How Hands-On Lab Training Accelerates Your DevOps Learning Curve
In this article, we’ll explore why hands-on labs are so effective and how they can drastically improve your DevOps skills.
DevOps is a fast-paced, dynamic field where theoretical knowledge alone is rarely enough to succeed. To truly master the skills needed in this industry, hands-on experience is essential.
Hands-on lab training offers a practical, immersive way for DevOps engineers to accelerate their learning curve and become job-ready faster.
In this article, we’ll explore why hands-on labs are so effective and how they can drastically improve your DevOps skills.
1. Real-World Problem Solving
Learning by Doing
In DevOps, engineers face complex, real-world challenges daily. Hands-on labs simulate these real-life tasks, such as configuring a Kubernetes cluster, troubleshooting cloud infrastructure, or setting up CI/CD pipelines. This experience allows engineers to actively solve problems rather than passively learn concepts.
Why It Matters
Theoretical knowledge can only take you so far. Working on actual infrastructure and handling real problems solidifies what you’ve learned, ensuring you can apply those skills when it matters most—on the job.
Example: Many engineers use Brokee’s hands-on labs to practice AWS, Azure, and DevOps tasks that mirror real job environments.
Whether you’re an entry-level engineer or preparing for a new role, Brokee’s labs provide practical experience that accelerates your job readiness.
Brokee offers several labs and tests to practice DevOps and cloud skills, including Azure: Blob Challenge and Azure: Load Balancer
2. Builds Confidence for Day-One Readiness
Hands-On = Confidence
Many engineers struggle with confidence during their first few months on the job because they’ve never had the chance to apply what they learned in real scenarios. Hands-on labs give engineers the opportunity to practice these skills repeatedly until they are fully confident in their abilities.
Why It Matters
Confidence in your DevOps skills from day one can drastically shorten onboarding time and increase your productivity early in your career.
Companies often prefer candidates who have hands-on experience with the tools and technologies they use.
3. Mastering Tools and Platforms
Get Familiar with Industry-Standard Tools
Hands-on labs allow engineers to get comfortable using critical DevOps tools like Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Jenkins, and cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP.
Lab environments replicate real job tasks, so engineers can focus on mastering specific tools while understanding how they integrate into larger workflows.
Why It Matters
Becoming proficient with tools is crucial for DevOps roles. Hands-on labs provide the chance to not only learn new tools but to also understand how they function in complex environments.
Example: Engineers can practice setting up a continuous integration pipeline using Jenkins, deploy a containerized application with Kubernetes, or automate infrastructure with Terraform in a lab environment before applying these skills in production.
Read More: The Top DevOps Tools in 2024
4. Safe Environment to Make Mistakes
Learning Without the Pressure
One of the greatest advantages of hands-on lab training is the ability to make mistakes without real-world consequences.
In an actual job setting, errors can lead to downtime, security risks, or financial losses. In a lab, engineers can experiment, fail, and learn without the pressure of damaging live environments.
Why It Matters
The freedom to experiment helps engineers learn faster. They can try different approaches, discover what works, and learn from failures—all without impacting actual projects.
Read More: The Best DevOps Bootcamps in 2024
5. Speeds Up the Learning Curve
Accelerating Skill Development
Hands-on labs enable faster learning by giving engineers instant feedback. Instead of reading through documentation and theory, they can immediately see the results of their actions in the lab environment.
This kind of real-time feedback significantly speeds up the learning process, as engineers can adjust their approach on the fly.
Why It Matters
Learning by doing accelerates mastery of concepts and tools. Engineers gain a deep understanding of how different DevOps practices work together, which ultimately helps them become proficient more quickly than with theoretical learning alone.
6. Preparing for Certifications
Practical Experience for Exams
Certifications like AWS DevOps Engineer, Microsoft Azure DevOps, or Google Cloud Professional DevOps Engineer require not just theoretical knowledge, but also practical understanding. Hands-on labs prepare engineers for these exams by allowing them to practice the exact scenarios they’ll be tested on.
Why It Matters
While studying for certifications is important, real-world practice is what truly prepares you to pass the exams and apply the knowledge in the workplace. Hands-on labs give you the confidence and experience to tackle even the most challenging certification questions.
Example: In an AWS hands-on lab, engineers can set up auto-scaling groups, configure CloudWatch for monitoring, and use Lambda for automation—real-world tasks that they’ll likely face on the AWS DevOps Engineer certification exam.
Read More: AWS DevOps Interview Questions and Answers for 2024
7. Gaining Practical Job Experience
Simulate the Job Environment
Hands-on labs not only prepare engineers for exams but also simulate day-to-day job tasks.
These labs mirror the exact work you’ll do in a DevOps role, such as deploying cloud infrastructure, setting up monitoring systems, or configuring secure environments. The more practice you get, the more comfortable you’ll be when performing these tasks in a live environment.
Why It Matters
This kind of real-world experience is what hiring managers look for. By practicing in labs, engineers can demonstrate they are ready to step into a role without needing extensive on-the-job training.
Brokee’s live labs
Conclusion
Hands-on lab training is an invaluable tool for accelerating the DevOps learning curve.
Whether you're mastering tools, preparing for certifications, or gaining real-world job experience, these labs provide the perfect environment to learn by doing.
We currently offer 3 free labs for engineers (no credit card needed!), and after that, you can have access to our unlimited testing library for only $9 per month. Try Brokee risk-free today!
The practical experience gained from our labs will significantly boost your confidence, shorten onboarding time, and make you job-ready from day one.
Mastering Azure DevOps: Top Training Resources and Certifications to Kickstart Your Career
As businesses increasingly move to cloud-native solutions, mastering Azure DevOps has become essential for engineers aiming to boost their careers.
Whether you're starting your journey or looking to advance your skills, here’s a guide to the best Azure DevOps training resources and certifications that will help you stand out in this fast-growing field.
As businesses increasingly move to cloud-native solutions, mastering Azure DevOps has become essential for engineers aiming to boost their careers.
Whether you're starting your journey or looking to advance your skills, here’s a guide to the best Azure DevOps training resources and certifications that will help you stand out in this fast-growing field.
1. Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
What It Is
The Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification is one of the most recognized credentials for Azure DevOps engineers. It validates your ability to combine people, processes, and technologies to deliver continuously improved products and services.
What You’ll Learn
How to design and implement DevOps processes
Using version control systems like Git
Implementing CI/CD pipelines
Managing infrastructure using Azure DevOps and tools like Terraform and Ansible
Why It’s Important
This certification proves you can create and implement strategies that improve software development lifecycles, a critical skill for Azure DevOps engineers.
Recommended Resources:
Microsoft Learning Path: Free modules on the official Microsoft site provide a structured learning path to pass the certification.
Whizlabs and Udemy Courses: These platforms offer in-depth preparation courses for this certification.
2. AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
What It Is
AZ-400 is the exam required to earn the Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert certification. It covers designing and implementing DevOps practices for infrastructure, CI/CD, security, and compliance.
What You’ll Learn
How to integrate source control and implement continuous integration
Strategies for automating deployments and scaling infrastructure
Monitoring cloud environments and managing incidents effectively
Why It’s Important
Passing this exam is crucial for anyone aiming to specialize in Azure DevOps. It showcases your ability to manage full lifecycle DevOps processes in Azure environments.
Recommended Resources:
Microsoft Learn: This free resource offers structured modules and practice tests.
Udemy: The AZ-400 Exam Preparation Course is a highly rated resource for detailed exam preparation.
3. LinkedIn Learning: Azure DevOps for Beginners
What It Is
This LinkedIn Learning course is an excellent introduction for beginners to Azure DevOps, covering the basics of using the platform for continuous delivery, infrastructure management, and monitoring.
What You’ll Learn
Setting up an Azure DevOps environment
Managing code repositories with Git
Implementing CI/CD pipelines using Azure Pipelines
Why It’s Important
If you’re new to DevOps or just getting started with Azure, this course provides a solid foundation for understanding the tools and practices needed to succeed.
Recommended Resources:
LinkedIn Learning Subscription: Offers access to this and thousands of other related courses.
4. Pluralsight: Azure DevOps Fundamentals
What It Is
Pluralsight offers an in-depth course that covers core Azure DevOps concepts, including project management, version control, and pipeline automation.
What You’ll Learn
How to manage Azure DevOps organizations, projects, and teams
Configuring CI/CD pipelines for automated builds and deployments
Automating infrastructure with Terraform and Azure Resource Manager
Why It’s Important
For those who already have a basic understanding of DevOps, this course dives deeper into Azure-specific functionalities, preparing you for hands-on work with Azure projects.
Recommended Resources:
Pluralsight Subscription: Provides unlimited access to this course and other DevOps-related content.
