Cloud Computing for Beginners

Cloud Computing is a model for enabling network access as a shared pool. This concept provides clients to store their data to third party data centre. It relies on sharing of resource over a network. It maximizes the effective use of shared resources. Resources available in cloud are not only used by multiple users but allocation happen based on demand. This approach helps clients and companies to reduce their cost.

When you read that a particular company is moving to cloud that means that they are not going to purchase any hardware/software or any technical CAPEX item and will the take those services via cloud.

There are many benefits we get as a company once we move to cloud.

• Data Centralization
• Cost Reductions
• Resource sharing
• Continuous Monitoring
• Easy Maintenance
• Reliability

Large companies which wanted to move to cloud they need to finalize that which kind of services theywanted to use.

•   IAAS (Infrastructure as a Service)
•   PAAS (Platform as a Service)
•   SAAS (Software as a service)

        IAAS

        If we go with Infrastructure as a service we get virtual machines, servers, storage and network

        PAAS

       If we go with platform as a service, we get a computing platform which includes OS, Environment for programming, database and servers. Software developer can built the code and execute

        SAAS

       If we go with software as a service then we can get the access of application software and databases. We can go with software and even can pay based on usage.

       Once we finalize what kind of services we are going to use we decide on deployment. Basically there are many deployment methods are available but three kind of deployment are very common  

•            Private Cloud
•            Public Cloud
•            Hybrid Cloud

         Private Cloud

         This deployment will be for a single organization, owner can decide whether that will be managed by company    people or nay third party. Once you feel like going on private cloud you need to decide what you are going to      do with your current infrastructure. This requires significant level of changes and this will be costly also.

         Public Cloud

         Public cloud services may be free and you can opt all the services which are open for public use. Services        which we used via public cloud go via non trusted network.

       Hybrid Cloud

       Hybrid cloud is a composition of two or more clouds (Private, Public or any other). System treats these different entities but will be bound together. This deployment helps system manager to identify services based on actual requirement. Hybrid cloud is one where IT organizations use public cloud computing resources to meet temporary capacity needs that cannot be met by the private cloud.

      

      Having said that there are some privacy and security issues which comes in the picture like

      Cloud computing poses privacy concerns because the service provider can access the data that is on the cloud at any time. It could accidentally or deliberately alter or even delete information. Many cloud providers can share information with third parties if necessary for purposes of law and order even without a warrant. Users can encrypt data that is processed or stored within the cloud to prevent unauthorized access.

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      mesanjaybakshi@gmail.com

Use of Name Manager in Excel

Use of Name Manager in Excel

Name Manager helps user to define names for their formula which actually help them to understand formula easier.

Name Manager comes in use when you are creating any excel file with multiple references, like working on “Employee Appraisal Data” or “Financial Budget” or “Financial MIS” etc.

Let’s see how this works, we will take an example of electronic shop

I am providing Cell No inside the grid to understand how it works

Normal Way

Product Code	Product Name	Unit Price	Quantity	Total Bill
P1	TV	76000(D2)	2(E2)	152000(E2*D2)
P2	Washing Machine	24000(D3)	3(E3)	72000(E2*D3)
P3	Iron	1000(D4)	10(E4)	10000(E2*D4)
P4	Mixer	2000(D5)	12(E5)	24000(E2*D5)
Total with Formula				258000
Discount%				20%
Actual Bill				206400

Total with Formula= SUM(F2:F5)

Actual Bill = F6-(F6*F9)

With Name Manager

1) Select Formula TAB

2) Select Name Manager

3) Click New

4) Provide name (In above case, I have given “Final_Total”)

5) Provide Cell Reference (cell reference is sum of total bill)

Now follow same steps for Discount

1) Select Formula TAB

2) Select Name Manager

3) Click New

4) Provide name (In above case, I have given “Discount”)

5) Provide Cell Reference (Value of Discount% will be the cell reference for this)

Now in Actual Bill we can write formula directly Final_Total-(Final_Total*Discount) rather than giving formula.

This will make easy for the person who is reviewing excel sheet first time, no need to run around with cells and understand how you have arrived the value of Actual Bill

These are the basics of implementing and managing names that any Excel user should know. Once you get used to names, you can create and use formulas with ease. It may take some time to learn and get into this habit, but I suggest you put in the effort. It’s well worth it!

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Sanjay Bakshi

mesanjaybakshi@gmail.com

SQL 2016 : Always Encrypted

Recently I have gone for Annual Summit of SSGAS2015 and got a chance to grasp some knowledge from some top SQL Server Expert and the main topic was SQL Server 2016.

There are a lot of new things coming up in this new version and one of the features which I like was Always Encrypted.

