In collaboration with The National DevOps Conference and Awards, we interviewed Michael Sagalovich, QA and DevOps Practice Lead at Coherent Solutions. In this article he lists out the key trends within DevOps and how automation is transforming and driving digital transformation.
The National DevOps Conference & Awards takes place in London on the 22nd and 23rd of October 2024. To exhibit your products at the event, please get in touch here.
The critical force driving digital transformation
Although automation is currently emerging as a trend in the IT community, the basic idea of automating tasks throughout the software development lifecycle has been around for decades. In its essence, we cannot talk about DevOps without talking about automation. But what we’re seeing now is more and more different industries finding benefits in automation beyond just the IT and software development industries. As cloud environments become ever more complex, automation is becoming imperative to digital transformations and business continuity for organisations across the map.
How automation and CI/CD pipelines are transforming DevOps
Automation is increasingly being integrated into various stages of the DevOps pipeline, from code integration to testing, ensuring rapid and reliable delivery of applications. The current and most prevalent trend in automation, aside from AI, is moving towards ‘automate everything’. As infrastructures become more complex, this is becoming all the more critical particularly in the processes that occur after developers commit their code.
Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) methodologies are integral to modern DevOps practices. These approaches involve the seamless integration of code into a shared repository and the automated deployment of applications to production environments. CI/CD pipelines are instrumental in reducing manual errors, improving code quality, and accelerating the delivery of applications to end-users.
Furthermore, infrastructure as code (IaC) remains crucial. Tools like TerraForm, and cloud-specific tools are allowing organisations to manage their cloud infrastructure through code. Additionally, Kubernetes, which automates managing Docker images, has been a staple in DevOps for over a decade. While there are always new libraries and tools emerging, these foundational tools continue to play a significant role in automation for DevOps.
From IT to Financial Services: How Automation is Driving Innovation
Automation is transforming industries by streamlining processes, reducing manual labour, and enabling faster delivery of services. For instance, in the IT sector, automation is applied to every step that occurs after a developer commits their code, reducing errors and handling complex infrastructures. It’s a crucial and unavoidable process for any organisations hoping to do anything at scale. Taking the UK’s 2022 mortgage meltdown as an example, a lack of automation lead to banks not being able to cope with the rapidly changing market conditions and falling behind on updating their interest rates and mortgage programs. Contrasting this, companies like Netflix have successfully used automation to deliver new features extremely fast to the market. This rapid delivery, sometimes as quick as 15 minutes from idea to production, would be impossible without automation. Regardless of the industry, if there’s an IT component, automation is likely to enhance its operations by streamlining processes and enabling faster decision-making.
The key to an effective digital strategy
Automation’s role in a company’s digital strategy is vital. It underpins digital transformation efforts, with a focus on automating workflows to demonstrate tangible benefits to end-users. As industries continue to evolve, automation will remain a key driver in shaping digital landscapes and ensuring competitive advantage.
Beyond enhancing testing and reducing human error, automating routine tasks enables teams to focus on the bigger picture, collaborate effectively, and design better solutions. In today’s competitive landscape, this is critical. While AI and other technologies can contribute, human expertise remains essential, especially in addressing security concerns. Automation ultimately allows organisations to reduce silos creating a collaborative environment for transformation and future business growth.
Addressing security in DevOps
While the integration of automation has been a game-changer in DevOps, significantly enhancing the speed and efficiency of development and operations, the importance of security cannot be overstated. While DevOps tools have streamlined the code release process, security challenges persist. Automation and artificial intelligence offer substantial support, yet they cannot entirely replace the need for manual oversight in security protocols. In the balance between rapid delivery and robust security is delicate; speed-to-market should rarely ever take precedence over security, especially in organisations releasing products on a large scale. Ultimately, security may vary in priority depending on the industry and the audience size, so it is imperative that organisations take a tailored approach when addressing security in their DevOps practices.
Maintaining a competitive edge in the current digital landscape comes down to companies embracing automation as a strategic imperative. By integrating automated processes into their operations, businesses can enhance their operational efficiency, foster collaboration, and in turn, deliver superior products and services to their customers.Â
Explore AI and automation at the National DevOps Conference in London
Join us for an in-depth discussion on the scope and future of AI and automation at The National DevOps Conference and Awards, happening in London on October 22nd and 23rd, 2024. This premier event will feature expert insights into how AI is transforming DevOps practices and the broader tech industry.
View the Full Agenda: The National DevOps Conference and Awards Agenda
Exclusive Offer: Gain free entry to the conference by submitting your project to the DevOps Awards before the September 16th deadline. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your innovation and network with industry leaders.
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