and files would need to be accessed in order to execute a traditional hacking type attack, and almost simultaneously; meaning, the likelihood and feasibility of this happening hovers somewhere right around zero.

So is this hype or reality?

It is real enough that TxMQ has committed to building a Center of Excellence focused on building Blockchain solutions for our customers.

Already, use cases are being evaluated for industries as widespread as the airlines, global logistics, pharmaceuticals, banking and finance, and even personal health records, auto manufacturers, and real estate transactions. Imagine following the custody chain of drugs from point of manufacturer to ultimate consumption or destruction. Imagine the value to a car manufacturer if they knew the precise ownership and chain of custody of not just every vehicle manufactured, but of each and every after market part produced.

So our money is on reality more than hype.

Certainly, not all coding need be done using blockchain; yet the ability to digitize assets, and track the precise chain of custody, is game changing.

There are countless millions globally who are counted among the unbanked; whether they be people in areas too rural, or people who are just too distrustful of these systems. Yet, most of the population has a cell phone, and with that instrument, can have access to this newfound democratization of society. We’re already seeing companies like Apple hint at introducing peer to payment into their future operating systems.

For more information on Blockchain and Blockchain solutions, feel free to call or email us.

I’m always interested in hearing about new startup ventures, or talking with other cutting edge thinkers interested in Blockchain, digital currency mining, and other cutting edge ways of solving today’s challenges. Look me up at TxMQ.com, my personal blog at Chuckfried.com, or find me on LinkedIn.

White Paper: What is a Runbook

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

White Paper: What is a Runbook?

TxMQ provides highly skilled remote technical support and tailored managed-services solutions for our customer’s middleware.

Whether it’s database (Oracle™, IBM DB2™, Microsoft™ SQL Server, MySQL™), Java-brokering software (WebSphere Application Server™, Liberty™, JBOSS™), messaging middleware (IBM MQ™), transformation technologies (IIB™, WTX™) to name a few, or other technologies supported under the TxMQ MSP, RTS (remote technical support), or remote systems management (RSM) programs. Continue reading →

2017 Greater Buffalo Area CIO Roundtable a Success

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

2017 Greater Buffalo Area CIO Roundtable a Success

On a recent sun filled afternoon, almost 50 area business leaders and technologists gathered in downtown Buffalo to hear a panel of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) present their thoughts on trends and directions in technology, along with concerns and aspirations for their organizations.

The panel included Jeff Crimmins, CIO and CSO of Freed Maxick CPAs, Kerry Kerlin, CIO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and Joe McLaughlin, Vice President, Operations and Technology of AAA of Western and Central New York.

After a brief opening, I asked the panelists, in rotation, a series of questions, starting with a broad ranging “what keeps you up at night?”.

Each of the panelists shared a number of concerns, but the common theme was finding adequate talent, and information security.
This led to the next question, Security and Compliance, specifically, how has the increased visibility of cybersecurity in the mainstream media, affected you? Interestingly, all panelists agreed that their greatest concern was for the ‘amazing things users will do’. The primary concern being that no amount of user training, clever videos, and growing awareness of phishing or ransomware schemes could correct for a non-thinking user accidentally opening a dangerous email.
It was widely agreed by the panel, and the audience, that additional training was required.

Chief-Information-Officer-Rountable-Buffalo-New-York-TxMQ-Solutions-2From there, the conversation moved to cloud.

Each organization represented had adopted various components of cloud; Mr. McLaughlin opening by pointing out they had moved to wide-scale adoption of an off site data center some years ago, what today his vendor now calls ‘Cloud’. The other panelists agreed they had varying adoption from moving some critical systems off site to a colocation facility, to adopting various vendor provided packages that are increasingly only available as cloud deployments.
Some attendees added questions, including asking the panelists on how they vet cloud providers. Most panelists agreed, that increasingly, cloud providers have facilities far more robust than in past years, and in nearly every case, far beyond the capabilities any of their organizations could hope to match in their own data centers.

The panelists were asked if the recent shift in the political landscape was having any effect on their businesses.

