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 Best DevOps Tools to Streamline Software Development in 2024
DevOps tools are essential components in modern software development practices, bridging the gap between development and operations teams. Read about the top DevOps tools for 2024.
What are DevOps Tools and Their Importance?
DevOps tools are essential components in modern software development practices, bridging the gap between development and operations teams.
These tools automate and streamline various aspects of the software delivery process, enhancing collaboration and efficiency within organizations. The importance of DevOps tools lies in their ability to accelerate deployment, improve code quality, and facilitate continuous integration and delivery.
Integrating DevOps tools allows teams to automate repetitive tasks, reduce human errors, and maintain consistency throughout the development lifecycle. By incorporating these tools, organizations can achieve faster time-to-market, increased productivity, and better overall software quality.
Read More: Essential DevOps Statistics and Trends for Hiring in 2024
Role of DevOps Tools in Improving Software Development Practices
DevOps tools serve as enablers for implementing DevOps practices effectively. These tools automate manual processes, enable version control, and enhance workflow visibility, promoting a collaborative and efficient development environment. By leveraging tools that support automation, organizations can achieve faster delivery cycles and improved software quality.
Benefits of Using DevOps Tools for Software Development
The benefits of utilizing DevOps tools in software development are manifold. These tools promote collaboration, automation, and efficiency, leading to faster delivery cycles, reduced time-to-market, and enhanced product quality. By incorporating DevOps tools into development workflows, organizations can streamline processes, eliminate manual errors, and enhance team productivity.
DevOps tools also enable organizations to adopt best practices in software development, such as continuous integration, continuous delivery, and automated testing. These practices contribute to increased code quality, faster feedback loops, and overall project success.
Key Features to Look for in DevOps Tools
When selecting DevOps tools for your organization, it's essential to consider key features that align with your specific requirements and objectives. Features such as automation capabilities, integrations with popular platforms like AWS and Azure, scalability, and flexibility are crucial for optimizing development workflows.
Configuration management tools play a vital role in managing infrastructure as code, ensuring consistency across environments, and enabling quick provisioning of resources. Additionally, collaboration features, reporting capabilities, and user-friendly interfaces are key aspects to consider when evaluating DevOps tools for your organization.
Choosing the Right DevOps Tools for Your Project
When selecting DevOps tools for a project, consider the following factors:
Integration Capabilities: Ensure the tool integrates seamlessly with your existing technology stack and other DevOps tools.
Scalability: Choose tools that can scale with your project as it grows.
Community and Support: Opt for tools with active community support and comprehensive documentation.
Ease of Use: Select tools that are user-friendly and require minimal learning curve.
Cost: Evaluate the cost of the tool relative to your budget and the value it provides.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a DevOps Management Tool
When selecting a DevOps management tool, it's crucial to consider the following key aspects:
Integration Capabilities: Ensure the tool integrates seamlessly with your existing technology stack, other DevOps tools, and services to maintain a cohesive workflow.
Scalability and Flexibility: Choose a tool that can easily scale with your project’s growth and adapt to changing requirements without significant reconfiguration.
User Community and Support: Opt for tools with an active community, comprehensive documentation, and robust support channels to aid in troubleshooting and best practices.
Ease of Use and Learning Curve: Evaluate how user-friendly the tool is, considering the skill level of your team, and how quickly they can get up to speed.
Cost and Licensing: Assess the total cost of ownership, including initial investment, maintenance, and potential licensing fees, to ensure it aligns with your budget and provides good value.
Read More: Hidden Costs of Your Hiring Pipeline
List of Best DevOps Tools for 2024
As we look ahead to 2024, the landscape of DevOps tools continues to evolve, offering a plethora of options to streamline development processes and enhance productivity.
Exploring Automation in DevOps Tools
Automation plays a pivotal role in DevOps practices, allowing teams to streamline workflows, reduce manual errors, and accelerate software delivery. Automation tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, and Bamboo enable teams to automate build, test, and deployment processes, enhancing efficiency and reliability.
By automating repetitive tasks, teams can free up resources, focus on high-impact activities, and iterate quickly on software updates. Automation tools also support continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices, ensuring that code changes are tested, integrated, and deployed in a timely manner.
CI/CD Automation Tools
Bamboo helps practice continuous delivery by tying automated builds, tests, and releases into a single workflow. Features include multi-stage build plans, triggers for starting builds upon commits, parallel automated tests, and tight integration with Jira and Bitbucket.
Jenkins is essential for automating CI/CD pipelines, building, testing, and deploying code changes efficiently. Its flexibility and extensive plugin library make it adaptable to diverse development environments, supporting seamless automation and delivery.
CodeFresh is a Kubernetes-native CI/CD platform that streamlines the building, testing, and deployment of applications. It offers advanced features like built-in GitOps, support for multiple pipelines, and robust integration with popular DevOps tools. CodeFresh excels in managing microservices and complex workflows, making it ideal for cloud-native environments.
ArgoCD is a declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes. It automates the deployment of desired application states from a Git repository, ensuring consistency and reliability. ArgoCD supports multiple deployment strategies, integrates seamlessly with other Kubernetes tools, and provides a rich UI for managing application deployments and rollbacks.
Configuration Management in DevOps Tools
Ansible stands out for its simplicity and versatility in automating repetitive tasks, provisioning infrastructure, and managing configurations. Its agentless architecture, using SSH for communication, and declarative language make it accessible for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Ansible's extensive library of pre-built modules supports diverse environments, enabling efficient, scalable, and rapid deployment of applications and services while minimizing manual errors and enhancing security.
Chef automates server provisioning, configuration, and maintenance, enhancing efficiency and consistency across infrastructure. Its integration with cloud providers and containerization technologies makes it adaptable to evolving tech landscapes. It features “cookbooks” for infrastructure coding, integration with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP, and configuration as code.
Puppet automates and simplifies critical manual tasks by managing and extracting configuration details across various operating systems and platforms, helping scale and maintain servers efficiently.
Version Control Tools
GitHub is one of the largest and most advanced development platforms globally, enabling millions of developers and companies to build, ship, and maintain their software. Its key features include collaborative coding, automation for CI/CD, enhanced security for enterprise customers, and project management capabilities.
GitLab is an all-in-one DevOps tool for rapid software delivery, supporting tasks from planning to SCM, delivery, monitoring, and security. It features a single interface for project management, CI/CD for automation, and built-in functionality for automated security, code quality, and vulnerability management.
Bitbucket is popular with over 10 million registered users, offering a platform for hosting code and beyond. It enables teams to plan projects, collaborate, test, and deploy from a single interface. Notable features are tight integration with Jira and Trello, built-in CI/CD, efficient pull requests and code reviews, and robust cloud security with IP whitelisting and two-step verification.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Terraform brings consistency, version control, and automation to infrastructure operations, reducing manual errors and streamlining DevOps workflows. Its ability to define and deploy infrastructure as code ensures efficient and reliable application deployment.
Pulumi allows you to write Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using familiar programming languages like Python, Go, and JavaScript. It offers flexibility and ease of use, especially for developers already familiar with these languages. Pulumi integrates seamlessly with existing development workflows and tools, making it ideal for software development teams adopting IaC practices.
Monitoring and Logging Tools in DevOps
Prometheus is renowned for its robust metric collection and analysis capabilities, crucial for dynamic scaling and cloud-native environments. Its open-source nature and active community support make it an adaptable solution for diverse infrastructure needs, providing visibility into containerized and microservices architectures.
Grafana is a powerful open-source platform for monitoring and observability, offering rich visualizations and dashboards. It integrates seamlessly with various data sources, including Prometheus, Elasticsearch, and InfluxDB, providing a unified view of metrics and logs for better analysis and alerting.
ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) ELK is essential for effective log management, real-time data indexing, and visualization. Elasticsearch’s scalability, combined with Logstash’s data processing and Kibana’s user-friendly interface, offers comprehensive insights, enabling quick problem resolution and proactive monitoring.
EFK (Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana) is a robust logging solution that enables efficient log collection, storage, and visualization. Fluentd aggregates logs from various sources, Elasticsearch indexes and stores them, and Kibana provides an intuitive interface for searching and visualizing log data, enhancing troubleshooting and monitoring.
SignalFx excels in real-time monitoring and observability, allowing organizations to proactively detect anomalies and trace issues across microservices. Its advanced alerting and incident response capabilities ensure high availability and optimal resource utilization, addressing performance issues before they impact end-users.
Raygun focuses on application performance monitoring and error tracking. It provides actionable insights into application errors and performance bottlenecks, enabling proactive issue resolution and enhancing user satisfaction through improved software quality.
Security DevOps Tools
Splunk is used for monitoring and exploring SaaS and on-premises infrastructure. Features include monitoring across physical, virtual, and cloud infrastructures, modernizing applications for better customer experiences, predictive alerting and auto-remediation with AIOps and machine learning, and improved MTTA with automated incident response.
Phantom Phantom enhances security automation and incident response, reducing response times and increasing consistency in incident handling. It automates security workflows, from threat detection to risk mitigation, freeing up resources from repetitive tasks.
