AWS Security Cookbook. Practical solutions for securing AWS cloud infrastructure with essential services and best practices - Second Edition

Heartin Kanikathottu

As a security consultant, implementing policies and best practices to secure your infrastructure is critical. This cookbook discusses practical solutions for safeguarding infrastructure, covering services and features within AWS that help implement security models, such as the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, and availability) and the AAA triad (authentication, authorization, and accounting), as well as non-repudiation.This updated second edition starts with the fundamentals of AWS accounts and organizations. The book then guides you through identity and access management, data protection, network security, and encryption. You’ll explore critical topics such as securing EC2 instances, managing keys with KMS and CloudHSM, and implementing endpoint security. Additionally, you’ll learn to monitor your environment using CloudWatch, CloudTrail, and AWS Config, while maintaining compliance with services such as GuardDuty, Macie, and Inspector. Each chapter presents practical recipes for real-world scenarios, allowing you to apply security concepts.By the end of this book, you’ll be well versed in techniques required for securing AWS deployments and be prepared to gain the AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification.

OpenAI GPT For Python Developers. The art and science of building AI-powered apps with GPT-4, Whisper, Weaviate, and beyond

Aymen El Amri

“OpenAI GPT for Python Developers” is meticulously crafted to provide Python developers with a deep dive into the mechanics and applications of GPT technology, beginning with a captivating narrative on the evolution of OpenAI and the fundamental workings of GPT models. As readers progress, they will be expertly guided through the essential steps of setting up a development environment tailored for AI innovations, coupled with insightful advice on selecting the most appropriate GPT model to suit specific project needs.The guide progresses into practical tutorials that cover the implementation of chat completions and the art of prompt engineering, providing a solid foundation in harnessing the capabilities of GPT for generating human-like text responses. Practical applications are further expanded with discussions on the creation of autonomous AI-to-AI dialogues, the development of AI avatars, and the strategic use of AI in interactive applications.In addition to technical skills, this book addresses the ethical implications and prospects of AI technologies, encouraging a holistic view of AI development. The guide is enriched with detailed examples, step-by-step tutorials, and comprehensive explanations that illuminate the theoretical aspects and emphasize practical implementation.

Building Industrial Digital Twins. Design, develop, and deploy digital twin solutions for real-world industries using Azure Digital Twins

Shyam Varan Nath, Pieter van Schalkwyk, Dan Isaacs

Digital twin technology enables organizations to create digital representations of physical entities such as assets, systems, and processes throughout their life cycle. It improves asset performance, utilization, and safe operations and reduces manufacturing, operational, and maintenance costs.The audiobook begins by introducing you to the concept of digital twins and sets you on a path to develop a digital twin strategy to positively influence business outcomes in your organization. You'll understand how digital twins relate to physical assets, processes, and technology and learn about the prerequisite conditions for the right platform, scale, and use case of your digital twins. You'll then get hands-on with Microsoft's Azure Digital Twins platform for your digital twin development and deployment. The audiobook equips you with the knowledge to evaluate enterprise and specialty platforms, including the cloud and industrial IoT required to set up your digital twin prototype. Once you've built your prototype, you'll be able to test and validate it relative to the intended purpose of the twin through pilot deployment, full deployment, and value tracking techniques.By the end of this audiobook, you'll have developed the skills to build and deploy your digital twin prototype, or minimum viable twin, to demonstrate, assess, and monitor your asset at specific stages in the asset life cycle.

Building AI Intensive Python Applications. Create intelligent apps with LLMs and vector databases

Rachelle Palmer, Ben Perlmutter, Ashwin Gangadhar, Nicholas Larew, ...

The era of generative AI is upon us, and this book serves as a roadmap to harness its full potential. With its help, you’ll learn the core components of the AI stack: large language models (LLMs), vector databases, and Python frameworks, and see how these technologies work together to create intelligent applications.The chapters will help you discover best practices for data preparation, model selection, and fine-tuning, and teach you advanced techniques such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to overcome common challenges, such as hallucinations and data leakage. You’ll get a solid understanding of vector databases, implement effective vector search strategies, refine models for accuracy, and optimize performance to achieve impactful results. You’ll also identify and address AI failures to ensure your applications deliver reliable and valuable results. By evaluating and improving the output of LLMs, you’ll be able to enhance their performance and relevance.By the end of this book, you’ll be well-equipped to build sophisticated AI applications that deliver real-world value.

