DevOps as a Managed Service
Implementing DevOps can be a difficult endeavor; even organizations that have fully embraced the methodology (in theory) can struggle with streamlined, continuous deployment and final deadlines. It’s hard to figure out what happened and why key components, like your CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous delivery) pipeline, are not functioning properly. In theory, DevOps methodology should improve workflow efficiency. However, optimizing DevOps in practice involves a multi-prong approach that involves high-level business strategy changes that trickle down to affect company culture, workflow, and the individual tools involved in testing, deployment and monitoring. To identify the point at which the DevOps infrastructure is deficient, evaluation of the entire DevOps infrastructure is sometimes necessary. Who has time for that? Internal investment is costly and may stall continuous deployment goals. The best approach for correcting and optimizing DevOps in a fluid and timely manner is by utilizing DevOps as a Service.
Advantages of using a DevOps managed service
The goal of DevOps, in general, is to increase collaboration between operations and development, creating a culture of continuous improvement. DevOps environments strive for agility and resilience, which are key qualities for success in today’s quickly changing markets. To accomplish this, DevOps should be incorporated throughout an IT infrastructure. Every company has a different DevOps approach and varying needs. Utilizing DevOps as a Managed Service allows you to access a wide variety of solutions and skilled experts, and it uncovers additional results that are costly to achieve with internal teams.
1. Access to DevOps talent
If you’ve ever tried hiring a “DevOps professional”, you would know that (1) these folks are scarce and (2) there’s a lot of variance on what “DevOps professional” means. In some cases, this is a high-level strategist. In other cases, it may be an engineer with experience developing and deploying in the cloud using specific DevOps tools. By choosing DevOps as a Service, businesses can let the experienced DevOps pros handle the projects without the need to build an internal team.
2. Quick adoption of DevOps
For a company just starting a DevOps transformation, partnering with a Managed Service team can speed up the process. A DevOps Managed Service provider will propose a detailed plan and timeline and assist during the adoption process.
3. Immediate support
If a company has already identified the problem areas, a Managed Service team can start tactical efforts to improve DevOps processes immediately. For example, if a company needs assistance managing microservice applications in containers, a Managed Service team has the expertise to propose a solution and dive into the work.
4. Customized support
DevOps means different things to different organizations, and each business has its own unique needs. A Managed Service can customize a plan that supports a client’s preferred model. Using a cloud delivery pipeline? Depending on SaaS platforms, but need help monitoring apps for errors? Simply need help defining processes? No problem. Managed Services are equipped to approach many complex IT situations.
5. Allows continuous work
A Managed Services team can work in parallel to current efforts to avoid delays in deployment. There is no need to pause projects or take folks off of one project in order to focus on DevOps optimization, and CI/CD (continuous integration/continuous delivery) can proceed without interruption.
6. Continuing monitoring and management options
A DevOps Managed Service can provide solutions to short-term problems, but they are designed to provide long-term maintenance services as well. This is a great choice for companies who want to stay on track with DevOps missions but don’t necessarily have the internal resources to dedicate.
If your organization is struggling with DevOps optimization, there is no need to worry. DevOps integration often takes time to cultivate and refine. Starting a relationship with an experienced DevOps Managed Service group can help manage some of the growing pains that come with adopting new methodologies. The ideal team will have the expertise to help with all aspects of DevOps integration and optimization and create a custom plan geared towards the specific needs of your organization.
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