5. Azure DevOps Hands-On Labs
What It Is
Hands-on labs offer practical, real-world experience by simulating real tasks and challenges within Azure DevOps environments. Labs allow engineers to practice and test their knowledge in controlled scenarios that mirror actual job tasks.
Why It’s Important
Nothing beats hands-on experience when learning new tools. Labs allow engineers to practice and refine their skills by working on real-world problems, making them invaluable for both beginners and those preparing for certifications.
Recommended Resources:
Brokee DevOps Assessments: Brokee offers real-world cloud-based assessments that simulate job environments, helping engineers practice hands-on Azure DevOps tasks and allowing companies to assess candidates' proficiency in real-time.
6. GitHub Learning Lab: CI/CD with GitHub Actions and Azure
What It Is
GitHub Learning Lab provides an interactive guide to integrating GitHub Actions with Azure for CI/CD pipelines. It's a great way to learn how to automate workflows and deployments using GitHub alongside Azure DevOps.
What You’ll Learn
Automating code builds and deployments with GitHub Actions
Integrating GitHub repositories with Azure environments
Best practices for implementing automated workflows in cloud environments
Why It’s Important
With many organizations using GitHub for code management, this course equips you with the skills to merge GitHub's powerful automation tools with Azure's cloud infrastructure.
Recommended Resources:
GitHub Learning Lab: Free access to interactive, self-paced courses.
Conclusion
Azure DevOps is a critical skill set for anyone entering the cloud engineering space, and mastering it requires both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
By leveraging the right training resources and certifications, you can position yourself for success in a competitive job market.
Top 10 SRE Tools Every DevOps Engineer Should Know About
As a DevOps engineer, knowing the right tools for the job is essential to managing and optimizing complex infrastructures.
Let's explore the top 10 SRE tools every DevOps engineer should be familiar with.
Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) plays a crucial role in ensuring systems are reliable, scalable, and performant.
As a DevOps engineer, knowing the right tools for the job is essential to managing and optimizing complex infrastructures.
Below are the top 10 SRE tools every DevOps engineer should be familiar with, whether they’re focused on monitoring, automation, or incident management.
1. Prometheus
What is Prometheus?
Prometheus is an open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit designed for reliability. It collects metrics from various sources, stores them in a time-series database, and allows engineers to set up powerful alerting based on predefined thresholds.
Why You Need It
Prometheus is widely adopted for system monitoring due to its scalability and flexibility. It integrates seamlessly with Kubernetes and other cloud-native environments, making it an essential tool for SREs and DevOps engineers alike.
Displaying Prometheus Metrics in Grafana
2. Grafana
What is Grafana?
Grafana is an open-source data visualization and analytics tool that integrates with Prometheus and other data sources to provide real-time dashboards.
Why You Need It
Grafana’s customizable dashboards give teams a clear visual overview of system health, performance metrics, and potential bottlenecks. This allows SREs to spot issues quickly and maintain system reliability.
Grafana Dashboard
3. Terraform
What is Terraform?
Terraform by HashiCorp is a powerful tool for Infrastructure as Code (IaC). It enables engineers to define cloud infrastructure resources using declarative code, which can be version-controlled and automated.
Why You Need It
Automating infrastructure provisioning with Terraform reduces human error and ensures consistency across environments. For SREs, this means more reliable deployments and faster recovery from incidents.
High-Level Idea of Terraform
4. Kubernetes
What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes is the most popular container orchestration platform, used to manage and scale containerized applications across clusters.
Why You Need It
Kubernetes automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. Its self-healing capabilities, auto-scaling, and robust ecosystem make it an indispensable tool for any SRE or DevOps engineer focused on maintaining reliability.
Kubernetes in a Nutshell
5. PagerDuty
What is PagerDuty?
PagerDuty is an incident management platform designed to help DevOps and SRE teams respond to incidents in real-time.
Why You Need It
PagerDuty integrates with monitoring tools and alerts teams when something goes wrong. It helps organize and escalate incidents, ensuring that the right people respond promptly to minimize downtime and system impact.
The PagerDuty Suite of Tools
6. Ansible
What is Ansible?
Ansible is an open-source tool for automation and configuration management. It allows for the automation of application deployment, cloud provisioning, and system configurations.
Why You Need It
SREs use Ansible to automate repetitive tasks, reducing manual intervention and minimizing configuration drift across environments. It’s essential for maintaining consistent and reliable infrastructure.
Ansible Automation Platform
7. ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
What is the ELK Stack?
The ELK Stack is a combination of three tools: Elasticsearch (search and analytics engine), Logstash (log pipeline), and Kibana (visualization).
Why You Need It
This stack is perfect for log management, allowing SREs to collect, analyze, and visualize logs in real-time. With ELK, you can identify and troubleshoot issues across distributed systems, improving reliability and system observability.
Logs Web Traffic and More
8. Jenkins
What is Jenkins?
Jenkins is a popular open-source automation server used to build and manage CI/CD pipelines.
Why You Need It
SREs rely on Jenkins to automate the building, testing, and deployment of code. With its broad plugin ecosystem, Jenkins integrates with many tools and platforms, making it a key player in ensuring smooth and reliable software delivery.
Jenkins Dashboard
9. Datadog
What is Datadog?
Datadog is a monitoring and analytics platform for cloud applications, offering real-time insights into system performance.
Why You Need It
Datadog combines metrics, traces, and logs into a single platform, enabling SREs to monitor cloud infrastructures, troubleshoot issues quickly, and maintain system performance with greater clarity.
DataDog Performance Overview
10. Runbook Automation (Rundeck)
What is Rundeck?
Rundeck is a runbook automation tool that helps SREs create and execute automated procedures to handle system operations and incidents.
Why You Need It
Automating routine tasks and operational procedures with Rundeck reduces human error, speeds up incident resolution, and allows SREs to focus on more strategic tasks, all while maintaining system reliability.
Rundeck Automation Platform Layout
Conclusion
Mastering these tools will equip any DevOps engineer or SRE to manage and scale infrastructures with confidence.
From monitoring and observability with Prometheus and Grafana, to automating infrastructure and workflows with Terraform and Ansible, each tool plays a pivotal role in ensuring system reliability and efficiency.
Want to hone your ability to use SRE tools? Brokee’s assessments incorporate real-world tasks using these essential SRE tools, helping engineers hone their skills and allowing companies to evaluate candidates’ hands-on proficiency.
The Essential Skills Every DevOps Engineer Needs to Succeed in 2024
To stand out in 2024, DevOps engineers must master both technical skills and soft skills. We've gathered a breakdown of the essential skills every DevOps engineer should focus on.
1. Cloud Proficiency (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Understanding Cloud Platforms
Proficiency in cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is critical for any DevOps engineer. This includes tasks such as deploying infrastructure, managing services, and monitoring cloud environments.
Why Cloud Skills Matter
With companies shifting to the cloud, being skilled in cloud platforms is no longer optional. Engineers need hands-on experience with infrastructure-as-code, serverless applications, and cloud monitoring to ensure efficiency and scalability.
Brookee’s cloud-based DevOps assessments give engineers real-world, hands-on experience with AWS, Azure, and GCP preparing them for the tasks they’ll face on the job. Try it for free.
2. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
Mastering CI/CD Tools
CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, and GitHub Actions allow for automating code integration and deployment. Engineers should be proficient in setting up and maintaining pipelines to streamline the software delivery process.
Why CI/CD Skills Matter
CI/CD practices reduce deployment risks, accelerate feedback loops, and help deliver software updates frequently and reliably.
3. Containerization and Orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
Building and Orchestrating Containers
With the rise of microservices and cloud-native architectures, engineers need to be skilled in Docker for containerization and Kubernetes for orchestrating and scaling these containers.
Why Containerization Skills Matter
Containers allow consistent deployment across environments, and Kubernetes automates the scaling and management of these containers, ensuring uptime and reliability.
4. Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Automating Infrastructure
Using Terraform and Ansible, engineers can automate infrastructure provisioning and management. This approach ensures consistency and makes it easy to manage infrastructure at scale.
Why IaC Skills Matter
By treating infrastructure as code, you can automate deployment and ensure version control, which leads to more predictable and reliable systems.
5. Monitoring and Observability
Implementing Monitoring Tools
Proficiency with tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK Stack is essential for setting up monitoring and observability frameworks. Engineers need to track performance metrics and respond to incidents before they become critical.
Why Monitoring Matters
Proactive monitoring ensures system reliability and reduces downtime by identifying issues early.
6. Automation and Scripting
Automating Workflows
Knowing how to script in languages like Python, Bash, or PowerShell is crucial for automating repetitive tasks, configuring systems, and managing cloud environments.
Why Automation Matters
Automation saves time, reduces human error, and frees up engineers to focus on more strategic tasks.
7. Security (DevSecOps)
Embedding Security in DevOps
Security is now a core part of the DevOps process, known as DevSecOps. Engineers must be familiar with security practices, including vulnerability scanning, encryption, and automated security testing to safeguard infrastructure.
