With how important the internet has become in the digital age for communication, work, and entertainment, it’s critical that cybersecurity is included among our daily habits. This guide illuminates various aspects of cybersecurity, giving you practical solutions that will create that digital fortress around your online identity. From how to recognize and stop malware that changes your browser’s settings, to identifying phishing attempts and best practices for password use and security, consider the following: your cybersecurity 101.

Understanding the Threats: Malware, Phishing, and More

The first step to creating a digital fortress around your online identity is to face a few of the threats that can reside in the recesses of The Matrix.

Malware is short for malicious software and includes a number of harmful software types that are designed to invade or damage a computer system without the user’s informed consent. One breed of malware unsuspecting individuals often fall prey to is the variety that changes your browser’s settings, directing all searches to unwanted and/or malicious websites. This impacts user privacy, and can potentially lead to further malware infections or a data breach.

Additionally, we can all agree that phishing scams are not only a threat to a person’s online identity, but also to reputable businesses. Phishing is defined as the attempt to secure personal details, user names, passwords, financial details, etc. by using a device disguised as a confidence to trust an electronic communication. In most cases, these emails encourage users to click on a link, or download an attachment designed to steal information.

Building Your Digital Fortress: Best Practices for Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is a comprehensive endeavor that needs a proactive approach. Here are some of the best practices you can follow to build your digital fortress:

Be smart about passwordsThe first line of defense in online security is a password. Combine letters (both upper and lower case), numbers and special characters in passwords, and do not use commonly guessable information like birthdays and dictionary words. A password manager can help you generate and store these securely.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)Two-factor authentication (2FA) offers an extra layer of security by requiring an additional form of identification beyond just a password. This could be a text message code, an email, or an authentication app. Enabling 2FA makes it significantly harder for unauthorized users to access your accounts.
Regularly update software and systemsA key step in protecting against malware and other cyber threats is to keep your operating system, applications and security software up to date by installing the latest updates and patches. Software developers regularly put out releases that fix bugs and vulnerabilities which could be used to gain unauthorized access to your system.
Don’t fall for phishing attemptsKeep your eyes on your emails and messages. Never click on a link or download an email attachment from unknown or suspicious sources, and don’t use the attachments in a junk or spam email. If you get a message from a company requesting personal information, do not respond. Instead, contact the company using a telephone number or website from an official source. When filing your flat, be sure to check the ends of the web for the lock icon, which shows that your data is encrypted while traveling between your computer and the website.
Secure your networksDon’t use public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions–such as transferring financial or personal data–as it is open to compromise by hackers. If you must use public Wi-Fi, you may be able to protect yourself by using a virtual private network (VPN) which encrypts your internet connection so others can’t see your data traffic.
Check the webRegularly check your bank statements, credit report and online accounts for any unauthorised activity. The sooner you are aware of any break-in, the sooner you can limit access and reduce the effects of identity theft or fraud.
Educate yourself and othersStay informed on the latest cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats. Educating yourself and those around you on best security practices can help build a collective defense against cyber threats.
Be an advocateEncourage companies and governments to protect your data from cyber threats. Talk to your friends and family about the importance of protecting personal, financial and other sensitive data.

Stay safe online!

The journey to securing your digital identity is far from over. It is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a journey that requires perpetual learning and vigilance, and a constant process of evolving your defenses. To win it, you must stay informed, understand threats and best practices, and continue to implement robust security measures that can turn your digital lifestyle into an indomitable fortress that will make the endless deluge of cyberthreats won’t know what hit them.

Slash, the open-source link shortener. Create custom short links, organize them with tags, share them with your team, and track analytics while maintaining data privacy.

Image is subject to copyright!

Sharing links is an integral part of our daily online communication. However, dealing with long, complex URLs can be a hassle, making remembering and sharing links efficiently difficult.

What is Slash?Slash Link Shortener Dashboard

Slash is an open-source, self-hosted link shortener that simplifies the managing and sharing of links. Slash allows you to create customizable, shortened URLs (called “shortcuts”) for any website or online resource. With Slash, you can say goodbye to the chaos of managing lengthy links and embrace a more organized and streamlined approach to sharing information online.

