I’m pleased to share that Horkan.com has been recognised as the 12th most widely read tech blog from the UK by Feedspot, based on RSS feed aggregation in their recent article “Top 70 UK Tech RSS Feeds“. This acknowledgement is a significant moment for me, reflecting a journey that began over 17 years ago.
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In 2009, I spearheaded an initiative to establish a cloud security working group aimed at addressing the sovereignty and security of UK data within the cloud. The goal was to create a cross-sector collaboration involving both public and private entities, with the aim of ensuring that the UK maintained control over its critical data as cloud computing emerged as a pivotal part of the national infrastructure.
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This article revisits the Home Office’s 2013 initiative to modernise border security using Big Data and Machine Learning. It highlights significant cost reductions, enhanced functionality through advanced data integration, and the strategic shift to open-source technologies, which improved security and flexibility. The piece also reflects on the challenges of avoiding vendor lock-in while strengthening UK border operations.
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This article revisits a 2009 cloud computing panel discussion at the ‘Entrepreneur Country’ event, hosted by Julie Meyer, examining how the ideas and predictions shared during the event have influenced the evolution of cloud computing over the past 15 years. It reflects on the entrepreneurial context of the time, the adoption and maturity of cloud services, legal and regulatory challenges, and the future vision for cloud technology, offering insights into the lessons learned and their relevance today.
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This new article revisits a conceptual framework of cloud computing I introduced in 2009, exploring how cloud roles, billing models, and security have evolved over the past 15 years. It discusses the maturity of cloud services, the expansion of “as-a-service” models, and the rise of country-specific cloud solutions. The piece also highlights potential disadvantages such as hidden costs, vendor lock-in, and the recent trend of companies moving away from cloud providers. The article concludes with predictions of cloud computing.
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This article explores strategies for optimising SQL performance in Ruby on Rails applications using PostgreSQL. It covers techniques such as avoiding N+1 queries, efficient indexing, leveraging PostgreSQL-specific features, and monitoring performance to ensure applications remain efficient and scalable.
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This article provides practical strategies for optimising SQL performance, covering query refactoring, index usage, and ORM best practices. It offers developers actionable tips to improve the efficiency and scalability of their applications.
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This article explores how extending sequence diagrams to include non-functional aspects can help developers better understand and optimise SQL performance by highlighting often-overlooked details like database hits and data transfer volumes.
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This article explores the divide between application developers and database administrators, highlighting how their differing focuses can lead to inefficiencies in SQL performance. It discusses the importance of bridging this gap by encouraging collaboration and a unified approach to optimise both application logic and database performance.
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Successfully migrating multiple Microsoft 365 tenants into a single tenant requires a well-structured timeline and careful planning. This guide outlines a week-by-week approach to managing the migration process, from initial assessment to ongoing support, helping organizations navigate the complexities of tenant consolidation.
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