Understanding Google: Site Reliability
August 6, 2018
There are few mysteries we never thought would be answered: Did Lee Harvey Oswald act alone? What happened to Amelia Earhart? And how does Google marketing work? The first two will probably never find a satisfactory solution, but the third might, after we stumbled upon a recent page and book “The Site Reliability Workbook.”
According to the site:
“The Site Reliability Workbook is the hands-on companion to the bestselling Site Reliability Engineering book and uses concrete examples to show how to put SRE principles and practices to work. This book contains practical examples from Google’s experiences and case studies from Google’s Cloud Platform customers. Evernote, The Home Depot, The New York Times, and other companies outline hard-won experiences of what worked for them and what didn’t.”
While this doesn’t prove to be the Rosetta Stone we were hoping for, it’s always good to get a better understanding of the mechanics at play in these situations. However, the jury is out about whether it is a smart use of time. Some critics say Google is a mess that could experience an outage at any minute, while others are celebrating the search giant and its marketing chops. Either way, we’ll have a slightly better understanding about why after reading this workbook.
Patrick Roland, August 6, 2018
Busy, Busy Google
August 1, 2018
It looks like catch-up time for Google. We suggest Amazon may be the one keeping it up at night. Whatever the case, an Inquirer article summarizes several recent Googley bragging points—“Google Is Going Heavy on AI Development and Hybrid Cloud.” Reporter Roland Moore-Colyer writes about developments the company shared at their recent Cloud Next conference. He surmises:
“Most notable is the search giant’s work with AI; it’s been doing a lot with making cloud-powered frameworks for developers to tap into to make killer robots clever software. At its cloudy conference, it took time to announce two fresh automatic machine learning tools. AutoML Natural Language lets devs automatically predict custom text categories specific to domains Google customers desire, while AutoML Translation allows translated language pairs to be uploaded so devs can create their own custom translation models. In short, the two tools are further ways Google has boosted its Cloud AutoML suite that gives people the means to get stuck into machine learning models without specialist smart software knowledge or coding. The firm also announced that third-generation Cloud TPUs are in alpha development – these custom processors have been specifically designed to power machine learning tasks and the third-gen promises more performance. Google also added more stuff to its machine learning APIs, such as the Cloud Vision API, which can now recognize handwriting and supports more file types. Yeah, Google is big into AI development for sure.”
Colyer goes on to share more news from the conference, like improvements to the G Suite of enterprise-level services that include AI-powered grammar suggestions and region-specific security features. As for the Google Cloud, we’re told most improvements lie in stack management. However, special mention is made of Google’s hybrid approach to its Cloud Service Platform, which combines cloud and on-premise deployment. We’re reminded that Microsoft had adopted a similar approach, so customers will be looking for that flexibility.
Cynthia Murrell, August 1, 2018
Factoids for July 25, 2018
July 25, 2018
Some useful factoids:
- 11 percent of Americans do not use the Internet, down from 48 percent in Year 2000. Source: TheHustle
- Google’s capital expenditures for 2017-2018 were $5.5 billion. This is a 2X increase over the previous year. Source: GeekWire
- The health records of 1.5 million Singaporeans, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, were stolen. Source: Manila Times
- Stolen credit cards with PINS cost as little as US$8. Source: Daily Mail
- Almost two million start-ups were registered in the UK between 2013-2017 with 392,627 (20 percent) classified as technology firms. Source: Cambridge Network
- Companies selling flaws in software to government entities include Vupen in Montpellier, France; Netragard in Acton, Mass.; Exodus Intelligence in Austin, Tex.; and ReVuln (Malta). Source: Dark Government
Stephen E Arnold, July 25, 2018
Are Some Google Docs Exposed to Web Indexing Systems?
July 21, 2018
Recently, Russian search giant Yandex reported seeing Google Docs turn up in search results. Previously, this was thought to be impossible. However, this brings up a lot of questions that others have taken for granted: namely, how secure are documents on the cloud? This was looked at more closely in the Media Post story, “Private Google Docs Serve Up In Yandex Search Engine Results.”