One of the great things about Slash is that it can be self-hosted using Docker. By self-hosting Slash, you have complete control over your data.

Features of Slash:Custom Shortcuts: Transform any URL into a concise, memorable shortcut for easy sharing and access.Tag Organization: Categorize your shortcuts using tags for efficient sorting and retrieval.Team Sharing: Collaborate by sharing shortcuts with your team members.Link Analytics: Track link traffic and sources to understand usage.Browser Extension: Access shortcuts directly from your browser’s address bar on Chrome & Firefox.Collections: Group related shortcuts into collections for better organization.

Deploying WordPress with MySQL, Redis, and NGINX on Docker

Set up WordPress with a MySQL database and Redis as an object cache on Docker with an NGINX Reverse Proxy for blazing-fast performance.

Prerequisites:

Method 1: Docker Run CLI

The docker run command is used to create and start a new Docker container. To deploy Slash, run:

docker run -d –name slash -p 5231:5231 -v ~/.slash/:/var/opt/slash yourselfhosted/slash:latest

Let’s break down what this command does:

docker run tells Docker to create and start a new container-d runs the container in detached mode (in the background)–name slash gives the container the name “slash” for easy reference-p 5231:5231 maps the container’s port 5231 to the host’s port 5231, allowing access to Slash from your browser-v ~/.slash/:/var/opt/slash creates a volume to store Slash’s persistent data on your host machineyourselfhosted/slash:latest specifies the Docker image to use (the latest version of Slash)

After running this command, your Slash instance will be accessible at http://your-server-ip:5231.

Method 2: Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a tool that simplifies defining and running multi-container Docker applications. It uses a YAML file to configure the application’s services.

Create a new file named docker-compose.yml and paste the contents of the Docker Compose file provided below.version: ‘3’

services:
slash:
image: yourselfhosted/slash:latest
container_name: slash
ports:
– 5231:5231
volumes:
– slash:/var/opt/slash
restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
slash:

docker-compose.yml

Start Slash using the Docker Compose command:docker compose up -d

This command will pull the required Docker images and start the Slash container in the background.

After running this command, your Slash container will be accessible at http://your-server-ip:5231

Slash is ready & allows you to create, manage, and share shortened URLs without relying on third-party services or compromising your data privacy.

Setup Memos Note-Taking App with MySQL on Docker & S3 Storage

Self-host the open-source, privacy-focused note-taking app Memos using Docker with a MySQL database and integrate with S3 or Cloudflare R2 object storage.

Benefits of Self-Hosting Slash Link Shortener

By self-hosting you gain several advantages:

Data Privacy: Keep your data and links secure within your infrastructure, ensuring complete control over your information.Customization: Tailor Slash to your specific needs, such as branding, integrations, or additional features.Cost-Effective: Eliminate recurring subscription fees associated with third-party link-shortening services.Scalability: Scale your Slash instance according to your requirements, ensuring optimal performance as your link management needs to grow.

Slash offers a seamless solution for managing and sharing links, empowering individuals and teams to streamline their digital workflows.

13 Tips to Reduce Energy Costs on Your HomeLab Server

HomeLabs can be expensive when it comes to energy costs. It’s easy to accumulate multiple power-hungry servers, networking equipment, and computers.

Shlink — The URL shortener

The self-hosted and PHP-based URL shortener application with CLI and REST interfaces

1.1 About | Blink

CircleCI

GitHub – SinTan1729/chhoto-url: A simple, lightning-fast, selfhosted URL shortener with no unnecessary features; written in Rust.

A simple, lightning-fast, selfhosted URL shortener with no unnecessary features; written in Rust. – SinTan1729/chhoto-url

GitHub – Easypanel-Community/easyshortener: A simple URL shortener created with Laravel 10

A simple URL shortener created with Laravel 10. Contribute to Easypanel-Community/easyshortener development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub – miawinter98/just-short-it: Just Short It (damnit)! The most KISS single-user URL shortener there is.