Notably, Mr. Crimmins of Freed Maxick, a large public accounting firm, pointed out that the increasing uncertainty, especially around the tax code, was causing some angst among their clients. “No one likes uncertainty”, he added. Mr. Kerlin noted that RPCI, as a prominent healthcare research facility, depends on grants like those offered by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The recent funding cuts to that organization may have a negative downstream effect on Roswell.

From there, we moved the conversation to Talent, where each CIO spoke about their challenges in filling roles.

Mr. Kerlin noted their work with the local universities including providing speakers, and educators, but expressed concern that there was still a disconnect in needed curricula to fill current and future STEM related positions. Some attendees questioned the CIOs on the availability of some talent willing to work non-traditionally, in some cases remote, or flex schedules. The panelists admitted they needed to continue to improve in offering this flexibility, but did note there are still systemic challenges to more broadly adopting remote workers.

In concluding, all the panelists acknowledged a dramatic shift in their roles over the past decade, specifically, the movement from a technology centric role, to one more leveraged across business units.

Privately, some panelists admitted a little “be careful what you wish for” sentiment. Noting for years they had lobbied for greater inclusion in business meetings, and input in critical decision making, which has led to a reality today where their days are taken up with nothing but said meetings, leaving little time to get the actual work done.
Feedback from the event was entirely positive, with multiple suggestions for future events. TxMQ intends to take this event on the road to multiple US and Canadian cities over the coming months, and we can only hope for as strong, and positive a reaction as we received in Buffalo.
 

Subscribe to our events email list to stay in the loop on where TxMQ will be next:

 

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Fractional IT support, or the Uberization of IT support

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

Sometimes companies don’t require technical assistance in any amount of hours evenly divisible by 40.  Sometimes, a few hours a week is all that’s needed.
For small businesses, technical assistance is usually accomplished by any number of small shops who provide support. But what is a large enterprise to do if higher end services are needed, but only for a few hours per week
Is that a thing? Is that available? Are there DBA services, or Linux or AIX or even mainframe services available for fractional part-time needs?
Chances are, companies won’t be successful hiring a part timer themselves for these types of needs.  Some have tried, all have failed.
Yet this is just the sort of service some companies like TxMQ have begun to offer to their partners and enterprise customers.
By maintaining an active bench of in house staff, most of whom have some fractional time they can use to support multiple customers, TxMQ can handle part time needs many customers have.
It’s important to realize, when a company like TxMQ provides support, you’re ensured support because it is the company that is supporting you, not just one part-time worker.  A company can offer SLAs and, for compliance driven industries like government, banking and finance, and healthcare, access is restricted only to a few designated resources approved by customers.

Available Across Industries

No matter your industry, we have the skills in-house to support you.

Flexible, Customizable Hours

National retailers, insurance companies, banks and more take advantage of support needs starting at just 20 hours a month. And of course, complete, full time outsourced support is available as well.

Industry Tenure

On average, the industry tenure of TxMQ technicians on the bench is over 20 years of experience. When you enlist TxMQ for our factional support, you’ll be assured the maturity, and depth of skill you need, and deserve.

Nearshoring only

Unless otherwise requested, TxMQ’s teams are US and Canadian based. We will only use offshore resources if you have a special budgetary requirement, or other need.

Why fractional support?

We live in a world of ride sharing (Uber and Lyft), sub-letting (Air BnB and others), etc. At home and at work, why shouldn’t we have those options for tech support?
Fractional support is for the times you know someone won’t show up for work. It’s for vacation coverage, or maternity leave.  It’s for times when you just don’t need 40 hours a week of support, or your team is expecting seasonal surges, and you aren’t quite sure how much coverage you will need.
Sometimes, it starts small, and grows. Sometimes, it ebbs and flows.
Most, (well, really all) staff augmentation vendors are looking for places to put their contractors into 40 hour a week jobs.  And that’s just fine, if that’s what you need. But fractional support provides another option – the right talent with the skills you need, just as much as you need them, when you need them.
Call TxMQ; fractional support is what we do.
 