Security features offered by tools like SonarQube, Fortify, and Checkmarx are critical for protecting applications from vulnerabilities, ensuring code quality, and adhering to security best practices. By integrating security tools into the development pipeline, organizations can identify and remediate security threats early in the software development lifecycle.
Container Management Tools
Docker is a lightweight tool designed to simplify and accelerate various workflows in the SDLC with an integrated approach. Docker container images include everything needed to run an application, offering standardized packaging, container runtime for multiple OSs, collaborative development, and Docker Hub for exploring millions of images.
Kubernetes is an open-source tool for automating the deployment and management of containerized applications. Its features include automated rollouts and rollbacks, service delivery and load balancing, storage orchestration, and self-healing capabilities.
Read More: We've Added New Tests: Kubernetes and GPC Tests
Mesos is a tool for managing computer clusters, functioning as a distributed systems kernel for resource management across datacenter and cloud environments. It supports launching containers with Docker and AppC images, running cloud-native and legacy applications in the same cluster, and scaling to tens of thousands of nodes.
Nomad is a flexible, easy-to-use container orchestration tool that simplifies the deployment and management of containerized and non-containerized applications. It supports diverse workloads, offers native integrations with Consul and Vault, and provides a single, consistent workflow for deploying applications across multiple datacenters and cloud environments.
Build Tools
Maven is a pivotal tool for managing project dependencies, building, and lifecycle management in Java-based development environments. It simplifies complex build processes by streamlining compilation, testing, packaging, and distribution. Maven ensures consistent and reproducible builds, making it easier for development teams to collaborate efficiently and deliver high-quality software.
Gradle Build Tool is the most popular build tool for open source JVM projects on GitHub. Many popular projects, including Spring Boot, have migrated from Maven to Gradle.
Application Lifecycle Management
Jira is a well-known platform for tracking issues and managing projects, available as both a SaaS and on-premises solution. It allows for agile software development with drag-and-drop interface for creating automation rules.
Cloud Computing and Storage (AWS)
AWS offers a robust set of tools for implementing DevOps practices, focusing on continuous integration, deployment, and cloud solutions. Here are the top AWS DevOps tools:
AWS Cloud Development Kit: An open-source tool for modeling and provisioning cloud application resources.
AWS CodePipeline: Continuously delivers code, providing a visual representation of the entire delivery process.
AWS CodeCommit: Allows developers to create and clone repositories locally, facilitating efficient code management.
AWS CodeBuild: A cloud-based integration service that scales builds, runs tests, and prepares software packages for deployment, automating various processes.
AWS Device Farm: Ensures the quality of web and mobile apps by testing across different devices and AWS cloud desktop versions.
AWS CodeStar: Provides a user-friendly interface for building, developing, and deploying applications in AWS.
Other notable AWS microservices include AWS Lambda, Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service, AWS Fargate, Amazon Elastic Container Service, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS X-Ray, AWS CloudTrail, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk. These tools support various DevOps tasks and enhance cloud solutions.
Read More: AWS DevOps Interview Questions and Answers for 2024
Best Test Orchestration Tools
Katalon TestOps is an orchestration platform for automated testing that unites test management, planning, execution, and quality analytics. TestOps connects the team with feedback loops that are instant, actionable, and insightful for both QA, product, and DevOps teams.
Application Performance Monitoring Tools
Dynatrace covers application performance, digital experience, business analytics, AIOps, and infrastructure monitoring. Key features are automated orchestration with open APIs, extensive cloud support, automatic quality checks and KPIs, and AI-driven problem detection and resolution.
AppDynamics provides real-time insights into application performance, monitoring all transactions flowing through applications. Features include intelligent agents, analytics-driven performance problem solving, automatic performance normalization, and system-wide data recording.
Deployment & Server Monitoring Tools
Datadog is a SaaS-based tool for server and app monitoring in hybrid cloud environments, including Docker containers. Its features include seamless aggregation of metrics and events across the DevOps stack, end-to-end user experience visibility, prioritization of business and engineering decisions with user metrics, and visibility across teams.
Sensu is an open-source tool for monitoring cloud environments, easily deployable through Puppet and Chef. Features include the Sensu Observability Pipeline for integrated, secure, and scalable monitoring, declarative configurations, and a service-based approach to automating workflows.
Test Automation Tools
Test.ai is an AI-powered automation testing tool that builds tests without coding, accelerates testing to match DevOps speed, scales testing across platforms, and maintains tests automatically to improve quality.
Ranorex offers an all-in-one solution for automated testing across browsers and devices, with tools included in a single license, support for real devices or simulators, and integration with CI servers and issue tracking tools.
Selenium automates web applications for testing with components like WebDriver for browser-based regression automation, IDE for simple record-and-playback, and Grid for scaling tests across multiple machines and environments.
Artifact Management Tools
Sonatype Nexus efficiently distributes parts and containers to developers as a single source of truth for all components, binaries, and build artifacts. Features include universal support for popular build tools and flexibility to empower development teams.
JFrog Artifactory serves as a single source of truth for container images, packages, and Helm charts, with features like active/active clustering, multi-site replication, tool stack integration, and pipeline automation via powerful REST APIs.
CloudRepo manages and shares private Maven and Python repositories, ensuring high availability with multi-server storage, client access control, and integration with major CI tools.
AI and Codeless Test Automation Tools
AccelQ leads in codeless test automation, allowing testers to develop test logic without programming syntax concerns. It supports a design-first approach, handles dynamic controls, and supports advanced interactions for robust test development.
QuerySurge is a continuous data testing solution with a robust API, seamless DevOps pipeline integration, quick data verification, transformation rule validation, and detailed data intelligence and analytics.
Appvance is an AI and ML-powered autonomous testing platform that performs end-to-end testing with self-healing scripts, AI-generated tests, and continuous testing capabilities.
Testim.io is an AI-based UI testing tool that integrates with Saucelabs, Jira, and GitHub, eliminates flaky tests, pinpoints root causes of bugs, and efficiently expands testing operations with control, management, and insights.
Read More: A Guide to AI Tools in DevOps and Cloud Hiring
DevOps Training Tools
Brokee offers hands-on cloud labs designed to provide real-world DevOps training experiences. Unlike traditional learning platforms that focus on theoretical knowledge, Brokee emphasizes practical skills through interactive labs. These labs simulate real-world scenarios, allowing engineers to tackle challenges they would face in their daily work. This makes it an excellent choice for both beginners and seasoned professionals looking to stay ahead in the industry.
In the rapidly evolving field of DevOps, continuous learning and hands-on practice are crucial for keeping up with the latest technologies and methodologies.
Final Word: Explore the Capabilities of Top DevOps Tools
As we move deeper into 2024, the landscape of DevOps tools continues to evolve and expand, offering more sophisticated and integrated solutions to streamline the software development process.
The future of DevOps tools lies in greater automation, more seamless integrations, and enhanced capabilities that address the complexities of modern software development.
Stay ahead of the curve by continually exploring and adopting the latest DevOps tools, thereby expanding and refining your arsenal to meet the demands of modern software development.
Read More: Now Providing DevOps Tests for all Major Cloud Providers
The Best DevOps Bootcamps in 2024
Find the best DevOps bootcamps and courses in 2024 to level up your career. Explore online training programs and find the right bootcamp to learn and practice DevOps theories, tools, and hands-on work.
We've compiled this article to help you discover the best DevOps bootcamps and courses in 2024 to level up your career. Explore online training programs and find the right bootcamp to learn and practice DevOps theories, tools, and hands-on work.
The Significance of DevOps
DevOps, or developmental operations, combines philosophies, practices, and tools to enhance a company's ability to deliver high-quality and efficient applications and services. This field is crucial in today's tech landscape and offers robust career opportunities for both novices and experienced professionals.
With the average salary for a DevOps engineer at $114,107 annually, according to Glassdoor, those who undergo training can access higher salaries and expanded career options, even without prior experience.
What is a DevOps Bootcamp?
A DevOps bootcamp is a training program designed to provide individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the field of DevOps, which focuses on collaboration, automation, and integration between software developers and IT operations teams.
Why Attend a DevOps Bootcamp?
Acquiring Skills and Knowledge
DevOps bootcamps offer a structured learning environment focused on real-world skills applicable immediately in the tech field. These programs often include building a professional portfolio and enhancing soft skills, key for a successful career in technology. With courses tailored to teach practical and theoretical aspects, attendees leave with a solid understanding of DevOps practices and tools.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Bootcamps are geared towards career advancement, providing the technical skills needed in the rapidly growing field of DevOps. Many participants secure employment shortly after completion, with bootcamps significantly enhancing employability. The intense focus on current industry standards and practices makes bootcamp graduates highly attractive to potential employers.
Networking Opportunities
Attending a DevOps bootcamp opens up numerous networking opportunities within the community. Participants connect with professionals, instructors, and fellow students who are active in the field, providing valuable contacts that can lead to job opportunities and collaborations.
Additional Benefits of DevOps Bootcamps
Flexibility: Many DevOps bootcamps offer self-paced and part-time options, allowing students to learn at their own pace and schedule, which is ideal for those who are working or have other commitments.
Affordability: Compared to traditional degrees, bootcamps are more affordable and offer various payment plans. This makes them an accessible option for those looking to break into the tech industry without incurring significant debt.