According to the story:
“[O]ther search engines can only serve up Google documents that had either been deliberately made public by its authors or when a user publishes a link to a document and makes it available for public access and search… Saving and protecting users’ personal data is our main priority for search engines. A Yandex spokesperson said the search only yields files that don’t require logins or passwords.”
For its part, Google appears to deflect the Yandex observation. Regardless, the Yandex assert arrives near the muddy heels of other security woes like the idea that our Gmail messages and their content could be used by developers. With the Android matter behind it, the EU may look at access to certain Google content.
Patrick Roland, July 21, 2018
Geo Map Pricing
July 20, 2018
In the market for maps for your application? If so, you may find the pricing data in “Farewell, Google Maps” useful. Current information about the costs of real time, cloud based data services can be difficult to get for a specific use case. Here’s the segment which I found helpful:
- Google Maps – $7 for each 1000 map loads irrespective of map size or zooming/panning by the user ($5.60 with discount for high volume)
- Mapbox – $0.50 for each “map view”, which despite the name is not a map view, but request of 4 or 15 map tiles (depending on map type), rounded up
- Azure Maps – $0.50 for 1000 “transactions”, where transaction is equal to 15 map tiles
- TomTom – $0.50 for 1000 “transactions” ($0.40 with highest volume discounts), each transaction is equal to 15 map tiles
- HERE – pricing is by bundles, Standard bundle amounts to $0.50 for 1000 “transactions” (15 tiles)
- MapTiler – $0.05 for each map tile
- Apple Maps – so far is in beta and offers a generous free usage allowance, no commercial pricing available.
The write provides other helpful information; for example, data density. I would point out that the illustrations used make another point; specifically, low contrast maps are very difficult to read.
Stephen E Arnold, July 20, 2018
Amazon Clarification on Network Switches
July 19, 2018
I read an exclusive on Marketwatch. (I did not know it was “real” journalism.) The story is “Exclusive: Amazon Denies It Will Challenge Cisco with Switch Sales.” The story’s main point struck me as:
Amazon.com Inc.’s top cloud-computing executive has officially denied that Amazon Web Services plans to start selling network switches to other businesses, after a report last week claiming that move was in the works damaged stocks of Cisco Systems Inc. and other major networking companies.
I think I understand.
Amazon may be building switches with Amazon Web Services and maybe its streaming data marketplace baked in. But these switches will not be old to “other businesses.”
Such a switch would add some functionality to Amazon’s own infrastructure. I wonder if these switches, assuming they exist, would add some beef to Amazon’s government client activities. For example, some lawful intercept activities take place at network tiers where there are some quite versatile switches.
The write up adds:
Amazon would not comment on whether it is creating its own networking equipment, just that it did not plan to sell such equipment to other businesses.
If Amazon wins more US government cloud and AWS centric work, certification of these devices eliminates possible questions about backdoors or phone home functions in gear sourced from other companies.
To sum up, Amazon does not deny it is building switches (whatever that term includes).
Worth watching in the context of the on going dust up between Oracle’s data marketplace and Amazon’s designs on building a new source of revenue with its marketplace innovations.
Stephen E Arnold, July 19, 2018
Oracle: A Leader in a Blockchain Service Which Is Fast, Efficient, and Cost Effective
July 18, 2018
Neither Amazon’s nor Oracle’s blockchain capabilities have captured the imagination of die hard Facebookers or Tweet drones. I read “Global Businesses Turn to Oracle Blockchain Service to Speed Transactions Securely.” The write up struck me as a content marketing type document, but I am skeptical of much of the information I sift each day.
