DevOps in practice: How to redefine collaboration

DevOps connects development and operations, enabling software to be delivered faster, more efficiently and with greater stability. Learn how the DevOps lifecycle works, which tools and methods you can use, and how this approach benefits your teams and processes.

DevOps is a modern IT concept that links software development and operations. The DevOps approach makes processes more efficient and speeds up software delivery. Instead of working in isolated teams, DevOps promotes close collaboration between developers and IT operations teams. The aim is to optimise the entire software development cycle – from planning and programming to testing and deployment to operation and monitoring.

Through automated processes and an agile way of working, companies can increase their productivity and create more reliable operating procedures, as well as improve the quality and stability of their software. DevOps is therefore not just a technical approach, but also a cultural change that focuses on communication, collaboration, automation and continuous improvement.

DevOps is based on an iterative and continuous process that covers the entire software development and deployment cycle. The DevOps lifecycle consists of eight central phases that are closely interlinked. The insights gained in the later phases flow directly into the next planning round, ensuring that the software is continuously improved. This iterative approach is what makes the DevOps method so effective and valuable.

To successfully implement the DevOps approach, teams use various methods and tools that optimise the development and operations process. Here is an overview of the most important approaches:

• Pair Programming: Pair Programming is a collaborative development method in which two developers work together on a ticket. One writes the code (driver) while the other checks it in real time (observer). This method not only improves code quality, but also promotes knowledge transfer within the team and speeds up problem solving.
• Continuous Integration (CI): Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery are among the core principles of DevOps. With CI, code changes are regularly integrated into a shared repository. This helps to identify errors and integration problems at an early stage.
• Continuous Delivery (CD): CD extends CI by automatically testing and deploying software after successful integration. Tools such as Azure DevOps, GitLab and GitHub enable a fast, continuous and secure release process. They form the basis for faster software release.
• Continuous learning: Teams continuously acquire new knowledge and expand existing skills. This is achieved through regular training, feedback cycles and the exchange of best practices. Continuous learning ensures that teams can respond flexibly to new technologies and challenges.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Infrastructure as Code is an approach in which the IT infrastructure is described by code and deployed automatically. This approach can be used in various phases of DevOps. IaC enables consistent, repeatable and scalable management of environments. With IaC, developers and operations teams can version infrastructures and respond quickly to changes. For example, developers use the Terraform tool to define complete infrastructures as code, which are then rolled out automatically. The result: less error-prone and manual effort.
• Microservices: This architectural approach divides applications into small, independent services that are developed, tested and deployed separately. This improves scalability and facilitates maintenance. Each microservice is self-contained and can be updated or replaced independently of other parts of the application.
• Version control: Version control is a method for managing changes to code. With the help of version control tools such as Git, teams can work in parallel, track code changes and revert to an earlier state if necessary. A clear history makes collaboration and troubleshooting within the team much easier.
• Automation: Automation is the backbone of DevOps. It is used in software delivery, testing, infrastructure management and monitoring. Automated processes reduce sources of error, speed up workflows and increase efficiency.
• Continuous monitoring: Continuous monitoring describes the constant monitoring of applications and infrastructures to ensure performance, security and availability. Data is collected and analysed so that problems can be identified early and countermeasures taken quickly. Monitoring tools include the ELK Stack (consisting of Elasticsearch, Logstash and Kibana), Prometheus, Grafana and cloud provider solutions.
• Fail Fast, Fail Often: The principle of ‘Fail Fast, Fail Often’ promotes rapid and continuous validation of ideas and code. Errors are detected early on, allowing them to be corrected at low cost. This method motivates teams to boldly test new approaches, learn continuously and develop quickly.

DevOps offers numerous advantages: faster software delivery, higher quality, more efficient teamwork and reduced downtime. The DevOps approach also enhances security and helps companies respond flexibly to market changes. We have compiled a list of the most important advantages for you.

DevOps significantly accelerates development and deployment processes. Close collaboration between development and operations teams and the automation of workflows significantly shorten development cycles. Instead of large, infrequent updates, smaller changes are implemented and delivered continuously. This enables companies to quickly implement new features, customisations and innovations.

Continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) ensure that software is tested faster and delivered reliably. The reduced time to market gives companies a clear competitive advantage and helps them respond quickly to market changes and customer needs.

The integration of continuous testing and monitoring ensures stable and secure releases, while continuous integration ensures that errors are detected and corrected at an early stage. This significantly improves software quality and reduces the likelihood of unexpected problems or failures in the production environment.

DevOps breaks down silos and promotes collaboration between development and operations teams, which traditionally work in isolation from one another. The two teams share responsibility and both have the necessary expertise. This improves efficiency, as less time is needed for handing over tasks and making subsequent adjustments. Fast feedback and transparent processes increase productivity and enable teams to develop code that is specifically optimised for the environment in which it will be executed.