Accessibility: Bootcamps often require no previous experience in the field, making them a viable option for career changers or individuals starting their tech journey.
Selecting the ideal DevOps bootcamp involves careful consideration of several key factors to ensure it aligns with your career goals and learning style. Here’s a streamlined guide to help you make an informed decision:
Key Considerations for Selecting a DevOps Bootcamp
Hands-on Learning: Prioritize bootcamps that emphasize practical exercises, projects, and labs. This should be your top priority when selecting a DevOps bootcamp; real-world experience is crucial for mastering DevOps tools and practices.
Instructor Expertise: Ensure that the instructors are experienced DevOps practitioners. Instructors who are active in the field can offer up-to-date insights and best practices.
Certification Preparation: If obtaining a certification is a goal, choose a bootcamp that prepares you for recognized DevOps certifications such as Azure DevOps or AWS DevOps Engineer.
Flexible Pacing: Consider bootcamps that offer flexible scheduling options, such as self-paced online courses. This is particularly important if you need to balance learning with other commitments.
Alumni Reviews: Research what past students say about their experiences. Alumni reviews can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the bootcamp and its relevance to current industry demands.
By evaluating each of these factors, you can select a DevOps bootcamp that not only meets your educational needs but also enhances your professional opportunities in the tech industry.
Our Selection of Top 10 DevOps Bootcamps
We've selected the following ten DevOps bootcamps due to many criteria, including the availability of hands-on labs and DevOps playgrounds, course projects, one-on-one instructor and mentor time, skills tested, certificate offerings, time of program, and value of the program. Here are the best DevOps bootcamps we discovered:
Simplilearn Master DevOps Engineer Certification Course
Details of the Program
This 10-week online program is aimed at professionals seeking a comprehensive understanding of DevOps. It covers deployment methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, observability, and uses tools like Git, Docker, and Jenkins.
What You'll Learn
The program promises a deep dive into DevOps engineering with a focus on practical applications and mastering industry-relevant tools and skills.
Pricing
The course fee is $2,000, which includes access to Google Cloud Hands-on Labs and real-life project work.
Pros
Includes certification upon completion.
Intensive interaction and hands-on learning.
Cons
High cost and short duration of course may not suffice for all learners.
CalTech’s Post Graduate Program in DevOps
Details of the Program
This 36-week bootcamp is offered in collaboration with IBM and focuses on bridging the gap between software development and operations using modern DevOps tools.
What You'll Learn
The curriculum includes extensive training in continuous deployment, configuration management tools like Puppet, Chef, SaltStack, and Ansible, and cutting-edge technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
Pricing
The program fee is $4,849, which includes access to Capstone projects and industry masterclasses.
Pros
Comprehensive and reputable program with a strong emphasis on hands-on projects.
Access to exclusive job portals and career services.
Cons
Relatively long duration commitment required.
Level Up in Tech Cloud Program
Details of the Program
Level Up in Tech offers a comprehensive 6-step process designed to launch careers in tech, focusing on fundamental and advanced cloud and DevOps skills.
What You'll Learn
Participants will learn server configuration, troubleshooting, infrastructure as code, CI/CD, scripting, containerization, and more, with a focus on AWS Cloud.
Pricing
Available upon request.
Pros
Extensive curriculum with hands-on learning and real-world project work.
Strong community support and personalized coaching.
High quality live DevOps labs.
Cons
Pricing information appears to be available upon request.
Fullstack Academy Cloud Computing Bootcamp
Details of the Program
This 26-week program is designed to teach cloud computing and DevOps skills, integrated with job search support and portfolio development. This program is used at many institutions, including The University of Illinois Chicago DevOps Bootcamp and The University of North Florida DevOps Bootcamp.
What You'll Learn
The curriculum includes AWS, Microsoft Azure technologies, and a comprehensive set of cloud computing fundamentals and advanced concepts.
Pricing
The tuition for the bootcamp is $14,495, which includes extensive hands-on project work and career services.
Pros
Comprehensive and immersive program with excellent job preparation.
High level of student support and industry recognition.
Cons
One of the more expensive options without including certifications.
WeCloudData DevOps Engineering Bootcamp
Details of the Program
WeCloudData offers a flexible learning experience that combines self-paced materials with mentor sessions. This bootcamp focuses on equipping participants with real-world DevOps skills through practical, industry-relevant scenarios.
What You'll Learn
The bootcamp covers an array of DevOps tools and systems, emphasizing real-world applications and hands-on project work to ensure job readiness.
Pricing
$4,000 (self-paced materials + 30-hour mentor support) to $6,000 (adds 6-month career services to the Standard Package).
Pros
Capstone project provides hands-on learning experience.
In-depth mentorship and career services available.
Cons
Higher price point for the packages offered.
Lacks structured, real-time lab environments.
Cloud Academy
Details of the Program
Cloud Academy offers a platform for upskilling in cloud technologies and DevOps, utilizing AI-assisted training solutions to enhance learning outcomes.
What You'll Learn
The training spans multiple cloud platforms, including AWS, Google Cloud, and more, focusing on practical skills through hands-on exercises.
Pricing
Annual membership is priced at $199.
Pros
one of the more affordable options available.
AI-assisted personalized training enhances learning efficiency.
Cons
Less focused on DevOps specifically, more broad in scope covering general cloud skills.
Some details on hands-on learning specifics are unclear, so it may lack sufficient labs and playgrounds.
KodeKloud DevOps Courses and Labs
Details of the Program
KodeKloud offers a unique approach to learning DevOps by providing a platform that combines theory with hands-on practical experience. With over 75 courses and more than 600 hands-on labs, KodeKloud allows users to engage in real-world scenarios through its DevOps and Cloud Playgrounds. These environments are ideal for experimentation and learning without the risk of impacting real systems.
What You'll Learn
Participants gain experience in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms through sandboxed environments, alongside a comprehensive list of DevOps practices and tools.
Pricing
KODEKLOUD PRO is available at $21 per month, billed annually at $250. This subscription includes access to all standard features like 60+ DevOps playgrounds, three cloud playgrounds, all courses, and hands-on labs.
Pros
Extensive labs and sandboxes for hands-on learning.
Affordable and flexible pricing with easy cancellation.
Cons
Lacks structured coursework, more suitable for self-directed learners.
A Cloud Guru DevOps Courses and Labs
Details of the Program
A Cloud Guru has served over 2.2 million engineers, offering courses designed using proven adult learning principles. The program includes fresh courses and labs that cover a range of cloud platforms and DevOps tools.
What You'll Learn
The curriculum spans across AWS, Azure, and GCP, featuring cloud playgrounds, practice exams, and hands-on labs. This diverse toolkit helps users prepare for and pass certification exams while gaining practical cloud skills.
Pricing
Pricing varies between $350 and $588 per person, depending on individual or business use.
Pros
Comprehensive learning tools and fresh course content.
Suitable for all skill levels from novice to expert.
Cons
More expensive than some alternatives.
Primarily focuses on cloud platforms with a broad approach to DevOps.
Lacks structured coursework, more suitable for self-directed learners.
Nucamp ‘Become a Back End, SQL, and DevOps Developer with Python’ Bootcamp
Details of the Program
Over 16 weeks, this bootcamp focuses on Python programming, SQL databases, and the use of major cloud services. The program includes weekly live workshops and project work.
What You'll Learn
Students gain skills in Python, Postgres SQL, Docker, Flask, Django, and various DevOps practices, preparing them to deploy applications across major cloud platforms.
Pricing
The monthly cost ranges from $150 to $170, depending on the payment plan.
Pros
Interactive with live instruction.
Covers a broad range of technologies and tools.
Cons
Lacks more intensive, hands-on lab experiences.
Clarusway AWS & DevOps Course
Details of the Program
Spanning 37 weeks, this course prepares students for a career in AWS DevOps, focusing on practical skills and certification preparation.
What You'll Learn
The course offers extensive hands-on learning through labs, projects, and includes mentorship and career services.
Pricing
Total course fee is $7,950, reflecting the depth and duration of the program.
Pros
Highly rated with extensive curriculum and support services.
Cons
High cost and long duration may be barriers for some students.
No certifications are included with this cost.
Final Word
DevOps bootcamps provide a compelling pathway for those looking to enter or advance in the fast-evolving tech landscape. By offering focused, practical training in key areas of cloud, CI/CD, and system operations, these programs equip participants with the skills necessary to excel in DevOps roles.
Whether you're a beginner looking to break into the field or an experienced professional aiming to upgrade your skills, the right DevOps bootcamp can significantly influence your career trajectory, making it a worthwhile investment in today’s digital economy.
DevOps Bootcamp FAQs
What can I learn in a DevOps bootcamp?
In a DevOps bootcamp, you will acquire skills such as tool proficiency, project management, cloud technologies like AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Azure, Ansible, as well as coding practices, software development principles, pipeline orchestration, and realtime system reliability.
Are there free DevOps bootcamps available online?
Yes, some platforms offer free online DevOps bootcamp programs to help individuals kickstart their journey into becoming a DevOps engineer, providing practice exercises and video instructions. Often, these free courses don't have hands-on labs, which can be good for beginners, but not recommended for those trying to start a career.
What are Alternatives to DevOps Bootcamps?