The main point of the write up struck me as an argument for Oracle as the blockchain tool chest and service provider for an organization wanting to avail themselves of the distributed database technology. Oracle suggests in the write up that its approach can transform, provide efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
I noted this statement:
Oracle Blockchain Cloud Service provides customers with a development platform to build their own networks, and to quickly integrate with Oracle SaaS and third-party applications they already use, as well as other blockchain networks and Oracle PaaS services. It also enables users to provision blockchain networks, join other organizations, and deploy and run smart contracts to update and query the ledger. Oracle’s blockchain platform leverages the company’s decades of experience across industries and its extensive partner ecosystem to reliably share and conduct trusted transactions with suppliers, banks, and other trade partners through blockchain.
There is a nod to Linux and the uptime of the Oracle cloud. That would be welcome news to any Oracle customer who tried to take advantage of Amazon discount day deals. My understanding is that Amazon Prime was a different cut of beef yesterday, but I could be mistaken. Cloud services do have their issues, and even the vaunted Google stumbled with streaming video, a technology which I thought was nailed down.
Back to Oracle.
As interesting was the use of Oracle’s blockchain service to verify the virginity of olive oil, I noted this factoid:
“As a company dedicated to making business-to-business payments and supply chain finance secure, frictionless and ubiquitous using blockchain, we are able to significantly accelerate the time to onboard corporations, their suppliers and banks by using Oracle’s blockchain platform,” said Amit Baid, CEO, TradeFin. “It provides a REST API-driven platform with rich integration options in Oracle Cloud Platform, allowing us to quickly onboard existing customers. Additionally, Oracle Scaleup Ecosystem provides access to the platform itself, cloud credits, mentoring, and a number of Oracle resources that can help start-ups like ours grow quickly.”
After reading the write up, it struck me that there were some parallels between Oracle’s service and Amazon’s Ethereum and Hyper Ledger capabilities. The API angle is interesting because Oracle, like Amazon, can knit together other functions and services to create quite specific implementations of the technology.
I did not three things:
First, there was no mention of the number of Amazon professionals who now work at Oracle. Our research suggests that like IBM, Oracle has been able to lure some of Amazon’s own experts with relevant work experience and perhaps some patent highway miles under his or her belt.
Second, Oracle emphasizes cost effectiveness. I assume that quite a few Oracle customers will be delighted with that news. Oracle’s products, services, and engineering support can be expensive when compared to some competitors’ offerings. Microsoft Azure has allegedly been aggressive with some pricing deals, but that may be idle chatter. After all, the high end Surface notebook is supposed to run fast and cool.
Third, the evidence for the value of the speedy Oracle blockchain implementation is none other than IDC. That’s quite an outfit. I wonder if the firm has realigned its compass after selling my reports on Amazon without obtaining permission in writing or paying me for helping make IDC so darned smart. Great and credible source for something as important as blockchain is IDC. But that’s just my normal skepticism.
Stephen E Arnold, July 18, 2018
Business Intelligence: What Is Hot? What Is Not?
July 16, 2018
I read “Where Business Intelligence is Delivering Value in 2018.” The write up summarizes principal findings from a study conducted by Dresner Advisory Services, an outfit with which I am not familiar. I suggest you scan the summary in Cloud Tweaks and then, if you find the data interesting, chase after the Dresner outfit. My hunch is that the sales professionals will respond to your query.
Several items warranted my uncapping my trusty pink marker and circling an item of information.
First, I noticed a chart called Technologies and Initiatives Strategic to Business Intelligence. The chart presents data about 36 “technologies.” I noticed that “enterprise search” did not make the list. I did note that cognitive business intelligence, artificial intelligence, t4ext analytics, and natural language analytics did. If I were generous to a fault, I would say, “These Dresner analysts are covering enterprise search, just taking the Tinker Toy approach by naming areas of technologies.” However, I am not feeling generous, and I find it difficult to believe that Dresner or any other knowledge worker can do “work” without being able to find a file, data, look up a factoid, or perform even the most rudimentary type of research without using search. The omission of this category is foundational, and I am not sure I have much confidence in the other data arrayed in the report.
