Mark Micallef joins Google Cloud to drive AI innovation in SEA - Back End News

Google Cloud has appointed Mark Micallef as managing director of its business in Southeast Asia (SEA). Micallef will be responsible for developing regional strategy, team development, and revenue performance for Google Cloud and Google Workspace. He will work with teams across Google to help customers reimagine their businesses through responsible AI innovation. Micallef brings over 28 years of technical, sales, and management experience to the role. #GoogleCloudSEA #ResponsibleAI #DigitalTransformation #softcorpremium

Fight The Hidden Cost of Regional Kubernetes Clusters — Cross Zonal Egress — Part 2 | by Animesh Rastogi | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

The second part of an article series on cross zonal egress in regional Kubernetes clusters discusses how Istio, a service mesh, can be used to achieve locality aware routing and save cross zonal costs. The article explains how to configure locality failover load balancing and locality weighted load balancing using Istio's traffic management capabilities. The author also notes that Istio provides greater control over traffic distribution compared to Kubernetes' native topology aware routing. #IstioTrafficManagement #KubernetesClustering #CrossZonalEgress #softcorpremium

Retrieving Release Notes of Google Apps Script and Google APIs from RSS using Google Apps Script | by Kanshi Tanaike | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

Google Apps Script and Google APIs release notes can now be easily retrieved using RSS and Google Apps Script's XmlService. This information is useful for application development, and a sample script for retrieving this information is provided. The script can be run with a time-driven trigger to obtain the latest release notes, and users can also use the formula IMPORTXML to retrieve the values. The script was created by Kanshi Tanaike, a Japanese scientist and Google Developer Expert. #GoogleAppsScript #GoogleAPIs #ApplicationDevelopment #softcorpremium

5 Stages to Building a Successful Partner Practice with AWS | AWS Partner Network (APN) Blog

The AWS Partner Network (APN) offers guidance on building a successful partner practice with AWS, which involves focusing on vertical solutions, specializations, and relationships with AWS teams and other partners. A dedicated AWS practice is essential for maximizing APN involvement and optimizing resources and benefits. AWS partners should prioritize formal certifications for technical teams and accreditations for sales teams to establish credibility in the market. AWS offers various programs for partners to specialize in delivering AWS services and solutions, including the AWS Competency, Service Delivery, Service Ready, and Managed Service Provider (MSP) programs. Partners can benefit from maintaining relationships for future reference and funding benefits are available to increase delivery capabilities and drive value for customers. The AWS Partner program is built around five key stages and offers several resources, including the AWS Partner Handbook, Partner Profitability Framework, Specialization Program Benefits Guide, Practice Development Playbook, and Specialization Programs Guide. AWS also offers training and certification programs. #AWSpartnernetwork #AWSspecializations #AWSmanagedservices #softcorpremium

5 Helpful Commands for Cloud Workstations | by Nathaniel (Nate) Avery | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

The article discusses five useful CLI commands for controlling Cloud Workstations on Google Cloud. These commands include listing available workstations, starting and stopping workstations, starting a TCP tunnel, and SSHing into a running workstation. The article also highlights the importance of proper IAM permissions and knowledge of how Cloud Workstations have been configured for an organization. The author provides syntax examples for each command. #GoogleCloudCLI #CloudWorkstations #IAMPermissions #softcorpremium

Architecting a Scalable and Secure Cloud-Based Database Solution: A Deep Dive into Integrating Cloud SQL, PgBouncer, CloudSQL Proxy, and HammerDB for Optimal Performance | by Vasantha Kumar | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

The article discusses the use of PgBouncer, Cloud SQL Proxy, and HammerDB with Terraform to optimize performance, security, and management of cloud-based database solutions. The article provides instructions for deploying this setup using Terraform and includes code and templates for configuring and running workloads. #CloudDatabase #TerraformOptimization #KubernetesDeployment #softcorpremium