For those considering alternatives to DevOps bootcamps, there are several other effective ways to learn and develop necessary skills in this field. Here are some popular options:
1. Online Courses and Tutorials
Platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer a wide range of courses that cover specific DevOps tools and methodologies. These platforms allow for a more self-directed approach, enabling learners to focus on particular areas of interest or need.
2. University Degrees and DevOps Academies
Pursuing a degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field can provide a more comprehensive education. University programs offer in-depth studies in programming, systems administration, and network management, which are foundational to a career in DevOps.
3. Professional Certifications
Certifications from organizations like the Linux Foundation, AWS, Microsoft, or Google can validate your skills and knowledge in DevOps practices. Preparing for these certifications often involves rigorous study, which can be done through self-study, guided online courses, or official training programs.
4. Apprenticeships and Internships
Gaining hands-on experience through an apprenticeship or an internship with a tech company can provide practical knowledge and insights into the day-to-day responsibilities of DevOps roles. This path also helps in building professional networks and can often lead to full-time employment.
5. Industry Conferences and Workshops
Attending industry-specific events like DevOpsDays, AWS re:Invent, or Microsoft Ignite can offer opportunities to learn from leading experts and practitioners. Workshops and seminars provide both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, along with the latest trends and tools in the industry.
6. Meetups and Community Groups
Joining local or online DevOps communities can be an excellent way to learn informally. These groups often host regular meetups, hackathons, and discussion forums where members share insights, best practices, and challenges.
7. Self-Learning through Open Source Projects
Contributing to open source projects can be a practical way to learn DevOps tools and practices. This involves real-world problem-solving and collaboration, which are critical components of DevOps work.
The Top 10 DevOps and Cloud Conferences to Attend in 2024
Whether you're aiming to advance your knowledge or connect with industry leaders, mark your calendar for these must-attend DevOps and cloud conferences.
In an era where the DevOps and cloud computing landscapes are rapidly evolving, staying ahead with the latest trends, technologies, and practices is essential.
Whether you are an engineer looking to gain experience, a recruiter seeking tech talent, or a business leader wanting to expand your company’s DevOps capabilities, DevOps conferences are pivotal, offering rich opportunities for networking, innovation, and education.
What are the Best DevOps Conferences to go to in 2024?
Choosing the Best DevOps Conferences for 2024 can be a daunting task, given the factors to consider: the quality of content and speakers, the event's reputation and history, and the cost required to attend.
Recognizing that different conferences may cater more effectively to specific audiences—be it DevOps engineers, technical recruiters, or business leaders—we've tried to include events across a spectrum of price points and technical levels. This approach aims to ensure that every DevOps professional can find an event that aligns perfectly with their objectives and budgetary constraints.
The conferences we’ve highlighted in our selection stand out due to their exceptional quality, legacy, and diverse cost structures. So, buy your tickets, mark the dates on your calendar, and prepare to embark on an enlightening journey through the best DevOps events of 2024!
PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit
When & Where:
Dates: April 8-11
Location: Bellevue, WA, U.S.A.
Price:
Summit Entry: $1999
On-Ramp: $1999
Why attend DevOps Global Summit?
Attend the PowerShell + DevOps Global Summit to immerse yourself in advanced discussions on PowerShell, cloud technologies, and DevOps practices. With a vibrant community and over 70 sessions spanning four days, the summit offers deep dives into Azure, AWS, Python, GIT, and much more, catering to IT professionals at all levels of expertise.
Google Next ’24
When & Where:
Dates: April 9-11, 2024
Location: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, United States
Price:
Early Bird: $999 - $1,999
Why attend Google Next DevOps Event?
Google Next ’24 promises a blend of inspiration and innovation, with keynotes and sessions from Google Cloud's top executives. Attendees will explore the future of cloud technology, AI, and digital transformation, making it an invaluable event for IT professionals seeking to leverage Google Cloud solutions.
GITOPSCON NORTH AMERICA 2024
When & Where:
Dates: April 15, 2024
Location: Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Price:
$100-249
Why attend GITOPSCON DevOps Event?
GITOPSCON North America 2024 focuses on the intricacies of GitOps practices, offering a rare opportunity to connect with experts and pioneers in the field. Through sessions on automation, scaling GitOps, and integrating AI in cloud-native environments, attendees will learn to refine their DevOps strategies.
Cyber Security & Cloud Expo North America 2024
When & Where:
Dates: June 5-6, 2024
Location: Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, United States
Price:
Ranges from $649-899
Why attend this DevSecOps Conference?
The Cyber Security & Cloud Expo is a pivotal gathering for cybersecurity and cloud professionals, offering a platform to discuss Zero-Day Vigilance, Threat Detection, Quantum Computing, and Cloud Transformation. With 250+ speakers and 18 tracks, it's an opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in cybersecurity and cloud innovations.
InfoQ Dev Summit 2024
When & Where:
Dates: June 24-25, 2024
Location: Boston, United States
Price:
Early Bird: $890 (valid until April 16th)
Why attend InfoQ DevOps Summit?
InfoQ Dev Summit offers actionable insights into software development priorities, with a focus on emerging trends and best practices. It's an opportunity for senior developers to learn from peers, engage in curated discussions, and navigate the challenges of modern software development.
CLOUDNATIVESECURITYCON NORTH AMERICA 2024
When & Where:
Dates: June 26-27, 2024
Location: Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Price:
Ranges from $150 - $799
Why attend this DevSecOps and Cloud Conference?
CloudNativeSecurityCon is essential for IT professionals focusing on cloud-native security challenges. The conference provides insights into securing modern software architectures, with sessions on DevSecOps, cloud transformation strategies, and the role of AI and ML in enhancing infrastructure security.
AWS SUMMIT WASHINGTON
When & Where:
Dates: June 26-27, 2024
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Price:
Complimentary (No cost to attend)
Why attend AWS DevOps Summit?
The AWS Summit in Washington, DC, is a must-attend for public sector professionals and organizations innovating in the cloud. With a focus on AWS services and solutions, attendees will discover strategies for cloud adoption, security, and achieving operational excellence in government and education sectors.
Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit Las Vegas (The DevOps Enterprise Summit)
When & Where:
Dates: August 20-22, 2024
Location: Las Vegas, NV, U.S.A.
Price:
$2,500
Why attend DevOps Enterprise Summit?
The DevOps Enterprise Summit is an ideal platform for IT executives and professionals aiming to leverage agile and DevOps methodologies for digital transformation and organizational growth. Engage with thought leaders, explore emerging technologies, and gain strategic insights to navigate the complexities of the tech landscape effectively.
AGILE + DEVOPS 2024
When & Where:
Dates: To be announced
Location: Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
Price:
Details to be announced.
Why attend?
AGILE + DEVOPS 2024 consolidates insights from the Agile and DevOps communities, offering a comprehensive exploration of methodologies that enhance software delivery and operational efficiency. Participants will benefit from expert-led sessions, practical workshops, and networking opportunities with industry leaders.
DevOpsDays 2024 Series
Why Attend DevOps Days 2024?
DevOpsDays is a renowned series for its community-driven approach, covering software development, IT infrastructure operations, and their nexus. Each event offers a blend of curated talks and space for open discussion on topics like automation, testing, security, and organizational culture.
2024 Locations & Dates:
DevOpsDays Raleigh, NC: Apr 10-11
DevOpsDays Austin, TX: May 2-3
DevOpsDays Seattle, WA & Philadelphia, PA: May 14-15
DevOpsDays Kansas City, MO: May 15-16
DevOpsDays Baltimore, MD: May 21-22
DevOpsDays Houston, TX: Jun 4-5
DevOpsDays Nashville, TN: Jul 10-11
DevOpsDays Minneapolis, MN: Aug 6-7
DevOpsDays Birmingham, AL: Aug 19-21
DevOpsDays Denver, CO: Sep 16-17
DevOpsDays Tampa Bay, FL: Sep 19
DevOpsDays Washington, D.C.: Sep 25-26
DevOpsDays Dallas, TX: Oct 9-10
DevOpsDays Des Moines, IA: Oct 10-11
DevOpsDays Salt Lake City, UT: Oct 17-18
Prices:
Ranging from $100-250
Will We See You at Upcoming DevOps Conferences in 2024?
Attending one of these exceptional conferences offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the latest ideas in DevOps and cloud computing. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of specific technologies, explore strategic insights, or network with industry leaders, these events promise to propel your professional journey forward.
Mark your calendars for these top DevOps conferences, cloud computing conferences, and cybersecurity conferences in 2024, and take a significant step toward leading in the tech domain. We hope to see you there!
The Best Tech Recruitment Platforms & Technical Screening Tools in 2024
We explored the top tech recruitment platforms, tools, and software solutions that will help your company source, screen, and hire the top talent in 2024.
In this rapidly evolving digital era, hiring top technical talent has become a major challenge, for both startups and enterprises. We explored the top tech recruitment platforms, tools, and software solutions that can help your company source, screen, and eventually hire the best talent in 2024.
Why is Technical Recruitment a Significant Challenge for Many Companies?
Technical recruitment poses a unique challenge for recruiters and employers. Among various processes in the corporate world, tech recruitment introduces one of the toughest tasks to fulfill, especially when there's an abundance of job seekers with more new technologies evolving day by day.