Investing in Workplace Education

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

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When I joined TxMQ in the early 2000s, the company’s primary go-to market strategy was technical training. We hosted between 90 and 120 training classes annually for large companies in Toronto, Ontario, Ohio, and Michigan. We consulted, too, but it was a very small part of our overall business.
We ran seminars and private classes for customer running large IBM systems. IBM mostly funded this training program and, over time as IBM dollars dried up, companies brought us in directly for custom classes. With changes in workforce, and economic downturns those dollars also evaporated as companies hunkered down and weathered the financial crisis of the mid to late 2000s.
Over the past 5 years, as the economy has begun to normalize and slowly grow, we have seen a renewed interest in training as companies are now beginning to reinvest in their people, both through targeted technology training as well as onsite mentorship provided by senior consultants.
We have responded, and developed a series of classes, deliverable both as web based instructor led classes, self paced web based modules, and onsite private offerings for larger groups.
Companies who offer internal technical training accomplish far more than maintaining current skills for technical staff.   It is a way for companies to demonstrate commitment to staff and the future of the company. Such investments are difficult for HR to measure, but the payoff can be dramatic. From reduced staff turnover, to improved operational efficiencies, even greater customer satisfaction.
Training says to staff, “We care about you, and will invest in your continued education and development.”

Allow training outside of the “classroom”

Training doesn’t have to mean classroom based, or web based training.   Training can also be provided by approving travel to specific industry conferences.   Most companies that approve these efforts, require some validation by staff.   Either a write up on what was learned or, in some cases, a presentation that attending staff are asked to deliver to staff back in the office that weren’t lucky enough to attend the conference.

Validate and Vet trainings – ensure the learning maps to your goals

Merely providing training for staff isn’t enough. Training should “fit”. There should be a true value proposition in learning objectives for each course, each conference, and each workshop. Creating a Mentorship Plan for each department role is critical in attaining the desired return on investment.
Some software and hardware manufacturers offer certifications on their products. IBM, Oracle, Microsoft and many others offer countless certifications.   Some consulting firms, like TxMQ, similarly offer certifications on vendor solutions as well as broader vendor agnostic certifications. Do your homework, and make sure the classes map to your training goals and objectives – whether that value be positioned in the form of a “certificate” or in your staff’s knowledge of a new technology area.

Choosing the Right Training Delivery Platform

There are a variety of training platforms available today.   The most common is traditional classroom, and this remains the most effective. Classroom training is available on a public or private basis. Customized private delivery is most effective for companies introducing a new technology into their technical environments where there are enough attendees to justify bringing the class to the company instead of sending employees to a classroom someplace else. There is no replacing the value of instructor led training with hands-on lab experience where software technicians can experiment with the software. Instructor-led still provides the most effective delivery platform for technical students that learn by doing, while having immediate access and oversight by an experienced instructor. The downside of course, is the cost, which can be burdensome to the department both in terms of tight budgets and impactful for the time away required for participants to acquire the learning without the distraction of the workplace.
Online and web-based classroom training offerings have sprung up as alternatives to public and private classroom, saving time and money by allowing students to participate remotely and/or schedule according to their own availability. Web-based classes can be instructor led, scheduled, or on-demand.   Be sure to compare options with many online classes offering significant savings in cost, but failing to deliver on real value. The pros include providing students with flexibility and saving on travel expenses, while the cons include the fact that students are more prone to experiencing distractions such as taking calls or checking emails while attending class.   It’s also difficult to ‘go back’ to repeat something if one had to interrupt a session for some urgent distraction.
Self paced and computer-based training (CBT) options have become more mature offering modularized self-contained learning units composed of videos and online presentations by subject matter experts. Improvements in online delivery such as video streaming and easy internet access are making CBTs even more popular today allowing students to self-manage their education without a live instructor standing by. CBT can be highly impactful, especially for motivated students, who learn by reading and are able to use online tools and chat for asking questions and getting the answers they need to complete their own learning objectives. Furthermore, CBTs can be modularized and targeted to specific areas of knowledge or addressing common knowledge gaps. Entire libraries of learning modules are now available –or can be developed specifically for your department knowledge and made available for future viewing. .
Properly managed, and validated, any of the above training delivery platforms present compelling options for the employer willing to invest in the continued development of their staff.
So let’s get started. Reach out to TxMQ for more information, and let’s start showing your staff how much you care about them!
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WebSphere v.7 & v.8 End of Support – 18 Months Out

