A growing number of organizations are exploring the benefits of DevOps. This new technology provides a wide range of benefits that they can take advantage of. As a result, the DevOps market is expected to reach $13 billion within the next six years.
What are the real benefits of DevOps technology? The list is numerous, but the biggest advantage is automation.
Automation is a form of digital technology that predates DevOps by at least a decade. However, new DevOps processes make automation technology much more efficient and versatile. Organizations that understand the benefits of automation will realize the biggest benefits. A number of sustainable businesses are starting to appreciate these benefits.
Here are the most important principles that DevOps developers should be aware of when creating a fully automated DevOps pipeline.
Leveraging the efficiency of an automation squad
DevOps has led to a number of changes in the way teams operate. New workload automation software has eliminated much of the monotonous tasks that businesses must execute on a daily basis.
One change is that DevOps has created a demand for automation professionals. Many teams have created subgroups for these professionals, which are known as automation squads. Automation squads are responsible for outlining a plan for automation and ensuring that it is managed consistently. They will be responsible for the following:
- Making a list of the automation tools that all DevOps developers will need to use
- Ensuring that all members of the team understand the practices involved
- Creating documentation for team members that need to learn automation practices
- Updating practices as new automation technology reaches the market
- Offering guidance to team members that are struggling to embrace new automation strategies
Automation squads can be very effective at developing continuous delivery and integration strategies.
Recognize that automation must be handled in moderation
Automation is one of many practices in your team’s arsenal. Automation tools can be incredibly powerful and offer substantial benefits to any organization.
However, as with any new tool or concept, it is possible to take automation too far. PMI surveys show that some teams might be tempted to depend too heavily on automation.
How do you know if your organization is becoming too reliant on automation? The biggest red flag is that they are starting to forget the importance of sound management. They are becoming so confident in automation technology that they believe they can flat out ignore basic managerial concepts. Another indication is that they stop keeping up to date with new technology on the market.
One study found that only 38% of companies regularly attend Industry conferences to understand changes in technology. Another 45% admit that they don’t understand the importance of project management or the role that project managers are supposed to fill.
These companies indicate that they believe workflows can be automated indefinitely and never be tweaked again. The unfortunate reality is that new challenges are going to surface all the time. Processes can be automated to an extent, but they are going to need to be monitored, refined and sometimes entirely eliminated and changed.
Automation is a great concept. However, it cannot be the be-all and end-all of DevOps development.
Take advantage of the best automation tools
There are a number of DevOps tools available. Most of these tools are very effective at improving on a mission. They include:
- Gradle
- Jenkins
- Bamboo
- Jfrog
- Git
Some of these tools are directly responsible for creating automation workflows. Others make it easier for developers to create automation technology. Most DevOps developers recognize the benefits of all of these tools and try to invest in several of them. Gradle is a great DevOps platform for writing code in a variety of C-based programming languages. Jenkins is great for tracking workflows.
Develop the right hiring pipeline for your DevOps developers
Every DevOps team is going to depend on finding the right talent. Unfortunately, some organizations have difficulty attracting qualified developers.
There are a number of ways that you can make it easier to build a hiring pipeline. Some of the hiring practices can include:
- Reaching out to reputable engineering schools with a high number of graduates looking for DevOps positions
- Building strong networks with people in your field and seeking references
- Getting recommendations from other employees
- Taking advantage of LinkedIn and other professional networking sites
Organizations that take advantage of these practices will have an easier time attracting the right candidates.
