A Practical Guide to DevOps as a Service

DevOps as a service is the provisioning of DevOps through a managed services model, essential for faster deployments and maintaining an efficient pipeline. As a software development approach, it helps companies create better software by fostering collaborative organizational improvements.

But not every organization has the resources to implement DevOps effectively. That’s why DevOps service providers are stepping up, offering unique DevOps as a Service (DaaS) solutions to support those who need DevOps but can’t adopt the methodology properly on their own.

DaaS providers are invaluable for capturing the transformative aspects of DevOps. So, how about we explore everything you need to know about DevOps and DevOps as a Service?

DevOps is a software development methodology that combines developers (dev) with operations (ops). It leverages tools, practices, and set principles that instill a cultural mindset of integration. Unified teams result in a robust and efficient software development lifecycle — one of the primary DevOps methodology goals.

In addition, by removing silos common to the tech industry, DevOps as a service creates more holistic operations designed for velocity. Continuous integration and delivery allows projects and teams to earn rapid incremental releases, because the roles of administration and development have been melded together.

Source: Market.us

The DevOps as a service methodology posits four tenets that will improve your organization's development practices:

Manual execution with physical hand-offs is time-consuming. The human effort often results in slow releases or updates. With automation, all pipeline processes that do not require intervention are able to speed up (i.e. testing), leading to greater flexibility and velocity.

Developers focus on code while operations improve processes. Without teamwork, the two parties will distance themselves into silos, and communication will break down. DevOps as a service remedies that split, leading to capable and informed team members who can execute on strategy.

DevOps as a service measures performance to locate areas that need improvement, including company-wide practices. If new tools or systems can increase velocity, then DevOps engineers spend resources to capitalize on that advantage.

Management that does not listen to the remarks of all stakeholders, both developers and customers, will struggle to deliver products according to user satisfaction. DevOps includes robust feedback loops with all parties to help deliver releases that meet client standards.

As organizations increasingly embrace DevOps and migrate their integrations to the cloud, the tools used for build, test, and deployment processes follow suit, effectively transforming continuous delivery into a managed cloud service.

DevOps in the cloud involves shifting your tools and processes for continuous delivery to a hosted virtual platform. The delivery pipeline consolidates into a single site where developers, testers, and operations teams collaborate as one, automating as much of the deployment process as possible. This is DevOps as a managed service can help:

It can automate the software build process, which can help your organization transit from source code to a deployable package in a scheduled action. This approach minimizes manual intervention, ensures consistent builds, and speeds up deployments, keeping your development cycle agile and efficient.

DevOps solutions prioritize reliability by implementing continuous monitoring and backup processes. This ensures minimal downtime and enables rapid recovery from unforeseen disruptions, which can protect your infrastructure and data integrity.

With expert guidance, migrating to cloud services is effortless. DevOps teams ensure system compatibility, preserve performance, and optimize resource allocation, such as RAM limits, custom to your cloud provider's specifications.

You can get cutting-edge virtualization and containerization tools to deploy and manage cloud infrastructure effectively. A focus on security ensures data confidentiality, proper configurations, and role-based access control, mitigating risks.

Source: Statista

Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a robust global network designed to virtually host some of the world's most advanced IT environments. With fiber-linked data centers spanning the globe and a pay-per-use model measured down to the millisecond, AWS DevOps as a service simplifies the migration of processes to the cloud.

AWS Code tools and services provide cost-effective and user-friendly solutions. Among its extensive offerings, three key services stand out for enabling seamless continuous delivery.

AWS CodeBuild is a fully managed service that compiles code, automates quality assurance testing, and generates deployment-ready software. Enhanced security measures, including unique encryption keys for each artifact, ensure secure builds.

CodeBuild adjusts to your needs with automatic scaling, supporting simultaneous deployment of multiple build versions for production testing. With no upfront costs, users only pay for the computing time consumed. CodeBuild integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, delivering scalability and flexibility without significant hardware investments.

AWS CodePipeline provides a user-friendly graphical interface that enables you to define deployment parameters and build an ideal delivery model. Once configured, CodePipeline automates the delivery process, ensuring continuous updates with every code change.

The platform supports integration with third-party tools like GitHub and offers a library of pre-built plugins for customization. Additionally, users can create custom plugins for complete control over the pipeline process.

