Oct 22, 2020Securing your private parts in AzureReal world private endpoints for Cosmos DB, Storage and Redis — If you’re anything like me, you were shocked to discover the default configuration of backing services in Azure is public. When you create resources like Cosmos DB, Redis and Storage, the most intimate and sensitive parts of your infrastructure, these resources come into the world nakedly exposed to the internet…Azure14 min read
Jun 11, 2020A Three-Cloud PrismTriangulating AWS, Azure, and GCP for perspective — Here’s something I found myself saying — it’s stuck with me and that’s prompted me to look into it: “Technology isn’t a thing you do, it’s a metaphor for exploring a philosophy of being” There’s a moment in every discipline, art, craft and practice when you find yourself reaching beyond…AWS6 min read
Mar 6, 2020Serverless is not functionsUnlearnings from Serverlessdays Cardiff 2020 — Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth. There is no spoon. Then you’ll see that it is not the spoon that bends. It is only yourself — The Matrix I had the pleasure of being a part of Serverless Days Cardiff…Serverless7 min read
Nov 23, 2019How to win at hackathonsA stack for your hack — You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! I like this sentiment for hackathons. The stories of Dr Seuss have stuck with me, peeping out from time to time from…8 min read
Sep 19, 2019Introduction to Containers in PracticeIf you missed Swanseacon 2019, here are the spoilers — Containers are complex, but they needn’t be mysterious. Here’s my de-jargoned guide to what they are and why they matter. I had the pleasure of speaking at SwanseaCon this year for the second time and wanted to spread some love and understanding about containers. I find it’s great to be…Docker4 min read
Published in Level Up Coding·Jul 26, 2019Why Kubernetes will disappearThe prize of ubiquity is invisibility — I have an idea about the trajectory of Kubernetes. Instinct tells me it will both win and, simultaneously, become irrelevant to software delivery organisations. I’ve been listening to conversations about Kubernetes (k8s) and trying to identify the recurring themes that polarise debate on whether it’s a “good” or “bad” idea…Kubernetes5 min read
Jul 12, 2019Google Cloud Professional ArchitectTaking a leap over the rainbow — Ever since working with a great team at the BBC, I’ve been noticing the momentum behind Google Cloud. I’ve been looking to do a certification for a while, so decided to go with Google’s Professional Cloud Architect. If you do some research on the certification, you’ll find words like “vast”…Cloud Computing7 min read
Jun 27, 2019Speaking Technology with the Service StandardHow does the UK Government Service Standard look from a technology point of view? — I think a lot about technology design, whether that’s architecture, build and deployment pipelines or the structure and clarity of code. The value of technology is in what you do with it. The UK Government has an open Service Standard setting out the perspective and principles on which services (often…UX7 min read
Published in Notbinary·Apr 25, 2019What Does Enterprise Mean?Scale is more of a quality than a quantity — Enterprise has become one of those over-used words that mean anything and nothing to everyone. What does it actually mean and what does that mean for our organisations? Back in the noughties I worked for a mid-sized technology consultancy called Detica. It was made up of around 500 people when…Enterprise Technology5 min read
Published in Notbinary·Mar 29, 2019An engineering solution to a design problemLess eats more for breakfast — I design and build systems. Sometimes those systems are made of technology and sometimes they’re made of people. I’ve learned, and keep learning, that doing less is invariably greater than doing more. The phrase keeps coming to me: “it’s an engineering solution to a design problem”. I’m giving a name…Konmari5 min read