Why Security Skills Matter
In a world where breaches can cripple companies, embedding security into the DevOps process is crucial for both compliance and safeguarding sensitive data.
8. Soft Skills: Communication and Collaboration
Working Across Teams
Beyond technical expertise, DevOps engineers need excellent communication and collaboration skills. This ensures that operations and development teams work smoothly together to solve problems and meet objectives.
Why Soft Skills Matter
DevOps is about breaking down silos. Engineers who can communicate effectively and collaborate with cross-functional teams will thrive in complex, fast-paced environments.
Ready for DevOps Success?
In 2024, successful DevOps engineers will need a blend of technical expertise and communication skills to thrive. By mastering cloud platforms, CI/CD, automation, and security, engineers will be ready to make a significant impact from day one.
If you’re looking to sharpen your skills, consider Brokee as your secret weapon. Brokee’s DevOps assessments mirror real-world cloud environments, giving engineers and companies the hands-on experience they need to succeed.
Platform Engineering vs DevOps: Understanding the Difference Between DevOps and Platform Engineer Roles
Explore the key differences between Platform Engineering and DevOps in software development. We'll explore how DevOps teams and Platform Engineers optimize operations and ensure reliability in modern software development.
In the rapidly evolving world of technology, the roles within software development and IT operations are continually adapting to meet the demands of modern businesses.
Two of the most prominent roles that often come up in discussions are DevOps and Platform Engineering. While these roles share some similarities, they are distinct in their focus, responsibilities, and the value they bring to an organization.
This article will explore the differences between DevOps and Platform Engineer roles, delve into their unique responsibilities, and highlight the benefits of integrating platform engineering within a DevOps environment.
What is DevOps and Platform Engineering?
Definition and Overview
DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops) to shorten the development lifecycle and deliver high-quality software continuously. It emphasizes collaboration, communication, and integration between developers and IT operations professionals, aiming to automate and streamline the software delivery process.
Platform Engineering, on the other hand, involves building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure and tools that support the entire software development lifecycle. Platform engineers focus on creating scalable, reliable, and efficient platforms that development and operations teams can use to build, test, deploy, and monitor applications.
Main Responsibilities
DevOps Engineers typically focus on:
Automating software delivery and infrastructure changes
Implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines
Monitoring and maintaining system performance
Ensuring security and compliance
Facilitating collaboration between development and operations teams
Platform Engineers are responsible for:
Designing and maintaining the core infrastructure
Developing and managing internal tools and platforms
Implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices
Ensuring system reliability and scalability
Providing support and guidance to development and operations teams
Key Differences Between DevOps and Platform Engineering
Team Structure and Collaboration
In a DevOps environment, the team structure is highly collaborative, with developers and operations working closely together throughout the software development lifecycle. This close collaboration aims to break down silos and foster a culture of shared responsibility for the success of the software.
Platform engineering teams, however, are often more specialized and may work somewhat independently from the development and operations teams. Their primary focus is on creating and maintaining the platforms and tools that these teams use, ensuring they have the infrastructure needed to work efficiently and effectively.
Focus Areas in Software Development
DevOps engineers primarily focus on the software development process, including code integration, testing, deployment, and monitoring. Their goal is to streamline and automate these processes to enable continuous delivery and quick feedback loops.
Platform engineers, on the other hand, concentrate on the broader infrastructure and tooling that support the software development lifecycle. This includes everything from cloud infrastructure and container orchestration to internal developer tools and services that make it easier for development and operations teams to do their jobs.
Infrastructure Management Approach
DevOps engineers often take a more hands-on approach to infrastructure management, leveraging tools like Terraform, Ansible, and Kubernetes to automate and manage infrastructure as part of the CI/CD pipeline. Their focus is on ensuring that the infrastructure can support continuous delivery and deployment processes.
Platform engineers take a broader view of infrastructure management, focusing on designing and maintaining robust, scalable, and reliable platforms. They implement best practices for infrastructure as code (IaC) and often work on building custom tools and solutions to meet the specific needs of their organization.
Benefits of Platform Engineering in DevOps Environment
Enhancing System Reliability
One of the primary benefits of integrating platform engineering into a DevOps environment is the enhanced reliability it brings to the system. Platform engineers focus on building resilient and scalable infrastructure, ensuring that the platforms used by development and operations teams are robust and can handle the demands of modern software development.
Implementing Continuous Integration and Deployment
Platform engineering plays a crucial role in supporting continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) practices. By developing and maintaining the tools and platforms that automate these processes, platform engineers enable DevOps teams to deploy code changes more frequently and with greater confidence. This leads to faster delivery times, improved software quality, and more efficient feedback loops.
Benefits of DevOps
The benefits of DevOps are numerous and can significantly impact an organization’s efficiency and software quality. Some of the key benefits include:
Faster Delivery Times: By automating and streamlining the software development lifecycle, DevOps practices enable quicker release cycles and more frequent updates, ensuring that new features and bug fixes reach users faster.
Improved Collaboration: DevOps fosters a culture of collaboration between development and operations teams, breaking down silos and promoting shared responsibility for the success of the software.
Higher Quality Software: Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices ensure that code changes are tested and deployed quickly, reducing the risk of bugs and improving overall software quality.
Enhanced Security: DevOps practices integrate security into the development process, ensuring that security measures are implemented early and continuously throughout the lifecycle. A DevSecOps approach can extend this to integrate security early into the development process.
Greater Efficiency: Automation of repetitive tasks and infrastructure management frees up time for engineers to focus on more strategic work, improving overall efficiency.
Scalability and Reliability: By implementing robust infrastructure and monitoring practices, DevOps teams can ensure that systems are scalable and reliable, capable of handling increased loads and maintaining high performance.
Understanding the Role of a Platform Engineer
Development and Operations Team Collaboration
Platform engineers work closely with both development and operations teams to understand their needs and provide the tools and infrastructure necessary for them to succeed. This collaboration ensures that the platforms and tools developed are aligned with the requirements of the teams that use them, fostering a more efficient and effective software development lifecycle.
Implementing Infrastructure as Code Practices
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a key practice within platform engineering, allowing infrastructure to be managed and provisioned through code rather than manual processes. Platform engineers implement IaC practices to ensure that infrastructure is consistent, repeatable, and easily scalable. This approach not only improves efficiency but also reduces the risk of human error and enhances the overall reliability of the system.
DevOps Vs Platform Engineering: Which is Right for Your Career?
Which DevOps Career is Right for Me?
Deciding between a career in DevOps and platform engineering depends on your interests, skills, and career goals. If you enjoy working closely with both development and operations teams, focusing on automating processes, and improving the overall software development lifecycle, a career in DevOps might be the right fit for you.
DevOps roles require strong problem-solving skills, a deep understanding of CI/CD processes, and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
On the other hand, if you have a passion for infrastructure, enjoy building and maintaining tools and platforms, and prefer a more specialized role focused on system reliability and scalability, platform engineering could be a better match.
Platform engineers need to have a strong background in infrastructure as code (IaC), cloud technologies, and system architecture, as well as the ability to work independently and provide support to other teams.
Read More: The Best DevOps Bootcamps of 2024
DevOps and Platform Engineer Salaries
When considering a career in DevOps or platform engineering, salary is an important factor. Generally, both roles offer competitive salaries, reflecting their critical importance in modern IT environments.
DevOps engineers typically command salaries that range from $90,000 to $140,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the specific technologies they work with. Senior DevOps roles, especially those involving leadership or extensive cloud experience, can reach upwards of $160,000.
Platform engineers, given their specialized focus on infrastructure and internal tooling, often have similar salary ranges. Entry-level platform engineers might start at around $80,000, but with experience, salaries can quickly rise to between $120,000 and $150,000. Senior platform engineers, particularly those with expertise in cloud architecture or large-scale system design, can earn $160,000 or more.
Read More: The Top 10 DevOps and Cloud Conferences to Attend in 2024
Photo by Annie Spratt / Unsplash
Platform Engineering vs DevOps: Which is Right for Your Team?
When You Need Platform Engineering and DevOps for Your Site
Deciding whether your team needs DevOps engineers, platform engineers, or both depends on your organization’s specific needs and goals.
If your primary objective is to improve the efficiency of your software development lifecycle, streamline deployments, and ensure quick feedback loops, DevOps engineers are essential. They will help automate processes, manage CI/CD pipelines, and foster a collaborative culture.
However, if your organization requires robust, scalable infrastructure and specialized tools to support the development and operations teams, platform engineers are crucial. They focus on building and maintaining the platforms that underpin your software development efforts, ensuring reliability and scalability.
In many cases, having both DevOps and platform engineers can provide the best of both worlds: streamlined software delivery and a strong, reliable infrastructure foundation.