Understanding the Unique Issues for Technical Recruiters
There are several challenges in tech recruitment, including sourcing candidates with the right competency in advanced technologies, understanding specific job requirements like DevOps engineering, translating tech jargon into understandable information for non-tech recruiters, proper technical assessment and testing, and offering competitive salary packages.
Common IT recruitment problems include:
Difficult and expensive to extend search beyond traditional platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.
Deciding how much to spend on subscription packages and platforms.
Properly assessing candidates' skills.
Understanding and minimizing the costs of your hiring pipeline.
How Can Tech Recruitment Tools Give a Competitive Edge in Hiring?
Tech recruitment tools equip employers with data-driven insights, automation, and AI-powered features that can significantly enhance their ability to source, screen, interview, and hire top tech talent.
What are the top 10 Tech Recruitment Platforms in 2024?
The best tech tools might vary based on the needs of the company or hiring team, however, we've put together our top picks for recruiting technology and tools for 2024.
How Did We Choose Our "Top Picks"?
What constitutes the 'best' recruitment tool or platform? Prime factors we considered included user-friendly interfaces, cost-effectiveness, AI-driven candidate matching, advanced candidate sourcing features, and a robust tech stack. Additionally, great customer service, reasonable pricing, and the reviews and reputations of the platforms came into play as well.
Each platform has its pros and cons based on various considerations like the type of tech talent you are sourcing, ease of integration with other tools, and features specific to your needs. However, we felt this guide would be especially helpful as it contains the top picks from technical experts who work with many of these tools and technologies every day.
Without further ado, let's get to the rankings!
Applicant Tracking Systems
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is the backbone of any recruitment operation. It serves as a centralized hub for managing candidates and streamlining recruiting activities. In 2024, ATS tools have evolved to not only store candidate data but also enhance productivity by automating various aspects of the hiring process.
SmartRecruiters
Pros:
Offers a wide range of features, including automation, analytics, and customizable job postings.
Can streamline the hiring process, saving time and reducing manual effort.
Provides powerful analytics for recruitment efforts.
Cons:
Design could have a better user experience with improved navigation.
Lacks some customization features that users want.
It's missing some common integrations.
Pricing: The specific pricing information for SmartRecruiters is not available.
Lever
Pros:
Offers features such as interview scheduling, candidate scoring, and analytics.
Can simplify the hiring process and save time when used effectively.
Cons:
Customer support can be lacking at times.
Setup can take a while, and tools have a bit of a learning curve.
Many reviewers mentioned wanting more features.
Pricing: Pricing for Lever ranges from around $3,500 to $140,000 per year, depending on the number of employees.
iCIMS
Pros:
Offers a wide range of features, including automation, analytics, and customizable job postings.
Can streamline the hiring process, saving time and reducing manual effort.
Provides powerful analytics for recruitment efforts.
Cons:
The reporting functions can be limited to standard reports, and customization can be challenging
Search capabilities could be improved.
Interface design could be improved for better user experience.
Pricing: iCIMS pricing ranges from $6,000 per year for 51 to 100 employees to $140,000 per year for 5,000+ employees. They also charge "connector fees" for 3rd party integration partners.
Our Top Pick: Greenhouse Software
Pros:
Offers a comprehensive set of features for recruitment, including interview scheduling, candidate scoring, and analytics.
Provides powerful analytics and customizable job postings.
Can simplify the hiring process and save time when used effectively.
Cons:
Automated screening may eliminate good candidates, as the system sticks within set boundaries.
May lack desired one-on-one contact with applicants, potentially affecting the candidate experience.
Might require a lengthy implementation, which can be a potential disadvantage.
Pricing: Pricing ranges from around $6,000 to $25,000 per year for a couple of dozen employees to over $100,000 per year for larger enterprises.
Why it's our top pick: Among the ATS, Greenhouse Software emerges as a top contender. With a wide array of features, including interview scheduling, candidate scoring, and robust analytics, Greenhouse offers a comprehensive recruitment solution. Additionally, it provides customizable job postings and has received a great G2 rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars, indicating user satisfaction.
CRM Tools
In this section, we explore CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platforms, keeping in mind how well they work for technical recruiters. We've highlighted their pros, cons, and pricing to help you make an informed choice for streamlining your hiring process.
Freshsales
Pros: Affordable pricing, feature-rich CRM, extensive customization.
Cons: Limited marketing automation, integration challenges, advanced customization learning curve, limited support for large teams.
Pricing: Freshsales starts at $15/user/month.
Recruiterflow
Pros: Highly customizable, responsive customer support, economical for small businesses, user-friendly.
Cons: Limited marketing automation, integration challenges, and limited customization for large teams.
Pricing: Recruiterflow ranges from $85/user/month to $96/user per year, with custom enterprise plans available.
Teamtailor (Our Pick for Best Recruitment Software for Startups!)
Pros: Cost-effective, user-friendly, seamless social media integration.
Cons: Varied quality in customer support, limited analytics, uneditable connect option.
Pricing: Teamtailor starts at $200 per month.
Our Top Pick Overall: Zoho
Pros: Efficient recruitment management, broad candidate engagement, robust sourcing, powerful analytics.
Cons: Limited career site functionality, lack of full-time support, overwhelming features, limited free version.
Pricing: Starts at approximately $17 to $52/user/month billed annually for small to mid-sized enterprises.
Why it's our top pick: While opinions may vary depending on individual preferences and specific needs, Zoho's combination of features, pricing, and user satisfaction ratings makes it a solid choice for organizations looking to enhance their recruitment efforts through CRM software.
AI Screening Tools - Candidate Background Checking Software
If you've ever had to sift through a mountain of CVs, you know how daunting the task can be. Thankfully, candidate screening software has emerged as a powerful tool to streamline the hiring process. These digital solutions leverage AI and automation to save time, verify backgrounds, and identify the best-fit candidates for technical roles. Let's take a closer look at some popular options:
CERTN:
Pros: Offers comprehensive background checks and verification services.
Cons: Some users have complained about background checks taking a long time.
Pricing: Prices for CERTN range greatly, depending on the type of verification check.
Sterling:
Pros: Utilizes end-to-end automation for faster criminal background checks, seamless API integration, and a Quick Search tool.
Cons: Some users have reported concerns about the "consider" status and discrepancies in background checks.
Pricing: Sterling offers a range of pricing options, with background checks ranging from $3.99 for single reports to $59.95 for the Preferred Check.
Veremark:
Pros: Offers a wide range of online background checks, convenient data collection through an app, and instant generation of professional reports.
Cons: Pricing details are not openly shared, and it's primarily geared towards small businesses.
Pricing: Veremark charges on a per candidate per check basis, pricing beyond this is unknown.
Our Top Pick: Checkr
Pros: Provides easy candidate verification, efficient management of screenings, and education verification.
Cons: Some users find pricing to be on the higher side.
Pricing: Ranges from $29 to $79 per background check.
Why it's our top pick: We prefer Checkr over the others for its fast turnaround times, better user experience, and more pre-built integrations. This is backed up by a 4.5-star rating on G2.
Candidate Sourcing Tools
In the quest to find the perfect candidate, digital tools have become indispensable for sourcing talent. The ideal candidate might not be actively job-hunting, but with the right approach, you can attract their attention. Recruiters now leverage multiple social media platforms to discover potential hires, with an average of 7.8 different sites in use.
Additionally, there are specialized sourcing platforms designed to help Talent Acquisition (TA) teams quickly identify qualified candidates. Here are some of our top picks:
TalentReef: (Our Pick for Best Enterprise Hiring Solution!)
Pros: Mobile-friendly features, numerous time-saving automations, and is designed for sourcing hourly workers.
Cons: Pricing details are not transparent and may not be best for hiring salaried workers.Pricing: TalentReef pricing information is available only on inquiry.
Entelo:
Pros: It has a powerful candidate database search engine, with integrated features for candidate communication.
Cons: Some customers have noticed that it's not highly efficient at pulling profiles from social media. Candidate information may not always be up to date.
Pricing: Entelo ranges from $149 per month to $499 and beyond for custom pricing.
Our Top Pick: Fetcher
Pros: It has a candidate curation feature, automated outreach, and excellent candidate search filters.
Cons: Users don't like the inability to edit contact cards after adding them to searches.Pricing: Ranges from $149/user/mo to $549/user/mo depending on company size.
Why it's our top pick: If you prioritize candidate curation and automated outreach, Fetcher is a strong option. It offers robust search filters and automation features. Ultimately, the best candidate sourcing software for your organization should align with your specific requirements and provide the features and pricing that meet your needs.
Note: Don't forget about developer forums and hubs to source talent as well! For example, StackOverflow, Github, various LinkedIn groups, and even dedicated Subreddits, can be great places to get in touch with talented technical workers.
Candidate Technical Prescreening & Coding Interviews
How can a recruiter tell if a candidate has technical knowledge? It's easy to write "coding experience" on a resume if you don't need to back it up with proof. This is why it's essential to use technical prescreening tools and coding tests that provide a gamut of coding tests for various features such as plagiarism checkers, tests for specific languages, and applicant screening.
