Software developers are a prideful group. They like to create things, figure out their own short cuts and come up with new ways to innovate on the fly. But sometimes, developers’ inner creativity can be the biggest thing holding them back. There are still times when relying on tried and tested tools can help get a project done more quickly and more efficiently.

We discuss how developers can optimize their own work by identifying a few key value-adds and admitting that, for many other tasks like observability and log-ins, outside vendors have better tools to get the job done. Shawn sums it up by saying we need to admit that “we’re entering the golden age of the SaaS product.”

We also talk about microservices – how The New York Times has committed to the practice in a big way, and how many in the organization are confused about how they work.

Finally, we explore the challenges of having to comply with a long list of regulations in a multi-cloud environment and Shawn’s observation that, after the introduction of containers, we’re “still waiting for the next game changer.”

Microservices have become a popular software development technique in recent years. Breaking down applications into distinct sets of loosely coupled smaller services helps organizations port workloads from cloud to cloud and get better utilization out of the resources they’re paying for. But there are challenges associated with the practice, starting with security. Microservices can make security much more costly – if you’re not careful.

We discuss why microservices put such a heavy load on verifications of credentials and make it harder to manage access to specific services. We go through some solutions companies can pursue to mitigate the impact of having to verify identities for so many tiny jobs. One way is to shift to security tokens that have fixed or limited lifetimes.

We also talk about tasks organizations continue to struggle with as they ramp up their cloud projects. Some aren’t going “cloud native” enough, sticking with on-premises resources rather than leveraging the cloud services that are available. Others are taking too long to embrace automation.

Finally, our panel shares some thoughts about tech trends people might talk about in the coming year – everything from more strategic use of AI and ML to GDPR enforcements that push enterprises to pay closer attention to privacy rules.

We’ve been through several major technology paradigm shifts – from mainframe to client server to internet to, now, cloud. Cloud has given people the opportunity to refactor applications, which means different things to different people: From a minor change, akin to a chef adjusting ingredients in a seasoning, to a major shift like heart surgery. Refactoring provides the opportunity to think about how to get the most effective operations out of that application in the cloud, whether in terms of cost, disaster recovery, legal, security, or user experience.

We also discuss how with Outpost, Azure Stack and Google Cloud’s new announcement of Anthos, there is a shift from public cloud vendors no longer focusing on moving everything to the public cloud, but rather on figuring out how organizations can most effectively run their business. We explain the three major reasons why organizations might not want to leverage public cloud: Jurisdiction of apps living within certain boundaries; increasing disconnected use models and difficulty with connectivity to public clouds; and, finally, application debt combined with data gravity and latency requirements.

Finally, we offer advice on how to build the best cloud talent, including picking a few areas to maintain expertise in, staying on top of the latest industry developments, and always staying curious.

It’s a brave new world when it comes to data privacy and security, as companies work to comply with regulations such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and GDPR. No matter the size of the company or where they fall on the compliance spectrum, technology and culture change are both critical drivers of success.

We discuss how to overcome “anti-patterns”: the often-repeated mistakes that stand in the way of cloud migration. For example, rather than an app-centric approach, data-centric security is key to being able to leverage the benefits of the cloud. This provides your data scientists with unprecedented access to your data, and ensures consistent security and privacy policies across all data no matter where it lives with a central understanding of policy enforcement.

Finally, we discuss the changing landscape of privacy regulations. We offer helpful resources and tips for those who are just starting out with learning about privacy and compliance. 

Securing applications in a hybrid world can be a challenge. Companies that try to control threat vectors across cloud platforms and infrastructure environments with the same set of tools often run into trouble.

We discuss how containers and serverless platforms are starting to solve some of these security challenges – how their shared responsibility models work and how they interact with technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.

We touch on the prospects for – and challenges facing – Oracle, IBM and Alibaba cloud platforms. We also talk about issues companies face rewriting entrenched legacy applications, migrating large applications and applying the right skillsets to projects requiring intelligent orchestration.

How do you get the most out of your cloud investment? We discuss how Densify uses machine learning analytics to help customers optimize utilization and cloud billing.

One direct path to optimization is to “practice basic hygiene.” Andrew discusses how developers’ concerns about resource constrictions leads them to over-order and purchase mismatched solutions. Understanding usage patterns, linkages between services and organizations’ evolving needs can help developers buy more strategically and keep bills under control.

We also talked with Andrew about his journey to cloud consulting, lessons he learns from customers and his tips for working with the two principal wardrobe personas in tech – the “suits” and the “skinny jeans.”

What does “cloud native” really mean? Ask different organizations, or even different business units, and you’ll get hugely disparate answers. The fact is, there is no one answer and there’s no manual for cloud computing, which can make it difficult for seasoned executive to grasp the new technology ecosystem that has evolved in recent years.

We discuss how edge computing is evolving as organizations become more decentralized, and talk about best practices for how organizations can remain effective – for example, by adding redundancy, sharing knowledge with peers, and remembering security principles even when working quickly. We explain that the concept of Zero Trust is critical to managing threats.

Finally, we offer tips for how to stay current in this evolving landscape, by staying up to speed on the industry, seeking insights from industry peers and customers, and paying it forward to others.

This week we’re switching things up and digging into a topic we know even better than cloud: What it’s like working at CTP.

While there is no shortage in the number of organizations that need help migrating, modernizing and building applications in the cloud, there is a shortage in the amount of talent filling those roles. Attain a new AWS, Azure or GCP certification, and a handful of recruiters will rush to get you on the phone. The job market has never been as bountiful as it is now, and for the skills you have! So, how do you decide where to take your career next?

We think CTP is that landing zone.

In this episode, we get honest and talk about the reality of working at CTP, including:

• Our “fast-paced”, “dive into the deep end”, “no fear of failure” culture
• The not so glamorous side of traveling when you’re a consultant
• The truth behind our acquisition and its impact, or lack thereof, on our business
• The types of people we look to hire

Zero Trust Networks, a concept which assumes the perimeter defenses guarding your network aren’t as secure as you might think, has been around since Forrester coined the phrase almost a decade ago. We discuss how Google, an early adopter of the Zero Trust Network concept, is able to secure 1.5 billion Gmail accounts globally and manage hundreds of thousands of applications, while enforcing perimeter-based trust.

We also look at app specific networking (ASN) and the associated security requirements as more people, databases and “things” require access to applications. This massive growth of devices and applications requires a software model that allows for a more dynamic network.

Finally, we discuss the hybrid cloud models that have emerged over the past two years from the hyperscalers and what this means for edge computing, tightly connected systems and software defined networks.

As consultants, we work with organizations facing conflicts or blockers slowing down their cloud programs. Often times, these conflicts are the results of siloed groups not communicating at the right time, or place. We discuss the importance of breaking down these silos to gather organizational requirements early, and often. When we think about “shifting-left” in a security context, this means embedding the requirements into the design process of the deployment pipeline, rather than at later stages.

We also look at how to educate organizations on the value that evolving technologies bring to the business, especially when it can be so easy to get stuck in a “this is how we’ve always done it ” mindset.

Finally, we discuss how Sean stays current in the rapidly changing cloud industry, including: looking at the macro trends that will eventually influence technology, learning from the friction and challenges existing in client organizations, and tuning into cloud podcasts during his commute.