This close collaboration creates clear communication channels and increases job satisfaction within the teams. In addition, the greater involvement of all those involved in the development process leads to lower staff turnover. However, it should not be forgotten that DevOps can also meet with resistance, as development teams have to take on additional tasks.

Proactive monitoring and automated processes detect and resolve problems early on, thereby reducing downtime. A key advantage is that teams can diagnose and resolve problems more quickly, which reduces the mean time to recover (MTTR). This ensures system stability and availability. Seamless communication within teams and regular reviews enable unplanned work to be better anticipated and coordinated.

In addition, tracing and alerting play a central role in rapid problem resolution. Tracing enables detailed tracking of requests and processes within the application to quickly identify sources of errors. Alerting ensures that teams are notified immediately of unusual system behaviour or critical errors. This enables rapid intervention and significantly minimises potential downtime.

Integrating security aspects into the entire DevOps development process achieves increased security and compliance. The DevSecOps approach ensures that security checks are part of the development process from the outset and are not added as an afterthought. Automated security and compliance checks, such as vulnerability checks in build pipelines or penetration tests, help to identify and close security gaps at an early stage.

Transparent workflows and the use of infrastructure as code also help to minimise sources of error and ensure that the infrastructure is provided in a secure and traceable manner. Overall, DevOps enables reliable data protection and compliance with legal regulations and security standards through automation and proactive security measures.

Implementing DevOps presents companies with various challenges, both cultural and technical. We recommend that you proactively address these challenges and apply best practices. This is the only way to successfully introduce DevOps in your company and benefit from the numerous advantages this method offers.

The introduction of DevOps often brings specific challenges that companies must recognise and address to ensure successful implementation. These include:

• Resistance to change: Introducing DevOps requires close collaboration between development and operations teams, which means a significant cultural shift. If both teams have previously worked in isolation, DevOps is about breaking down silos and establishing a culture of collaboration. In companies with traditional structures, this can meet with resistance from employees.
• Dealing with legacy systems: Existing, often outdated IT systems are still widespread in many companies. These legacy systems are difficult to integrate because they are often not designed for modern DevOps processes or automation. Here, companies must migrate, modernise or find compromise solutions step by step to ensure the stability of the existing infrastructure.
• Lack of expertise: DevOps requires a deep understanding of automation tools and techniques. Companies with a workforce that mainly has traditional IT skills may find it difficult to develop these new skills quickly.
• Security risks in automated processes: Automation increases efficiency, but it can also introduce new security risks. For example, incorrectly configured pipelines or insufficiently tested scripts can lead to security vulnerabilities. To identify and fix vulnerabilities early on, it is crucial to integrate security checks into the automation process from the outset.
• Unclear responsibilities: When teams don't know who is responsible for specific tasks, processes come to a standstill.

Implementing DevOps requires a comprehensive change in corporate culture and structure. Structured change management is important for making this transition a success. Consider the following aspects to make the transition to DevOps a success and ensure that everyone involved supports the change:

• Promote cultural change: Create an environment within the company that supports collaboration and open communication between teams. Introduce employees to new ways of working gradually. Training courses, workshops and success stories help to explain the added value of DevOps.
• Gradual introduction: Start with pilot projects. These allow you to test DevOps in small teams, gain experience and gradually scale successful approaches later on. This makes the transition easier for the entire company.
• Implement DevSecOps: Security must be an integral part of the DevOps process from the outset. Automated security checks and continuous compliance controls minimise risks.
• Standardise the tool landscape: Choose a unified suite of tools that meets your company's requirements and ensure that all teams use them. This approach helps to manage the complex transition. The result is greater efficiency and fewer errors.
• Clear roles and responsibilities: Define tasks and responsibilities transparently. This ensures that all team members know what is expected of them.
• Measuring success with KPIs: By introducing clearly defined key performance indicators (KPIs), you can measure the success of DevOps projects and identify potential for optimisation.

DevOps is a modern approach that brings development and operations together to deliver software faster, more reliably and more efficiently. The DevOps methodology combines automation, agile methods and close collaboration to break down silos and optimise processes. The iterative DevOps lifecycle – from planning to development to monitoring – ensures continuous improvement. With methods such as continuous integration, continuous delivery and infrastructure as code, DevOps increases efficiency, quality and teamwork. DevOps is not just a method, but a transformative corporate culture.

In the long term, DevOps offers you the opportunity to bring innovative products to market faster, minimise risks and build a stable, scalable IT infrastructure. With a clear focus on team culture, state-of-the-art technology and consistent integration of security (DevSecOps), DevOps becomes a catalyst for sustainable business success. With DevOps, you strengthen your competitiveness and lay the foundation for an agile and resilient organisation.