Operations | Monitoring | ITSM | DevOps | Cloud

A common misconception surrounding IT automation is that it always requires in-depth technical expertise. That certainly helps, but it’s by no means a requirement anymore. There are a few developments powering this shift, but the advent of low-code automation tools is one of the most important.

Proper logging isn't just nice to have – it's your secret weapon when things go sideways. In this guide, we'll talk about everything you need to know about Java logging frameworks and logging libraries that help when you need it most.

So, you've jumped into DevOps and keep hearing about "reliability" and "availability" tossed around in meetings. Everyone nods like they know exactly what’s meant, but what’s the actual difference between these two concepts? Let’s break it down simply—no jargon, just the essentials.

In a world where containers power everything from startup MVPs to enterprise applications, keeping tabs on your containerized environment isn't just good practice—it's survival. Container environments are notoriously dynamic and ephemeral, creating unique monitoring challenges that traditional tools simply can't handle. We've sorted through the noise to bring you the nine tools that deliver.

At CloudZero, we drink deeply of our own champagne. We consider ourselves customer zero, and use our product to its maximum potential, to reduce wasteful spending and improve our unit economics. We even use our software to drive meaningful board discussions (with help from a slide template you can download here).

Imagine spending weeks grinding through SQL tutorials, practicing syntax, and refining your queries in your spare time. But when the interviewer throws a complex JOIN + subquery at you, your brain suddenly hits a 404. It happens to the best of us. However, most candidates crash and burn—not because they lack knowledge, but because they prepare like students instead of engineers. They memorize syntax, pray for predictable questions, and freeze the moment they’re asked to think, not recite.

Without SQL aggregate functions, databases would be nothing more than glorified spreadsheets. These functions—SUM(), COUNT(), AVG(), MIN(), and MAX() —do the heavy lifting in analytics. They process massive datasets, transforming scattered records into clear, usable insights that drive decision-making. But while aggregation simplifies data, it can also slow things down.

Recently we introduced support for Failure Strategies, which allows developers to implement more powerful logic and control flow into their workflows. Today, we are excited to announce a new step failure strategy, retry, which can auto-retry your failed steps without requiring any input from the user.