9 common mistakes when implementing DevOps

Source:- ciklum.com

DevOps can be a godsend, but if used improperly, DevOps can also tank your project. Let’s look at nine common mistakes made when implementing DevOps.

1. Building a DevOps department
The point of DevOps isn’t to create a new department strictly for DevOps, but instead to create a new collaborative model that unites existing departments.

2. Failing to streamline software
Over-complicated software systems that have too much sprawl require siloed management and make systems over complicated for users. If your applications load slowly, crash often, or are otherwise inconsistent, DevOps isn’t going to happen.

3. Relying too much on automation
Automation is an important part of DevOps, but it isn’t the only factor that is key to DevOps. If you work on automation without streamlining communications and processes between development and operations teams, your DevOps experiment won’t be complete.

4. Blundering market delivery
Remember the Knight Capital Group, the company that lost $440 million in 30 minutes because of a market delivery error? Don’t let this happen to you. Even if you build and test great software, you also need to make sure that your customers are receiving value in market delivery.

5. Neglecting the feedback loop
All of your stakeholders need to be connected by a continuous feedback loop during every stage of the DevOps project. Don’t hinder your team by silo-ing metrics and monitoring; instead, let your team see continuous actionable feedback.

6. Allowing for ambiguous leadership
Most people on DevOps teams want to know what’s expected of them, and that’s much harder to keep track of if teams don’t have decisive leadership. If leaders don’t set adjustable courses for their teams, projects are less likely to be successful.

7. Forgetting about compliance auditing
Even if a program worked for another team, that doesn’t mean that it will be compliant for you. Involve your compliance and auditing teams early in the process, and ask them about any potential red flags or auditing issues they can foresee.

8. Setting crazy schedules
Your developers can’t work forever; if you overwork them, they’re going to start looking for new jobs — and fast. Before you embark on a DevOps project, make sure you understand your team’s individual performance and workload. You may need to hire freelancers if your staff is overburdened.

9. Creating unrealistic expectations
DevOps doesn’t ramp up from zero to a hundred overnight. Remember, DevOps requires a huge cultural shift within development and operations, so if you think you can change everything quickly, stop, and set smaller, more easily achieved milestones.

If you’re new to DevOps and aren’t sure how to implement it properly, call in the experts. DevOpsConsulting can help you implement DevOps that can reduce your time-to-market, increase your delivery capacity many times over, and help you innovate more quickly.