AWS CodeDeploy ensures seamless delivery of new builds to all pre-specified instances. It simplifies build synchronization, patching, and upgrades, while accommodating standard legacy code thanks to its code-agnostic framework.

The AWS Management Console monitors every deployment, making it easy to resolve issues or roll back changes through an intuitive GUI.

By combining AWS DevOps as a service with the platform’s extensive ecosystem, organizations can build a secure, scalable continuous delivery framework in the cloud. Though the initial transition may require effort, the long-term stability and cost efficiency make it a prudent move.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) combines a world-class global network, intuitive interfaces, and an expanding suite of features, making it a compelling choice for DevOps operations. GCP also supports comprehensive cloud development environments for popular platforms like Visual Studio, Android Studio, Eclipse, and PowerShell, allowing you to work with familiar tools in a cloud-native setting.

Here’s a look at some powerful Stackdriver tools offered by Google.

1. Stackdriver Monitoring: Provides a visual overview of your environment's health and highlights potential issues.

2. Stackdriver Debugger: Lets you dive into any code location to observe real-time behavior in a production environment.

3. Stackdriver Logging: Captures, monitors, and analyzes critical log data events.

4. Stackdriver Trace: Identifies latencies and visualizes them in the Google Cloud Console for streamlined troubleshooting.

GCP integrates Jenkins with Container Engine to run jobs across multiple operating systems and launch executables in seconds. Jenkins supports clustering and container management in Container Engine, allowing you to deploy resources only when needed, resulting in a more efficient pipeline.

GCP offers robust tools to manage cloud operations effectively, including:

Deployment Manager enables you to define deployment rules and resources using templates compatible with yaml, Python, or jinja2.

What sets Deployment Manager apart is its use of declarative language. Instead of specifying each step manually, you simply define the desired outcome, and GCP handles the rest. This approach ensures deployment processes are repeatable, scalable, and easy to replicate as needed.

The GCP Cloud Console offers a high-level view of all DevOps as a service activities in the cloud. From managing virtual machines to handling release rollbacks, the Cloud Console serves as a central hub for DevOps collaboration, accessible even on native Android and iOS platforms.

With these tools and features, GCP equips DevOps teams with everything they need to build a streamlined, efficient, and scalable cloud delivery model.

Microsoft Azure, much like AWS and Google Cloud, offers a comprehensive suite of interoperable tools for DevOps engineers through its robust cloud management platform. With its deep integration into the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure provides a seamless transition for organizations moving to hybrid or fully cloud-based environments. Hosting two-thirds of the Fortune 500 companies, Azure’s decades of expertise in building secure global infrastructure stand out.

Here are some key tools and features Azure offers for DevOps.

Azure App Service is a globally trusted platform that supports a wide array of development options. Whether working with Visual Studio or leveraging the cloud’s most extensive programming language offerings, DevOps teams can develop secure, enterprise-grade applications. Azure’s extensive partner network and flexibility make it a top choice for app development.

Azure DevTest Labs empowers DevOps teams to experiment with ease. Using prebuilt and customizable templates, you can quickly provision and build out your Azure DevOps environment. This sandbox approach allows teams to explore Azure’s capabilities in repeatable, disposable environments, gaining hands-on experience before transitioning to production.

Azure Stack facilitates partial integration of Azure services into existing data centers, enabling a smooth migration to cloud-based DevOps. It simplifies the process of moving virtual machines, Docker containers, and other production pipeline segments from on-premises to the cloud. By mirroring resources locally and in the cloud, Azure Stack supports hybrid environments, fostering seamless collaboration between development teams.

In the modern cloud era, infrastructure is no longer just hardware—it’s code. Infrastructure-as-code (IaC) enables the provisioning and replacement of virtual hardware automatically.

This approach combines the expertise of development and operations teams, allowing entire environments to be spun up and fine-tuned rapidly. Tools like Vagrant, Ansible, Docker, Chef, and Puppet provide powerful capabilities for automating tasks across infrastructure and operating system layers.

Once the infrastructure is created, teams can execute scripts, including traditional BAT and ps1 files, to further automate processes. Applying the same principles as a continuous delivery pipeline, IaC creates a symbiotic relationship between software and the environment that hosts it, optimizing efficiency and reliability.

