Meghan Neville 5/2/24 Meghan Neville 5/2/24

Understanding the Key Differences Between DevOps vs DevSecOps

Explore the key differences between DevOps and DevSecOps to understand how security integration transforms software development. Discover whether DevOps vs DevSecOps is right for your team.

You may hear the terms "DevOps" and "DevSecOps" and wonder: Are these the same thing? What is the difference? and Which is Better?

Understanding the key differences between DevOps and DevSecOps is essential for navigating today's software development landscape.

In this article, we will focus on what's the difference between DevOps and DevSecOps, how to navigate selecting which is better, and what team composition for each will look like.

Defining DevOps and DevSecOps

DevOps is a software development approach focused on collaboration between Development (Dev) and Operations (Ops) teams throughout the software development lifecycle.

On the other hand, DevSecOps extends DevOps by integrating security practices early in the development process to ensure secure software delivery. DevOps emphasizes fast and frequent delivery of software updates, while DevSecOps incorporates security checks at every stage to address vulnerabilities proactively.

What is the Meaning of DevOps?

DevOps, a combination of "Development" and "Operations," is a set of practices that integrates software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). It aims to shorten the software development lifecycle and deliver features, fixes, and updates more frequently in close alignment with business objectives.

Key features of DevOps include:

Collaboration: Breaking down silos between development and operations teams to improve communication and collaboration.
Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Automating the process of building, testing, and deploying code to reduce the time it takes to get changes into production.
Automation: Leveraging tools and scripts to automate repetitive tasks, such as testing, building, and deploying software.
Monitoring and Logging: Continuously monitoring systems and applications to detect issues early and ensure performance and reliability.
Agility and Speed: Reducing the time from development to deployment to respond quickly to market demands and changes.

By implementing DevOps practices, organizations aim to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and deliver high-quality software more rapidly.

What is the Meaning of DevSecOps?

DevSecOps, short for Development, Security, and Operations, is an approach that integrates security practices into the DevOps workflow. This methodology aims to address security challenges early in the software development lifecycle, instead of treating them as an afterthought.

By incorporating security measures throughout the development and operational phases, DevSecOps seeks to deliver secure software more quickly and efficiently.

The primary goals of DevSecOps are:

Automating Security: Embedding security checks and controls into automated processes like CI/CD pipelines to ensure consistent application of security policies.
Shift-Left Security: Implementing security practices early in the development process to identify and fix vulnerabilities before they become significant issues.
Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration between development, security, and operations teams to create a shared responsibility for security.
Continuous Monitoring and Testing: Regularly assessing code and infrastructure for vulnerabilities and compliance through automated tests and scans.

By aligning development, security, and operations, DevSecOps ensures that applications are delivered quickly without compromising security.

Key Variances in the Approaches

One of the main differences between DevOps and DevSecOps is the inclusion of security as an integral part of the development process in DevSecOps.

DevOps focuses on collaboration and communication between different teams, and DevSecOps integrates security into every phase of development. DevOps aims for continuous delivery and automation in the software development pipeline, while DevSecOps adds security measures like dynamic application security testing (DAST) and static application security testing (SAST) to ensure secure code deployment.

Integrating Security Into the Development Lifecycle

DevSecOps requires a shift-left approach where security is considered from the initial stages of development. By incorporating security practices in the early stages, vulnerabilities can be identified and mitigated before deployment, leading to a more secure software development process.

For DevSecOps, the integration of security tools and practices in the development lifecycle ensures that security is not an afterthought but an essential component of the software development process.

How Does Security Play a Role in DevOps vs DevSecOps?

Importance of Security Practices in DevOps

In DevOps, security practices often come into play during the later stages of development or even post-deployment. While security is essential, it may not be prioritized as much as speed and efficiency in the delivery process, leading to potential vulnerabilities.

Incorporating security early in the development stages ensures that security practices are not overlooked, enhancing the overall security posture of the software being developed.

Security Practices Within the DevSecOps Model

DevSecOps, on the other hand, places security at the forefront by automating security testing, implementing secure coding practices, and continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities.

This proactive approach ensures that security is ingrained in every aspect of the software development lifecycle.

By incorporating security practices within the DevSecOps model, organizations can build a strong security foundation and mitigate risks effectively throughout the development process.

Incorporating Application Security in Both Methodologies

Both DevOps and DevSecOps recognize the importance of application security. However, while DevOps may focus more on speed and agility in software delivery, DevSecOps emphasizes the importance of secure coding practices, regular security testing, and monitoring to address security concerns proactively.