Read More: 7 Reasons You Need to Hire a DevOps Engineer in 2024
How to Hire DevOps and Platform Engineers
Hiring DevOps and platform engineers involves looking for specific skills and experiences that match your organization’s needs. For DevOps engineers, key skills include:
Proficiency in CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI)
Experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet, Chef)
Knowledge of containerization and orchestration (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
Strong scripting and automation skills (e.g., Python, Bash)
For platform engineers, important skills include:
Expertise in cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation)
Experience with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, ELK stack)
Strong understanding of system architecture and scalability
In addition to technical skills, look for candidates who demonstrate strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication skills, and a collaborative mindset. To qualify candidates, we recommend using live DevOps Assessments to ensure you'll hire the right talent.
Other Roles for Your Team: Software Engineering, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), and Developers
While DevOps and platform engineering are critical, other roles also play essential parts in a well-rounded IT team:
Software Engineers focus on designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. They work closely with DevOps and platform engineers to ensure their code integrates seamlessly with the infrastructure and deployment pipelines.
Site Reliability Engineers (SRE) bridge the gap between development and operations, much like DevOps engineers, but with a stronger emphasis on maintaining service reliability and performance. SREs use software engineering approaches to solve operational problems, often working with monitoring, alerting, and incident response systems.
Read More: The Difference Between SRE vs DevOps Engineers
Developers are primarily responsible for writing code and building features for applications. While they might not be directly involved in infrastructure management, their work is crucial for creating the software that DevOps and platform engineers deploy and support. There is a key ratio of DevOps to Developer ratio to consider for most teams as well.
Final Word
Understanding the differences between DevOps and Platform Engineering roles is crucial for organizations looking to optimize their software development and IT operations.
While DevOps engineers focus on automating and streamlining the software delivery process, platform engineers concentrate on building and maintaining the robust infrastructure and tools that support these processes.
By integrating platform engineering into a DevOps environment, organizations can achieve greater system reliability, faster delivery times, and a more efficient software development lifecycle.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between Platform Engineering and DevOps?
A: Platform Engineering focuses on building and maintaining the internal developer platform, while DevOps is more about the culture, tools, and practices that enable collaboration and automation in software development and deployment.
Q: How do DevOps tools differ from Platform Engineering tools?
A: DevOps tools like CI/CD pipelines are used to automate the software delivery process, while Platform Engineering tools are designed to create and manage the infrastructure that supports software systems.
Q: Can you give an example of a developer platform?
A: An internal developer platform could be a shared platform where software engineering teams can collaborate, manage and deliver software efficiently.
Q: How does Platform Engineering contribute to the developer experience?
A: Platform Engineering plays a key role in creating a smooth developer experience by providing the necessary tools and infrastructure for software development and deployment.
Q: What is the goal of Platform Engineering within an organization?
A: The goal of Platform Engineering is to build a platform that enables developers to focus on writing code and delivering software, without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure and operational aspects.
Q: How has DevOps evolved over time?
A: DevOps has evolved from the introduction of practices that promote collaboration between development and operations teams to a culture that emphasizes automation, continuous integration, and continuous delivery.
Q: Why is the concept of an internal developer platform important in the realm of software development?
A: An internal developer platform is crucial as it provides a shared platform where software engineering teams can work together efficiently, enabling them to deliver high-quality software at a faster pace.
Exploring the Key Differences Between SRE vs DevOps Engineers
Uncover the differences between SRE and DevOps engineers, their team roles, and how they collaborate for enhanced system reliability and software development.
In the evolving landscape of tech industry practices, understanding the distinctions between SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) and DevOps is crucial for organizations striving to enhance their software development and operational efficiencies.
While both methodologies aim to bridge gaps between development and operations, they embody distinct philosophies and practices that cater to specific organizational needs.
This article delves into the definitions, roles, responsibilities, and key differences between SRE and DevOps, providing a clear differentiation to help you select the right roles for your team.
What is the Difference Between SRE and DevOps?
Definition and Overview
SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) and DevOps are two distinct but interrelated approaches in the tech industry. While both aim to improve software development and operations, they have different focal points and methodologies.
SRE combines aspects of software engineering with operational tasks to enhance system reliability. On the other hand, DevOps is more focused on collaboration and communication between development and operations teams to streamline software delivery processes.
Read More: Essential DevOps Statistics and Trends for Hiring in 2024
Key Responsibilities of SRE and DevOps Engineers
SRE teams primarily concentrate on ensuring the reliability and performance of systems by implementing automation and monitoring tools. In contrast, DevOps engineers focus on continuous integration and delivery, aiming to accelerate the development cycle and improve deployment frequency.
Main Differences in Job Roles of SRE and DevOps
SRE teams often operate as a specialized group within an organization, focusing on system reliability. DevOps, however, emphasizes a cross-functional approach, with team members from development, operations, and sometimes security working together towards common goals.
Role and Responsibilities of SRE vs DevOps Engineers
Difference Between DevOps and SRE in Software Development
SRE engineers typically have a stronger background in software development and are skilled in coding and automation. On the other hand, DevOps engineers are proficient in a wide range of tools and technologies, facilitating collaboration between different teams.
SRE engineers integrate more deeply with development teams, focusing on long-term code stability and reliability from a software engineering perspective. This involves extensive code reviews and implementing automated testing frameworks that are robust and scalable.
In contrast, DevOps engineers might not always delve as deep into code but rather focus on the processes and practices that support both development and operations teams. They work to improve the collaboration and communication within and across teams to ensure smooth and efficient deployment cycles. This often involves setting up and maintaining CI/CD pipelines that facilitate quick iterations and frequent deployments, which are crucial for agile development environments.
Tool Utilization in SRE and DevOps
SRE teams heavily rely on automation tools and monitoring systems to maintain system reliability. In contrast, DevOps engineers utilize various tools for configuration management, deployment, and orchestration to enhance collaboration and efficiency.
For SREs, tools like Prometheus for monitoring and alerting and Ansible for configuration management are often critical, as they help maintain and improve the reliability and robustness of services.
DevOps teams, meanwhile, might leverage tools like Jenkins for continuous integration and Kubernetes for orchestration to streamline and optimize the development pipeline. The choice of tools in DevOps is directed towards enhancing speed and efficiency in building, testing, and deploying applications, ensuring that the entire process is as seamless as possible.
How Do SRE and DevOps Teams Differ?
Automation and Structuring Practices
SRE teams tend to prioritize automating repetitive tasks to ensure system stability. DevOps teams, on the other hand, focus on automating the entire software delivery pipeline, from development to production.
This focus enables SREs to maintain high service levels through robust automation and monitoring, while DevOps aims to reduce lead time and increase the frequency of deployments, promoting a faster cycle of feedback and improvement.
While SREs might focus on automation that directly impacts reliability and system stability, DevOps approaches automation as a means to facilitate and enhance collaboration between development, QA, and operations.
This broadens the scope of automation beyond mere system uptime to include aspects like automated testing, deployment strategies, and rollback mechanisms that ensure continuous service delivery and quality.
Deployment and Operations Management
SRE teams are more involved in managing production deployments and ensuring system reliability. DevOps teams have a broader scope, managing both deployment processes and overall operational efficiency. This broader scope allows DevOps to have a significant impact on the organization's ability to respond to market changes and deploy new features rapidly, without sacrificing operational performance.
Additionally, while SREs often focus on the technical details and operational aspects of system stability, DevOps engineers strive to optimize the deployment process itself. This includes improving deployment frequency, reducing deployment failures, and shortening the lead time between fixes. By managing and refining these processes, DevOps teams help organizations achieve higher operational agility and responsiveness to business needs.
Read More: The DevOps vs. Developer Dilemma: Choosing the Right Engineer Ratio for Your Team
Exploring the Similarities Between SRE and DevOps
Shared Responsibility for DevSecOps
Both SRE and DevOps teams share responsibility for integrating security practices into the software development lifecycle, leading to the concept of DevSecOps. This shared focus ensures that security considerations are not an afterthought but are integrated throughout the development, deployment, and maintenance phases.
Skillsets in Development and Operations
SRE and DevOps engineers both possess a hybrid skillset that spans development and operational disciplines. This enables them to effectively manage code releases and operational stability, making them invaluable for maintaining high system availability and performance.
Their ability to navigate both coding and system operations helps reduce silos within tech departments, fostering a more unified approach to tackling software challenges.
Common Goals in Software Development
Despite their differences, both SRE and DevOps teams aim to enhance software development processes, improve system reliability, and increase operational efficiency through collaborative efforts.
These common objectives underscore the importance of both roles in modern IT infrastructure and the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in technology practices.
DevOps Tool Usage
Both disciplines heavily rely on a suite of tools designed to automate processes, enhance communication, and streamline operations. Tools such as Jenkins for continuous integration, Docker for containerization, and Kubernetes for orchestration are integral to both SRE and DevOps practices.