Copy data to Azure Data Services at scale using Microsoft Fabric

The article discusses using Microsoft Fabric pipelines to copy data from an on-premises SQL Server to Azure SQL Database or Azure SQL Managed Instance. The process involves installing a data gateway, creating a metadata table, and setting up data pipelines. The article provides step-by-step instructions for the process and suggests that the pipeline can be modified to copy to other sources such as Azure Database for PostgreSQL. Feedback and suggestions for improving the data migration asset are welcome. #MicrosoftFabricPipelines #DataMigration #AzureSQLDatabase #softcorpremium

Network Design — GCP Landing Zone key element | by Jasbir Singh | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

Google Cloud Platform's Landing Zone is a modular and scalable configuration that enables organizations to adopt Google Cloud for their business needs. Network design is one of the key elements in Landing zone setup which includes Shared VPC network, firewall rules, Cloud NAT gateway, Cloud Interconnect, Cloud VPN, and Cloud DNS private zone. There are four common network designs to choose from depending on an organization's preferences for centralized or decentralized control, on-premises or hybrid cloud connectivity options, security requirements, and scalability. The four options are Shared VPC network for each environment, hub-and-spoke topology with centralized appliances, hub-and-spoke topology without appliances, and exposing services in a consumer-producer model with Private Service Connect. #GoogleCloudPlatform #LandingZone #NetworkDesign #softcorpremium

Bring your own data to Azure OpenAI chat models - Microsoft Community Hub

Azure OpenAI models provide a secure and robust solution for tasks involving human language. Users can operate these models in the context of their own data and publish it as an app from within the studio. With enterprise data ranging to large volumes in size, the setup leverages Azure services to create a repository of the knowledge base and utilizes Azure OpenAI models to interact naturally with them. There are different resources available to get started on Azure OpenAI. #AzureOpenAI #NaturalLanguageProcessing #EnterpriseDataSolutions #softcorpremium

Exploring WebAssembly outside the browser | by Mete Atamel | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

WebAssembly (Wasm) was initially designed to execute native code within web browsers, but its potential extends far beyond the browser. The WebAssembly System Interface (WASI) enables the execution of Wasm modules outside the browser environment, presenting an alternative to running applications in virtual machines or containers. Leveraging Wasm with WASI offers several notable benefits, including faster startup times, smaller binaries, enhanced security, and unmatched portability. Wasm with WASI is poised to revolutionize areas such as edge computing, IoT, and cloud microservices, offering developers exciting new possibilities. #WebAssembly #WASI #revolutionizingcomputing #softcorpremium

MongoDB adds vector search to Atlas database to help build AI apps | InfoWorld

Database company MongoDB is adding new features to its Atlas database-as-a-service (DBaaS) to broaden its user base to include traditional database professionals and support building applications. The new capabilities for the DBaaS include Atlas Search, data streaming and querying capabilities, and vector search for Atlas, which will help support building generative AI apps. The company has also partnered with Google Cloud to integrate Vertex AI capabilities, which will enable enterprises to generate embeddings from data stored in MongoDB Atlas. Other updates include Atlas Search Nodes, which isolates search workloads from database workloads, and a new industry-specific Atlas database program for the financial services sector. #MongoDBAtlasFeatures #AIApplications #CloudIntegration #softcorpremium

Generative AI — Q&A with semantic answering on large scanned documents with Vertex AI, Chroma, LangChain and Document AI OCR | by Rafa Sanchez | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

A new repository demonstrates how to implement semantic search on large scanned documents and PDFs using generative AI. The system uses the OCR engine of Document AI to convert documents to text, which is then processed using a retrieval augmented process with an LLM. The article provides instructions for setting up a Cloud Run service account with minimum permissions, additional roles required for an app, and how to add these roles using gcloud commands. The article also discusses the use of LLM models for document retrieval and question answering, as well as the implications of Google's virtual try-on technology for the future of fashion shopping with AI. #SemanticSearch #GenerativeAI #DocumentAI #softcorpremium