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

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WebSphere v.7 & v.8 End of Support

Are you currently running on what will be an unsupported version of WAS? Do you have a migration or upgrade plan outline for the WebSphere v.7 & v.8 End of Support?
As of April 30th 2018, IBM will discontinue support on all versions of WebSphere Application Server running on Java 6. This means that WAS release v7, v8 and v8.5 – if on Java – will no longer qualify for IBM support within the next 18 months.
It’s recommended that you migrate to WebSphere Application Server v.8.5 or v.9.0 to avoid potential security issues that may occur on the early, unsupported versions of WAS and Java.

Why should you go through a WAS upgrade?

Many security risks can percolate when running back-level software, especially WAS versions running on older Java versions. If you’re currently running on software versions that are out of support, finding the right support team to put out your unexpected fires can be tricky and might just blow the budget.
Upgrading WAS to supported versions will allow you to tap into new and expanding capabilities, and updated performance enhancements while also protecting yourself from unnecessary, completely avoidable security risks.

WebSphere Application Server v.9 Highlights

WebSphere Application Server v.9.0 offers unparalleled functionality to deliver modern applications and services quickly, securely and efficiently.
When you upgrade to v.9.0, you’ll enjoy several upgrade perks including:

  • Java EE 7 compliant architecture
  • DevOps workflows
  • Easy connection between you on-prem apps and IBM Bluemix services (including IBM Watson)
  • Container technology that enables greater development and deployment agility.
  • Deployment on Pivotal Cloud Foundry, Azure, Openshift, Amazon Web Services and Bluemix.
  • Ability to provision workloads to IBM cloud (for VMware customers)
  • Enhancements to WebSphere extreme scale that have improved response times and time-to-configuration

Why work with an IBM Business Partner to upgrade WAS after WebSphere v.7 & v.8 End of Support?

You can choose to work with IBM directly – we can’t (and won’t) stop you – but your budget just might. Working with a premier IBM business partner allows you to accomplish the same task with the same quality, but at a fraction of the price IBM will charge you, with more personal attention and much speedier response times.
Also, IBM business partners are typically niche players, uniquely qualified to assist in your company’s migration planning and execution. They’ll offer you and your company much more customized and consistent attention. Plus, you’ll probably be working with ex-IBMers anyway, who’ve turned in their blue nametags to find greater opportunities working within the business partner network.

There are plenty of things to consider when migrating your software from outdated versions to more current versions. TxMQ is a premier IBM business partner that works with customers to oversee and manage WAS migration and upgrade planning. TxMQ subject matter experts are uniquely positioned with relevant experience, allowing them to help a wide range of customers determine the best solution for their migration needs. Get in touch with us today to discuss your migration and back-level support options.
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20 Things I’ve Learned While Running a Business, Raising 10 kids, Staying Married, & Loving Life

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

20 Things I’ve Learned While Running a Business, Raising 10 kids, Staying Married, & Loving Life

This article was originally published on ChuckFried.com
I’ve always enjoyed writing. From my days in college when I successfully lobbied for an independent study course on advanced fiction writing, to the non-fiction I tend to write about today, it serves as an escape. A cathartic break from my sometimes crazy days.
During those crazy days, I am running a business – a successful IT consulting and staffing company, supporting mostly mid-market and large customers running IBM software. I am usually flying somewhere; attending a conference, meeting with a partner firm, visiting a customer, or putting out fires in the office. Days are hectic.
It’s always been this way, though. My wife runs a social services/child welfare agency. Oh, on top of that, we also have two dogs. Small dogs, so that probably counts as something like four big dogs (if you factor in their attitude).

Oh, and we have kids. Ten kids. Yeah, so things can be busy.