In DevSecOps, application security is integrated seamlessly into the development lifecycle to ensure that security is not an afterthought but a continuous priority in software development.

What are the Differences in Team Structure and Workflow Between DevOps and DevSecOps?

Team Collaboration in DevOps vs DevSecOps

DevOps teams typically consist of developers, DevOps and cloud engineers, and quality assurance professionals working together to streamline the software development process.

In contrast, DevSecOps teams have security professionals integrated throughout the development pipeline to ensure that security measures are implemented from the outset.

The collaboration between different teams in DevSecOps ensures that security considerations are addressed at every stage of the software development process, leading to more secure and resilient applications.

Workflow Differences in the Software Development Process

DevOps workflows focus on continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) practices to deliver software updates rapidly, often using agile practices.

In contrast, DevSecOps workflows incorporate security checkpoints along the development pipeline to identify and remediate security vulnerabilities before deployment.

Aligning workflow processes with security practices can help DevSecOps teams ensure that security issues are not bottlenecks but a seamless part of the software development lifecycle.

Implementing Security in the Development Lifecycle

In DevOps, security is often seen as a checkpoint rather than an embedded practice in the development lifecycle. This can lead to potential security gaps and vulnerabilities that may go unnoticed until later stages of development.

By implementing security practices within the development lifecycle in DevSecOps, organizations can proactively address security concerns, reduce risks, and deliver more secure software solutions to end-users.

How to Transition From DevOps to DevSecOps?

Can DevSecOps Replace DevOps?

DevSecOps is not designed to replace DevOps but rather to enhance and extend its principles by integrating security into every stage of the development and operations process.

While DevOps emphasizes collaboration between development and operations teams to achieve faster and more reliable software delivery, DevSecOps adds a crucial focus on security.

Here’s why DevSecOps complements rather than replaces DevOps:

Security Integration: DevSecOps ensures that security is not an afterthought but a fundamental part of the development lifecycle. This inclusion helps identify and address vulnerabilities early.
Maintaining Speed and Agility: The core principles of DevOps, such as speed, collaboration, and automation, remain intact in DevSecOps. The added security processes are designed to minimize disruption to development workflows.
Shared Responsibility: DevSecOps encourages shared responsibility for security across development, operations, and security teams, fostering a culture of collaboration similar to DevOps.

Steps to Integrate Security Into the DevOps Model

Transitioning from DevOps to DevSecOps involves incorporating security practices early in the development process, automating security testing, and fostering a culture of security awareness among team members.

By gradually integrating security measures into existing DevOps workflows, organizations can transition seamlessly to a DevSecOps model.

Expanding on the steps to integrate security into the DevOps model, organizations can leverage automation tools for security testing, implement secure coding practices, and conduct regular security assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities effectively.

Challenges Faced During the Transition Process

One of the key challenges in transitioning from DevOps to DevSecOps is the cultural shift required to prioritize security alongside speed and efficiency.

Teams may face resistance to change, lack of security expertise, or difficulties in aligning security practices with existing workflows.

Overcoming these challenges involves promoting security awareness, providing training on secure coding practices, and fostering collaboration between development, operations, and security teams to ensure a smooth transition to DevSecOps.

Adopting Automation Tools for Security Testing

Automation plays a crucial role in DevSecOps by enabling continuous security testing, vulnerability assessments, and compliance checks throughout the development lifecycle.

By adopting automation tools like static analysis security testing (SAST) and dynamic application security testing (DAST), organizations can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of security practices in DevSecOps.

Expanding on the adoption of automation tools for security testing, organizations can streamline security processes, identify vulnerabilities in real-time, and ensure consistent security standards across all stages of software development.

Final Word

With the knowledge of DevOps vs DevSecOps, and understanding which is better for your process, you should feel more confident on selecting DevOps and DevSecOps engineers.

By gradually integrating security into the DevOps model through automation, training, and collaboration, organizations can better protect their software and deliver secure, reliable applications.

If you are looking to make the technical hiring process easier, Brokee has several DevOps and DevSecOps assessments that will help you determine whether a candidate is skilled enough to help you improve your DevOps or DevSecOps process. Try our tests for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Difference Between DevOps and DevSecOps?

A: DevOps focuses on the collaboration between development and operations teams to automate and streamline the software delivery process, while DevSecOps incorporates security practices into each stage of the development lifecycle.