Azure’s comprehensive ecosystem, secure infrastructure, and integration with Microsoft tools make it a compelling choice for organizations looking to adopt or enhance DevOps as a service in the cloud.

Source: MarketsandMarkets

DevOps encompasses several best practices that facilitate an integrated work environment. If your organization suffers from the following six “red flags,” then you most likely could benefit from adopting DevOps as a service:

In a healthy pipeline, release cycles are rapid, incremental, and continuous. Changes under DevOps are adaptable and flexible, leading to faster delivery. If your project experiences slow deployments, then DevOps is needed.

While manual execution is necessary under certain circumstances, the majority of your pipeline should be automated (a key tenet in the DevOps approach). If not, then any deployment will likely be slow and filled with errors.

DevOps continuously integrates all aspects of your pipeline. Such delivery is highly efficient, best demonstrated by regular code releases and connected testing. If your deployments continuously experience roadblocks, then you need DevOps.

DevOps places importance on cross-department cooperation, even for roles traditionally delegated separately. If you find that individuals remain siloed (leading to duplicate work, overspending, and organizational drift), then the continuous delivery that DevOps provides can offer tangible advantages to your company.

DevOps fosters a work culture of collaboration and transparency. If no one understands the central vision or purpose of a project, the throughput of work falls to the wayside. If your work environment places no value on business-oriented goals, then change is needed.

Employees excel when they are allowed to fail and learn from their failures. With a well-functioning feedback loop, entire teams can locate and repair problems on their own. If constructive feedback is not an integral part of your organizational ethos, then you should look into how DevOps can optimize your organization.

If you want to learn the exact steps to take to implement DevOps in your organization, then you can get our consultation on implementing DevOps.

There are several advantages gained when you outsource DevOps as a service:

DevOps service providers like EPAM Startups & SMBs have strong relationships with experienced specialists. Coupled with a refined recruitment process, you can have experienced DevOps engineers working on implementation from day one. Save time and additional costs with minimal training and onboarding.

Outsourcing services take on tasks that streamline your development cycle. From installing organizational infrastructure for continuous testing to reframing team strategy for cross-functional production, engineers with up-to-date tools provide direct value within the software lifecycle. New talent can also inject innovative knowledge into your pipeline.

Remote team providers take on the full-cycle human resources administration. Therefore, issues with taxes, licenses, software integrations, and office space all fall by the wayside. Hire for the exact job requirements and duties, and worry less about direct management or development monitoring. Select from a pool of candidates and hire only those who fit well into the company culture. Labor and investment risk then decrease as a result.

It is far more cost-effective to turn to DevOps-as-a-service companies rather than setting up the entire team in-house. These companies can provide a specific skill, such as DevOps-as-a-service with AWS, for specific tasks at price points far more attractive than internal hires needing professional development.

Most DevOps service providers work directly to remove silos and enhance teamwork aspects. Additionally, many of them provide complete teams of specialists with every competency covered. Expertise is shared, helping to upskill other team members through peer learning. Failure and experimentation are valued, leading to a more progressive work environment.

With the support of a DevOps service provider, you will gain more time to focus on business-critical operations. Let experts control development aspects and software delivery so you can concentrate on company growth and role responsibilities.

DevOps as a service can bring significant improvements to your organization by leveraging key metrics and performance indicators to track progress. Here are some critical KPIs that all DevOps service providers focus on to monitor real improvements to your pipeline:

- Deployment Speed: The frequency, rate, and success of deployments.

- Cycle Lead Times: The time it takes to create or edit new code.

- Change Success: The number of changes, the failure rate of those changes, and issues related to problematic deployments.

- Defect Rates: The number of defects pushed into production, the total volume of bugs, and how quickly bugs are identified.

- Application Performance: Customer ticket tracking, real-world uptime, and response times.

By tracking these metrics and implementing adjustments to improve pipeline quality, deployments, and projects, you can make tangible improvements to operations and tools. Through continuous refinement and adherence to DevOps principles, your pipeline's velocity and stability will improve, leading to a complete transformation of your organization's workflow. You can help you make the most of DevOps as a service, you can chat with us.