The selection of tools is often dictated by the specific needs of the project and the existing infrastructure, highlighting the adaptable and dynamic nature of both fields.
Key Differences Between SRE vs DevOps Culture
Emphasizing Site Reliability in SRE
SRE teams prioritize system reliability and performance, focusing on maintaining service uptime and ensuring seamless operations.
DevOps Focus on Full Automation
DevOps culture revolves around full automation of software development processes, from code integration and testing to deployment and monitoring, aiming to streamline workflows and increase efficiency.
Recognizing the nuanced differences between SRE and DevOps is essential for companies looking to optimize their software delivery and system reliability.
Response to Incidents
SRE teams often adopt a more proactive approach to incident management, employing robust post-mortem analyses and implementing preventative measures to mitigate future disruptions. In contrast, DevOps teams may focus more on rapid response and recovery to ensure continuous operation and delivery.
Organizational Impact
SRE typically functions as a distinct entity within the organization with a clear mandate to maintain service reliability above all else. DevOps, however, is more about embedding a collaborative culture across all teams involved in the development and operational lifecycle, promoting agility and quicker adaptations to change.
Distinguishing SRE and DevOps Engineers from Platform Engineers
Now that we understand the role of SRE and DevOps roles, let's expand the team roles farther and consider another role that is often confused with DevOps and SRE: Platform Engineers.
Similarities Between SRE, DevOps, and Platform Engineers
Platform Engineers are primarily responsible for developing and maintaining the underlying platforms that support software applications. This includes designing the infrastructure architecture, building and maintaining cloud environments, and ensuring the platforms can efficiently scale according to the application’s needs.
Differences Between SRE, DevOps, and Platform Engineers
While SREs and DevOps engineers often work within the frameworks and platforms set by Platform Engineers, their focus extends to optimizing existing systems and processes for better reliability and efficiency in software deployment. Platform Engineers, on the other hand, delve deeper into the technical specifics of infrastructure and platform services, providing a robust foundation upon which both SRE and DevOps strategies are implemented.
This separation of concerns allows Platform Engineers to concentrate on infrastructure as a product, enhancing the tools and systems that SRE and DevOps teams utilize to achieve their goals.
Read More: Cloud Engineer vs Software Engineer: What Sets a Cloud System Engineer Apart
Site Reliability vs Platform Engineering Focus
SRE teams concentrate on ensuring the reliability and performance of systems, focusing on uptime, latency, and error rates. DevOps engineers, on the other hand, are more concerned with overall system efficiency and optimizing development workflows. SREs are tasked with setting strict service level objectives (SLOs) and implementing policies that minimize downtime and performance degradation.
Furthermore, while SRE focuses on service stability and the technical aspects of system performance, DevOps addresses broader organizational challenges. This includes fostering a culture that eliminates silos between developers and operators, promoting a more integrated and proactive approach to handling system issues and enhancements.
Hiring DevOps and Site Reliability Engineers for Your Team
Whether your organization needs a more robust focus on system uptime and reliability or seeks to enhance collaboration across development and operational teams, understanding these roles can significantly impact your operational success.
At Brokee, we specialize in qualifying DevOps, SRE, and Platform engineers through our interactive assessments, ensuring that your team is equipped with top-tier professionals adept in modern technological demands.
Connect with us today to see how we can assist in elevating your team's capabilities and achieving your technical objectives.
Read More: 7 Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing Skill Assessment Software
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between SRE and DevOps engineers?
A: The primary difference lies in their focus and responsibilities. SRE (Site Reliability Engineering) focuses on ensuring system reliability and availability, while DevOps engineers focus on collaboration between development and operations teams to speed up software delivery.
Q: How do DevOps and SRE teams work together?
A: DevOps and SRE teams collaborate to ensure seamless software development and deployment processes. They share common goals like reliability, scalability, and efficiency, working together to achieve these objectives.
Q: What are the similarities between SRE and DevOps?
A: Both SRE and DevOps teams emphasize collaboration between development and operations, aim to improve software development and deployment processes, and focus on system reliability and performance.
Q: What is the role of a DevOps engineer?
A: A DevOps engineer is responsible for implementing and maintaining DevOps practices, tools, and processes that facilitate collaboration between development and operations teams, ensuring a smooth software delivery pipeline.
Q: How do DevOps and SRE roles contribute to operations teams?
A: DevOps teams are responsible for breaking down silos between development and operations, focusing on the development, deployment, and maintenance of software in production environments. SRE teams aim to ensure system reliability, availability, and performance by implementing best practices and monitoring systems closely.
Q: What are some major differences between SRE and DevOps?
A: One major difference is that DevOps focuses on the entire software development lifecycle, from coding to deployment, while SRE focuses more on system reliability and performance. Another key difference is the specific roles within the operations team that each discipline fulfills.
Q: How do DevOps tools and practices differ from traditional development and operations approaches?
A: DevOps tools and practices emphasize automation, collaboration, and integration across the software development and deployment lifecycle, aiming to improve efficiency, reliability, and scalability compared to traditional approaches.
Understanding the Key Differences Between DevOps vs DevSecOps
Explore the key differences between DevOps and DevSecOps to understand how security integration transforms software development. Discover whether DevOps vs DevSecOps is right for your team.
You may hear the terms "DevOps" and "DevSecOps" and wonder: Are these the same thing? What is the difference? and Which is Better?
Understanding the key differences between DevOps and DevSecOps is essential for navigating today's software development landscape.
In this article, we will focus on what's the difference between DevOps and DevSecOps, how to navigate selecting which is better, and what team composition for each will look like.
Defining DevOps and DevSecOps
DevOps is a software development approach focused on collaboration between Development (Dev) and Operations (Ops) teams throughout the software development lifecycle.
On the other hand, DevSecOps extends DevOps by integrating security practices early in the development process to ensure secure software delivery. DevOps emphasizes fast and frequent delivery of software updates, while DevSecOps incorporates security checks at every stage to address vulnerabilities proactively.
What is the Meaning of DevOps?
DevOps, a combination of "Development" and "Operations," is a set of practices that integrates software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). It aims to shorten the software development lifecycle and deliver features, fixes, and updates more frequently in close alignment with business objectives.
Key features of DevOps include:
Collaboration: Breaking down silos between development and operations teams to improve communication and collaboration.
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Automating the process of building, testing, and deploying code to reduce the time it takes to get changes into production.
Automation: Leveraging tools and scripts to automate repetitive tasks, such as testing, building, and deploying software.
Monitoring and Logging: Continuously monitoring systems and applications to detect issues early and ensure performance and reliability.
Agility and Speed: Reducing the time from development to deployment to respond quickly to market demands and changes.
By implementing DevOps practices, organizations aim to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and deliver high-quality software more rapidly.
What is the Meaning of DevSecOps?
DevSecOps, short for Development, Security, and Operations, is an approach that integrates security practices into the DevOps workflow. This methodology aims to address security challenges early in the software development lifecycle, instead of treating them as an afterthought.
By incorporating security measures throughout the development and operational phases, DevSecOps seeks to deliver secure software more quickly and efficiently.
The primary goals of DevSecOps are:
Automating Security: Embedding security checks and controls into automated processes like CI/CD pipelines to ensure consistent application of security policies.
Shift-Left Security: Implementing security practices early in the development process to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they become significant issues.
Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration between development, security, and operations teams to create a shared responsibility for security.
Continuous Monitoring and Testing: Regularly assessing code and infrastructure for vulnerabilities and compliance through automated tests and scans.
By aligning development, security, and operations, DevSecOps ensures that applications are delivered quickly without compromising security.
Key Variances in the Approaches
One of the main differences between DevOps and DevSecOps is the inclusion of security as an integral part of the development process in DevSecOps.
DevOps focuses on collaboration and communication between different teams, and DevSecOps integrates security into every phase of development. DevOps aims for continuous delivery and automation in the software development pipeline, while DevSecOps adds security measures like dynamic application security testing (DAST) and static application security testing (SAST) to ensure secure code deployment.
Integrating Security Into the Development Lifecycle
DevSecOps requires a shift-left approach where security is considered from the initial stages of development. By incorporating security practices in the early stages, vulnerabilities can be identified and mitigated before deployment, leading to a more secure software development process.
For DevSecOps, the integration of security tools and practices in the development lifecycle ensures that security is not an afterthought but an essential component of the software development process.
How Does Security Play a Role in DevOps vs DevSecOps?
Importance of Security Practices in DevOps
In DevOps, security practices often come into play during the later stages of development or even post-deployment. While security is essential, it may not be prioritized as much as speed and efficiency in the delivery process, leading to potential vulnerabilities.
Incorporating security early in the development stages ensures that security practices are not overlooked, enhancing the overall security posture of the software being developed.