Q: How does DevSecOps Differ from Traditional DevOps?

A: DevSecOps also integrates security practices throughout the software development lifecycle, whereas traditional DevOps primarily focuses on the collaboration between development and operations teams.

Q: Is DevSecOps Better than DevOps?

This depends on the organization's needs:

Security Requirements: If your organization operates in a highly regulated industry or handles sensitive data, DevSecOps could be essential. It ensures that security measures are an integral part of the development process rather than an afterthought.
Application Complexity: For simple applications with minimal security risks, traditional DevOps might suffice. However, for complex, distributed applications, embedding security into every stage of development through DevSecOps can help mitigate risks effectively.
Cultural Readiness: DevSecOps requires a cultural shift where security is a shared responsibility. If your team is prepared for this shift, it can be beneficial. Otherwise, starting with DevOps Engineers and gradually integrating security practices might be a better approach.

Q: What Stage of the Development Lifecycle does DevSecOps take place?

A: DevSecOps takes place at every stage of the development lifecycle, from planning and coding to testing and deployment. This is also true for DevOps.

Q: How do I Choose Between DevOps and DevSecOps for my Business?

A: The choice between DevOps and DevSecOps depends on the organization's priorities, level of security awareness, and the importance placed on integrating security practices into the development process.

Meghan Neville 3/28/24 Meghan Neville 3/28/24

Prepare DevOps Students for the Real World with Brokee

Today's DevOps educational programs are under increasing pressure to ensure that students are job-ready upon course completion.

Brokee's training platform can offer the real-world experience needed for students to excel in their DevOps careers.

In the rapidly evolving field of DevOps, the gap between educational theory and practical, real-world experience is a significant hurdle for both educators and students. Today's educational programs are under increasing pressure to ensure that students are job-ready upon course completion.

The success of a course is often measured by the ability of students to secure employment, which increasingly depends on their hands-on experience with the tools and practices they will encounter in their careers, not just certifications or classroom hours.

Enter Brokee, a comprehensive training and testing platform designed to bridge this gap. Brokee offers real-world experience across the spectrum of DevOps practices, from basic to advanced levels, covering all major cloud providers. It's not just a training tool; it ensures students are prepared for the real challenges of technical interviews and a DevOps career.

Common Pain Points in DevOps Education

We've talked to educational leaders and learned there are many challenges when it comes to teaching DevOps and Cloud to students. These are some of the biggest pain points we've discovered and have addressed with Brokee:

Unprepared Students for the Real World

Many educational programs struggle to provide students with the practical experience necessary for today's tech jobs. Traditional learning models often fall short in preparing students for the complexities and rapid changes in the DevOps sector.

Lack of Practice Environments

Without a platform like Brokee, educators are faced with the daunting task of creating relevant, current, and unbiased projects. The logistical challenges of setting up diverse cloud environments and ensuring all projects are up-to-date add to this burden.

3. Providing Accurate Feedback

Traditional methods of assessment and feedback often don't meet the needs of DevOps education, where detailed, specific guidance is crucial. Students want to learn how to improve, and instructors can be challenged to present feedback in a constructive and clear way.

Ensuring Integrity

Ensuring the academic integrity of remote and hands-on tests presents its own set of challenges. Anti-cheating measures are especially tough for remote educators who teach in virtual classrooms, where it's tough to keep an eye on students.

Scalability Challenges

Scaling educational content to fit class sizes while maintaining consistency across different learning environments is a significant challenge, exacerbated by the rise of remote learning.

Benefits of Brokee for DevOps Education

We've created a platform full of features that help educators ensure students are ready for their careers in DevOps. These are some of the biggest advantages we hear from educators who use Brokee:

Real-World Environment Access

At the heart of Brokee's value proposition is our ability to provide unparalleled access to real-world DevOps environments. This feature enables students to immerse themselves in hands-on experience with the technologies and practices they'll likely encounter in their careers.

By navigating actual cloud platforms, managing containers, and troubleshooting real-time issues, learners gain a depth of understanding and confidence that classroom learning alone cannot provide.

Curriculum Integration

Brokee's design facilitates seamless integration into existing curriculums, enriching traditional educational content with interactive, live testing labs. We've made it so Brokee enhances the learning experience and ensures that students are engaging with material that reflects the latest industry standards and practices.

Educators can incorporate Brokee's labs into their lesson plans, making the leap from theory to practice both smooth and natural.

