Expert Product Reviews

We are pleased to share a comprehensive review of "The Aspiring CIO and CISO", published by Packt, and written by Ali Husamuddeen. This review offers an in-depth exploration of the book's key themes and insights, providing readers with a thorough understanding of its value.Please find the review below:This comprehensive book provides an authentic portrayal of the challenges and opportunities that come with being a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Chief Information Officer (CIO). David candidly discusses the prerequisites for entering these roles, the responsibilities that come with them, and how to navigate one's career when in these positions.One of the most appealing aspects of this book is its honesty, which sets it apart from others in the genre. Rather than painting a rosy picture or using grandiose self-aggrandizing language, David acknowledges the stress and continuous learning required in these roles while breaking them down into smaller digestible pieces of wisdom. After having read all of it, one understands why it is important to be comfortable being uncomfortable.The book adopts a practical approach, prescribing SKEB analysis and Myers Briggs to help readers understand the nuances of CISO and CIO universe. Initially, some readers may find the format a bit unusual, however with David’s extensive experience, this style is well-suited to convey the subject matter effectively. The inclusion of technology risk management adds an extra layer of depth to the discussion, making it particularly interesting for those unsure about the CISO/CIO pathway.A standout section in the book is dedicated to "moments of truth," which offers valuable insights into the critical junctures that can define a career as a CISO or CIO. This part arrives at an opportune moment and is sure to resonate with readers on their own professional journeys. The particular story at the end of which it was impossible to tell who was the contractor, staff, or vendor, will always stay with me. I only wish I had discovered these lessons years ago.There is much to learn on how to be a good CISO / CIO in between these pages. The writing style is steadfast, making for an enjoyable read that feels grounded in reality. David also candidly delves into the topic of organisational politics and questions whether it's wise to bring one's former team to the new organisation. It was delightful to see it encouraging loyalty to the enterprise rather than individuals.Many CISO / CIO aspirants are bound to find this book re-assuring. Yes, honesty can exist at all levels. Yes, data based decision making can take precedence. Yes, objective hiring and retention can be aspired for. Yes, one can still have a work life balance. It serves as a source of inspiration, highlighting the possibilities available to those who pursue such career paths.And when one thinks one is done, thought-provoking questions in the appendix encapsulate its key takeaways and provide a solid foundation for further reflection.If one were to contrast this book with every LinkedIn post and a curated selection of books addressing the same subject, it would be evident that this book would stand head and shoulders above the rest because of its humble tone, genuine purpose, and demystifying content alone.

We are pleased to share a comprehensive review of "Zabbix 7 IT Infrastructure Monitoring Cookbook", published by Packt, and written by Andreas Drbal. This review offers an in-depth exploration of the book's key themes and insights, providing readers with a thorough understanding of its value.Please find the review below:"Zabbix 7 IT Infrastructure Monitoring Cookbook" is a concise and practical guide that dives into a tool, Zabbix, I both personally and professionally enjoy using. The book is well-written and provides hands-on examples for applying monitoring to applications, making it a valuable resource for CloudOps, DevOps, or Site Reliability Engineers.What did you find most valuable in the book you've reviewed?The immersive and hands-on sections were particularly valuable which reinforced concepts of monitoring and alerting for an application or network engineer. The practical examples, such as implementing Docker container monitoring using Zabbix Agent 2, made complex tasks approachable and easy to execute.How does the book compare to competitors in the field?This book stands out for its simplicity and well-structured content that's easy to digest. Unlike other resources, it allows readers to jump to various chapters independently, providing flexibility and catering to different learning needs.Who would benefit the most from the book?Engineers and professionals involved in infrastructure monitoring—especially those in CloudOps, DevOps, or Site Reliability roles—would benefit greatly from this book. It's also useful for anyone looking to implement a powerful monitoring solution in any environment that they manage that is connected to the network.Can you share a personal anecdote related to the content?Recently, my team implemented Docker container monitoring using Zabbix Agent 2, and the steps outlined in the book made the process easy to follow and implement. It was like having a seasoned expert guiding us!What unique insights or perspectives does the book offer?The authors, Nathan Liefting and Brian van Baekel, draw upon their professional and personal experience with Zabbix and add their personal industry insights to highlight effective ways to monitor networks and applications. Particularly their experience with the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) was enjoyable to test and implement in our monitoring stack.In conclusion, "Zabbix 7 IT Infrastructure Monitoring Cookbook" is a practical and valuable resource that equips engineers with the skills needed to effectively monitor IT infrastructure. Its hands-on approach and the authors' expertise make it a must-have for professionals seeking to enhance their monitoring capabilities.Reviewer BioAndreas Drbal boasts a decade in tech, evolving from a self-taught frontend developer to a key fi gure in DevOps and CloudOps. His academic journey led him to UCLA, majoring in English with a German minor, and later acquiring a master’s in information systems management and an MBA. Andreas’s passion for monitoring began with Zabbix 3.x in 2015, integrating it with IoT devices. Currently, as a senior manager at Cloud Soft ware Group, he’s driven by automation, streamlining the DevOps life cycle, and ensuring team productivity.

We are pleased to share a comprehensive review of Python for Algorithmic Trading Cookbook, published by Packt Publishing, and written by Brian Schneider. This review offers an in-depth exploration of the book's key themes and insights, providing readers with a thorough understanding of its value.Please find the review below:1.  The most valuable aspect of the book is its comprehensive aggregation of financial theory and Python to enable the reader with skills and tools to implement algorithmic trading systems.  The book saves the reader countless hours of research and coding by providing the latest tools, financial theory, and coding steps all in one place.  This gives the reader a tremendous head start on their algorithmic trading journey.   2.  The book is unique in that it includes cutting-edge Python modules to provide readers with instant results, as opposed to delving too deep into theory and code.  Many books in this area, generally do not provide this well-balanced approach, including detailed instructions for the reader to implement their own strategies with broker APIs.  The book streamlines the trading strategy evaluation process, arming the reader with valuable skills and tools to identify their best ideas quickly; while providing a solid balance of both quantitative finance theory and Python. 3.  This book is a true 'how-to' for algorithmic trading practitioners and enthusiasts alike.  The book provides seasoned or novice traders the needed steps to go from trading ideas, to code implementation - with no Pythonic syntax left out!  I wish I had a book like this when I started. 4.  I was fortunate to have worked with Jason on automated investment strategies in the past and his insight and clarity are unmatched.  The algorithmic strategies we developed overlap with topics in the book, however, Jason has splendidly pulled together the complete end-to-end recipe!   Equally impressive, is the amount of research Jason has put into finding the latest tools in the Python universe to save the reader time.  The book was a pleasure to read  5.  I am most impressed with the book's comprehensive coverage of the subject matter.  The book details critical steps needed to enable an algorithmic trading strategy, without the reader losing sleep at night.   The book doesn't dive too deep into theory and math with many readers having that background, conversely, it provides readers with theoretical justifications and how to implement them efficiently. Reviewer BioBrian Schneider holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and a Master of Science in financial engineering. He has 25 years of experience in systems engineering, software design and architecture, algorithm performance, data science, and analytics. He has a passion for financial markets and automating algorithmic trading systems and co-founded an investment management company in that space.