Most of the platforms we write about in this section use live coding, multiple choice, or short answer tests -- these are great for qualifying junior engineers, but keep in mind they may not be sufficient for advanced IT roles. For Mid to Senior level roles, it's essential to use actual skills assessments, which we will cover in the next section - Best Technical Assessment Platforms.
TestGorilla: Automation for Applicant Screening
Pros:
Good accuracy to screen applicants in bulk.
Easy to Use.
Ability to customize assessments.
Cons:
Unresponsive customer service.
Reviewers desire more integration with other systems.
Tests are not practical (mainly theoretical).
Pricing: Ranges from free trial to $1150 per month.
Imocha: Live Code Platform
Pros:
The Live Coding Interview feature allows tech hiring managers to interact and assess coding skills – in a completely language-agnostic manner.
They offer a free trial.
Cons:
Their pricing is not transparent.
Difficult for non-technical employees to understand results.
Not the best user-interface
Pricing:
They offer several plans but do not show the price.
CoderPad: Technical Prescreening and Interview Platform
Pros:
Provides a technical interview platform that can be used for technical screening.
Quick and accurate assessment of candidate skills.
Simple to use.
Free basic account.
Cons:
The practice environment is not guarded.
Reviewers mention the clunky whiteboard feature.
Pricing:
Team accounts start at $300/month.
Coderbyte: Code Challenge Site
Pros:
Interactive audio and video online environment.
Plagiarism detection.
Easy to set up.
Cons:
They cannot be integrated into most common ATS.
Poor user interface UI/UX.
Candidate emails often go to spam.
Pricing: Starts at $199 a month
Our Top Pick: Codility - Whiteboarding Tests
Pros
CodeLive tool lets you see problem-solve in real-time with live whiteboarding interviews.
Tools to compare candidates' results.
Good user interface.
Cons
Pricing is not transparent.
Users say that result reports could be improved and better written in layman's terms.
Doesn't test the candidates' use of frameworks or libraries, only math concepts.
Pricing: Hidden Pricing (according to Select Hub, plans start from $5000).
Why it's our top pick: While pricing is a bit high for this one, when it comes to high quality tests and screening, Codility does a great job. It is rated high for its ease of setup as well as its helpful support. With high ratings from both recruiters and engineers on Capterra and G2, it's a great testing platform to add to your toolkit.
Best Technical Assessment Platforms
For advanced technical roles, such as DevOps, System Engineers, and Senior-level positions, code assessments work well for ensuring candidates have the skills to do their daily work.
Read more: We Transformed Flatworld's DevOps Hiring Process
These skills aren't easily measured through multiple choice tests or basic question-and-answer interviews, instead, live assessments are needed to make sure only genuinely talented engineers make it to the next rounds.
When looking for the best technical assessment platform, double-check with your technical team to make sure the assessments reflect the type of work the candidates will be doing.
HackerRank: Smart Interviews
Pros:
Great tests for basic coding skills, as well as practice for coders to improve.
Some assessments can be customized.
Large variety of tests and live coding assessments.
Cons:
Tests don't reflect the work that engineers will do, as they are more similar to a coding puzzle.
Candidates mention confusing coding interfaces and poorly worded questions that make exams difficult and frustrating.
This platform can be polarizing, with many developers saying they don't like Hackerrank tests during the interview process.
Pricing: Pricing ranges from $100 to $749 per month, depending on the number of users and tests.
CodeSignal: General Coding Assessments
Pros:
Precision, efficiency, and a level playing field to the interview process.
Real-time feedback for candidates.
Cons:
Inability to replace human nuances in the interview process.
Lack of live interview functionality and small code editors
Many candidates report not enjoying tests or feeling it tested on useful, daily skills.
Pricing: Pricing is not transparent.
DevSkiller: Live Coding Assessments
Pros:
Users compliment the helpful customer support.
It has an easy-to-use interface.
There are a large number of pre-defined tests that get frequent updates.
Cons:
The Candidature management doesn't work well when used on a large number of candidates.
Some candidates have issues loading the tests and operating the coding challenge console.
Parts of the tests aren't fully automated.
Pricing: Ranges from $300 to $5000 per month (with candidate management).
Our Top Pick: Brokee - DevOps Assessments
Pros:
AI-generated results that are easy for non-technical professionals to understand.
Innovative live, broken environments test skills that are relevant for day-to-day work for system engineers.
Easy recording and playback of candidates' test taking.
Cons:
For now, the testing library is limited to DevOps roles, such as DevSecOps, Cloud Engineers, and System Engineers.
There is no interview feature, it currently only offers technical assessments.
Tests currently can't be customized.
Pricing: Brokee is priced at $0 to $99 per month.
Why it's our Top Pick: Brokee is the newest assessment company, and while it may not have as many tests as other players on the market, it is our top pick because of the high quality of the assessments. It was created by experienced DevOps, for DevOps who knew they could make better tests than what is currently out there. Because the company is new, they provide personal customer service, free trials, and even demos with the Founder. Try it out for free!
Read More: DevOps Assessments Streamlined EclecticIQ's Hiring Process
Making the Decision: Choosing the Right Tech Talent Recruiting Platforms
In the vast talent pool, sourcing the best tech talent is like locating a needle in the haystack. The right recruitment software can drive this process with exceptional precision.
Using Tools and Software for Advanced Talent Sourcing
Certain platforms leverage data analytics to vet resumes and process applications quickly and effectively. With these recruitment software solutions, managers can find resourceful profiles in the vast database by filtering multiple attributes related to job postings and candidates.
Screening candidates: AI vs. traditional methods
AI has revolutionized the candidate screening process in tech hiring. Tools powered with AI like Hootsuite, Jasper.ai, or Otter.ai can compare thousands of resumes, eliminating the need for manual shortlisting. They’re cost-effective, efficient, and less prone to human error than traditional methods.
Integrations with ATS and Other Recruitment Software
Most recruitment platforms can integrate with widely used ATS systems, thus smoothing the recruitment process. Platforms like Regie.ai, SSO, or Nationwide Corp even offer single sign-on (SSO) capabilities to ease user management. Integrations should be a major aspect to keep in mind when it comes to choosing any tool or platform.
Make Technical Recruiting Easier
We hope this guide will be a helpful resource in guiding you toward the best recruiting tools and technologies for your company and team. The decision to implement new technologies can be tough, but with the right tools in your arsenal, you'll be on your way to recruiting and hiring with more ease than ever.
Essential DevOps Statistics and Trends for Hiring in 2024
DevOps has emerged as a pivotal element for efficient and effective software development and operations. These are the most essential DevOps statistics for hiring in 2024
Introduction: DevOps Hiring Statistics to Know in 2024
In today's rapidly evolving technological landscape, DevOps emerges as a pivotal element for efficient and effective software development and operations.
This blog post explores the latest statistics on DevOps hiring, market growth, technology adoption, and skill demand, providing valuable insights for businesses and professionals in this dynamic field.
DevOps Market Overview
Global DevOps Market Size Statistics
Experiencing remarkable growth, the DevOps market is projected to expand from USD 10.4 billion in 2023 to an impressive USD 25.5 billion by 2028.
This surge highlights the growing indispensability of DevOps methodologies in modern software development and IT operations.
Hire better by understanding the DevOps landscape
DevOps Adoption and Usage Statistics in 2023
DevOps is rapidly transitioning from a specialized approach to a mainstream strategy. Its adoption soared from 33% of companies in 2017 to 63% in 2020, mirroring the broader shift towards cloud computing, expected to be embraced by over 85% of organizations by 2025.
DevOps Engineering was one of the top ten most in-demand jobs globally in 2022 and 2023, and the demand will continue to be high in the following years.
DevOps Adoption and Cloud Computing Strategy
By 2025, over 85% of organizations are expected to adopt a cloud computing strategy, aligning closely with the integration of DevOps practices.
No to mention that Gartner projects 95% of new digital workloads being anticipated to occur on cloud platforms by 2025, marking a significant increase from 2023.
This strategic shift is driven by the need for agility, efficiency, and scalability in software development and deployment.
Key Growth Statistics in the DevOps Industry
The demand for DevOps professionals is soaring, with a projected 56% increase in the need for these skills from 2017 to 2022. This statistic underscores DevOps as one of the most in-demand competencies in the technology sector.
DevOps Hiring Landscape
Statistics on Hiring DevOps Engineers
According to Statista, DevOps, along with database software, was the second most demanded tech skill by recruiters in 2023, according to Statista.
The challenge of recruiting DevOps talent is significant, with 19% of recruiters struggling to find experienced DevOps professionals.
Distribution of Technical Roles of Respondents of Stack Overflow Survey
This underlines the challenge organizations face in finding and hiring skilled DevOps professionals, amidst a landscape dominated by Full-stack and Back-end Developers. The high demand also means that there is often a high cost of hiring DevOps engineers.
Read More: The Hidden Costs of Your Hiring Pipeline
Where Do DevOps Engineers Work?
Size of Companies Where DevOps Engineers Work
DevOps Engineers are essential across a spectrum of company sizes. Notably, 22% work in large organizations with over 10,000 employees, indicating the critical role DevOps plays in both large and smaller enterprises.