Scalability and Ease of Use

Understanding the diverse needs of educational programs, Brokee addresses challenges related to scalability and accessibility head-on. Our platform is built to ensure that every student, regardless of the class size or their individual learning environment, has equal access to its resources.

We pride ourselves on an extremely user-friendly interface, making it easy for both students and educators to navigate its comprehensive suite of tools.

Continuous Update Cycle

DevOps is a field characterized by rapid evolution, and Brokee’s commitment to a continuous update cycle ensures that its labs will always reflect the current landscape of the industry. Since Brokee is built by DevOps experts and engineers with deep field experience, our platform keeps educational programs relevant and prepares students for the quickly evolving realities of a career in technology.

Automated Feedback and AI Summaries

Brokee's automated feedback mechanisms provide immediate, actionable insights into student performance, using AI to generate summaries that explain what students did correctly and where they need improvement. This feature is invaluable for educators who seek to provide personalized guidance to each student, ensuring that learning is both effective and targeted.

Anti-Cheating Measures

Addressing concerns about academic integrity, Brokee incorporates advanced anti-cheating measures that reflect the realities of modern DevOps work. By promoting the use of legitimate resources and tools within its testing framework, Brokee prepares students for the collaborative, resourceful nature of tech careers.

Additionally, the platform's ability to randomize test problems ensures a fair, challenging learning experience for all users.

Brokee: Use Cases in Education

Enhanced Learning With Live Labs

Educators often spend countless hours creating, managing, and scoring take-home work and labs, but with Brokee, they can instantly deploy real-world, pre-configured scenarios. This not only saves valuable time but also ensures that students are exposed to a variety of unique, randomized problems that mimic actual DevOps challenges.

The result is a more efficient, engaging, and effective educational process where students gain practical skills ready for the workforce, and educators can focus more on teaching and less on administrative tasks.

Ideal for Remote Learning

Brokee is a perfect tool for both testing and labs in remote learning settings. Educators can see how students are applying lessons in live environments, using playback features, history of commands, and final results.

The platform is also perfect for virtual labs, where instructors can lead students through each part of common DevOps scenarios: troubleshooting cloud infrastructure, operating and automating multiple servers in complex environments, managing containers, and more.

Collaborative Problem-Solving Sessions

Brokee allows educators to create live environments for group learning. Imagine a classroom where, instead of hypothetical scenarios, students are grouped into teams to navigate real-time challenges presented by Brokee. The teacher acts not just as an instructor, but as a guide, steering students through complex problem-solving processes.

This practical application fosters a deeper understanding of DevOps principles and enhances teamwork skills, preparing students for the collaborative nature of the tech industry.

Large-Scale Exams

Traditional exams often fail to fully assess a student’s ability to handle real-world tech problems. Brokee changes the game by supporting mass examinations where hundreds of students can undertake tests simultaneously, each facing unique, randomized problems that mimic actual DevOps challenges.

This not only levels the playing field by providing every student with a distinct set of tasks but also enables institutions to efficiently gauge the practical skills of a large cohort, ensuring that their graduates are truly ready for the workforce.

Try a Free Demo!

We invite educators and industry professionals alike to experience Brokee firsthand. Discover how our platform can revolutionize your approach to DevOps training, from basic operations in Linux servers to managing complex cloud environments. With Brokee, you get not just a tool, but a partner in education and training.

Our flexible pricing, test-credits system, and inclusive access for team evaluations ensure that our platform adapts to your specific needs. Don’t take our word for it; contact us for a free demo and see for yourself how we can tailor our offerings to best support your goals.

Prepare the Next Generation of DevOps Students for Success

The importance of hands-on, practical experience cannot be overstated. Help equip your students with the practical experience they need to get hired in a DevOps role they enjoy.

Brokee stands ready to prepare the next generation of DevOps professionals for the challenges ahead, ensuring they are not just educated, but truly job-ready. Explore Brokee and take the first step towards transforming your approach to DevOps education and training.

Meghan Neville 3/22/24 Meghan Neville 3/22/24

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:

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!

Meghan Neville 3/13/24 Meghan Neville 3/13/24

Embracing AI in Technical Hiring: A Guide to AI Tools in DevOps and Cloud Hiring

The shift from traditional methodologies towards AI-driven strategies underscores the evolving landscape of talent acquisition in the tech industry. Let's explore how AI will shift technical recruitment and how you can integrate AI into your own technical hiring process.

AI: A Catalyst for Change in Technical Hiring

The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the hiring process marks a transformative era for recruiting DevOps, Cloud Engineers, and other technical talent.