In the days of SQL Server 2005, column level encryption was allowed within database engine. We used to encrypt the sensitive data by an application and decrypted whenever is required. Post encryption data will be encrypted on disk, in memory and on the network. However column level application used to require changing the application code with the help of functions. e.g Encrypt By Key and Decrypt by Key.

When SQL Server 2008 came into existence it got option of TDE (Transparent Data Encryption) which will encrypt the database without having to change the application code or using any third party tool. We actually got two concepts in TDE. First are “In Rest” and “In Motion”. Data in rest will be encrypt but as soon as data will be in “In Motion” state like into memory or over the network, the information will decrypted automatically and therefore not protected.

Now with SQL Server 2016 Microsoft has introduced “Always Encrypted” option which includes end to end encryption without the need for application code change. Always Encrypted provides a separation between users who own the data and users who manage the data, such as administrators, because the encryption/decryption occurs at the client layer.

So your code will look like this

Create Table Contact

(

Contract_no nvarchar(60),

Contract_Short_Desc nvarchar(1000)

            Encrypt WITH (COLUMN_ENCRYPTION_KEY=CEK1,

            Encryption_Type=RANDOMIZED,

            ALGORITHAM=’Algoritham Value’

)

GO

There are two kind of Encryption Type available

Deterministic encryption - a method which always generates the same encrypted value for any given plain text value. Using deterministic encryption allows grouping, filtering by equality, and joining tables based on encrypted values, but can also allow unauthorized users to guess information about encrypted values by examining patterns in the encrypted column. This weakness is increased when there is a small set of possible encrypted values, such as True/False, or North/South/East/West region.

Randomized encryption - a method that encrypts data in a less predictable manner. Randomized encryption is more secure, but prevents equality searches, grouping, indexing, and joining on encrypted columns.

Two types of encryption keys are required for encryption: A Column Encryption Key (CEK) and a Column Master Key (CMK). The CEK is used to perform fast, synchronous data encryption while the CMK is used to encrypt the CEK asynchronously for high security.

We can get Algorithm value under Column Encryption Key Properties. Once we set the algorithm and enable the Column Encryption Setting enabled we will get the query result like below. 

There are some constraints as well available with Always Encrypted

   In Deterministic Encryption queries can perform equality comparison but we will not be able to use greater/less, pattern matching or any arithmetical operations.

   Queries cannot perform on columns encrypted by using randomized encryption

Currently, the only driver supporting Always Encrypted is SqlClient in .NET Framework 4.6.

     Following data types are not supported

o    Xml

o    Image

o    ntext

o    text

o    user defined data types

o    sql_variant

o    hierarchyid

Happy Reading

mesanjaybakshi@gmail.com

Let’s knock the WINDOWS

Windows 10 was released in July 2015 and some of the articles mention that Windows 10 will be the last version of windows.

 First of all it will be a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users...HURAAYYYYY

•          Start button is back and look of start menu is totally changed. Now user can switch between virtual desktop easily.
•          Snap assist feature has been enhanced.
•          New feature in command prompt has been added. Like copy paste option, window resize option
•          Windows media centre is not available

But let’s go back and see how all this has started? How and when windows came into action why they have dominated the world?

In 1983 Microsoft announced the development of Windows, a Graphical User Interface for its own OS. The first independent version of Microsoft Windows v1.0 released on 20^th Nov 1985, In this version Microsoft includes Windows Paint, Windows Write , Word Processor, Appointment calendar, Notepad, Clock, Control Panel, clipboard and RAM driver. But providing all this they have achieved little popularity.

But in May 1990 when Windows 3.0 released it was the significant success. In addition to improved capabilities given to native application, Windows also allowed users to better multitask.

Windows 95 was the consumer based operating system developed my Microsoft. It was released on August 24 1995 and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products. Microsoft has given code Chicago to Windows 95.

•         It was the complete operating system rather than a graphical user interface running on top of Ms-Dos
•         New introduced desktop
•         Right Button Menu
•         New help system
•       Task bar and start menu
•       Build in network support
•        Folder View
•        Support 32 Bit application for multitasking

      Windows 98 on 25th June Microsoft released Windows 98. They have given the code name Memphis. Windows 98 has integrated the Internet standard comprehensively. It unifys ans simplifys desktop with Internet technology and allows the users to find and browse the information on the computer or on the internet more simply and faster. It has a faster speed and greater stability. With the brand new self-maintenance and updating function, users can have more spare time to concentrate on work or games instead of system management. 

•          Convenient to install
•          Plug and play function
•          Improved UI
•          Provide better support for MS-DOS without MS-DOS
•          The function of mouse stands out

      Windows 2000 on Feb 2000 Microsoft released the Windows 2000. It was successfully deployed both on server and workstation. The best feature was the Active Directory.