Security Practices Within the DevSecOps Model
DevSecOps, on the other hand, places security at the forefront by automating security testing, implementing secure coding practices, and continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities.
This proactive approach ensures that security is ingrained in every aspect of the software development lifecycle.
By incorporating security practices within the DevSecOps model, organizations can build a strong security foundation and mitigate risks effectively throughout the development process.
Incorporating Application Security in Both Methodologies
Both DevOps and DevSecOps recognize the importance of application security. However, while DevOps may focus more on speed and agility in software delivery, DevSecOps emphasizes the importance of secure coding practices, regular security testing, and monitoring to address security concerns proactively.
In DevSecOps, application security is integrated seamlessly into the development lifecycle to ensure that security is not an afterthought but a continuous priority in software development.
What are the Differences in Team Structure and Workflow Between DevOps and DevSecOps?
Team Collaboration in DevOps vs DevSecOps
DevOps teams typically consist of developers, DevOps and cloud engineers, and quality assurance professionals working together to streamline the software development process.
In contrast, DevSecOps teams have security professionals integrated throughout the development pipeline to ensure that security measures are implemented from the outset.
The collaboration between different teams in DevSecOps ensures that security considerations are addressed at every stage of the software development process, leading to more secure and resilient applications.
Read More: Cloud Engineer vs Software Engineer
Workflow Differences in the Software Development Process
DevOps workflows focus on continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices to deliver software updates rapidly, often using agile practices.
In contrast, DevSecOps workflows incorporate security checkpoints along the development pipeline to identify and remediate security vulnerabilities before deployment.
Aligning workflow processes with security practices can help DevSecOps teams ensure that security issues are not bottlenecks but a seamless part of the software development lifecycle.
Implementing Security in the Development Lifecycle
In DevOps, security is often seen as a checkpoint rather than an embedded practice in the development lifecycle. This can lead to potential security gaps and vulnerabilities that may go unnoticed until later stages of development.
By implementing security practices within the development lifecycle in DevSecOps, organizations can proactively address security concerns, reduce risks, and deliver more secure software solutions to end-users.
How to Transition From DevOps to DevSecOps?
Can DevSecOps Replace DevOps?
DevSecOps is not designed to replace DevOps but rather to enhance and extend its principles by integrating security into every stage of the development and operations process.
While DevOps emphasizes collaboration between development and operations teams to achieve faster and more reliable software delivery, DevSecOps adds a crucial focus on security.
Here’s why DevSecOps complements rather than replaces DevOps:
Security Integration: DevSecOps ensures that security is not an afterthought but a fundamental part of the development lifecycle. This inclusion helps identify and address vulnerabilities early.
Maintaining Speed and Agility: The core principles of DevOps, such as speed, collaboration, and automation, remain intact in DevSecOps. The added security processes are designed to minimize disruption to development workflows.
Shared Responsibility: DevSecOps encourages shared responsibility for security across development, operations, and security teams, fostering a culture of collaboration similar to DevOps.
Read More: The DevOps vs. Developer Dilemma: Choosing the Right Engineer Ratio for Your Team
Steps to Integrate Security Into the DevOps Model
Transitioning from DevOps to DevSecOps involves incorporating security practices early in the development process, automating security testing, and fostering a culture of security awareness among team members.
By gradually integrating security measures into existing DevOps workflows, organizations can transition seamlessly to a DevSecOps model.
Expanding on the steps to integrate security into the DevOps model, organizations can leverage automation tools for security testing, implement secure coding practices, and conduct regular security assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities effectively.
Challenges Faced During the Transition Process
One of the key challenges in transitioning from DevOps to DevSecOps is the cultural shift required to prioritize security alongside speed and efficiency.
Teams may face resistance to change, lack of security expertise, or difficulties in aligning security practices with existing workflows.
Overcoming these challenges involves promoting security awareness, providing training on secure coding practices, and fostering collaboration between development, operations, and security teams to ensure a smooth transition to DevSecOps.
Adopting Automation Tools for Security Testing
Automation plays a crucial role in DevSecOps by enabling continuous security testing, vulnerability assessments, and compliance checks throughout the development lifecycle.
By adopting automation tools like static analysis security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST), organizations can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of security practices in DevSecOps.
Expanding on the adoption of automation tools for security testing, organizations can streamline security processes, identify vulnerabilities in real-time, and ensure consistent security standards across all stages of software development.
Final Word
With the knowledge of DevOps vs DevSecOps, and understanding which is better for your process, you should feel more confident on selecting DevOps and DevSecOps engineers.
By gradually integrating security into the DevOps model through automation, training, and collaboration, organizations can better protect their software and deliver secure, reliable applications.
If you are looking to make the technical hiring process easier, Brokee has several DevOps and DevSecOps assessments that will help you determine whether a candidate is skilled enough to help you improve your DevOps or DevSecOps process. Try our tests for free today!
Read More: Choosing the Best DevOps Test and Technical Screening Tool
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps?
A: DevOps focuses on the collaboration between development and operations teams to automate and streamline the software delivery process, while DevSecOps incorporates security practices into each stage of the development lifecycle.
Q: How does DevSecOps Differ from Traditional DevOps?
A: DevSecOps also integrates security practices throughout the software development lifecycle, whereas traditional DevOps primarily focuses on the collaboration between development and operations teams.
Q: Is DevSecOps Better than DevOps?
This depends on the organization's needs:
Security Requirements: If your organization operates in a highly regulated industry or handles sensitive data, DevSecOps could be essential. It ensures that security measures are an integral part of the development process rather than an afterthought.
Application Complexity: For simple applications with minimal security risks, traditional DevOps might suffice. However, for complex, distributed applications, embedding security into every stage of development through DevSecOps can help mitigate risks effectively.
Cultural Readiness: DevSecOps requires a cultural shift where security is a shared responsibility. If your team is prepared for this shift, it can be beneficial. Otherwise, starting with DevOps Engineers and gradually integrating security practices might be a better approach.
Read More: 7 Signs You Need to Hire a DevOps Engineer in 2024
Q: What Stage of the Development Lifecycle does DevSecOps take place?
A: DevSecOps takes place at every stage of the development lifecycle, from planning and coding to testing and deployment. This is also true for DevOps.
Q: How do I Choose Between DevOps and DevSecOps for my Business?
A: The choice between DevOps and DevSecOps depends on the organization's priorities, level of security awareness, and the importance placed on integrating security practices into the development process.
Prepare DevOps Students for the Real World with Brokee
Today's DevOps educational programs are under increasing pressure to ensure that students are job-ready upon course completion.
Brokee's training platform can offer the real-world experience needed for students to excel in their DevOps careers.
In the rapidly evolving field of DevOps, the gap between educational theory and practical, real-world experience is a significant hurdle for both educators and students. Today's educational programs are under increasing pressure to ensure that students are job-ready upon course completion.
The success of a course is often measured by the ability of students to secure employment, which increasingly depends on their hands-on experience with the tools and practices they will encounter in their careers, not just certifications or classroom hours.
Enter Brokee, a comprehensive training and testing platform designed to bridge this gap. Brokee offers real-world experience across the spectrum of DevOps practices, from basic to advanced levels, covering all major cloud providers. It's not just a training tool; it ensures students are prepared for the real challenges of technical interviews and a DevOps career.
Common Pain Points in DevOps Education
We've talked to educational leaders and learned there are many challenges when it comes to teaching DevOps and Cloud to students. These are some of the biggest pain points we've discovered and have addressed with Brokee:
Unprepared Students for the Real World
Many educational programs struggle to provide students with the practical experience necessary for today's tech jobs. Traditional learning models often fall short in preparing students for the complexities and rapid changes in the DevOps sector.
Lack of Practice Environments
Without a platform like Brokee, educators are faced with the daunting task of creating relevant, current, and unbiased projects. The logistical challenges of setting up diverse cloud environments and ensuring all projects are up-to-date add to this burden.
3. Providing Accurate Feedback
Traditional methods of assessment and feedback often don't meet the needs of DevOps education, where detailed, specific guidance is crucial. Students want to learn how to improve, and instructors can be challenged to present feedback in a constructive and clear way.
Ensuring Integrity
Ensuring the academic integrity of remote and hands-on tests presents its own set of challenges. Anti-cheating measures are especially tough for remote educators who teach in virtual classrooms, where it's tough to keep an eye on students.
Scalability Challenges
Scaling educational content to fit class sizes while maintaining consistency across different learning environments is a significant challenge, exacerbated by the rise of remote learning.
Benefits of Brokee for DevOps Education
We've created a platform full of features that help educators ensure students are ready for their careers in DevOps. These are some of the biggest advantages we hear from educators who use Brokee:
Real-World Environment Access
At the heart of Brokee's value proposition is our ability to provide unparalleled access to real-world DevOps environments. This feature enables students to immerse themselves in hands-on experience with the technologies and practices they'll likely encounter in their careers.