Redefining Technical Recruitment with AI

AI's integration reshapes hiring practices by emphasizing skill based assessments and leveraging talent tools designed to identify the most qualified candidates for specialized roles.

The Talent Tool Advantage: Beyond Conventional Hiring

Embracing talent tools equipped with AI allows recruiters to adopt a more nuanced approach to hiring, focusing on practical skills and hands-on experience rather than just educational background or professional experience.

AI for Candidate Engagement and Communication

One notable development is the use of AI for candidate engagement and communication. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly being used to maintain constant and personalized communication with candidates throughout the hiring process.

These tools can answer queries, provide updates, and even gather feedback, enhancing the candidate experience and ensuring that potential hires remain engaged and informed.

Candidate Screening: Expedited by AI

AI-driven screening is revolutionizing the initial steps of the hiring process for technical positions, from DevOps to Developers. These tools efficiently sift through numerous resumes to identify candidates with the precise skills and experience needed, going beyond mere keyword matching to understand context and potential for growth.

This not only streamlines the technical screening process, ensuring only the most qualified candidates advance but also frees up recruiters and hiring teams to concentrate on strategic engagement with top talent.

AI-Driven Predictive Analytics for Talent Acquisition

Another emerging application of AI is in predictive analytics for talent acquisition. By analyzing vast amounts of data on candidates' skills, experience, and even past job performances, AI algorithms can predict the likelihood of a candidate's success in a particular role. This predictive capability allows hiring teams to make more data-driven decisions, potentially improving the quality of hires and reducing turnover.

Skills Testing Software: Elevating Technical Hiring

The advent of AI-powered skills testing software is revolutionizing how companies assess technical candidates, ensuring a match between the job requirements and the candidate's actual capabilities.

AI facilitates a deeper analysis of candidates' skills, offering insights that go beyond what resumes and traditional interviews can reveal. This precision in assessment is pivotal for roles requiring high technical proficiency.

AI and the Evolving Landscape of Technical Skills

The influence of AI extends to the skill sets required for technical roles, necessitating candidates to adapt by acquiring new competencies that complement AI technologies.

The Future Skill Set: Collaborating with AI

The demand for skills such as AI collaboration, agility, and resilience underscores the shifting requirements in the tech industry, preparing candidates for the future of work.

Ethical Considerations in AI-Driven Hiring

While AI in hiring offers numerous advantages, it also presents ethical challenges, including concerns over data privacy, bias, and the transparency of AI algorithms. Addressing these concerns is critical for maintaining fairness and integrity in the hiring process.

Implementing AI in Your Recruitment Strategy: Practical Steps

As we recognize the transformative power of AI in reshaping DevOps and technical hiring, it's crucial for recruiters and hiring teams to understand how to effectively implement AI tools within their recruitment processes.

Here are practical steps and examples of AI applications that can enhance your hiring strategy:

Leveraging AI for Efficient Candidate Screening

AI-powered screening tools can significantly streamline the recruitment process by quickly identifying candidates whose skills and experiences match the job requirements. Technical screening tools analyze resumes and application materials at scale, ensuring no potential match is overlooked due to human bias or error.

Crafting Perfect Job Descriptions with AI

Utilize AI to generate job descriptions that are not only appealing but also optimized for search and inclusivity. AI can help identify and eliminate biased language, ensuring the descriptions attract a diverse pool of candidates. Moreover, AI-driven analytics can suggest improvements based on the performance of past job postings, enhancing the effectiveness of your recruitment marketing efforts.

Enhancing Technical Assessments with AI

Skills-Assessment Platforms like Brokee leverage AI to evaluate technical tests, creating summaries that are comprehensible even to non-technical stakeholders. This not only speeds up the decision-making process but also ensures a fair assessment of candidates' skills. By adopting AI-powered assessment tools, companies can ensure a consistent, objective, and detailed evaluation of technical competencies.

Steps for Integration

Evaluate Your Needs: Identify the specific challenges and opportunities in your current hiring process where AI can have the most impact.
Choose the Right Tools: Research and select the best tech recruitment platforms and technical screening tools that align with your organization's size, industry, and specific hiring needs. Consider tools that offer a good balance between automation and human touch.
Train Your Team: Ensure your hiring team is well-versed in the capabilities and limitations of the AI tools you choose. This includes understanding how to interpret AI-generated insights and when to apply human judgment.
Monitor and Refine: Regularly monitor the performance of these tools, gather feedback from candidates and hiring managers, and refine your approach based on data-driven insights.
Ethical Considerations: Opt for tools that prioritize transparency and fairness, and consider conducting regular audits to ensure these standards are met.