Number of employees reported by DevOps Engineers, Google 2023 DevOps Survey
Industries Where DevOps Engineers are Employed
DevOps professionals significantly impact a range of industries. 37% operate within the technology sector, with financial services and consumer sectors also exhibiting substantial engagement.
Industries reported by DevOps Engineers
These figures demonstrate the extensive reach of DevOps methodologies beyond the tech industry, into diverse fields such as healthcare, telecommunications, and government, where they drive efficiency and innovation.
Benefits of Hiring DevOps Engineers
Investing in DevOps is more than just filling a position; it's about enhancing efficiency and innovation.
DevOps engineer can create, design, and maintain Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery pipelines, decrease deployment time, and have the technical skills required for the position.
Organizations that build robust DevOps teams and infrastructures are positioning themselves at the forefront of technological advancement.
Skill-Specific Demand for DevOps Engineers
In the DevOps arena, a diverse range of skills is essential. According to Hackr.io, key areas of expertise expected from DevOps engineers include:
Programming Languages: Proficiency in PHP, Python, Perl, Ruby, Java, and C++.
Continuous Integration Tools: Jenkins, Apache Maven, and Apache Ant.
Containerization and Orchestration: Docker and Kubernetes expertise.
Cloud Platforms: Knowledge of AWS, Azure, GCP.
Automation and Configuration Management: Using tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet.
Monitoring and Logging: Effective use of monitoring and logging tools.
Security Skills: Incorporating security into DevOps processes (DevSecOps).
These skill sets highlight the need for continuous learning and adaptability in DevOps roles.
Evolution of Demand for DevOps Engineers in 2024
As we move into 2024, the demand for DevOps skills continues to grow exponentially. This surge is a clear indicator of the critical role DevOps plays in the modern tech ecosystem.
The growing demand for DevOps skills is set to continue in 2024, reflecting the crucial role of DevOps in the contemporary tech ecosystem. This trend is complemented by competitive salaries and diverse career opportunities within the field.
Data from the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023 highlights the competitive salaries in the tech industry, comparing salaries of cloud engineers versus software engineers, with Cloud Engineers and Site Reliability Engineers topping the list in the United States. Back-end Developers and Mobile Developers also show strong earning potential, reflecting the value of these skill sets.
Salaries reported by respondents of Stack Overflow's 2023 Developer Survey
DevOps in IT Teams Statistics
State of DevOps Teams: Statistics and Trends
DevOps teams are evolving. New hires face initial challenges with productivity, scoring 8% lower than their more experienced counterparts. This highlights the importance of streamlined hiring and onboarding and integrating team-specific knowledge and social dynamics into the productivity equation.
To help new hires ramp up, organizations could provide high-quality documentation, incorporate artificial intelligence into workflows, and encourage in-person collaboration, particularly during the onboarding phase.
Looking ahead, the DevOps landscape is expected to prioritize speed and stability while integrating AI-driven automation, multi-cloud, GitOps, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices, emphasizing the need for continuous adaptation and learning within DevOps teams.
In the dynamic field of DevOps, career trajectories vary. According to Google's 2023 State of DevOps Report, around 40% of DevOps engineers tend to change roles within 1-2 years, while a considerable proportion, about 33%, demonstrate longer tenures of 5-7 years, highlighting diverse career stability within the industry.
Length of time at current job, reported by DevOps engineers in Google 2023 DevOps Survey
DevOps Team and Culture Statistics
DevOps is more than a set of practices; it's a culture. Investing in DevOps teams and infrastructure goes beyond technical skills—it's about fostering a collaborative, innovative, and agile work environment.
A significant trend towards hybrid and remote work is evident among DevOps Engineers. Nearly a third of professionals predominantly work from home, with many more working hybrid, indicating a shift towards more flexible work environments in the DevOps sector.
Location where DevOps engineers primarily work
Role of DevOps in Software Development: A Statistical Overview
2023 marks a pivotal year in DevOps, with an expected rise in the adoption of cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes and Docker. This shift underscores the role of DevOps in driving efficiency and scalability in software development.
DevOps Engineer Profile
Years of Experience and Career Progression
DevOps engineers tend to have at least 6 years of experience
Skillsets and Specializations
DevOps engineers are multi-faceted professionals. Mastery in programming languages, CI tools, containerization, cloud platforms, automation, and security skills are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the diverse skill set required in this field.
Professional developers report having a experience in CI/CD, Automated Testing, and DevOps Function, Stack Overflow 2023 Survey
Emerging Trends and Best Practices in DevOps for 2024
Top DevOps Trends to Watch in 2024
The future of DevOps is intertwined with AI and ML, pointing towards a smarter, more automated approach to software development. The integration of these technologies is set to redefine DevOps practices.
Containerization in DevOps
Containerization, led by Docker, is no longer an option but a necessity. With 59% of organizations adopting this containerizing, it's clear that in 2024 and beyond, efficient, scalable DevOps practices will be paramount.
DevOps is expected to prioritize speed and stability while integrating AI-driven automation, multi-cloud, GitOps, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) practices.
Additionally, the trend of breaking down silos between DevOps and security teams is expected to continue, with a higher percentage of organizations adopting DevSecOps practices.
DevOps Tools Usage: Current Trends and Future Projections
DevOps is moving towards a cloud-native future. The increased adoption of technologies like Kubernetes and serverless computing in 2023 paints a picture of a more agile and efficient DevOps landscape.
Best Practices and Implementation Strategies
Success in DevOps hinges on strong foundations and forward-thinking strategies. Embracing best practices, such as integrating AI and adopting cloud-native technologies, will be key drivers in 2024.
DevOps assessments will also be a key tool for ensuring the high quality of new DevOps hires. Since DevOps engineers have access to the most sensitive aspects of a website, it's essential to hire the right engineers, and avoid risky hiring mistakes.
Read More: Choosing the Best DevOps Engineer Assessment
Technology Adoption: Kubernetes
The 2022 survey by Datadog highlights Kubernetes (K8s) as the preferred technology for deploying and managing containerized environments, utilized by nearly 50% of surveyed organizations. This reflects Kubernetes' growing significance in orchestrating complex containerized applications.
Linux and Docker are at the forefront of technologies used by DevOps engineers, with Terraform and AWS also playing key roles. This data points to a tech stack that emphasizes containerization, cloud services, and infrastructure as code.
The most used technologies by DevOps engineers
The Strategic Impact of DevOps
Anticipated Benefits and ROI of DevOps in 2024
The strategic impact of DevOps extends beyond immediate technical benefits. It's about leveraging DevOps for enhanced efficiency, reduced development cycles, streamlined collaboration, and reduced IT expenditure, ensuring a competitive edge in the fast-paced tech world.
Conclusion: Preparing for the Future of DevOps
The DevOps field is continuously advancing, bringing new opportunities and challenges for organizations worldwide. Staying informed about these trends and statistics is crucial for businesses intending to hire exceptional DevOps talent in 2024.
FAQ
Q: What are the latest DevOps adoption statistics for 2024?
A: According to recent reports, the adoption of continues to rise, with an estimated 74% of organizations implementing DevOps practices in some capacity.
Q: What are the key trends in the DevOps market statistics for 2024?
A: DevOps has shown exponential growth, with the market expected to reach $15 billion by the end of 2024, indicating a significant market share increase compared to previous years.
Q: How do DevOps engineer statistics reflect the job market in 2024?
A: In 2024, there is a high demand for DevOps engineers, with an average salary growth of 12% compared to the previous year, making it a lucrative career option.
Q: What are some essential v best practices to implement in 2024?
A: In 2024, it is crucial to focus on continuous integration and deployment, infrastructure as code, and automated testing as essential DevOps best practices to implement for efficient and streamlined operations.
Q: How can DevOps usage benefit organizations in 2024?
A: DevOps usage in 2024 can lead to improved deployment frequency, faster time to market, lower failure rates, and shortened lead time between fixes, ultimately contributing to better business outcomes and customer satisfaction.
Q: What are the latest devops containerization statistics for 2024?
A: In 2024, containerization is on the rise, with a reported 65% of organizations adopting containerization to enhance their DevOps practices and streamline application deployment.
Q: What are the key DevSecOps statistics indicating for 2024?
A: DevSecOps statistics for 2024 suggest an increasing focus on integrating security practices with DevOps, with 60% of organizations incorporating security into their DevOps processes to ensure robust and secure software delivery.
Q: How has the size of the DevOps market evolved in 2024?
A: The size of the DevOps market has significantly expanded in 2024, showcasing a 20% growth compared to the previous year, emphasizing the increasing relevance and reliance on DevOps solutions in the IT industry.
Q: What are the latest DevOps statistics indicating for AWS adoption in 2024?
A: AWS remains a dominant player in the DevOps landscape, with 47% of organizations leveraging AWS DevOps services, showcasing its continued significance in the market.
Read More: AWS DevOps Interview Questions and Answers for 2024
Q: What are the upcoming DevOps trends to know in 2024?
A: In 2024, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the increasing integration of AI and machine learning in DevOps, the growing emphasis on cloud-native DevOps practices, and the rising adoption of GitOps as notable DevOps trends to watch for.