By navigating actual cloud platforms, managing containers, and troubleshooting real-time issues, learners gain a depth of understanding and confidence that classroom learning alone cannot provide.
Curriculum Integration
Brokee's design facilitates seamless integration into existing curriculums, enriching traditional educational content with interactive, live testing labs. We've made it so Brokee enhances the learning experience and ensures that students are engaging with material that reflects the latest industry standards and practices.
Educators can incorporate Brokee's labs into their lesson plans, making the leap from theory to practice both smooth and natural.
Scalability and Ease of Use
Understanding the diverse needs of educational programs, Brokee addresses challenges related to scalability and accessibility head-on. Our platform is built to ensure that every student, regardless of the class size or their individual learning environment, has equal access to its resources.
We pride ourselves on an extremely user-friendly interface, making it easy for both students and educators to navigate its comprehensive suite of tools.
Continuous Update Cycle
DevOps is a field characterized by rapid evolution, and Brokee’s commitment to a continuous update cycle ensures that its labs will always reflect the current landscape of the industry. Since Brokee is built by DevOps experts and engineers with deep field experience, our platform keeps educational programs relevant and prepares students for the quickly evolving realities of a career in technology.
Automated Feedback and AI Summaries
Brokee's automated feedback mechanisms provide immediate, actionable insights into student performance, using AI to generate summaries that explain what students did correctly and where they need improvement. This feature is invaluable for educators who seek to provide personalized guidance to each student, ensuring that learning is both effective and targeted.
Anti-Cheating Measures
Addressing concerns about academic integrity, Brokee incorporates advanced anti-cheating measures that reflect the realities of modern DevOps work. By promoting the use of legitimate resources and tools within its testing framework, Brokee prepares students for the collaborative, resourceful nature of tech careers.
Additionally, the platform's ability to randomize test problems ensures a fair, challenging learning experience for all users.
Brokee: Use Cases in Education
Enhanced Learning With Live Labs
Educators often spend countless hours creating, managing, and scoring take-home work and labs, but with Brokee, they can instantly deploy real-world, pre-configured scenarios. This not only saves valuable time but also ensures that students are exposed to a variety of unique, randomized problems that mimic actual DevOps challenges.
The result is a more efficient, engaging, and effective educational process where students gain practical skills ready for the workforce, and educators can focus more on teaching and less on administrative tasks.
Ideal for Remote Learning
Brokee is a perfect tool for both testing and labs in remote learning settings. Educators can see how students are applying lessons in live environments, using playback features, history of commands, and final results.
The platform is also perfect for virtual labs, where instructors can lead students through each part of common DevOps scenarios: troubleshooting cloud infrastructure, operating and automating multiple servers in complex environments, managing containers, and more.
Collaborative Problem-Solving Sessions
Brokee allows educators to create live environments for group learning. Imagine a classroom where, instead of hypothetical scenarios, students are grouped into teams to navigate real-time challenges presented by Brokee. The teacher acts not just as an instructor, but as a guide, steering students through complex problem-solving processes.
This practical application fosters a deeper understanding of DevOps principles and enhances teamwork skills, preparing students for the collaborative nature of the tech industry.
Large-Scale Exams
Traditional exams often fail to fully assess a student’s ability to handle real-world tech problems. Brokee changes the game by supporting mass examinations where hundreds of students can undertake tests simultaneously, each facing unique, randomized problems that mimic actual DevOps challenges.
This not only levels the playing field by providing every student with a distinct set of tasks but also enables institutions to efficiently gauge the practical skills of a large cohort, ensuring that their graduates are truly ready for the workforce.
Try a Free Demo!
We invite educators and industry professionals alike to experience Brokee firsthand. Discover how our platform can revolutionize your approach to DevOps training, from basic operations in Linux servers to managing complex cloud environments. With Brokee, you get not just a tool, but a partner in education and training.
Our flexible pricing, test-credits system, and inclusive access for team evaluations ensure that our platform adapts to your specific needs. Don’t take our word for it; contact us for a free demo and see for yourself how we can tailor our offerings to best support your goals.
Prepare the Next Generation of DevOps Students for Success
The importance of hands-on, practical experience cannot be overstated. Help equip your students with the practical experience they need to get hired in a DevOps role they enjoy.
Brokee stands ready to prepare the next generation of DevOps professionals for the challenges ahead, ensuring they are not just educated, but truly job-ready. Explore Brokee and take the first step towards transforming your approach to DevOps education and training.
Embracing AI in Technical Hiring: A Guide to AI Tools in DevOps and Cloud Hiring
The shift from traditional methodologies towards AI-driven strategies underscores the evolving landscape of talent acquisition in the tech industry. Let's explore how AI will shift technical recruitment and how you can integrate AI into your own technical hiring process.
AI: A Catalyst for Change in Technical Hiring
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the hiring process marks a transformative era for recruiting DevOps, Cloud Engineers, and other technical talent.
The shift from traditional methodologies towards AI-driven strategies underscores the evolving landscape of talent acquisition in the tech industry. Let's explore how AI will shift technical recruitment and how you can integrate AI into your own technical hiring process.
Redefining Technical Recruitment with AI
AI's integration reshapes hiring practices by emphasizing skill based assessments and leveraging talent tools designed to identify the most qualified candidates for specialized roles.
The Talent Tool Advantage: Beyond Conventional Hiring
Embracing talent tools equipped with AI allows recruiters to adopt a more nuanced approach to hiring, focusing on practical skills and hands-on experience rather than just educational background or professional experience.
AI for Candidate Engagement and Communication
One notable development is the use of AI for candidate engagement and communication. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly being used to maintain constant and personalized communication with candidates throughout the hiring process.
These tools can answer queries, provide updates, and even gather feedback, enhancing the candidate experience and ensuring that potential hires remain engaged and informed.
Candidate Screening: Expedited by AI
AI-driven screening is revolutionizing the initial steps of the hiring process for technical positions, from DevOps to Developers. These tools efficiently sift through numerous resumes to identify candidates with the precise skills and experience needed, going beyond mere keyword matching to understand context and potential for growth.
This not only streamlines the technical screening process, ensuring only the most qualified candidates advance but also frees up recruiters and hiring teams to concentrate on strategic engagement with top talent.
AI-Driven Predictive Analytics for Talent Acquisition
Another emerging application of AI is in predictive analytics for talent acquisition. By analyzing vast amounts of data on candidates' skills, experience, and even past job performances, AI algorithms can predict the likelihood of a candidate's success in a particular role. This predictive capability allows hiring teams to make more data-driven decisions, potentially improving the quality of hires and reducing turnover.
Skills Testing Software: Elevating Technical Hiring
The advent of AI-powered skills testing software is revolutionizing how companies assess technical candidates, ensuring a match between the job requirements and the candidate's actual capabilities.
AI facilitates a deeper analysis of candidates' skills, offering insights that go beyond what resumes and traditional interviews can reveal. This precision in assessment is pivotal for roles requiring high technical proficiency.
Read More: Technical Assessments Transformed Flatworld's DevOps Hiring Process
AI and the Evolving Landscape of Technical Skills
The influence of AI extends to the skill sets required for technical roles, necessitating candidates to adapt by acquiring new competencies that complement AI technologies.
The Future Skill Set: Collaborating with AI
The demand for skills such as AI collaboration, agility, and resilience underscores the shifting requirements in the tech industry, preparing candidates for the future of work.
Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Hiring
While AI in hiring offers numerous advantages, it also presents ethical challenges, including concerns over data privacy, bias, and the transparency of AI algorithms. Addressing these concerns is critical for maintaining fairness and integrity in the hiring process.
Read More: 7 Signs You Need to Hire a DevOps Engineer in 2024
Implementing AI in Your Recruitment Strategy: Practical Steps
As we recognize the transformative power of AI in reshaping DevOps and technical hiring, it's crucial for recruiters and hiring teams to understand how to effectively implement AI tools within their recruitment processes.
Here are practical steps and examples of AI applications that can enhance your hiring strategy:
Leveraging AI for Efficient Candidate Screening
AI-powered screening tools can significantly streamline the recruitment process by quickly identifying candidates whose skills and experiences match the job requirements. Technical screening tools analyze resumes and application materials at scale, ensuring no potential match is overlooked due to human bias or error.
Crafting Perfect Job Descriptions with AI
Utilize AI to generate job descriptions that are not only appealing but also optimized for search and inclusivity. AI can help identify and eliminate biased language, ensuring the descriptions attract a diverse pool of candidates. Moreover, AI-driven analytics can suggest improvements based on the performance of past job postings, enhancing the effectiveness of your recruitment marketing efforts.
Enhancing Technical Assessments with AI
Skills-Assessment Platforms like Brokee leverage AI to evaluate technical tests, creating summaries that are comprehensible even to non-technical stakeholders. This not only speeds up the decision-making process but also ensures a fair assessment of candidates' skills. By adopting AI-powered assessment tools, companies can ensure a consistent, objective, and detailed evaluation of technical competencies.