Preparing for the Future: AI in Technical Hiring

The journey towards integrating AI into DevOps and technical hiring is an ongoing process that promises to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of talent acquisition strategies.

Organizations that adapt to these changes by incorporating AI-driven tools and a skills-based approach will be better positioned to attract top talent and build a workforce ready to tackle future technological challenges.

In embracing AI's potential to transform DevOps and technical hiring, companies can unlock new levels of efficiency and precision in identifying the right candidates, paving the way for a future where talent and technology are in perfect harmony.

Meghan Neville 2/28/24 Meghan Neville 2/28/24

7 Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing Skill Assessment Software

Discover the warning signs to look out for when selecting skill assessment software. Avoid common pitfalls and choose the best skill assessment tool for your employee and talent development goals.

Key Mistakes to Avoid in Choosing Skill Assessment Tools

Choosing the right skill assessment software is crucial for identifying top talent and ensuring a smooth recruitment process. We've highlighted seven red flags to watch out for when selecting skill assessment software.

By being aware of these pitfalls, hiring teams can avoid common mistakes and select a tool that effectively meets their needs, enhances the hiring process, and secures the best candidates for their organization.

🚩 Platform has Challenging User Interface

Choosing a skill assessment platform that is difficult for candidates to navigate, prone to glitches, or missing essential features can significantly detract from their focus on the test, fostering frustration or feelings of inequity.

This not only discourages highly qualified applicants from proceeding with the application process but can also cause skilled candidates to underperform due to the platform's limitations.

Additionally, it's crucial that the platform is equally intuitive for the hiring team to administer tests, ensuring a smooth flow and user-friendly experience for non-technical staff. A platform that complicates the test-sending process can further strain the efficiency and effectiveness of the hiring procedure.

🚩 Talent Assessment Fails to Evaluate Essential Daily Skills

A frequent oversight in the selection of technology hiring platforms is settling for one that provides multiple choice questions or a basic coding environment, without including the advanced functionalities necessary for candidates to showcase their expertise in specific technical roles, such as DevOps, security, or software development.

The inability of candidates to demonstrate their day-to-day job skills increases the risk of hiring individuals who may not be up to the task. At Brokee, we offer broken live environments for DevOps and cloud engineers to fix, we pride ourselves on mirroring real-world challenges that engineers perform daily.

🚩 Vulnerability to Cheating

A major concern with skill assessment platforms is their susceptibility to cheating, as traditional methods like multiple-choice and coding tests often can't prevent dishonesty. Tactics include online searches, AI tools, and external help. To counteract this, some opt for invasive measures like in-person testing or surveillance, which may not mimic real-world conditions.

At Brokee, we tackle cheating by using live environment tests that simulate actual work scenarios, allowing candidates to utilize resources such as Google or ChatGPT. This strategy values the skill of applying information, with tests designed to verify core knowledge and tool proficiency.

Our non-restrictive timing and playback technology ensure process authenticity, offering a practical and integrity-focused solution to the issue of cheating in assessments.

🚩 Excluding Key Stakeholders from the Selection Process

Failing to involve crucial stakeholders, such as hiring managers, recruiters, and technical team members when choosing the type of skill assessment tool can result in a poor fit between the tool's capabilities and the company’s hiring requirements. If tests don't reflect the needed skills on the job, technical teams can feel frustrated if new hires underperform.

Additionally, we recommend ensuring that test results are written in layman's terms so non-technical parties can easily understand the performance of candidates. For example, at Brokee, we utilize AI to generate simple summaries of candidates' testing performance, making the information accessible and understandable for those without a deep technological background, which bridges the communication gap between technical and non-technical hiring team members.

🚩 Incompatibility with Existing HR Tools

The inability of a skill assessment platform to integrate smoothly with a company's pre-existing applicant tracking system (ATS) or other recruitment tools can lead to inefficiencies in the tech hiring workflow, which is particularly problematic for smaller teams or those who hire at scale.

We're happy to announce that Brokee now provides API documentation to facilitate more seamless integration with your hiring stack, alleviating potential bottlenecks and enhancing the overall recruitment process.

🚩 Skill Assessment Tests Aren't Scalable

A common mistake we see hiring teams make is underestimating the importance of choosing a scalable skills assessment tool. Since a company's hiring needs fluctuate during growth or hiring freezes, it's essential to select a tool that can adjust and expand accordingly.