Choosing the Best DevOps Test and Technical Screening Tool
In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of engineering, the quality of the DevOps test you use can make all the difference in the quality of your team. We're comparing the best technical screening assessments.
From HackerRank Tests to CodeSignal and Codility Assessments
Selecting the most suitable DevOps assessment tool can be a daunting task, given the array of options available. From live interviews and paid assessment platforms to pair coding exercises, each method comes with its own unique format and set of advantages and drawbacks.
To help you make an informed choice, we've listed the most common DevOps tests and have provided insights from our DevOps expert, Maksym Lushpenko.
The Importance of Technical Assessments in DevOps Hiring
In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of engineering, the quality of a DevOps hire can make all the difference in the successful operation of your systems.
What is DevOps Testing?
Skills-based DevOps testing or assessments refer to the assessment and validation of an individual's skills and proficiency in various aspects of DevOps, including automation, continuous integration, and delivery, infrastructure as code, and collaboration, to ensure they possess the necessary competencies for DevOps roles.
DevOps and System engineers handle complex tasks, meaning the main goals of DevOps assessments are to efficiently filter out candidates who lack essential skills and ensure a fair and transparent hiring process.
Insights from a Senior DevOps Engineer
As a Senior DevOps Engineer with deep experience in hiring, I've had to give and take a DevOps technical interview or two (actually dozens!). Since I’ve been in charge of hiring DevOps and Cloud System engineers, I deeply understand the advantages and disadvantages of many types of assessments.
Assessments That Your Company Can Offer
Certifications help assess if a candidate meets the bare minimum
Screening Based on Certifications or Resumes
Screening based on certifications or resumes is a common method to evaluate candidates' qualifications and DevOps required skills. Screening allows employers to quickly identify potential candidates who meet minimum qualifications, possess relevant certifications or work experiences, and have some level of DevOps engineer skills.
Pros of Screening Based on Certifications or Resumes:
Time-Saving
Minimum Qualification Check
Credential Validation
Cons of Screening Based on Certifications or Resumes:
Limited Scope
Lack of Context
Credential Relevance
Take-home tests can add a burden for hiring teams to score
Take-Home Tests
Take-home tests are a DevOps quiz given to candidates as part of the hiring process. Candidates complete these tests in their own time and environment, addressing DevOps assessment questions and showcasing their DevOps engineer skills.
These tests allow candidates to showcase their skills without time pressure, providing employers with a deeper understanding of their abilities and problem-solving approach.
However, take-home tests can be frustrating and time-consuming for the hiring team, as creating and scoring tests can increase your overall DevOps hiring costs. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to ensure test authenticity since Chat-GPT or even another person can help a candidate cheat on their test.
Pros of Take-Home Tests:
Flexibility and Convenience
Realistic Evaluation
Reduced Performance Pressure
Cons of Take-Home Tests:
Potential for Plagiarism
Time-Consuming Evaluation
Limited Interactivity
Knowledge-Based DevOps Interviews
Knowledge tests or interviews for DevOps are your standard, real-time, question-and-answer format where the candidate reveals their knowledge about cloud platforms, technology, and coding, such as AWS DevOps interview questions. This allows the interviewer to assess whether they have the skills needed for DevOps roles.
Pros of Knowledge Tests or Interviews:
Real-time Interaction
Problem-solving Evaluation
Personalized Assessment
Cons of Knowledge Tests or Interviews:
Lacks a Real-World Element
Adaptability
Subjectivity
Nervousness
Live coding or whiteboard interviews can help see if an engineer can think on-the-spot
Whiteboard Interviews or Live Coding
Whiteboarding or live coding is a dynamic evaluation method to assess candidates' problem-solving, coding, and algorithmic skills for DevOps roles. It helps evaluate whether a candidate can answer DevOps coding interview questions on-the-spot and if they have the skills required to become a DevOps engineer.
While live coding can be a quick way to see if an engineer generally knows what they’re doing, it can be insufficent to dig deep into an engineer’s day-to-day skills without a massive time commitment from both parties.
Pros of Whiteboard Interviews or Live Coding:
Direct Evaluation
Technical Clarity
Cons of Whiteboard Interviews or Live Coding:
Performance Pressure
Limited Context
Subjectivity
Resource Intensive
Assessments Other Companies Can Provide
Screenshot from a Brokee Live-Environment Test
Performance-Based or Practical Assessments
Performance-based testing is an evaluation approach that assesses candidates' practical skills and abilities in real-world scenarios.
Unlike traditional theoretical tests, performance-based assessments require candidates to demonstrate their expertise through hands-on tasks and projects directly related to the DevOps field - from understanding DevOps architecture to proving the use of various tools.
This approach is well-loved by hiring teams because it offers a more authentic and accurate evaluation of candidates' capabilities and suitability for the role.
Pros of Performance-Based or Live Testing:
Authentic Assessment
Skill Validation
Engaging for Candidates
Format Prevents Cheating
Cons of Performance-Based or Live Testing:
Resource-Intensive
Time Constraints
Format is Less Open
Multiple choice tests work well for theory but are limited in testing hands-on skills
Multiple Choice Tests
Multiple-choice tests for DevOps are standardized assessments that evaluate candidates' knowledge of key concepts and principles in the field.
While these tests efficiently assess theoretical knowledge and cover various topics, they usually do not capture practical abilities or problem-solving skills and can allow for guessing or Googling answers.
Pros of Multiple Choice Tests:
Efficient Evaluation
Broad Coverage
Objective Grading
Cons of Multiple Choice Tests:
Limited Practical Assessment
Guessing Potential
Lack of Depth
Potential for Plagiarism
Pair coding allows for live feedback sharing and provides an evaluation of teamwork skills
Pair Programming or Collaborative Coding
Pair programming or collaborative coding is an interactive approach to evaluate candidates' technical skills and collaboration abilities for DevOps roles. It involves candidates working with an interviewer or team member on coding or problem-solving tasks.
Advantages include comprehensive evaluation of technical skills and teamwork, real-world simulation of DevOps work, and immediate feedback. Challenges include potential subjective assessment, resource intensity, and candidate nervousness impacting performance.
Pros of Pair Programming:
Comprehensive Evaluation
Real-world Simulation
Immediate Feedback
Cons of Pair Programming:
Subjective Assessment
Resource & Time Intensive
Performance Pressure
Brokee offers more features for assessing DevOps than our competitors, at a better price
Q&A with a DevOps Expert
Now, for the fun part. We sat down with Maksym Lushpenko, Senior DevOps Engineer, former hiring team member, and the founder of Brokee, the first-of-its-kind testing platform with broken live environments for candidates to fix. Here are his thoughts about DevOps Assessments.
What is the Best Method of Assessing DevOps Engineer Skills?
As a long-term DevOps hiring veteran, I highly prefer and recommend the technique of Performance-Based and Live Testing.
Why Performance-Based, Live Testing?
I find that this is the best method because it offers a comprehensive evaluation of candidates' practical skills and problem-solving capabilities in real-world scenarios, making it the preferred choice for hiring managers who care about the quality of their engineers. Plus, Brokee streamlines hiring - both in terms of cost and time for companies.
Thoughts on In-House Assessments, like Pair Coding and Take-Home Tests?
I appreciate pair programming in some ways because you can share live feedback on a candidate’s coding style and see if they are open to feedback, however, it can be stressful for some candidates. For example, I’ve met some engineers who are extremely talented when working individually but struggle in a pair programming environment.
Take-home tests, in my experience, are usually frustrating and time-consuming for the hiring team, as creating and scoring tests can take many hours of valuable work time. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to ensure test authenticity since Chat-GPT or even another person can help a candidate cheat on their test.
What Makes Brokee Different from the Competition?
As the CEO and Founder of Brokee, I’ve created a Performance-Based Live Testing Platform to take this method of assessment to the next level. Brokee stands apart from competitors, like HackerRank assessments and DevSkiller tests, by offering automated, affordable, and easy-to-use live broken environments that are Chat-GPT and Google-Proof.
Why Choose Brokee?
Authentic and Accurate Assessment
Interactive and Engaging
Efficient and Uncheatable
What are Other People Saying About Brokee?
Brokee is way better than using coding challenges or multiple choice questions for infrastructure oriented roles - Milton Torasso, DevOps Engineer at Kiwibot.
We are a performance-based remote hiring platform, and by seeing how candidates perform on Brokee's hands-on real-work, real-environment tests, we can predict their on-the-job performance. Brokee's support and communication have been amazing since day one. - Co-Founder of Flatworld.
Brokee's test evaluates your hands-on experience with issues that could occur in a real production application in k8s. Luis Nuñez, Senior Software Engineer at GitHub.
The test is interesting; while taking it, I discovered new problems that I wasn't yet familiar with. Brokee's tests are not just a knowledge check but serve as independent training. Yulia Krasikova Senior DevOps Engineer at Accenture.
Final Word
The success of the hiring process hinges on understanding the unique goals and requirements of each organization.
Whether it's Maksym, our DevOps pro's favorite - Performance-Based testing - or other methods like pair coding or knowledge tests, choosing the right assessment method should be based on the specific demands of the position and company culture.
By choosing the right DevOps assessment technique, you can ensure that the best talent possible joins your ranks, which will drive innovation, efficiency, and success in your company.