Information Technology Books

Published 05-03-2022

Your secret weapon to understanding—and using!—one of the most powerful influences in the world today From your Facebook News Feed to your most recent insurance premiums—even making toast!—algorithms play a role in virtually everything that happens in modern society and in your personal life. And while they can seem complicated from a distance, the reality is that, with a little help, anyone can understand—and even use—these powerful problem-solving tools! In Algorithms For Dummies, you'll discover the basics of algorithms, including what they are, how they work, where you can find them (spoiler alert: everywhere!), who invented the most important ones in use today (a Greek philosopher is involved), and how to create them yourself. You'll also find: Dozens of graphs and charts that help you understand the inner workings of algorithms Links to an online repository called GitHub for constant access to updated code Step-by-step instructions on how to use Google Colaboratory, a zero-setup coding environment that runs right from your browser Whether you're a curious internet user wondering how Google seems to always know the right answer to your question or a beginning computer science student looking for a head start on your next class, Algorithms For Dummies is the can't-miss resource you've been waiting for.

Published 03-29-2022

All the essentials for administering Windows Server 2022 in one book Looking for a little help installing, configuring, securing, or running a network running Windows Server 2022? Windows Server 2022 & PowerShell All-in-One For Dummies delivers a thorough guide to network administration in a single, convenient book. Whether you need to start from scratch and install a new server or want to jump right into a more advanced topiclike managing security or working in Windows PowerShellyou'll find what you need right here. In this 8-books-in-1 compilation, you'll: Learn what you need to install and set up a brand-new Windows server installation Configure your Windows Server and customize its settings based on your needs and preferences Discover how to install, configure, and work with Containers The perfect book for server and system admins looking for a quick reference on Windows Server operation, this book is also a great resource for networking newcomers learning their way around the server software they'll encounter daily.

Published 02-08-2022

Learn to use, and not be used by, data to make more insightful decisions  The availability of data and various forms of AI unlock countless possibilities for business decision makers. But what do you do when you feel pressured to cede your position in the decision-making process altogether?  Decision Intelligence For Dummies pumps the brakes on the growing trend to take human beings out of the decision loop and walks you through the best way to make data-informed but human-driven decisions. The book shows you how to achieve maximum flexibility by using every available resource, and not just raw data, to make the most insightful decisions possible.  In this timely book, you’ll learn to:  Make data a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, by expanding your decision-making inquiries  Find a new path to solid decisions that includes, but isn’t dominated, by quantitative data  Measure the results of your new framework to prove its effectiveness and efficiency and expand it to a whole team or company  Perfect for business leaders in technology and finance, Decision Intelligence For Dummies is ideal for anyone who recognizes that data is not the only powerful tool in your decision-making toolbox. This book shows you how to be guided, and not ruled, by the data.  

Published 02-08-2022

Reveal the insights behind your company’s data with Microsoft Power BI  Microsoft Power BI allows intuitive access to data that can power intelligent business decisions and insightful strategies. The question is, do you have the Power BI skills to make your organization’s numbers spill their secrets?  In Microsoft Power BI For Dummies, expert lecturer, consultant, and author Jack Hyman delivers a start-to-finish guide to applying the Power BI platform to your own firm’s data. You’ll discover how to start exploring your data sources, build data models, visualize your results, and create compelling reports that motivate decisive action.  Tackle the basics of Microsoft Power BI and, when you’re done with that, move on to advanced functions like accessing data with DAX and app integrations  Guide your organization’s direction and decisions with rock-solid conclusions based on real-world data  Impress your bosses and confidently lead your direct reports with exciting insights drawn from Power BI’s useful visualization tools  It’s one thing for your company to have data at its disposal. It’s another thing entirely to know what to do with it. Microsoft Power BI For Dummies is the straightforward blueprint you need to apply one of the most powerful business intelligence tools on the market to your firm’s existing data.  

Published 11-24-2021

Forget far-away dreams of the future. Artificial intelligence is here now!  Every time you use a smart device or some sort of slick technology—be it a smartwatch, smart speaker, security alarm, or even customer service chat box—you’re engaging with artificial intelligence (AI). If you’re curious about how AI is developed—or question whether AI is real—Artificial Intelligence For Dummies holds the answers you’re looking for. Starting with a basic definition of AI and explanations of data use, algorithms, special hardware, and more, this reference simplifies this complex topic for anyone who wants to understand what operates the devices we can’t live without.   This book will help you:  Separate the reality of artificial intelligence from the hype  Know what artificial intelligence can accomplish and what its limits are  Understand how AI speeds up data gathering and analysis to help you make informed decisions more quickly  See how AI is being used in hardware applications like drones, robots, and vehicles  Know where AI could be used in space, medicine, and communication fields sooner than you think  Almost 80 percent of the devices you interact with every day depend on some sort of AI. And although you don’t need to understand AI to operate your smart speaker or interact with a bot, you’ll feel a little smarter—dare we say more intelligent—when you know what’s going on behind the scenes.  So don’t wait. Pick up this popular guide to unlock the secrets of AI today! 

