So what is the difference between workload automation and job scheduling?

For a short answer you could start by saying:

"By workload automation we mean software that automates the many back-office processes your business applications need to run. Workload automation goes beyond job scheduling, allowing enterprises to integrate and manage dependencies for processes that span multiple business applications and heterogeneous server platforms. Workload automation includes job scheduling which has historically been used to manage the submission of jobs at the operating system level."

Well, that’s all very tidy but what does that mean, and more importantly why did workload automation happen?

If you Google the definition of capacity management chances are you're going to find dozens of definitions, not one of which is written in plain English for the ordinary manager to understand.

Is it hopeless?

Are you going to have to get a doctorate degree in mathematics or engineering to make this process work at your company?

Nope!

It's not a difficult concept at all, and those who make it seem so are probably just trying to intimidate you with their vast knowledge. Here's the layperson's explanation.

As new technologies become available, companies (especially smaller ones) are having to decide which to employ, which to bypass, and how to integrate new technology into their existing systems.

If the cloud is part of your business strategy, here's how to streamline the process to make your business more efficient.

The focus of automated scheduling has shifted from managing high volume workloads with extended turnaround times to orchestrating asynchronous processes that complete in seconds, minutes or hours. In the past enterprises would run jobs that executed at the operating system level.

Following the widespread adoption of packaged applications and, despite vendor claims that their solutions do everything with transactions and are fully integrated, enterprises are having to find ways of scheduling workload with tools that reach into these applications.

IT spends a lot of time assuring that system hardware is up to date and running properly. But the most serious threats to our computer systems today isn't from natural disaster, overheating of electrical equipment, or fires. The greatest threat our systems face comes from humans. Here are the five scariest.

1. Employees Inside the Company

There are a number of ways employees can harm or threaten the system, including both intentional and accidental acts. Some are poorly trained, others are negligent, and some are angry with the company for some reason or are simply dishonest people. Former employees are also a threat, especially if they were fired.

Many CIO's might wonder about their IT systems and what constitutes a mature workload automation system?

What are the steps along the way, and how do you know when you've achieved a mature, fully functioning automation system?

When selecting a system, how can you determine which one is going to best meet the needs of your company?

Here are the five steps along the path to workload automation maturity, the key factors that define each step of maturity, and how to select an IT automation system that's right for your business.

Moving from schedulers to an enterprise workload automation solution seems like an overwhelming task, but when taken in small, manageable steps, it pays off big time.

After automation is complete, workers will have higher productivity with lower costs and the company will be able to provide higher quality services.

Also, automation eliminates many of the errors that eat company time and resources on a day-to-day basis.

Technology no longer changes by the year or month. Drastic shifts in trends, new innovations, and unbelievable devices are introduced almost daily.

If you're trying to keep up with the demands of your job, it might be hard to keep track of innovations that could help your career.

Here's how to keep up with the radically morphing world of new technologies.

2012 will be remembered as the year big data began its momentum, but 2013 will likely be the year it takes off.

Though all the predictions for big data in 2013 aren't sunshine and roses, the growing pains should start spawning results. As we know just managing big data is a chore in itself never mind the ever expanding possibilities of what it will turn into.  Here are the challenges and benefits predicted in the industry of big data for the year to come.

I don't know about you but I got papers stapled and taped all over my walls.  I've even painted the walls in my office with a coating so it mimics a dry erase board.

So I also write all over the walls too with ideas, IBM motherboard error codes I can never seem to remember, Cisco router debug codes, IP subnet tables and even some Photoshop keyboard shortcuts when I have to write up a whitepaper or Powerpoint for the bosses.

My point is that there's a ton of things to remember that I just can't fit in my head sometimes.  So we made up an IT industry cheat sheet of some common things that might not be everyday stuff you need to remember but it's useful enough to hang this on your wall and rip down some of those old articles from your walls.