Kevin Crull

The Puppet Observability Data Connector, transforms Puppet agent reports into actionable metrics that can be visualized in dashboards, helping teams monitor fleet health, identify configuration drift, measure performance, detect failures, and improve operational decision-making.

Windows patching relies on proprietary tools & processes that can sometimes be frustrating. Get a heads up on pitfalls & best practices for Patch Tuesday here.

Finding the right automation tool for Windows environments can be frustrating. Legacy systems, a GUI-centric design, and proprietary tooling are a few of the reasons Windows automation can be challenging — especially in environments where Windows isn’t the only OS. Many organizations struggle to choose tools that will let them automate Windows infrastructure without contributing to tool sprawl. With various Microsoft native solutions and open source alternatives readily available, how do you know which tool is best for your needs? In this post, I’ll offer the pros and cons of various automation methods in a Windows ecosystem. I’ll also share my experience with Windows infrastructure automation to offer advice and tips on managing configurations across multi-OS fleets or multiple versions of Windows.