Published 09-15-2021

Monetize your company’s data and data science expertise without spending a fortune on hiring independent strategy consultants to help What if there was one simple, clear process for ensuring that all your company’s data science projects achieve a high a return on investment? What if you could validate your ideas for future data science projects, and select the one idea that’s most prime for achieving profitability while also moving your company closer to its business vision? There is. Industry-acclaimed data science consultant, Lillian Pierson, shares her proprietary STAR Framework – A simple, proven process for leading profit-forming data science projects. Not sure what data science is yet? Don’t worry! Parts 1 and 2 of Data Science For Dummies will get all the bases covered for you. And if you’re already a data science expert? Then you really won’t want to miss the data science strategy and data monetization gems that are shared in Part 3 onward throughout this book. Data Science For Dummies demonstrates: The only process you’ll ever need to lead profitable data science projects Secret, reverse-engineered data monetization tactics that no one’s talking about The shocking truth about how simple natural language processing can be How to beat the crowd of data professionals by cultivating your own unique blend of data science expertise  Whether you’re new to the data science field or already a decade in, you’re sure to learn something new and incredibly valuable from Data Science For Dummies. Discover how to generate massive business wins from your company’s data by picking up your copy today.

Published 07-14-2021

Take a dive into data lakes  “Data lakes” is the latest buzz word in the world of data storage, management, and analysis. Data Lakes For Dummies decodes and demystifies the concept and helps you get a straightforward answer the question: “What exactly is a data lake and do I need one for my business?” Written for an audience of technology decision makers tasked with keeping up with the latest and greatest data options, this book provides the perfect introductory survey of these novel and growing features of the information landscape. It explains how they can help your business, what they can (and can’t) achieve, and what you need to do to create the lake that best suits your particular needs.   With a minimum of jargon, prolific tech author and business intelligence consultant Alan Simon explains how data lakes differ from other data storage paradigms. Once you’ve got the background picture, he maps out ways you can add a data lake to your business systems; migrate existing information and switch on the fresh data supply; clean up the product; and open channels to the best intelligence software for to interpreting what you’ve stored.   Understand and build data lake architecture  Store, clean, and synchronize new and existing data  Compare the best data lake vendors  Structure raw data and produce usable analytics   Whatever your business, data lakes are going to form ever more prominent parts of the information universe every business should have access to. Dive into this book to start exploring the deep competitive advantage they make possible—and make sure your business isn’t left standing on the shore.  

Published 05-04-2021

Your ultimate one-stop networking reference   Designed to replace that groaning shelf-load of dull networking books you’d otherwise have to buy and house, Networking All-in-One For Dummies covers all the basic and not-so-basic information you need to get a network up and running. It also helps you keep it running as it grows more complicated, develops bugs, and encounters all the fun sorts of trouble you expect from a complex system. Ideal both as a starter for newbie administrators and as a handy quick reference for pros, this book is built for speed, allowing you to get past all the basics—like installing and configuring hardware and software, planning your network design, and managing cloud services—so you can get on with what your network is actually intended to do.   In a friendly, jargon-free style, Doug Lowe—an experienced IT Director and prolific tech author—covers the essential, up-to-date information for networking in systems such as Linux and Windows 10 and clues you in on best practices for security, mobile, and more. Each of the nine minibooks demystifies the basics of one key area of network management.    Plan and administrate your network  Implement virtualization  Get your head around networking in the Cloud  Lock down your security protocols   The best thing about this book? You don’t have to read it all at once to get things done; once you’ve solved the specific issue at hand, you can put it down again and get on with your life. And the next time you need it, it’ll have you covered.  

Published 02-09-2021

One of Mark Cuban’s top reads for better understanding A.I. (inc.com, 2021) Your comprehensive entry-level guide to machine learning While machine learning expertise doesn’t quite mean you can create your own Turing Test-proof android—as in the movie Ex Machina—it is a form of artificial intelligence and one of the most exciting technological means of identifying opportunities and solving problems fast and on a large scale. Anyone who masters the principles of machine learning is mastering a big part of our tech future and opening up incredible new directions in careers that include fraud detection, optimizing search results, serving real-time ads, credit-scoring, building accurate and sophisticated pricing models—and way, way more. Unlike most machine learning books, the fully updated 2nd Edition of Machine Learning For Dummies doesn't assume you have years of experience using programming languages such as Python (R source is also included in a downloadable form with comments and explanations), but lets you in on the ground floor, covering the entry-level materials that will get you up and running building models you need to perform practical tasks. It takes a look at the underlying—and fascinating—math principles that power machine learning but also shows that you don't need to be a math whiz to build fun new tools and apply them to your work and study. Understand the history of AI and machine learning Work with Python 3.8 and TensorFlow 2.x (and R as a download) Build and test your own models Use the latest datasets, rather than the worn out data found in other books Apply machine learning to real problems Whether you want to learn for college or to enhance your business or career performance, this friendly beginner's guide is your best introduction to machine learning, allowing you to become quickly confident using this amazing and fast-developing technology that's impacting lives for the better all over the world.

Published 10-06-2020

Get ahead of the curve—learn about big data on the blockchain Blockchain came to prominence as the disruptive technology that made cryptocurrencies work. Now, data pros are using blockchain technology for faster real-time analysis, better data security, and more accurate predictions. Blockchain Data Analytics For Dummies is your quick-start guide to harnessing the potential of blockchain. Inside this book, technologists, executives, and data managers will find information and inspiration to adopt blockchain as a big data tool. Blockchain expert Michael G. Solomon shares his insight on what the blockchain is and how this new tech is poised to disrupt data. Set your organization on the cutting edge of analytics, before your competitors get there! Learn how blockchain technologies work and how they can integrate with big data Discover the power and potential of blockchain analytics Establish data models and quickly mine for insights and results Create data visualizations from blockchain analysis Discover how blockchains are disrupting the data world with this exciting title in the trusted For Dummies line!