We recommend choosing an assessment tool that offers flexibility and scalability, with the ability to adapt to your budget during peak hiring times and provide rollover features for months when there is minimal hiring.

🚩 Lack of Transparency in Pricing and Trials

If a skill assessment platform isn't transparent in pricing or doesn't offer a free trial period, we recommend finding a different tool! You'll likely experience challenges down the road if you opt out of a trial period and buy without trying.

We strongly advise opting for a platform that not only clarifies pricing but also enables your team—and potentially, a select group of candidates—to test its features comprehensively. This dual-feedback approach allows both your technical team and candidates to provide valuable insights.

Also, a trial lets hiring teams have hands-on experience with the platform, granting them the opportunity to explore its functionalities and assessment library in depth. This strategy is fundamental in enabling teams to make well-informed decisions, ensuring the chosen tool aligns perfectly with your hiring process and expectations.

How can Skills-Based Assessment Software Impact the Hiring Process?

Streamlining the initial pre-employment screening process

Skill assessment software streamlines the initial candidate screening process by efficiently evaluating candidates' skills and competencies. This automation saves time and allows hiring teams to focus on assessing the most qualified candidates, enhancing the overall efficiency of the hiring process.

Providing valuable insights into candidates' strengths and weaknesses

By using skill assessment software, hiring teams gain valuable insights into candidates' strengths and weaknesses. This information helps recruiters and hiring managers make informed decisions about candidate suitability for specific roles, leading to more effective hiring outcomes.

Enabling hiring teams to hire the best candidates

Skill assessment software enables hiring teams to make data-driven hiring decisions based on objective assessments of candidates' skills. By leveraging data and analytics provided by the software, recruiters and hiring managers can identify the best candidates for the job, improving the quality of new hires and reducing employee turnover.

How to Pick the Best Skills Assessment Software for Your Needs?

Talent Strategy Should Test the Right Skills

When evaluating skill assessment tools, it's essential to understand the specific skills being assessed and ensure they align with your company's needs. Look for a platform that offers assessments tailored to the skill sets required for the job roles you're hiring for.

The Best Tools Should be Easy to Use and Accessible

User-friendly software that is easy to use and accessible to all stakeholders is crucial when evaluating skill assessment tools. Ensure that the platform provides a seamless user experience for both candidates and hiring teams to facilitate efficient assessment processes.

Compatibility with Your Talent Acquisition Process

When selecting skill assessment software, it's crucial to assess its compatibility with your talent acquisition process. Ensure that the platform aligns with your company's goals and objectives for hiring and employee development. Look for a tool that seamlessly integrates into your existing HR systems to streamline the assessment process and enhance efficiency.

Assess the Analytics and Evaluation Features of the Software

One of the key aspects to consider is the reporting and analytics capabilities of the skill assessment tool. Opt for software that provides detailed insights into candidate performance, helping you make informed hiring decisions. Look for platforms that offer customizable reports and analytics to analyze data effectively and track the progress of your assessment process.

Avoid red flags and select assessment software that works best for your team.

Next-Level Competency Assessments

As you navigate the complex landscape of skill assessment software, remember that the right tool can significantly impact your hiring success. Choose a platform that values transparency, scalability, and real-world applicability. We've developed Brokee's innovative solutions to address these challenges head-on.

Don't settle for less—opt for a tool that aligns with your hiring goals and elevates your talent acquisition strategy. We invite you to a free trial to test our live environment assessments and experience the difference firsthand. Take the first step towards transforming your hiring process today.

Maksym Lushpenko 2/16/24 Maksym Lushpenko 2/16/24

We've Upgraded Our Recruitment Technology to Give You More Control + API Documentation and More

Our new solution makes hiring more efficient, simplifying the way you invite candidates to DevOps assessments

More Efficient Recruitment Technology

No one likes a tedious hiring process, but unfortunately, many technical recruiting tools don't provide sufficient automation, slowing down productivity for recruiters and hiring teams. For example, individually inviting each candidate to take a skills assessment, rather than being able to invite multiple candidates all at once.

This month, we've introduced a solution to make hiring more efficient, simplifying the way you invite candidates to showcase their skills in areas like DevOps, Cloud, and SRE.

Introducing: Single Invitation Links

With Brokee's latest update, hiring managers can now create a single invitation link for job-specific tests and share it with multiple candidates at once.