Just Short It (damnit)! The most KISS single-user URL shortener there is. – GitHub – miawinter98/just-short-it: Just Short It (damnit)! The most KISS single-user URL shortener there is.

liteshort

User-friendly, actually lightweight, and configurable URL shortener

GitHub – ldidry/lstu: Lightweight URL shortener. Read-only mirror of https://framagit.org/fiat-tux/hat-softwares/lstu

Lightweight URL shortener. Read-only mirror of https://framagit.org/fiat-tux/hat-softwares/lstu – ldidry/lstu

Lynx

The sleek, powerful URL shortener you’ve been looking for.

GitHub – hossainalhaidari/pastr: Minimal URL shortener and paste tool

Minimal URL shortener and paste tool. Contribute to hossainalhaidari/pastr development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub – azlux/Simple-URL-Shortener: url shortener written in php (with MySQL or SQLite) with history by users

url shortener written in php (with MySQL or SQLite) with history by users – azlux/Simple-URL-Shortener

Przemek Dragańczuk / simply-shorten · GitLab

GitLab.com

YOURLS | YOURLS

Your Own URL Shortener

The process of creating a web application is quite time-consuming and multi-stage. That is why a whole team of specialists with relevant skills is working on it. Each of them performs an important mission and has their own responsibilities.

However, among all these specialists, it is worth highlighting a senior backend developer – a specialist who takes care of creating a functional and reliable technical basis. In this article, we offer to learn in more detail what exactly such a specialist does and to understand their role in the process.

The Foundation of a New Web Application

To understand how valuable these specialists are in the development process, it is enough to analyze the specifics of their activity. Backend developers are those people who deal with all components of the internal part of the software solution. That is, their responsibilities include maintaining the operation of data processing mechanisms, creating a basis for security and signaling (interface interaction), and running various functions on the server side.

All this cannot be seen by the users, but they can evaluate the responsiveness of the buttons, the specifics of performing certain actions in the web application, and other points related to the internal functionality. It is worth noting that the responsibilities of backend developers also include processing and managing large amounts of data. For this, experts create effective solutions for searching and storing data.

Cooperation and Integration

In the process of work, backend specialists actively interact with the teams that develop the interface. They create certain technological solutions that serve as points for data exchange between parties. This is the key to the harmonious development of a software product with minimal risks of errors and bugs. In addition, such points are the basis for real-time updates and smooth interaction.

Protection of Databases

The responsibility of establishing a system for reliable protection of confidential information of users and owners is also assumed by the backend developer. They implement special authorization and authentication mechanisms that allow you to control visits to the web application and protect it from hacking.

Access levels are also implemented. For example, only authorized users can interact with certain components. Another important step towards this is the implementation of special encryption protocols. They guarantee additional protection against unauthorized use of data.

Traffic Scaling and Handling

During the use of each software product, certain waves of activity are observed. There may be peak loads at some hours, and no traffic at all at others. Such fluctuations are harmful to the web application, so there is a need for load regulation. This is also the responsibility of the backend developer.

For this, the specialist usually uses different methods of distributing the load between several servers. In particular, thanks to the introduction of caching mechanisms, as well as balancing technology. In this way, the risks of failures in the web application are significantly minimized, which allows you to avoid large losses from minor failures.

Conclusions

The backend developer is one of the key figures in the process of creating a web application. This is due to the specifics of the work of such a specialist. They handle all internal processes: code creation, security, and functionality setup, creating channels for interaction with frontend developers, as well as scaling and data processing. This means that their skills and knowledge contribute not only to the functionality but also to the efficiency and security of the software solution.

Bare metal gives you total control over the hypervisor for maximum flexibility and resource optimization. Dedicated hosts keep things simple with the cloud provider managing the VMs for you.

Image is subject to copyright!

Let’s imagine you’re the owner of a fastest-growing e-commerce business. Your online store is getting more and more traffic every day, and you need to scale up your server infrastructure to handle the increased load. You’ve decided to move your operations to the cloud, but you’re unsure whether to go with bare metal servers or dedicated hosts. How does it impact your growth of business?

