In my last post I gave some background on one of my recent side projects: setting up and then monitoring a Raspberry Pi running Pi-Hole. In this post, I’m going to dive into the details of how I set up the actual monitoring. As a reminder, you can download these Server & Application Monitor (SAM) templates from the THWACK…
This week's Actuator comes to you from my home office, where I’ll be located for the foreseeable future. We’ve successfully completed the first week of a three-week school closure. Last night we watched the documentary “Contagion,” so I fully expect this situation to last longer than just three weeks. As always, here's a…
I consider myself lucky that I have delivered many of our SolarWinds admin training courses and I would like to think that the people attending the course have also felt lucky to have spent a week, shut in a room with me, whilst I teach the finer art of managing an Orion installation. I like to get real world content into…
Is there a way to modernize and maintain compliance at the same time? Yes, absolutely. Many agencies have successfully overcome this challenge, particularly with Office 365, and are successfully modernizing their systems while meeting the required mandates. Monitoring and Backup Tips If you’re running Office 365, as many…
I hope this edition of the Actuator finds you and yours in good health and spirits today. The world has gone slightly cray-cray these past few weeks. It seems like yesterday I found myself elbow deep in fried pork products wondering if I would be able to fly home before the borders were closed. (Spoiler alert: I did).…
Automation is increasingly one of the cornerstones of an optimized federal IT environment. If you’re a federal IT pro, you may be asking, “Will automation make my job easier?” The answer is a resounding “yes,” as automation can dramatically enhance overall agency performance on multiple levels. Let’s start with automating…
After two weeks away at events it is good to be back home, safe and healthy. I hope the same is true for anyone reading this post. Here's hoping the second half of the year sees a return to normalcy, whatever that may mean for you. As always, here's a bunch of links I hope you will find useful. Enjoy! “Let’s use…
Today’s government IT professionals set rules to provide users with access rights, improving workflows while protecting agencies against threats. Unfortunately, the prevalence of mobile devices and cloud-based applications has made it increasingly difficult to establish those controls. This has led to security and…
So, I wanted to at least touch base with everyone on the “scandal” of the week. Is it fake news? New ways for stock gouging? New ransom type embankments? Corporate espionage? I waited until at least some of the dust had settled to write this post. I wanted to be able to make accurate judgment calls and present a…
Some folks find a profession early in their life and that’s what they do until they’re old and gray and ready to retire. Other folks find themselves switching careers mid-way. Me? I’m on the third career in my working life. I know a thing or two about learning something new. Why do I bring this up? Because if you’re in the…
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