In the interest of full disclosure, most of our ‘kids’ aren’t really kids any longer. Most are in their 20’s. Our oldest is a year away from turning 30 and our youngest are turning 17 this year. Most aren’t at home any longer as a result, but still…lots of kids…
So what’s it like running a business, being a dad, and still having something of a personal life with hobbies, interests, and alone time?  It’s chaotic, but thrilling, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here are some lessons learned along the way… You can call it my personal path to sanity (or success), if you will. Though, I do believe it’s a journey, not a destination. Although I can always see it in the distance, true sanity can never be achieved, at least not if you have 10 kids!
I digress. Lets get to that list!

1. Get up early

Get up early… Really early. My alarm usually sounds around 5am, though I’m usually up already. It’s the quietest and most productive time of the day. Get things done early morning, whether they be for professional you or personal you, before the hustle and bustle of your day starts, and (more importantly) before your kids and spouse wake up!

2. Go to bed early

Nothing good ever happens after 10 pm. Nothing. Sorry nightlife, you’re not for me. Going to bed early makes rising early easier. Sure – it means I watch one less show or cut my nightly reading short but, the earlier I sleep, the earlier I rise. My day starts off on the right, productive foot.

3. Find at least one hobby, Netflix show, or something to do regularly with your spouse

It gives you something to look forward to and helps to maintain a common reference point between the always important, and never-ending parenting conversations. My wife and I have always made it a point to have a weekly date night. Beyond those childless date nights, we prioritize spending time together throughout the week to catch up on our favorite TV show. We’ll even read together (though separate books in completely different genres). Reading counts, too.

4. Make your kids live somewhere near you

We failed at this one (one of our sons lives in Europe) but, it’s a good idea if you don’t want to go broke with airfare. And, if you fail like I’ve failed, make it a point to travel (as often as financially possible) to visit!

5. Get a pet, or two

No human will ever be as excited to see me come home as our little dogs are, even if I’ve only just returned from a brief, 10 minute errand. Oh, yeah, and they can be pretty cute too. With most of the kids gone, I don’t like to consider myself an almost empty nester… we always have our dogs.

6. Have a good support team to lean on at the office

I get to hand pick mine, so I’ve been very fortunate, but it’s hugely important to have a team you can delegate to, especially when traveling overseas to visit previously referenced child and their family.

7. Hire slow, fire fast

Enough said. Trust your gut. If it feels right, it is. If it feels wrong, it is. Don’t overthink it. Much like in parenting, your gut is almost always right.

8. Fail fast, try again

This rings true for most things in life. Fail quickly, learn from your mistakes, and repeat as often as you can. In personal matters and in running the business.

9. Read like your life depends on it

I am always in the middle of at least TWO books, typically one non-fiction and one fiction. It doesn’t matter how crazy the days get, reading keeps me sane. Ask me, and I’ll gladly share my reading list!

10. Use some form of automated data backup service

You computer WILL fail you at some point, and it will be when it’s totally inconvenient. Plan for it.

11. Keep your inbox clean and your laptop/desktop almost as clean

Between the family and the constant work involved in running a business, my inbox can become quite clogged. So, to keep organized (for the disorganized) I have sub folders, and categories for everything. I try to end each day with UNDER 50 emails in my inbox (I receive over 400 emails a day mind you, this is no small task). I also rarely have a full desktop of files and folders, and NEVER have more than a few windows open in my browser.

12. Make health & fitness a priority

I’m a foodie, but also an avid workout fiend. I run, bike and swim daily (not each activity every day but at least one of those every day).  If I binge eat – and I do sometimes binge – I just add miles to the run, ride or swim the next day.

13. Travel often

Life is the stuff that happens to us while we are waiting for life to happen.  Enjoy each day. Find a way to make travel part of your life. Learn a new language, visit different places and cultures. Get out of your comfort zone.

14. Unplug for at least a part of each day

I don’t sleep with my phone on. If I’m unplugged, you can’t reach me, allowing me to be more present and in the moment.

15. Make time to be with family

Make it a priority. When your friends move away, or aren’t around, family always is. Love them or tolerate them, they will always be there for you, and will always be family.

16. Teach yourself a musical instrument, or get better at one if you already play

I am trying to make time to learn to play the guitar. It’s a struggle, but it is a goal. I will get this done. I won’t be the best, but I will accomplish it.