What are Bare Metal Servers & Dedicated Hosts, and what is the main difference?Bare Metal vs. Dedicated Host

Both bare metal servers and dedicated hosts are physical machines located in a cloud provider’s data center. The main difference lies in who manages the hypervisor layer – the software that allows you to run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical server.

What is a Hypervisor and What Does It Do?

A hypervisor is a software layer that creates and runs virtual machines (VMs) on a physical host machine. It allows multiple operating systems to share the same hardware resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage. Each VM runs its own operating system and applications, isolated from the others, providing a secure and efficient way to run multiple workloads on a single physical server.

Types of Hypervisors Used in Cloud Data CentersType 1 (Bare-Metal) Type 2 (Hosted)Type 1 Hypervisor vs Type 2 Hypervisor

Type 1 (Bare-Metal) Hypervisors run directly on the host’s hardware, providing better performance and efficiency. Examples include VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Citrix Hypervisor.

Type 2 (Hosted) Hypervisors run on top of a host operating system, like Windows or Linux. Examples include VMware Workstation, Oracle VirtualBox, and Parallels Desktop.

Cloud providers often prefer Type 1 hypervisors for their data centers due to their superior performance and security.

Bare Metal vs Virtual Machines vs Containers: The Differences

When deploying a modern application stack, how do we decide which one to use? Bare Metal, VMs or Containers?

With a bare metal server, you’re essentially renting the entire physical machine from the cloud provider. However, you’re also responsible for installing and managing the hypervisor software yourself. This gives you a lot of control and flexibility. You can tweak the hypervisor settings to optimize performance, overcommit resources (like CPU and RAM) to squeeze more virtual machines onto the physical server, and have direct access to the hypervisor for monitoring, logging, and backing up your VMs.

Think of it like renting a house. You’re in charge of everything – from painting the walls to mowing the lawn. It’s a lot of work, but you get to customize the house to your exact preferences.

Feature
Bare Metal Server
Dedicated Host

Hardware
Physical server rented from cloud provider
Physical server rented from cloud provider

Hypervisor Management
Customer installs and manages the hypervisor software
Cloud provider installs and manages the hypervisor software

Hypervisor Control
Full control over hypervisor configuration settings
Limited or no control over hypervisor settings

Resource Allocation
Can overcommit CPU, RAM across VMs for efficiency
Limited ability to overcommit resources across VMs

Monitoring
Direct access to hypervisor for monitoring and logging
Rely on cloud provider’s monitoring tools

Backup/Recovery
Can backup VMs directly through hypervisor
Must use cloud provider’s backup/recovery services

Scalability
Scale VMs up/down based on available server resources
Request cloud provider to scale VMs up/down

Security
Responsible for securing the hypervisor layer
Cloud provider secures the hypervisor layer

Management Complexity
High, requires hypervisor expertise
Low, cloud provider handles hypervisor management

Pricing Model
Pay for entire physical server capacity
Pay for VM instances based on usage

Use Cases
High performance, legacy apps, regulatory compliance
General-purpose applications, simplified operations

Examples
IBM Cloud Bare Metal, AWS EC2 Bare Metal
IBM Cloud Dedicated Hosts, AWS Dedicated Hosts

Dedicated Hosts: Simplicity but Less Control

On the other hand, a dedicated host is like renting an apartment in a managed building. The cloud provider takes care of the hypervisor layer for you. All you have to do is tell them how many virtual machines you want, and they’ll set them up on the dedicated host for you. You don’t have to worry about managing the hypervisor or any of the underlying infrastructure.

The trade-off, of course, is that you have less control over the specifics. You can’t overcommit resources or tinker with the hypervisor settings. But for many businesses, the simplicity and convenience of a dedicated host are worth it.

How Companies Are Saving Millions by Migrating Away from AWS to Bare Metal Servers?

Many startups initially launch on AWS or other public clouds because it allows rapid scaling without upfront investments. But as these companies grow, the operating costs steadily rise.

