TechNet Magazine: January 2012

Cloud Computing: First Trip to the Cloud
By Dan Griffin and Tom Jones
Bringing the very first line-of-business project to the cloud requires a series of critical decision points, including staff and process changes.

SQL Server: Support the SQL Server Community
By Brad McGehee
There are a number of ways you can actively participate in the SQL Server community—all of which increase your knowledge and value.

IT Management: The Petabyte Era
By Romi Mahajan
The era of “big data” brings new data management and data mining challenges, but just as many opportunities.

Windows Server 2008 R2: Optimize the Branch Office Experience
By Brien Posey
Using BranchCache and read-only domain controllers can help you ensure a smooth experience for your branch office users.

Virtualization: Optimizing Hyper-V Memory Usage
By Brien Posey
Dynamic memory can be a helpful feature, but you have to be careful configuring your virtual machines and your host server.

Windows Server 2008 R2: Why Use Network Level Authentication?
By Kristin Griffin
Using network-level authentication (NLA), instead of the older terminal services method, is quicker and more secure.

SQL Server: Transaction Management
By Glenn Berry , Louis Davidson , and Tim Ford
Managing SQL Server transactions is an important step toward ensuring smooth operations and avoiding locking and blocking errors.

Cloud Computing: Risk Assessment for the Cloud
By Vic Winkler
Properly assessing your organizational risk tolerance is essential before adopting a cloud computing platform.