Tips for a Successful DevOps Implementation

Thinking of taking DevOps in-house? Use Key Performance Indicators – and key people

The process of migrating to DevOps methodologies can be a challenging one that leaves employees and management frustrated, if not done correctly. Companies that make the move must track essential metrics and put the right people in place to do it successfully.

Use KPIs to track the benefits of DevOps

The ideal way to transition over to DevOps is systematical, and all aspects of the process must be tracked. Below is a small sampling of the types of KPIs you’ll want to keep an eye on as you migrate over to a DevOps environment:

• Track change lead-time – This simply means that you’re able to track the time period between when a change is requested and when it’s implemented into production.
• Test case automation – As you begin to add automation into your QC environment, it’s important to begin to track metrics such as a number of test cases that have been automated, the percentage of overall test cases that are automated, and the amount of time it takes to run each test case. These metrics quickly give upper management a snapshot of the benefits of automating test cases.
• Features released per time period – You can pick the time period, but executives will likely want to see data that reflects quarters because that’s often how they plan. First, you’ll want to define what constitutes a new feature – and the overall of tracking their release is will show how DevOps methodologies allow a development team to get more work done, with fewer bugs.
• Track bugs – You’ll also want to track the number of bugs that are reported in production. You should be able to show a significant reduction in bugs after DevOps has been implemented.

Key roles to achieve success with DevOps

Achieving DevOps is much more difficult than simply reading a few books and implementing the necessary tools and methodologies that are required. You have two choices when you’re implementing: you can either outsource the process to a managed DevOps firm like CloudHesive or you can attempt to do it on your own.

If you do decide to implement DevOps internally without the help of an outside organization, there are a number of key roles that you’ll need to fill to ensure success. Remember, DevOps is not only about using the correct technology to help streamline your development processes but also hiring the right people who can oversee the transition.

Below are several key roles that we’ve found to be extremely beneficial when it comes to migrating to a DevOps architecture:

• DevOps Evangelist – This person will be the one leading the charge and showcasing the reasons your company is implementing DevOps. This individual should be an advocate for the process and have the energy to connect with individuals at all levels of the company, from software developers to upper management.
• Automation Expert/Architect – Automation is incredibly important for any successful application of DevOps. This resource will be responsible for all of the technology that’s used to automate various aspects of the process, including testing.
• Release Manager – An effective release manager is responsible for the coordination and management of releases, from development to production. This role becomes even more important in a DevOps environment, given it creates a faster release cycle.
• Software Developer/Tester – In a true DevOps environment, a developer’s responsibilities will not end when they’ve checked in a new commit to the repository. Instead, they’ll also be responsible for converting requirements into code, as well as the deployment and unit testing of these changes. These additional responsibilities encourage developers to become a more integral part of the entire production process – from start to finish.

Interested in how DevOps can transform your business?

We hope that these essentials will help you determine if DevOps is right for your organization – and give you an idea of what it takes to institute it properly. To learn more about DevOps and our own managed DevOps service, reach out to our team of South Florida experts today at 800-860-2040 or through our online contact form.