Open-Source Hypervisor Alternatives

While cloud providers typically use proprietary hypervisors like VMware ESXi or Hyper-V, there are also free and open-source alternatives available, such as:

Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE): A complete open-source server virtualization management solution that includes a KVM hypervisor and a web-based management interface.Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM): A type 1 hypervisor that’s part of the Linux kernel, providing virtualization capabilities without requiring proprietary software.Xen Project Hypervisor: An open-source type 1 hypervisor that supports a wide range of guest operating systems and virtualization use cases.Which Option is Right for Your E-commerce Business?

If you have a team of skilled system administrators who love getting their hands dirty with server configurations, and you need the flexibility to fine-tune your infrastructure for optimal performance, a bare metal server might be the way to go.

However, if you’d rather focus on your core business and leave the nitty-gritty server management to the experts, a dedicated host could be a better fit. It’s a more hands-off approach, allowing you to concentrate on building and scaling your e-commerce platform without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

Should You Use Open Source Large Language Models?

The benefits, risks, and considerations associated with using open-source LLMs, as well as the comparison with proprietary models.

DevOps vs SRE vs Platform Engineering – Explained

At small companies, engineers often wear multiple hats, juggling a mix of responsibilities. Large companies have specialized teams with clearly defined roles in DevOps, SRE, and Platform Engineering.

These days, it seems like every popular online game has its own virtual currency that players are constantly chasing. For the massive Roblox community, that coveted in-game cash is called Robux – and players are always hunting for new ways to stock up without opening their real wallets. That’s where services like RBX Demon come into play, promising easy Robux just for completing simple tasks online. But is it truly a legitimate way to earn on Roblox or just another sketchy scheme?

How RBX Demon Works

On the surface, RBX Demon’s core concept seems pretty straightforward. The website hosts an assortment of “offers” that users can complete to earn varying amounts of points. This includes things like:

Downloading and running mobile apps/games
Watching videos or advertisements
Signing up for free trial subscriptions
Taking surveys or filling out forms with your info

As you knock out these tedious but easy gigs one by one, the points accumulate. Once you’ve racked up enough, RBX Demon allows you to cash those points in and have the equivalent amount of Robux deposited straight into your Roblox account. No paid membership fees or anything – just trade your time and efforts for free Robux!

What’s The Catch?

Of course, if it were truly as simple as clicking a few buttons and watching the Robux just pile up, every Roblox player would be doing it. The reality is that earning any substantial amount takes a fair bit of grinding.

Many of the videos and surveys only reward 10-30 points a pop, meaning you’d need to complete a huge quantity just to hit the minimum 1000 points required for a Robux payout. The bigger-ticket app install offers tend to pay better but are more of a commitment. Then there’s the often aggravating factor of offer wall companies failing to properly track and credit your efforts.

It’s a process that demands a ton of patience and persistence. Still, for a devoted Roblox player who realistically isn’t going to drop real money on micro-transactions, it arguably beats not earning anything at all.

User Testimonies

With its too-good-to-be-true premise, it’s no surprise RBX Demon has plenty of skeptics decrying it as an outright scam across Roblox forums and social media. However, the site also has plenty of users vouching for it as 100% legitimate based on their own experiences.

On Twitter, one player claimed: “Thanks to @RBXDemon, I’ve earned over 12,000 free Robux so far just by messing around on my phone! Took some time, but way better than paying for that junk.”

Another Redditor shared, “RBX Demon is legit and has regularly paid out my Robux. The key is sticking to the higher-paying offers and filtering out all the garbage 15-pointer tasks that just waste your time.”

Of course, those are balanced out by just as many complaints from users who never received their earned Robux at all despite grinding hard. Inconsistency seems to be a major issue based on the mixed bag of testimonies out there. Your mileage may vary significantly.