Read More: DevOps Assessments Streamlined EclecticIQ's Hiring Process [Case Study]
Steps for Integration
Evaluate Your Needs: Identify the specific challenges and opportunities in your current hiring process where AI can have the most impact.
Choose the Right Tools: Research and select the best tech recruitment platforms and technical screening tools that align with your organization's size, industry, and specific hiring needs. Consider tools that offer a good balance between automation and human touch.
Train Your Team: Ensure your hiring team is well-versed in the capabilities and limitations of the AI tools you choose. This includes understanding how to interpret AI-generated insights and when to apply human judgment.
Monitor and Refine: Regularly monitor the performance of these tools, gather feedback from candidates and hiring managers, and refine your approach based on data-driven insights.
Ethical Considerations: Opt for tools that prioritize transparency and fairness, and consider conducting regular audits to ensure these standards are met.
Preparing for the Future: AI in Technical Hiring
The journey towards integrating AI into DevOps and technical hiring is an ongoing process that promises to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of talent acquisition strategies.
Organizations that adapt to these changes by incorporating AI-driven tools and a skills-based approach will be better positioned to attract top talent and build a workforce ready to tackle future technological challenges.
In embracing AI's potential to transform DevOps and technical hiring, companies can unlock new levels of efficiency and precision in identifying the right candidates, paving the way for a future where talent and technology are in perfect harmony.
7 Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing Skill Assessment Software
Discover the warning signs to look out for when selecting skill assessment software. Avoid common pitfalls and choose the best skill assessment tool for your employee and talent development goals.
Key Mistakes to Avoid in Choosing Skill Assessment Tools
Choosing the right skill assessment software is crucial for identifying top talent and ensuring a smooth recruitment process. We've highlighted seven red flags to watch out for when selecting skill assessment software.
By being aware of these pitfalls, hiring teams can avoid common mistakes and select a tool that effectively meets their needs, enhances the hiring process, and secures the best candidates for their organization.
🚩 Platform has Challenging User Interface
Choosing a skill assessment platform that is difficult for candidates to navigate, prone to glitches, or missing essential features can significantly detract from their focus on the test, fostering frustration or feelings of inequity.
This not only discourages highly qualified applicants from proceeding with the application process but can also cause skilled candidates to underperform due to the platform's limitations.
Additionally, it's crucial that the platform is equally intuitive for the hiring team to administer tests, ensuring a smooth flow and user-friendly experience for non-technical staff. A platform that complicates the test-sending process can further strain the efficiency and effectiveness of the hiring procedure.
🚩 Talent Assessment Fails to Evaluate Essential Daily Skills
A frequent oversight in the selection of technology hiring platforms is settling for one that provides multiple choice questions or a basic coding environment, without including the advanced functionalities necessary for candidates to showcase their expertise in specific technical roles, such as DevOps, security, or software development.
The inability of candidates to demonstrate their day-to-day job skills increases the risk of hiring individuals who may not be up to the task. At Brokee, we offer broken live environments for DevOps and cloud engineers to fix, we pride ourselves on mirroring real-world challenges that engineers perform daily.
Read More: 7 Signs You Need to Hire a DevOps Engineer in 2024
🚩 Vulnerability to Cheating
A major concern with skill assessment platforms is their susceptibility to cheating, as traditional methods like multiple-choice and coding tests often can't prevent dishonesty. Tactics include online searches, AI tools, and external help. To counteract this, some opt for invasive measures like in-person testing or surveillance, which may not mimic real-world conditions.
At Brokee, we tackle cheating by using live environment tests that simulate actual work scenarios, allowing candidates to utilize resources such as Google or ChatGPT. This strategy values the skill of applying information, with tests designed to verify core knowledge and tool proficiency.
Our non-restrictive timing and playback technology ensure process authenticity, offering a practical and integrity-focused solution to the issue of cheating in assessments.
🚩 Excluding Key Stakeholders from the Selection Process
Failing to involve crucial stakeholders, such as hiring managers, recruiters, and technical team members when choosing the type of skill assessment tool can result in a poor fit between the tool's capabilities and the company’s hiring requirements. If tests don't reflect the needed skills on the job, technical teams can feel frustrated if new hires underperform.
Additionally, we recommend ensuring that test results are written in layman's terms so non-technical parties can easily understand the performance of candidates. For example, at Brokee, we utilize AI to generate simple summaries of candidates' testing performance, making the information accessible and understandable for those without a deep technological background, which bridges the communication gap between technical and non-technical hiring team members.
🚩 Incompatibility with Existing HR Tools
The inability of a skill assessment platform to integrate smoothly with a company's pre-existing applicant tracking system (ATS) or other recruitment tools can lead to inefficiencies in the tech hiring workflow, which is particularly problematic for smaller teams or those who hire at scale.
We're happy to announce that Brokee now provides API documentation to facilitate more seamless integration with your hiring stack, alleviating potential bottlenecks and enhancing the overall recruitment process.
🚩 Skill Assessment Tests Aren't Scalable
A common mistake we see hiring teams make is underestimating the importance of choosing a scalable skills assessment tool. Since a company's hiring needs fluctuate during growth or hiring freezes, it's essential to select a tool that can adjust and expand accordingly.
We recommend choosing an assessment tool that offers flexibility and scalability, with the ability to adapt to your budget during peak hiring times and provide rollover features for months when there is minimal hiring.
🚩 Lack of Transparency in Pricing and Trials
If a skill assessment platform isn't transparent in pricing or doesn't offer a free trial period, we recommend finding a different tool! You'll likely experience challenges down the road if you opt out of a trial period and buy without trying.
We strongly advise opting for a platform that not only clarifies pricing but also enables your team—and potentially, a select group of candidates—to test its features comprehensively. This dual-feedback approach allows both your technical team and candidates to provide valuable insights.
Also, a trial lets hiring teams have hands-on experience with the platform, granting them the opportunity to explore its functionalities and assessment library in depth. This strategy is fundamental in enabling teams to make well-informed decisions, ensuring the chosen tool aligns perfectly with your hiring process and expectations.
Read More: Introducing Pricing Plans and Free Trial for Tests
How can Skills-Based Assessment Software Impact the Hiring Process?
Streamlining the initial pre-employment screening process
Skill assessment software streamlines the initial candidate screening process by efficiently evaluating candidates' skills and competencies. This automation saves time and allows hiring teams to focus on assessing the most qualified candidates, enhancing the overall efficiency of the hiring process.
Providing valuable insights into candidates' strengths and weaknesses
By using skill assessment software, hiring teams gain valuable insights into candidates' strengths and weaknesses. This information helps recruiters and hiring managers make informed decisions about candidate suitability for specific roles, leading to more effective hiring outcomes.
Enabling hiring teams to hire the best candidates
Skill assessment software enables hiring teams to make data-driven hiring decisions based on objective assessments of candidates' skills. By leveraging data and analytics provided by the software, recruiters and hiring managers can identify the best candidates for the job, improving the quality of new hires and reducing employee turnover.
How to Pick the Best Skills Assessment Software for Your Needs?
Talent Strategy Should Test the Right Skills
When evaluating skill assessment tools, it's essential to understand the specific skills being assessed and ensure they align with your company's needs. Look for a platform that offers assessments tailored to the skill sets required for the job roles you're hiring for.
The Best Tools Should be Easy to Use and Accessible
User-friendly software that is easy to use and accessible to all stakeholders is crucial when evaluating skill assessment tools. Ensure that the platform provides a seamless user experience for both candidates and hiring teams to facilitate efficient assessment processes.
Compatibility with Your Talent Acquisition Process
When selecting skill assessment software, it's crucial to assess its compatibility with your talent acquisition process. Ensure that the platform aligns with your company's goals and objectives for hiring and employee development. Look for a tool that seamlessly integrates into your existing HR systems to streamline the assessment process and enhance efficiency.
Assess the Analytics and Evaluation Features of the Software
One of the key aspects to consider is the reporting and analytics capabilities of the skill assessment tool. Opt for software that provides detailed insights into candidate performance, helping you make informed hiring decisions. Look for platforms that offer customizable reports and analytics to analyze data effectively and track the progress of your assessment process.
Avoid red flags and select assessment software that works best for your team.
Next-Level Competency Assessments
As you navigate the complex landscape of skill assessment software, remember that the right tool can significantly impact your hiring success. Choose a platform that values transparency, scalability, and real-world applicability. We've developed Brokee's innovative solutions to address these challenges head-on.
Don't settle for less—opt for a tool that aligns with your hiring goals and elevates your talent acquisition strategy. We invite you to a free trial to test our live environment assessments and experience the difference firsthand. Take the first step towards transforming your hiring process today.