17. Keep a journal

I use day one. It’s not perfect, and far from a diary, but beyond allowing me to look up notes I took when talking to a customer, it’s a gathering place for my thoughts, some of which will be come blog posts like this ones, others will never see the light of day. It’s a good habit to pick up.

18. Live life like you are always being recorded or monitored (because you probably are, especially if you are a dad or a boss)

This one might seem odd, but more times than I can recall, it’s kept me from saying something stupid, doing something stupider, or just hurting someone’s feelings. Pretend a camera is always on you, and that your every action will be scrutinized one day, and you’ll be amazed how easy it is to always do the right thing.

19. Find a mentor, or be a mentor (but probably both)

Help others reach their goal. Nurturing young talent is a reward unlike any other. I was asked once (and accepted) to be a pacer in a half marathon, and that simple act of running a race and helping others to hit their goal time was one of the most rewarding running experiences I have had in a lifetime of runs.

20. Set goals.

A goal or target with no timeline is just a dream. Start small. Call a customer a day, or 5…or better yet, pick a big, fat, hairy goal, or BFHG as we call them, and break it down into attainable pieces, and go for it!

APIs & DevOPs are part of the Hybrid Cloud Answer

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

TxMQ’s Hybrid Cloud Practice

Most companies today have a huge investment in legacy systems and applications. Some may be mainframe based, containing collections of old Cobol code that continue to run the business. Other situations find companies with ERP or MRP systems that have been customized and retooled so much, they barely resemble the original out-of-the-box application that was originally purchased. Whatever the case, chances are high your legacy systems requires support and ongoing management by a team of developers and admins – likely many of whom are beginning to plan their retirements. Do you have a plan in place to handle this not-so-far-off future?
Cloud is all the buzz today, but you are stuck in the past with systems and technology that just can’t be ‘lifted and shifted’ to the cloud. It’s either that, or you are hamstrung by regulatory requirements that simply preclude much of your data from a cloud migration.

APIs are a part of the Hybrid Cloud answer (or at least will get you started down the right path)

An API strategy allows you to leverage your back end assets by exposing them for consumption to trusted partners, or even end consumers. All while ensuring the security and reliability of your legacy systems.
This approach is one we call ‘Hybrid Cloud’. It is the first step in a cloud strategy that doesn’t have to involve anything more than rethinking how legacy workloads are used and accessed. At the same time, this strategy allows a rethinking of new workload deployments, and new ways of working.

DevOps

A DevOps approach allows for a continuous, rapid, iterative application development cycle, while ensure equally continuous testing of new applications and code and while automating code deployment. IBM’s Urban Code Deploy is an important part of a Dev Ops strategy for customers with extensive legacy workloads and compliance concerns.
Today’s developers want to work in a more rapid and nimble way. ‘Failing fast’ is the new mantra, and maps well to line of business (LOB) owners pushing for quicker time to market for their applications. Historically, this way of working wouldn’t play well with legacy shops. Yet with the introduction of a Hybrid Cloud approach, companies can rethink new workloads and new application requests, including non-production environments, to leverage DevOps. Furthermore, companies can begin to look at Platform as a Service (PaaS) options allowing for more rapid environment spin ups, and more stable and rapid application testing.
Also, this Hybrid Cloud approach allows for the rapid integration of cloud based solutions like Workday, Salesforce, Netsuite, and other web based technologies companies continue to adopt.
TxMQ helps companies evaluate their legacy infrastructure to identify quick wins leadership can use to begin a roadmapping and ‘future planning’ strategy. Get in touch today to learn how we can help you create a future that leverages next generation options for aging infrastructure and applications.
Next time, we’ll discuss the next step on this journey…converged or hyper converged infrastructure.
 
 

6 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Database Administration Vendor

Posted on | by Jeff Eveland

Technical managers need access to highly available, extremely skilled technical talent to manage the ‘lights on’ of systems and subsystems. Key among these is database administration. If you are reading this, you likely have already chosen to outsource (either fully, or you’ve chosen a hybrid model) and now you’re shopping for a reputable vendor for your database administration… the fun part. So where to begin?
As you’re interviewing potential database administration vendors, keep these 6 questions in the rotation. If your prospects don’t have strong answers, you’ll know it’s time to check them off the list.