The Kubernetes Book. A Comprehensive Guide to Container Orchestration and Cloud-Native Deployment - Third Edition

Nigel Poulton, Pushkar Joglekar

Kubernetes is a powerful container orchestration platform that enables efficient application deployment, scaling, and management. This book begins with foundational concepts, explaining Kubernetes architecture, control planes, worker nodes, and the declarative model. Readers will learn how to set up a Kubernetes environment using tools like Docker Desktop and cloud-based solutions.The book then covers core operational topics, including Pods, Deployments, Namespaces, and Services, providing hands-on exercises to reinforce learning. Networking, storage, and security are explored in depth, with real-world examples of managing applications, configuring RBAC, and using ConfigMaps and Secrets. Advanced topics such as StatefulSets, the Kubernetes API, and service discovery offer insights into optimizing and securing Kubernetes workloads.Security is a key focus, with chapters dedicated to API security, threat modeling, and real-world Kubernetes security practices. Readers will gain practical knowledge on securing clusters, managing access controls, and mitigating common threats. By the end, they will be equipped with the skills to deploy, scale, and secure Kubernetes environments effectively.

AWS Cloud Projects. Strengthen your AWS skills through practical projects, from websites to advanced AI applications

Ivo Pinto, Pedro Santos

Tired of resumes getting lost in the pile? This book is your roadmap to building an in-demand AWS portfolio that grabs attention and gets you hired.This comprehensive guide unlocks AWS’s full potential through eight real-world projects designed for developers of all levels. Inside, you'll find invaluable guidance for crafting stunning websites with S3, CloudFront, and Route53. You’ll build robust and scalable applications, such as recipe-sharing platforms, using DynamoDB and Elastic Load Balancing. For streamlined efficiency, the book will teach you how to develop serverless architectures with AWS Lambda and Cognito. Gradually, you’ll infuse your projects with artificial intelligence by creating a photo analyzer powered by Amazon Rekognition. You’ll also automate complex workflows for seamless content translation using Translate, CodePipeline, and CodeBuild. Later, you’ll construct intelligent virtual assistants with Amazon Lex and Bedrock to answer web development queries. The book will also show you how to visualize your data with insightful dashboards built using Athena, Glue, and QuickSight.By the end of this book, you’ll have a portfolio of AWS projects to showcase your cloud skills, making you stand out in today’s competitive job market.

Python Made Easy. A First Course in Computer Programming Using Python

Kevin Wilson

Python Made Easy is designed to transform beginners into proficient Python programmers. The journey begins with an introduction to Python, covering basic concepts and syntax that lay the foundation for your coding skills. As you progress, you'll dive into essential programming constructs like data structures, functions, and file handling.In the second phase of the course, you'll explore more complex topics such as object-oriented programming, modules, and libraries. These sections will give you the tools to write efficient, reusable, and modular code. You'll also learn how to handle exceptions, ensuring your programs are robust and error-resistant. Special attention is given to graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and game development, making your Python skills applicable to a wide range of projects.The final part of the course covers advanced topics like debugging, testing, and deploying Python applications. You'll also delve into web development, where you'll learn to build and deploy web applications using Python. The course concludes with valuable video resources to reinforce your learning and provide additional insights. By the end of this course, you'll have a solid understanding of Python and be ready to tackle real-world programming challenges.

Software Architecture for Web Developers. An introductory guide for developers striving to take the first steps toward software architecture or just looking to grow as professionals

Mihaela Roxana Ghidersa

Large-scale web applications require you to write code efficiently following business and architectural considerations. They require web developers to understand the impact of their work on the system and how they can evolve the product.With this audiobook, every developer will find something to take away. This audiobook will help web developers looking to change projects or work on a new project in understanding the context of the application, along with how some design decisions or patterns fit better in their application’s architecture. It acts as a guide, taking you through different levels of professional growth with a focus on best practices, coding guidelines, business considerations, and soft skills that will help you gain the knowledge to craft a career in web development. Finally, you’ll work with examples and ways of applying the discussed concepts in practical situations.By the end of this book, you’ll have gained valuable insights into what it means to be a web architect, as well as the impact architecture has on a web application.