Potential Risks to Consider

Beyond the coreRBX Demon experience simply being hit-or-miss for many, there are some bigger potential risks to consider before going through the hassle:

Roblox’s Terms of Service technically prohibit buying or earning Robux through any unauthorized third-party services. If you’re detected earning currency this way, there’s a chance Roblox could freeze or terminate your account. Many suggest using a spare “burner” account if trying RBX Demon to avoid jeopardizing your main.
Some of the offers can potentially put your personal data or device security at risk if you aren’t very careful. You may need to adjust security settings, download shady software, or enter sensitive info for Pay-to-Install campaigns that could lead to malware exposure.
Most of the high-paying offers require spending money upfront on subscription services and paid mobile apps, which you’ll then need to attempt to get refunded after RBX Demon credits you. This risk vs. reward factor makes it a non-starter for some.

Final Thoughts

Frugal Roblox players have to weigh those potential downsides against how much they personally value free Robux. Suppose you take all the right precautionary steps (Burner accounts, premium mobile security, separate payment methods, etc).

In that case, RBX Demon may scratch that itch for some bonus in-game currency without completely breaking the bank. Just don’t expect earning Robux this way to be a cakewalk and keep an eye out on the rbx demon website, third-party websites, and its discord server for rbx demon codes, private server codes, and more such information.

Suppose, as a small business owner, you’ve worked hard to build an e-commerce website that showcases your unique products. Your website is gaining traction, and you’re starting to see a steady increase in customer traffic. However, with this growth comes a new challenge – scalability.

Credit: Melody Onyeocha on Dribble

Whenever a customer clicks your site’s “Buy Now” button, your web application needs to process the order instantly, update the inventory, and send a confirmation email. But what happens when hundreds of customers start placing orders simultaneously? Your current server-based architecture simply can’t keep up, leading to slow response times, frustrated customers, and lost sales.

So you need a more scalable solution for your web application. This is where serverless computing comes in, allowing you to focus on code rather than infrastructure.

What is FaaS (Functions as a Service)?

Functions as a Service (FaaS) is a cloud computing service that allows you to run your code in response to specific events or requests, without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure. With FaaS, you simply write the individual functions (or “microservices”) that make up your application, and the cloud provider takes care of provisioning servers, scaling resources, and managing the runtime environment.

The benefits of FaaS:Pay-per-use: You only pay for the compute time when your functions are executed, rather than paying for always-on server capacity. Automatic scaling: The cloud provider automatically scales your functions up or down based on incoming traffic, ensuring your application can handle sudden spikes in demand. Focus on code: With the infrastructure management handled by the cloud provider, you can focus solely on writing the business logic for your application.

FaaS is specifically focused on building and running applications as a set of independent functions or microservices. Major cloud providers like AWS (Lambda), Microsoft Azure (Functions), and Google Cloud (Cloud Functions) offer FaaS platforms that allow developers to write and deploy individual functions without managing the underlying infrastructure.

What is Serverless?

Serverless is a broader cloud computing model that involves FaaS but also includes other fully managed services like databases (e.g., AWS DynamoDB, Azure Cosmos DB, Google Cloud Datastore), message queues (e.g., AWS SQS, Azure Service Bus, Google Cloud Pub/Sub), and storage (e.g., AWS S3, Azure Blob Storage, Google Cloud Storage).

In a serverless architecture, the cloud provider is responsible for provisioning, scaling, and managing the entire backend infrastructure required to run your application.

The benefits of Serverless Computing:Reduced operational overhead: With no servers to manage, you can focus entirely on building your application without worrying about infrastructure. Event-driven architecture: Serverless applications are designed around event triggers, allowing you to react to user actions, data changes, or scheduled events in real time. Seamless scalability: Serverless platforms automatically scale your application’s resources up and down based on demand, with no additional configuration required on your part.

Feature
FaaS
Serverless

Infrastructure Management
Handles provisioning and scaling of servers/containers for your functions
Handles provisioning and scaling of the entire backend infrastructure, including servers, databases, message queues, etc.