How large is your database administration team and how experienced are they?

Don’t be fooled by tiny shops that don’t have the manpower to support you in the way you need them to. That said, if you’re a tiny shop, you might be okay with a tiny vendor. In any case, be sure you know the capacity of your vendor’s team and know that they’ll be able to cater to your needs.
Beyond just that, you’ll want confirmation that your DBA vendor will assign dedicated resources to “man” your account. So, ask about their industry tenure. Consider questioning them about how many years of experience each DBA has and you might as well ask for a list of their specific certifications.

What is your incident management system?

Even if you’re convinced you won’t have any critical ‘fires’ that need tending, make sure the infrastructure is in place in the event that you do ever need to call up your “highly available” DBA vendor. You’re spending the money, so make sure your dollars are put to good use.
Your DBA vendor should have an extremely well built and reputable incident management tool put in place for you to submit tickets, track progress, and spin up dashboard reports to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. For instance, you might want to justify your monthly expenditures with your DBA vendor, and therefore run a report like “average ticket length from open to close”. If your DBA vendor is dragging their sorry feet through the mud closing out your tickets, it might be time to take your business elsewhere and find a DBA vendor that’ll actually respond at the speed you want them to. If their incident management system doesn’t have this basic functionality, they might not be your best fit.

Do you offer flexible SLAs, Extended Support, and After Hours Emergency Support?

If you’re working with a reputable database administration vendor, all of these points should be fairly well outlined in the proposal or contract. The vendor should have a variety of template SLAs and packages for you to choose from. And, if one of those templates doesn’t work for you, they should be willing to meet your needs by customizing a solution that’ll service your company best.
Typically, DBA vendors will have out of the box, managed service like offerings for you to shop through.   They should include, at a minimum, the following:

  • Standard template Service Levels (SLAs)
  • Tiered customer service levels (usually something like silver, gold, platinum, or basic, premium, VIP)
  • After hours protocol (for after hours, weekends, and holidays) and corresponding SLAs
  • Thorough escalation protocol

If your prospective DBA vendor gives you a blank stare or you hear nothing from them on the other end of the phone as you ask about these topics, you know it’s time to move on to the next prospect.

What is your experience level with my technologies?

There is no substitute for technology experience. Really, there isn’t. If you’re looking into a remote database administration vendor, be sure to check that they actually have the necessary know-how to support your environments. The talent pool within the vendor’s organization should be the best asset they bring to the table and they should have tenure in your technology stack. If they don’t, why not scout out your own sub-par talent rather than paying high-ticket prices for theirs?
Keep this in mind: in many cases, you may opt to add less seasoned talent to your roster to save money in the long run. So long as your junior support staff has the necessary support managing them, it’s okay to have a junior level resource, with only a few years of experience working with your technology stack, assigned to your account

How many resources are available in my technology stack.

A tricky question. You see you might be assigned a very credible group of folks ready to give you the attention you need, but believe it or not, those team members might not all be the best qualified to support your databases. Think it’s a joke? Think again.
If your prospective DBA vendor is offering you a team of 5 resources and only 2 are qualified to take on your specific database administration, that calls for some red flags.

What is your staff turnover?

You might not think to ask this question, but you should. And your DBA vendor should be prepared (and willing) to answer. The last thing you need is to find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place working with a vendor that can’t support you because their staff keeps turning over. The right vendor will support their staff and keep them engaged enough to minimize the pain that turnover can be. Remember, one of the main reasons companies choose to outsource their database administration is because they don’t want to deal with the hassle of hiring and training, and the like. So choose a vendor that will keep the turnover to a minimum and will offer you the highest chance that your support team will be highly available and consistent.
If you have suggestions on any additional questions to ask before putting ink to paper with a DBA vendor, let us know in the comments section!
Looking for more? Read about TxMQ’s expertise in Remote Database Administration services.  Or, read the blog.