How to secure workloads in the multicloud era | CSO Online

Cisco has launched its Multicloud Defense platform, which aims to simplify the complexity of securing workloads across public and private clouds. The platform consolidates network security and provisions distributed enforcement points across Azure, AWS, Google and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure clouds, all managed from a SaaS-based control plane. The single console, which aims to provide a cloud-native experience, should improve security experiences for IT and security teams by providing a unified view across a simpler-to-consume and secure multicloud environment. #multiclouddefense #cloudsecurity #saascontrolplane #softcorpremium

GCP Network Design (Part-1) Things to Consider Before Starting GCP Network Design | by Vishal Bulbule | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

The article is part of a blog series that discusses important considerations for designing an efficient network in Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The first part covers essential considerations before embarking on the network design process, such as understanding business and application requirements, assessing existing infrastructure, and defining clear network objectives. #GoogleCloudPlatform #networkdesign #dataengineering #softcorpremium

Cloud computing is no longer a slam dunk | InfoWorld

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index (PPI) reported a 3.9% month-over-month decline in the cost of host computers and servers while cloud services saw prices increase by 2.3%. The author argues that cloud computing should not be the default solution for all applications and data sets and that companies should hit the reset button for some systems already on cloud platforms for more attractive costs. The author suggests that the advantages of using traditional servers for computing and storage can diminish rapidly when the requirements for these resources change frequently. Companies should consistently re-evaluate their objectives for utilizing these systems. #cloudcomputing #traditionalcomputing #costefficiency #softcorpremium

3 great Git alternatives: Fossil, Mercurial, and Subversion | InfoWorld

This article discusses three alternatives to Git for version control: Fossil, Mercurial, and Subversion. Fossil is an all-in-one product that includes ticketing and bug tracking, wikis, documentation, and live discussion for a project. Mercurial has a smaller and easier-to-master core command set and an extension mechanism that expands its functionality. Subversion is a centralized system that provides a simpler conceptual model and tighter control over the source. Each alternative has its own strengths and is suited to different types of teams and projects. #GitAlternatives #VersionControlOptions #TeamCollaborationTools #softcorpremium

Daniel Zhang May Focus on Cloud and Step Down as CEO of Alibaba - Pandaily

Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang may step down and focus on cloud development following the implementation of the \"1+6+N\" management model, which involves establishing six major business groups with their own boards of directors and CEO accountability systems. The company plans to improve corporate governance and flatten its organizational structure. There are also rumors of large-scale layoffs, but the company plans to hire 15,000 new employees in 2023. #AlibabaNews #CorporateGovernance #CloudDevelopment #softcorpremium

3 ways to reimagine hospitality and empower your frontline with Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Community Hub

Microsoft Teams is showcasing tailored frontline solutions at the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) in Toronto, Canada. The platform aims to enhance communication, streamline operations, reduce burnout, and empower the frontline to deliver differentiated guest experiences on a secure, purpose-built platform. Microsoft Teams offers a pre-configured home experience that allows hospitality organizations to centralize access to key resources for frontline workers and provide a tailored experience that reflects each brand's unique needs. The platform also offers employee engagement solutions to strengthen connections between employees, accelerate onboarding, and provide role-specific training in a centralized place. Additionally, Microsoft Teams has built-in compliance and identity management tools to help protect guest and staff information. #MicrosoftTeamsHospitality #FrontlineSolutions #GuestExperienceEnhancement #softcorpremium

Azure OpenAI GPT model to review Pull Requests for Azure DevOps

Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) models, which are based on the Transformer architecture, have gained significant traction in natural language processing (NLP). GPT models can detect potential coding issues such as typos, syntax errors, style inconsistencies, and code smells, and they can be integrated into the Azure Pipelines service to automatically review pull requests and provide feedback. To use this service, create an Azure OpenAI instance, deploy the model, install the extension, add the task to the build pipeline, configure the task, review pull requests, and give permission to the build service agent. This integration can help to reduce the time taken for code reviews and improve the overall quality of code. #GPTmodels #AzurePipelines #CodeReviewAutomation #softcorpremium

