Here Are the Best Resources Recommended By IT Leaders

Editor’s note: We’ve received so many great suggestions that we’ll be continually updating this list. If you have anything that you think should be included, email us at editor@bettercloud.com.

What’s the best IT resource you’ve ever come across?  

We wanted to know where forward-thinking IT professionals turned to for the best information, tools, and training. So we posed this question to members in BetterIT, our IT-focused community.

Lots of people chimed in with suggestions, so we compiled a handy list of all their recommendations:

Sites to Bookmark

Cybrary: Free and Open Source Cybersecurity Training

Recommended by Gavin Whatrup, CIO Consultant and Senior Security Advisor at Agenci Information Security

Cybrary gives daily updates on all things cybersecurity and also offers hundreds of free or low-cost trainings and accreditations. Its quick trainings are great for staying up to date on the latest in security.

The Cloud Lawyer

Recommended by Gavin Whatrup, CIO Consultant and Senior Security Advisor at Agenci Information Security

As concerns about the cloud move beyond security, usage and compliance are now a fast-evolving space. This site is mainly European in focus but it’s a great reference. It’s run by a lawyer who specializes in cloud law, technology contracts, and data security.

Slashdot: News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters

Recommended by Tim Burke, Director of IT at BetterCloud

This site constantly surfaces great content. It’s a bit smaller than other similar sites (like Hacker News and Reddit), and the active users do a tremendous job sorting through the fluff.

Hacker News

Recommended by Darryl Mitchell, Lead Solutions Engineer at NeoCloud

Many are familiar with Hacker News, but as a general technology resource, it’s hard to beat. If you haven’t been to the site before, it’s a worthwhile visit.

Azure in Plain English and AWS in Plain English

Recommended by Darryl Mitchell, Lead Solutions Engineer at NeoCloud

As every company increases its use of cloud technology, it’s important to have the resources to help explain technical topics to non-technical people.

The Sysadmin Subreddit

Recommended by Nathan Thomas, IT Manager at Cask, LLC

At any given time, about 1,000 IT professionals are lurking or posting in this subreddit. Topics tend to gear more toward Microsoft shops, and many active contributors still aren’t sold on cloud technology.

Siftery: Discover New Products for Your Organization

Recommended by me

Siftery is a beautifully designed site that shows off the tech stacks used by companies of all shapes and sizes. This is a great way to explore and learn more about the latest workplace technology.

Sideways Dictionary

Recommended by me

“It’s like a dictionary, but using analogies instead of definitions.” Analogies can be an effective way to help non-technical people understand technical concepts.

A Phenomenal Newsletter

Inside Security: David Strom’s In-Depth Cybersecurity Analysis

Recommended by Ryan Donnon, IT Manager at First Round Capital

As security has grown in importance, this must-read newsletter has helped Ryan stay up to date on current hacks and other potential vulnerabilities.

A Tool to GTD (Get Things Done)

Todo Cloud

Recommended by Adam Codega, IT Operations Leader at Upserve

Todo Cloud is a useful cross-platform app that allows you to create simple, collaborative to-do lists. You can access your tasks, projects, and checklists on all your devices.

Books Worth Buying

Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime-from Global Epidemic to Your Front Door

Recommended by me

In 2001, an accomplished reporter named Brian Krebs had his entire home network infiltrated by a Chinese hacking group. He’s now obsessed with computer security and has written several best-selling books on the topic. This is one of his best.

Time Management for System Administrators: Stop Working Late and Start Working Smart

Recommended by Adam Codega, IT Operations Leader at Upserve

Time is your most precious limited resource. For sysadmins, spending it wisely is mandatory. Our community members call this book “invaluable” and say that the principles, particularly around how to manage interruptions, have changed how they work.

CIO Paradox: Battling the Contradictions of IT Leadership

Recommended by Andy Schwab, Assistant Professor, Information Technology at NHTI – Concord’s Community College

CIOs must battle many conflicting forces, like keeping costs down while driving innovation. This book offers advice on how to reverse the contradictions CIOs face.

Defensive Security Handbook

Recommended by Craig Hillelson, CISSP

This is a pragmatic guide that provides a security-101 handbook with steps, tools, processes, and ideas to help you drive maximum-security improvement at little or no cost.

Ghost in the Wires

Recommended by Craig Hillelson, CISSP

“Take a tour of Kevin Mitnick’s increasingly creative hacking tactics that make for a totally entertaining read,” recommends Hillelson. Dive into the thrilling true story of the world’s most wanted computer hacker who forced the authorities to rethink the way they pursued him, and challenged companies to reconfigure the way they protected their sensitive information.

Python Tricks

Recommended by Craig Hillelson, CISSP

“If you’re using Python to script away your troubles, Dan Bader’s book will help you write code that is leaner, more Pythonic, or both. Each trick is presented as a bite sized snippet and will inspire you to joyfully refactor your code,” explains Craig Hillelson.

A Great Blog Post to Read

Getting Things Done vs. Getting the Right Things Done: How IT Professionals Can Be More Productive

Recommended by Tim Burke, Director of IT at BetterCloud

Have you ever heard of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix? Try applying it to IT to help you prioritize tasks and work more strategically. It could change the way you work.

A Must-Watch Video

An Interview with Avinash Kaushik: See. Think. Do.

Recommended by Jason Etter, Vice President of Client Services at Ripple IT

“See, Think, Do” is a framework for digital marketers, but it’s applicable to everything. You’ll learn a new perspective that simplifies complexity in any job.

 

Podcasts for Your Commute

CISO Security Vendor Relationship Podcast

Recommended by Craig Hillelson, CISSP

This series takes a look at the simultaneously dependent and conflicting relationships the exists between the buyers and sellers of cybersecurity products and services. Our community member Craig describes the series as “consistently great conversations with cybersecurity leaders.”

A DevOps Meetup

NYC CoffeeOps

Recommended by Craig Hillelson, CISSP

This meetup is a self-described “diverse group of folks brought together by our shared love of community, coffee, software development and operations (dev + ops) in midtown Manhattan.” If you’re based in New York City, stop by for a cup of coffee and great conversation.

An Important Question

What resources would you recommend? Are there any other must-reads? Let us know in the comments below.