Category Archives: Infrastructure & Platforms

Opening up mainframe data, one utility at a time

Freeform Dynamics recently caught up with VirtualZ, an often overlooked vendor of connectivity tools that[...]

Cloud Storage Revisited: What has the last decade taught us?

It is clear that cloud storage has become an important component of modern IT infrastructure.[...]

IT Sustainability: Passive vs Active Gains

In the 20 odd years that I’ve been following developments in ‘Green IT’, the industry[...]

The convergence of OT and IT

Having worked in both operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) environments for years, I’ve[...]

Observability and Security: Thoughts on the Cisco-Splunk Acquisition

The tech world is now trying to work out exactly what the news of Cisco’s[...]

Mainframes and workload placement: Time for a dose of objectivity?

When Tony Lock and I interviewed Reg Harbeck, Chief Strategist at Mainframe Analytics Ltd, it[...]

From clipboards to smart data capture; how software-defined scanning is changing the game

When I first heard about ‘smart data capture’, I couldn’t help thinking back to a[...]

The Untapped Potential of Liquid Cooling in Modern Data Centres

Ever since IBM sold off its x86 business to Lenovo back in 2014, I’ve been[...]

Taking the next step in mainframe observability

Despite their frequently less visible role, mainframes remain indispensable in supporting the critical operations of[...]

The mainframe skills crunch; an outsider vs insider perspective

During my career, I’ve worked hands-on with a great many operating systems, programming languages, mainstream[...]

Taking IT Cost Tracking and FinOps to the next level

A CIO I interviewed recently told me candidly: “It’s always a bit nerve wracking when[...]

Mainframe Skills: Challenge or Opportunity?

People in mainframe circles have been talking about skills development and succession planning ever since[...]

Making IT sustainability more objective and actionable

I’ve heard a lot of pitches from technology companies on how they can help customers[...]

It’s Time to Raise the Bar on Observability

Observability has come a long way in the last 30 years

The Evolving Role of Converged Infrastructure in Modern IT

Where does CI fit in a world of hybrid cloud?

Tape is back on the main menu

The news that another of the big players in global file systems, Hammerspace, has integrated[...]

Evaluating the Potential of Hyper-Converged Storage

What to consider when planning for modern IT and the hybrid cloud era

Kubernetes as an enterprise multi-cloud enabler

Building out your environment to create a full lifecycle delivery platform

The key to future IT success is a switch to managing services, not systems

For most of the history of commercial IT, system design has focused on meeting the[...]

Standardized solution implementation services

Shorten time-to-value, reduce costs and risks, and future-proof your investment

IT Financial Management Revisited

Time for a smarter and more joined-up approach

Getting real about IT sustainability

From good intentions to tangible results through smart systems selection

Have you made the right platform choices to minimise risk?

Critical systems have to run and run…

The IT Transformation Imperative

Driving meaningful change to make tangible difference