Pricing Model
Pay-per-execution (cost per function invocation)
Pay-per-use (cost per resource consumption, e.g., CPU, memory, data transfer)

Scalability
Automatically scales functions up and down based on demand
Automatically scales the entire application infrastructure up and down based on demand

Stateful vs. Stateless
Functions are typically stateless
Supports both stateful and stateless services

Event-Driven Architecture
Supports event-driven execution of functions
Natively supports event-driven architecture with managed event services

Third-Party Service Integration
Integrates with other cloud services through API calls
Seamless integration with a rich ecosystem of managed cloud services

Development Focus
Concentrate on writing the application logic in the form of functions
Concentrate on building the overall application structure and leveraging managed services

Vendor Lock-in
Some vendor lock-in, as functions are typically tied to a specific FaaS platform
Potential for vendor lock-in, as Serverless often relies on a broader set of managed services

Examples
AWS Lambda, Azure Functions, Google Cloud Functions, IBM Cloud Functions
AWS (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB), Azure (Functions, Cosmos DB, Event Grid), Google Cloud (Functions, Datastore, Pub/Sub), IBM Cloud (Functions, Object Storage, Databases)

Infrastructure Management
Handles provisioning and scaling of servers/containers for your functions
Handles provisioning and scaling of the entire backend infrastructure, including servers, databases, message queues, etc.

1. Scope

FaaS is a specific type of serverless architecture that is focused on building and running applications as a set of independent functions. Serverless computing, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses a range of cloud computing models, including FaaS, BaaS, and others.

2. Granularity

FaaS is a more fine-grained approach to building and running applications, as it allows developers to break down applications into smaller, independent functions. Serverless computing, on the other hand, can be used to build and run entire applications, not just individual functions.

3. Pricing

FaaS providers typically charge based on the number of function executions and the duration of those executions. Serverless computing providers, on the other hand, may charge based on a variety of factors, such as the number of API requests, the amount of data stored, and the number of users.

Major cloud providers that offer FaaS and serverless computing services:AWS Lambda – AWS Lambda is a FaaS platform that allows developers to run code without provisioning or managing servers. Lambda supports a variety of programming languages, including Python, Node.js, Java, and C#.Azure Functions – Azure Functions is a serverless computing service that allows developers to build event-driven applications using a variety of programming languages, including C#, Java, JavaScript, and Python.Google Cloud Functions – Google Cloud Functions is a FaaS platform that allows developers to run code in response to specific events, such as changes to a Cloud Storage bucket or the creation of a Pub/Sub message.IBM Cloud Functions – IBM Cloud Functions is a serverless computing platform that allows developers to build and run event-driven applications using a variety of programming languages, including Node.js, Swift, and Java.Oracle Cloud Functions – Oracle Cloud Functions is a FaaS platform that allows developers to build and run serverless applications using a variety of programming languages, including Python, Node.js, and Java.Choosing Between FaaS and ServerlessUse FaaS for:Opt for serverless computing when:You’re deploying complex applications that require a unified environment for all components.You want to reduce the operational overhead of managing servers while maintaining control over application configurations.

Understand with an Example

Suppose you want to build a simple web application that allows users to upload images and apply filters to them. With a traditional server-based architecture, you would need to provision and manage servers, install and configure software, and handle scaling and availability. This can be time-consuming and expensive, especially if you’re just starting out.

With a serverless architecture, on the other hand, you can focus on writing the code for the application logic, and let the cloud provider handle the rest.

For instance, you could use AWS Lambda (FaaS) to run the code that processes the uploaded images, AWS S3 for storage, and other AWS services like API Gateway and DynamoDB as part of the overall serverless architecture. The cloud provider would automatically scale the resources up or down based on demand, and you would only pay for the resources you actually use.

All FaaS is serverless, but not all serverless is FaaS.

FaaS is a type of serverless architecture, but the two terms are not the same. FaaS is all about creating and running applications as separate functions, while serverless computing is a wider term that covers different cloud computing models. In other words, FaaS is a specific way of doing serverless computing that involves breaking down an application into small, independent functions that can be run separately. Serverless computing, on the other hand, is a more general approach that can involve using different cloud services to build and run an application without having to manage servers.