•          DVD support - Auto-play, DVD movies on laptops
•          Multi-monitor support - Up to 10 video cards/monitors, each with different resolutions and colour depths if desired.
•          Accessibility - Accessibility Wizard, new or improved accessibility features such as narrator, on-screen keyboard, magnifier, and the familiar tools from Windows 98.
•          Move files without wires - Infrared monitor service supports IRDA for file transfer between Windows 2000 machines and digital cameras, digital video cameras, and other devices.
•          Plug & Play - Hot dock laptops, on-the-fly networking and other features are implemented without requiring rebooting or manual configuration.
•          Virtual Private Networking (VPN).
•          Smart cards - Makes network logons more secure with minimal cost.
•          Support for your devices - Windows 2000 supports over 4000 printers, 700 network devices, 4200 modems, 55 scanners, 50 cameras, and a vast array of other hardware devices

      Windows ME was launched in Sep 2000, it was the last DOS based Operating system from Microsoft. Windows ME introduced with a new multimedia application called Windows Movie Maker.

      Windows XP Launched on 25^th Oct 2001 with lots of new functionalities, XP got very much positive reviews and people have notice the increased performance, a good user interface, improved hardware support and its multimedia capabilities.

·         XP includes clear type sub pixel rendering which makes onscreen font smoother and readable on LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

·         Start button has been updated with Fitt’s law. To help the user access a wider range of common destinations more easily from a single location, the Start menu was expanded to two columns; the left column focuses on the user's installed applications, while the right column provides access to the user's documents, and system links which were previously located on the desktop. 

·         There are significant changes made to Windows Explorer in Windows XP, both visually and functionally. Microsoft focused especially on making Windows Explorer more discoverable and task-based, as well as adding a number of features to reflect the growing use of a computer as a “digital hub”.

·         Microsoft introduced animated "Search Companions" in an attempt to make searching more engaging and friendly; the default character is a puppy named Rover, 

·         Windows XP includes Windows Picture and Fax Viewer which is based on GDI+[16] and is capable of viewing image formats supported by GDI+, namely, JPEG,BMP, PNG, GIF.

     Windows Server 2003 launched on 25^th April 2003 and in this Microsoft has implemented many new security features.

•          Easy to deploy, Manage and Use
•          Secure Connected infrastructure
•          Dynamic Intranet and Internet Web Sites with the help of IIS 6.0
•          Increased document protection
•          Easy to find and share XML services

    Windows Vista launched on Nov 2006 and it was intend to have enhanced security by introducing “User Account Control”, replacing the administrator by default concept of Windows XP. But actually it was the target of much criticism and negative response and overall it was not well regarded. 

   Windows 7 was launched on 2009. Microsoft has tried not repeat the mistake which happen in Vista specially performance.

•          Windows 7 was having improvised desktop desponse.
•          Booting was pretty was compare to Vista
•          It was supported on lower hardware requirement.
•         There was improved search tool. For example, typing ‘mouse’ will bring up the mouse option within the control panel or typing a word will display it and split it up neatly into files, folders and applications.
•          Thumbnail option was introduced. If you have multiple Word documents or Windows Explorer windows open then you’ll see a stack appear on the task bar. Hover the mouse over the app and each Window will be visible in a thumbnail. Hover over each thumbnail and it will become visible, while all other open windows temporarily disappear

     Windows 8 was introduced major changes to the operating system’s platform and user interface to improve experience in tablets. Windows 8 got mix reaction from the users. Although reaction towards its performance improvements, security enhancements and improved support for touch screen devices was positive, the new user interface of operating system was widely criticized for being potentially confusing and difficult to learn.

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     mesanjaybakshi@gmail.com

Some tips on You Tube

Some tips on You Tube

 1) Press the space bar or the 'k' key on your keyboard to play and pause a video. 

2) Pressing the 0 (zero) key on your keyboard will jump to the beginning of a video. The home key also works for jumping to the start of a video. 

3) Pressing the end key on your keyboard will go to the end of the video. If you are playing a playlist, it goes to the next video in the playlist. 

4) Pressing the up or down arrow keys turns up and down the volume of the video. If you are turning down the volume and continue to hold the down arrow key, it will eventually mute the volume. 

5) Pressing 'm' on the keyboard also mutes and unmutes the volume.

 

Thanks

Sanjay Bakshi

mesanjaybakshi@gmail.com

Copy Pivot Table Data as Text

Most of the time we can come into a situation where we need to send a Pivot Table summary report but we do not want to include or send original data.

Here is the SOLUTION

Excel doesn't have a command to unlink a pivot table, but it does have a flexible Paste Special command. Using that command, with the Value option, should do the job:

1.        Select the pivot table cells and press Ctrl+C to copy the range.

2.        Display the Paste Special dialog box. Pressing Alt+ES

3.        In the Paste Special dialog box, choose the Values option, and click OK.

The pivot table is unlinked.

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Sanjay Bakshi

mesanjaybakshi@gmail.com