According to a study conducted by Gartner, companies that use DevOps techniques can reduce inefficiencies by 60%! DevOps in software development can help in resolving complex bugs much faster.
Many reputable businesses like Netflix, Etsy, Walmart, Adobe, and Amazon have used DevOps in their workflows for this very reason. They saw how DevOps could speed up their development processes and improve their performance, with ease.
Traditional IT activities are time-consuming and annoying, and that’s where DevOps excels. Since its inception in 2008, the demand for DevOps has increased and has become trendy ever since.
In today’s blog, we will be covering the basics of DevOps and the advantages it offers. Let’s dive right in, shall we?
DevOps: Brief Introduction
DevOps, in simple terms, is a set of practices that bring together the operations team (Ops) and software development (Dev). It focuses on fostering collaboration between these teams. DevOps engineers play a key role in ensuring effective teamwork and smooth communication.
Their main objective is to ensure that the software delivery is fast and there are zero errors. When they automate tasks like code integration, testing, monitoring, and deployment –They’re able to release updates more frequently.
Why DevOps is Important?
Now that we are familiar with the basics, we have to realize how important DevOps is. It will be able to assist you in faster updates releases, enhance collaboration with your team members, and assist you in improving your customer relations.
DevOps experts closely monitor your software to keep your software up-to-date and ensure it remains stable. Thanks to the different uses of DevOps, companies that have adopted DevOps saw a 2.5X faster software delivery than general deployment practices.
Related Blog: How Do DevOps Consulting Services Boost Business Success?
Advantages of DevOps: Top 5 Reasons
Now that we know the importance of DevOps, we move on to the next section to understand its advantages. It’s important to know why all businesses alike need DevOps. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should invest in DevOps –
i) Faster Software Delivery
By automating tasks, DevOps engineers can release software faster in a matter of days instead of months. This can help you to stay one step ahead of your competitors and reach your target audience faster. They can –
a) Deploy smaller releases to minimize downtime.
b) Automate code integration
c) Prevent major disruptions by accessing the last version’s history.
ii) Improve Collaboration
Traditional IT teams can suffer from poor coordination between teams. DevOps experts foster cross-functioning collaboration, leading to:
a) Faster issue resolution
b) Fewer misunderstandings between teams
c) Better alignment with business goals.
iii) Higher Software Stability
Google uses the rollback features in its DevOps pipelines, ensuring that all technical glitches are fixed before it reach its customers. With software stability, you can –
a) Your software’s performance remains stable even during peak hours.
b) Software failure is minimized drastically.
c) Downtime is reduced, and resources are saved.
iv) Cost Reduction and Resource Efficiency
When you automate tasks, the operational costs are significantly reduced. This is one of the reasons why tech giants use DevOps for software development. Additionally, it can –
a) Reduce the wastage of resources.
B) Eliminate tasks and reduce redundancies.
C) the cost of emergency fixes boils down to almost 0
v) Better Security and Compliance
With hackers finding new ways to gain access to confidential information, security becomes one of the topmost priorities for businesses. By using DevOps services, you can –
a) Get access to real-time vulnerability detection.
b) Receive automated compliance checks.
c) Add data encryption for another added level of security.
Challenges and Solutions in DevOps Adoption
No solution is perfect and has limitations of their own. Even though we covered why we need DevOps in today’s age, there are a few challenges that we should be mindful of. Here are the top 5 –
i) Resistance to Change
Some team members might be hesitant to automate tasks and would prefer to do the task themselves. To tackle this, educate and train your teams on how DevOps can help speed up their process and improve their productivity.
ii) Complexity of DevOps Tools
There are various DevOps tools that can automate work, and it can be difficult to choose one. It is recommended to pick the tools that your team is comfortable using like Jenkins, Kubernetes, Docker, and Terraform.
iii) Security Risks
If not managed properly, automated pipelines can introduce security vulnerabilities. Hackers can take advantage of this and ruin your brand reputation. To tackle this, you can adopt DevSecOps. With this, you can control security at every stage.
iv) Skill Gaps and Training Needs
Many IT teams lack DevOps expertise, which can delay software updates. The best way to train your team and ensure they have the necessary skills is to provide certification programs like AWS DevOps and CI/CD boot camps.
v) Resistance to Automation
Some companies may still prefer manual processes, even if it’s a time-consuming process. They fear that automation won’t allow them to control their pipelines. Instead, show your team that automation will only improve control, rather than eliminate it.
Industries that Have Benefitted from DevOps
1) Finance and Banking
JP Morgan Chase used DevOps automation, which has helped them to track their finances. This significantly reduced their deployment risks, and they were able to detect fraud faster. By automating CI/CD pipelines, companies in the finance industry can roll out new features quickly and improve their customer relationship.
2) Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
For the healthcare industry, they can use DevOps for their cloud applications and keep all their sensitive data protected. One such company is Pfizer, where they used a cloud-based application for vaccine research. Hospitals can use this advantage of DevOps to improve their patient records.
3) E-Commerce and Retail
Slowly, even the retail industries have seen why DevOps is important for their business. Walmart used DevOps for their software development, and they saw positive results – Reduced system crashes during peak sale season and handled customer demands effortlessly.
4) Telecommunications
Millions of users often rely on a stable network connection. Verizon saw the importance of DevOps and adopted Kubernetes to improve their services and improve the speed of their 5G technology. With continuous monitoring and regular updates, telecom companies can quickly fix issues before they arise.
Wrapping Up: Why DevOps for Software Development is Important
In short, companies of all sectors are now realizing the significance of DevOps and how it can help them. If you need to deploy features rapidly or wish to automate processes, DevOps is your answer.
So, what’s next? If you’re ready to embark on your DevOps journey and you need professional guidance, contact our DevOps professionals. Because the requirement of DevOps is evident – It assures rapid releases, less human error, and high customer retention rates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is DevOps and how does it resolve problems?
Ans 1 – DevOps bridges software development (Dev) and the operations department (Ops) to enhance the collaboration between the teams. It primarily aims at reducing the life cycle of software development and delivering software in a continuous way with high quality.
Q2. How does automation support DevOps?
Ans 2 – Automation is one of the key features of DevOps, wherein all the workflow is automated. It enhances testing, deployment, and continuous monitoring. The significance of DevOps is to minimize errors and attain quicker delivery cycles.
Q3. In what ways is DevOps different from conventional IT processes?
Ans 3 – Legacy IT processes such as the waterfall model have a sequential approach, where development and operations teams work independently. This may result in miscommunications and project delays. DevOps, however, ensures that teams are aligned.