The major cloud providers offer varying levels of tooling and community support for their FaaS and serverless offerings. AWS has the largest community and a mature set of tools like AWS SAM for local development and testing of serverless applications.

Microsoft Azure has good tooling integration with Visual Studio Code, while Google Cloud’s tooling is still catching up. A strong developer ecosystem and community support can be crucial when building and maintaining serverless applications.

FaaS Platform

Feature
Lambda
Azure Functions
Cloud Functions

Arm64 architecture

Compiled binary deployment

Wildcard SSL certificate free

Serverless KV store
DynamoDB
CosmosDB
Datastore

Serverless SQL
Aurora Serverless
Azure SQL
BigQuery

IaC deployment templates
SAM, CloudFormation
ARM, Bicep
GDM

IaC drift detection

Single shot stack deployment

Developement

Feature
Lambda
Azure Functions
Cloud Functions

Virtualized local execution

FaaS dev tools native for arm64

Go SDK support

PHP SDK support

VSCode tooling

Dev tools native for Apple Silicon

Feature
Lambda
Azure Functions
Cloud Functions

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In his books and speeches, he challenges businesses not just to excel, but to “create distinction” in their fields. But what happens after a business achieves that pinnacle of becoming best-in-class? According to Scott, the next step is to attain an iconic status that sets a company apart so profoundly that it becomes a benchmark within its industry. It’s like being named “the Nike” or “the Cadillac”. As both Scott and I believe in the power of continuous improvement, our conversation naturally evolved to explore what comes next after reaching iconic heights.

Scott takes us there in his latest book, The Ultimate Customer Service Experience. While many of his other books are for business leadership, this one is for everybody. Why? Because everyone at your organization is responsible for creating the ultimate customer experience.

Have you ever:

tried to shop in a store and had multiple employees tell you, “That’s not my job?”
waited at a restaurant for your server while multiple staff walked by your empty table?
been passed from one person to another on the phone only to end up where you started?

Those all point to an organization’s failure to give every employee a sense of ownership over the customer experience. And while many companies have very “vertical” organizations where different departments are in charge of different aspects of customer service… Scott reminds us that the experience is always “horizontal” from the customer’s point of view. I know that I don’t care what department someone is in. Do you?

This must be modeled from the top down, of course. We all know companies where the leader’s attitude is more “throw anyone under the bus” instead of “the buck stops here.” And we know that creating the ultimate customer experience requires leadership. But if you can’t count on everyone to be part of that team? Then no one person—not even the CEO—can save the day.

As always, Scott isn’t just smart, he’s fun to listen to. His books and presentations are always filled with interesting and inspiring stories because he understands that, in his case, that’s part of creating the experience for us, his audience.

I hope you’ll listen in. It’s a fast-paced conversation with some great takeaways for everyone.

For more information, see The Ultimate Customer Service Experience

Image Credit: Bence Boros

I always remember my mother telling me to choose my friends wisely. If you befriend the wrong person who does the wrong thing at the wrong time, and you are with them, you too might get into trouble, even if it isn’t your fault. That’s life. Many a person is in prison because of just such a situation. It was always an important lesson to remember.

The lesson below is similar.  It says that you need to pick your friends wisely, but for a different reason. He says that, “you are the average of the five people you spend the most amount of time with.” So, if you want to be goal-oriented and successful, hang out with people who are goal-oriented and successful.  If you find yourself hanging out with a bunch of knuckleheads or class clowns or trouble-makers, you might eventually fall into those categories.  Furthermore, he says that there are four types of friends:

Addition: people that will add to your life and make your life better.Subtraction: when you are with these people, you are not the best version of you.Multiplication: They make you the best version of yourself.Division: People who are always dividing and making things hard.

In conclusion, you need to pick your friends wisely.  How do you do that? You select the people in your life who bring out the best version of yourself and get rid of the people who bring drama and trouble to your life. If someone makes you feel bad about yourself, they are probably not the best person for you. If someone is distracting you from the life that you want for yourself, they are probably not good for you. Begin paying attention to this and choose the friends that bring out the best version of you. End of lesson.