Building Agentic AI Systems. Create intelligent, autonomous AI agents that can reason, plan, and adapt

Anjanava Biswas, Wrick Talukdar, Matthew R. Scott, Dr. Alex Acero

Gain unparalleled insights into the future of AI autonomy with this comprehensive guide to designing and deploying autonomous AI agents that leverage generative AI (GenAI) to plan, reason, and act. Written by industry-leading AI architects and recognized experts shaping global AI standards and building real-world enterprise AI solutions, it explores the fundamentals of agentic systems, detailing how AI agents operate independently, make decisions, and leverage tools to accomplish complex tasks.Starting with the foundations of GenAI and agentic architectures, you’ll explore decision-making frameworks, self-improvement mechanisms, and adaptability. The book covers advanced design techniques, such as multi-step planning, tool integration, and the coordinator, worker, and delegator approach for scalable AI agents.Beyond design, it addresses critical aspects of trust, safety, and ethics, ensuring AI systems align with human values and operate transparently. Real-world applications illustrate how agentic AI transforms industries such as automation, finance, and healthcare. With deep insights into AI frameworks, prompt engineering, and multi-agent collaboration, this book equips you to build next-generation adaptive, scalable AI agents that go beyond simple task execution and act with minimal human intervention.

Unlocking Data with Generative AI and RAG. Enhance generative AI systems by integrating internal data with large language models using RAG

Keith Bourne, Shahul Es

Generative AI is helping organizations tap into their data in new ways, with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) combining the strengths of large language models (LLMs) with internal data for more intelligent and relevant AI applications. The author harnesses his decade of ML experience in this book to equip you with the strategic insights and technical expertise needed when using RAG to drive transformative outcomes.The book explores RAG’s role in enhancing organizational operations by blending theoretical foundations with practical techniques. You’ll work with detailed coding examples using tools such as LangChain and Chroma’s vector database to gain hands-on experience in integrating RAG into AI systems. The chapters contain real-world case studies and sample applications that highlight RAG’s diverse use cases, from search engines to chatbots. You’ll learn proven methods for managing vector databases, optimizing data retrieval, effective prompt engineering, and quantitatively evaluating performance. The book also takes you through advanced integrations of RAG with cutting-edge AI agents and emerging non-LLM technologies.By the end of this book, you’ll be able to successfully deploy RAG in business settings, address common challenges, and push the boundaries of what’s possible with this revolutionary AI technique.

Building CLI Applications with C# and .NET. A step-by-step guide to developing cross-platform CLI apps—from coding and testing to deployment

Tidjani Belmansour, Damian Brady

Developers and system administrators often face challenges like inefficient workflows, complex system operations, and the growing demand for robust automation tools. CLI applications provide a powerful solution by enhancing flexibility, efficiency, and productivity in various environments. This book will guide you through mastering the development of robust command-line tools using .NET.Written by a Microsoft Azure MVP, the book’s hands-on approach ensures practical experience with real-world projects. You’ll start with an overview of foundational principles, essential concepts, and best practices for CLI application development. From there, you’ll advance to creating interactive interfaces, integrating with external APIs and services, and implementing security measures to safeguard your applications. Each chapter will build progressively from basic to advanced topics.Beyond development, you’ll learn how to enhance application quality through testing, package for efficient distribution, and deploy effectively. The book also teaches strategies to optimize performance to ensure your applications run efficiently under heavy usage.By the end of this book, you’ll have gained a deep understanding of CLI application development with .NET to build modular, extensible, and easy-to-maintain applications.

Mastering QuickBooks(R) 2025. Bookkeeping for small businesses with US QuickBooks® Online - Sixth Edition

Crystalynn Shelton

Mastering QuickBooks® 2025 is the definitive guide for small-business owners, bookkeepers, and accounting students. This new edition covers both the fundamentals, like setting up the US version of QuickBooks Online, as well as advanced features, like integrating with e-commerce platforms. You'll grasp core business transactions such as sales, expenses, and payroll while ensuring compliance with tax regulations. You'll gain complete mastery of the US-based QuickBooks Online features—from setting up the platform to fi ling taxes like a professional.Updated for the latest QuickBooks 2025, this book introduces advanced topics like time tracking for hourly billing, inventory management techniques, and real-time financial reporting. Detailed guidance on payroll processing and 1099 contractor tracking is also included to help manage your financial operations. With the purchase of the book, you'll gain access to bonus chapters and video tutorials by the author, off erring deeper insights on how to navigate key reports, reconcile bank transactions, sharpen bookkeeping fundamentals, and generate detailed sales and expense reports.By the end of this book, you'll know how to effectively leverage QuickBooks Online for the fi nancial management of your business.

