Introducing DevOps 2.0

Over the last months, we have spoken with 100+ people - from DevOps engineers to CTOs. 

We learned that if DevOps had an NPS score, it would be pretty low. More than the philosophy itself, it is how it plays out in practice. In DevOps terms, there are issues with its integration and deployment into an organization.

Enter DevOps 2.0— an update to DevOps.

“DevOps requires changing the way of working of entire teams, bridging a skill gap, and changing culture. DevOps 2.0 aims to solve this.”

‍

Adopting modern software development is hard

The software landscape evolves rapidly. New practices like Agile, cloud-native, and microservices emerge, always out of necessity and a desire for improvement. As the industry leaders promote it and its benefits, others want to get on board to stay competitive. 

DevOps is no different. Breaking down the silos between development and operations teams to foster collaboration and enable faster, more reliable software releases. Sounds great.

However, DevOps doesn’t happen in the board room. It doesn’t suffice to say “Now we’re going to do DevOps” or “We’re going to hire someone who knows DevOps”. It requires changing the way of working of entire teams, bridging a skill gap, and changing culture. This is hard and brings resistance. The bigger the organization and its legacy, the lower the chances of success.

DevOps 1.0 pain points

Many companies struggle to reach high DevOps maturity despite the investment in new hires, coaches, consultants, and training sessions. This manifests in several key pain points:

• Unclear responsibilities: Developers and (Dev)Ops teams are in a struggle around who is responsible for something, e.g. when a pipeline fails. 
• Skill gap & Tribal Knowledge: Expertise and skills remain with the DevOps responsible and a handful of others. They are frequently relied on to help others, reducing productivity. Efforts like documentation and learning sessions don’t help much. 
• Cognitive Overload: The DevOps stack is too much for everyone in the team to absorb and feel confident with, especially as the stack increases or changes. 
• Ops wilderness: As the responsibility becomes shared, inconsistency spreads. This becomes more problematic with growing and changing teams.

Platform Engineering

Leading tech companies have addressed this with a new practice, Platform Engineering. With internal platforms (IDPs) that streamline DevOps tasks, developers can focus on feature development while ensuring the underlying infrastructure remains robust and reliable.

While this is a good solution for the DevOps struggles, it is not within reach for many. It requires a heavy investment, expertise, and ongoing maintenance. And even if they manage that, the same knowledge and culture gap remains that makes successful adoption near-impossible for big companies with lots of legacy.

Enter DevOps 2.0

DevOps 2.0 draws inspiration from the benefits of Platform Engineering but takes a pragmatic approach to its integration and deployment. By gradually inserting the culture and knowledge shift required in DevOps, it becomes accessible and manageable for organizations of all sizes.

Key principles of DevOps 2.0 include:

• Start quickly with Standardization: No need for a huge investment and project to get started. Start with templates and guidelines, providing a fast and accessible starting point to the benefits of standardization. IT reduces complexity, increases reliability, minimizes errors and boosts overall efficiency.
• Facilitate Adherence: Real-time feedback guides contributors along established best practices, reducing cognitive overload and helping teams stay aligned with organizational goals. This continuous guidance ensures that everyone learns and follows the “paved road,” leading to higher quality and more consistent results. 
• Continuous improvement: Ensure that best practices get inserted gradually, making your DevOps processes more effective and impactful over time. Continuously apply more guidelines and templates to your codebase, and level up with more real-time feedback and automated reviews. 
• Seamless Integration: DevOps 2.0 integrates smoothly with your existing tools and workflows, making it easier for teams to adopt new practices without disruption. This seamless integration ensures that improvements are implemented efficiently and without abruptly breaking your current processes.

The Vision of DevOps 2.0: Unlocking Your Organization's Full Potential

DevOps 2.0 results in a more efficient and cohesive DevOps culture and knowledge shift that is stimulated organically. The outcome is enhanced productivity, reduced operational friction, and the ability to scale with greater confidence.

Why You Should Join the DevOps 2.0 Movement

Adopting DevOps 2.0 is about positioning your organization for future success. It’s a strategic leap toward operational excellence that is manageable and focuses on successful implementation. By embracing DevOps 2.0, you can keep pace with industry trends while adopting a new standard in software development.

Join us in redefining how software is built and delivered. Together, we can elevate your organization to new levels of efficiency, innovation, and success.

‍