Second, I don’t know what “data storytelling” is. I suppose (and I am making a wild and crazy guess here) that a person who has some understanding of the source data, the algorithmic methods used to produce output, and the time to think about the likely accuracy of the output creates a narrative. For example, I have been in a recent meeting with the president of a high technology company who said, “We have talked to our customers, and we know we have to create our own system.” Obviously the fellow knows his customers, essentially government agencies. The customers (apparently most of them) want an alternative, and realizes change is necessary. The actual story based on my knowledge of the company, the product and service he delivers, and the government agencies’ budget constraints. The “real story” boils down to: “Deliver a cheaper product or you will lose the contract.” Stories, like those from teenagers who lose their homework, often do not reflect reality. What’s astounding is that data story telling is number eight on the hit parade of initiatives strategic to business intelligence. I was indeed surprised. But governance made the list as did governance. What the heck is governance?
Amazon Factoid: Home Speaker Department
July 9, 2018
Short honk: I read “What Cracking Open a Sonos One Tells Us aboiut the Sonos IPO.” In the write up was an interesting to me item of information. Here is what I noted:
Even though both [Sonos and Echo Plus] of these products are different in pretty much every decision that was made surrounding the hardware, they use the same backend Alexa service (where most of the IP is) from Amazon.
Interesting. Amazon’s approach allows it to generate revenue from a customer (maybe partner?) and from its own product line.
This appears to be a double dipping approach of value. What happens if Amazon decides to raise its prices for a customer (partner)? I suppose the Sonos-type outfit can hightail it to IBM’s, Google’s, or Microsoft’s cloud.
That may pose costs, timing challenges, and technical hoops. The time required by a Sonos-type outfit might be enough to allow Amazon to shave a few seconds off its lap time.
With Google slashing prices for its home gizmos, the home data ecosystem may become more interesting in the months ahead.
Stephen E Arnold, July 9, 2018
Oracle Responds to Amazon: Another Data Marketplace
July 5, 2018
For years, companies have been creating ways to capture and analyze their own data, but the Big Data field has evolved—now one can purchase valuable data instead of scraping one’s own. SaaS leader Oracle has posted a handy guide to their own Data Marketplace in their Help Center, as a subsection of their “Using Oracle Data Cloud” description. The introduction tells us:
“The Oracle Data Marketplace is the world’s largest third-party data marketplace and the standard for open and transparent audience data trading. It provides an ecosystem built on premium quality data, flexible and fair pricing, and scale that is unmatched in the industry. The result is the most comprehensive access to quality data available to target audiences at any stage of the purchase funnel. Oracle Data Marketplace data providers offer more than 30,000 data attributes to power your branding or direct marketing initiatives and let you connect with your target audience anywhere on the internet.
We also noted this statement:
Access actionable audience data on more than 300 million users. That’s over 80% of the entire US internet population at your fingertips….Leverage a range of data to power in-market to business to demographic targeting, some of which are exclusive and not available anywhere else.
The goal is to sell data. Who buys data? We learned:
Eighty percent of the top 20 ad networks, portals, trading desks, and creative optimizers leverage data from the Oracle Data Marketplace platform to run high-performance ad campaigns.”
Oracle will offer more than 200 “data partner solutions.” The write up includes two charts that summarize the available data, one for Oracle’s BlueKai platform (Oracle acquired BlueKai in 2014) and one for “branded data” – data supplied by prominent third-party aggregators from AcquireWeb to Webbula. A few names I recognize in between are Experian, Forbes, MasterCard, and TiVo Research.
Does this sound similar to Amazon’s “streaming data marketplace”? We think it does.
Which company is better positioned to take business from the credit checking outfits like TransUnion? Which company has more consumer data? Which company has focused on real time analytics?
Our bet? Well, we aren’t the type of people who visit casinos.
Cynthia Murrell, July 5, 2018
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