Databricks takes on Snowflake, MongoDB with new Lakehouse Apps | InfoWorld

Databricks has launched Lakehouse Apps, which enables developers to build applications on enterprise data stored in the company's data lakehouse and list them on the Databricks Marketplace. The new apps run on an enterprise's Databricks instance, reducing time and effort to adopt, integrate, and manage data for artificial intelligence use cases. Databricks has partnered with Retool, Posit, Kumo.ai, and Lamini to help with the development of Lakehouse Apps. #DatabricksLakehouseApps #AIforEnterpriseData #DatabricksMarketplace #softcorpremium

Orchestrators of Functions on Kubernetes | by Jasbir Singh | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

There are now five Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) runtimes installable on top of Kubernetes, including Google's Knative, OpenFaaS, Platform 9's Fission, Bitnami's Kubeless, and Apache's OpenWhisk. These solutions provide serverless deployments and allow developers to code serverless functions in any language and have them run wherever there is a Kubernetes cluster. Each solution has its own unique features and benefits, such as Knative's platform-agnostic solution and OpenWhisk's emphasis on security. #FaaS #Kubernetes #Serverless #softcorpremium

3 downsides of generative AI for cloud operations | InfoWorld

Generative AI for cloud operations can have downsides, including an acceleration of cloud application deployments that can lead to an almost reckless approach to application development, scaling issues as generative AI systems require significant compute and storage resources, and cost overruns due to the high cost of supporting generative AI systems. Companies need to find ways to manage these drawbacks effectively and reduce any negative impacts. #GenerativeAI #CloudOperations #AIChallenges #softcorpremium

Introducing Azure OpenAI Service On Your Data in Public Preview - Microsoft Community Hub

Microsoft has launched Azure OpenAI Service in public preview, allowing users to run OpenAI models directly on their data without the need for training or fine-tuning. The service, which includes ChatGPT and GPT-4, offers a range of applications such as self-service data requests, enhancing customer service, driving revenue generation, and improving productivity. Users can connect their data from any source, and the service supports connecting to multiple sources, including Azure Cognitive Search index, Azure Blob storage container, and local files. Azure OpenAI Service offers a no-code environment called Chat Playground, where users can experiment, iterate, and generate completions based on their prompts. The service is customizable, with an option to deploy a web app directly from Azure AI studio, creating a conversational AI platform accessible to the organization. #AzureOpenAI #ChatGPT #GPT4 #softcorpremium

IDC: IoT investments to exceed $1 trillion in 2026 - Back End News

Global spending on the Internet of Things (IoT) is projected to surpass $1 trillion in 2026 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4% expected during the 2023-2027 forecast period, driven by the continued digitalization and modernization of businesses. IDC sees global spending on IoT reaching $805.7 billion in 2023, reflecting a 10.6% growth compared to 2022. The manufacturing industry is expected to witness significant investments in two primary IoT use cases: Manufacturing Operations and Production Asset Management. IoT services are projected to be the largest area of investment in 2023 and for the duration of the forecast. #IoTinvestment #ManufacturingIoT #DigitalTransformation #softcorpremium

BigQuery Breaking News — Generative AI | by Artem Nikulchenko | Google Cloud - Community | Jun, 2023 | Medium

Google Cloud's BigQuery now offers access to Vertex AI's generative text-bison model via SQL. The model can be used for tasks such as sentiment analysis, classification, and entity extraction, and can be applied to text data stored in BigQuery tables. The feature is still in preview and requires enrolment, and it is not yet clear whether fine-tuned models will be available. BigQuery also offers a range of embedded models, imported models, and remote models for machine learning workflows. #BigQuery #VertexAI #TextAnalytics #softcorpremium