Learn Computer Forensics. Your one-stop guide to searching, analyzing, acquiring, and securing digital evidence

William Oettinger

Computer Forensics, being a broad topic, involves a variety of skills which will involve seizing electronic evidence, acquiring data from electronic evidence, data analysis, and finally developing a forensic report.This book will help you to build up the skills you need to work in a highly technical environment. This book's ideal goal is to get you up and running with forensics tools and techniques to successfully investigate crime and corporate misconduct. You will discover ways to collect personal information about an individual from online sources. You will also learn how criminal investigations are performed online while preserving data such as e-mails, images, and videos that may be important to a case. You will further explore networking and understand Network Topologies, IP Addressing, and Network Devices. Finally, you will how to write a proper forensic report, the most exciting portion of the forensic exam process.By the end of this book, you will have developed a clear understanding of how to acquire, analyze, and present digital evidence, like a proficient computer forensics investigator.

Realizing 3D Animation in Blender. Master the fundamentals of 3D animation in Blender, from keyframing to character movement

Sam Brubaker

Completely free and open source, Blender, with its supportive community and powerful feature set, is an indispensable tool for creating 3D animations. However, learning the software can be a challenge given the complexity of its interface and the intricacies of animation theory.If you want to venture into 3D animation but don’t know where to start, Realizing 3D Animation in Blender is for you. Adopting a practical approach, this guide simplifies the theory of 3D animation and the many animation workflows specific to Blender. Through detailed exercises and a sharp focus on the animation process, this book equips you with everything you need to set out on your path to becoming a 3D animator. It’s much more than just an introduction; this book covers complex concepts such as F-Curve modifiers, rigid-body physics simulation, and animating with multiple cameras, presented in an easy-to-follow manner to avoid common pitfalls encountered by novice animators.By the end of this Blender 3D animation book, you’ll have gained the knowledge, experience, and inspiration to start creating impressive 3D animations on your own.

Machine Learning and Generative AI for Marketing. Take your data-driven marketing strategies to the next level using Python

Yoon Hyup Hwang, Nicholas C. Burtch

In the dynamic world of marketing, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is no longer just an advantage—it's a necessity. Moreover, the rise of generative AI (GenAI) helps with the creation of highly personalized, engaging content that resonates with the target audience.This book provides a comprehensive toolkit for harnessing the power of GenAI to craft marketing strategies that not only predict customer behaviors but also captivate and convert, leading to improved cost per acquisition, boosted conversion rates, and increased net sales.Starting with the basics of Python for data analysis and progressing to sophisticated ML and GenAI models, this book is your comprehensive guide to understanding and applying AI to enhance marketing strategies. Through engaging content & hands-on examples, you'll learn how to harness the capabilities of AI to unlock deep insights into customer behaviors, craft personalized marketing messages, and drive significant business growth. Additionally, you'll explore the ethical implications of AI, ensuring that your marketing strategies are not only effective but also responsible and compliant with current standardsBy the conclusion of this book, you'll be equipped to design, launch, and manage marketing campaigns that are not only successful but also cutting-edge.

Mastering C++ Game Animation Programming. Enhance your skills with advanced game animation techniques in C++, OpenGL, and Vulkan

Michael Dunsky

With two decades of programming experience across multiple languages and platforms, expert game developer and console porting programmer Michael Dunsky guides you through the intricacies of character animation programming. This book tackles the common challenges developers face in creating sophisticated, efficient, and visually appealing character animations.You’ll learn how to leverage the Open Asset Import Library for easy 3D model loading and optimize your 3D engine by offloading computations from the CPU to the GPU. The book covers visual selection, extended camera handling, and separating your application into edit and simulation modes. You’ll also master configuration storage to progressively build your virtual world piece by piece.As you develop your engine-like application, you’ll implement collision detection, inverse kinematics, and expert techniques to bring your characters to life with realistic visuals and fluid movement. For more advanced animation and character behavior controls, you’ll design truly immersive and responsive NPCs, load real game maps, and use navigation algorithms, enabling the instances to roam freely in complex environments.By the end of this book, you’ll be skilled at designing interactive virtual worlds inhabited by lifelike NPCs that exhibit natural, context-aware behaviors.