This feature cuts down the time spent on administrative tasks, allowing you to focus more on evaluating the talents that come your way. It's a straightforward, efficient approach to tech hiring, designed with both hiring teams and candidates in mind.

Benefits for Technical Recruiters & Hiring Teams

One of the biggest perks of this new feature is the sheer amount of time it saves. Instead of sending out invites one by one, you can now reach an entire pool of candidates with just one link. It's like opening a direct line between your company and potential talent, making the initial steps of recruitment smoother and faster for everyone involved.

It also creates a more candidate-friendly application process. When candidates have a hassle-free experience from the start, it sets a positive tone for the rest of the hiring process. Plus, we've found that most technical candidates care greatly about how technically advanced the hiring process is at the companies they are considering.

Control and Flexibility

In the recruitment process, having control is crucial, and our newest feature ensures that you're in the driver's seat. You can decide exactly how many candidates can take the test through the invitation link, allowing you to manage your recruitment budget effectively without compromising on the quality of your talent pool.

Whether you're looking to fill a single position or several, this feature gives you the flexibility to scale your search up or down, based on your current needs. This way, you'll have the right tools to find the right people, at the right time.

How to Use the New Feature

Using Brokee's new invitation link feature is very straightforward. All you need to do is create an invitation link, add the role, assessment type, and number of candidates, and send the generated link!

With just a few clicks, you can generate a unique link for your job-specific test and share it across any platform you use to communicate with potential candidates.

Once you've filled the position or wish to pause the recruitment process, you can easily disable the link, ensuring no additional candidates will access the test until you're ready to hire again.

What's Coming Next

We're looking to add even more functionality to this feature. You'll soon be able to set an expiration date for your invitation links, providing another layer of control over your recruitment timeline.

We'll also give you the ability to adjust the number of candidates that can use the link, so you can seamlessly add more candidates without needing to create a new link.

As experienced hiring managers, we know the importance of providing you with all the tools you need to tailor your hiring process to your exact requirements.

Also Introducing: Test Preview and Quick Access

We've updated our navigation to make Brokee even easier to use. Upon logging in, you are greeted with access to core features – including 'Invite New Candidate' and 'See Tests in Action'. The latter allows you to view the testing process from the eyes of the candidates you're inviting, giving you special insights into the quality of your hiring process.

Our new candidate dashboard

Plus: New Diagrams for Clearer Test Instructions

To improve our tests' accessibility and clarity, Brokee has introduced diagrams alongside traditional text descriptions.

This initiative is especially beneficial for candidates who prefer visual explanations or face challenges with text instructions, such as dyslexia. By incorporating diagrams, we're making it easier for all engineers to understand the available infrastructure, furthering our commitment to inclusive and effective tech hiring.

Our skills assessment diagram was built with accessibility in mind.

Get Early Access to Our API Documentation!

We're thrilled to announce the initial release of Brokee's API documentation. It's a starting point for developers looking to integrate our skills assessment platform into their systems.

The first version covers the essentials, but we're aware it has room for improvement. We welcome your feedback as we refine and enhance the documentation. Your input is crucial for us to make the API more robust and user-friendly. Dive in, explore its capabilities, and let us know your thoughts!

Conclusion

Brokee's latest features mark a significant step forward in tech hiring: one-click invitations, improved recruiter dashboards, visual test diagrams for enhanced clarity, and accessible API documentation.

These updates will streamline the recruitment process, making it faster, more inclusive, and adaptable to your needs. We're dedicated to improving your hiring experience and eagerly await your feedback on these new functionalities. Explore what's new on Brokee and discover how we're evolving to help you hire the best tech talent more effectively.

Thank you for trusting Brokee with your tech recruitment needs. Let's continue to transform tech hiring together.

Maksym Lushpenko 1/16/24 Maksym Lushpenko 1/16/24

Introducing Pricing Plans and Free Trial for DevOps Tests

We've released pricing plans with a flexible and transparent credit system for tech hiring teams of all sizes. Plus, free trials!

We're starting 2024 off with a bang! We are happy to announce our biggest product update yet: the release of payment plans with a free trial.

To make this a reality, we:

Developed payment plans and integrated our platform with Stripe
Opened sign-ups to the public
Developed free tests specifically for the free trial
Added team management
Implemented a permissions system for various platform features based on payment plans

Let's start with the most exciting part - Free Tests!

Free Trial for (Easy) DevOps Tests

To showcase our platform without asking potential customers for credit card details, we designed several easy tests that can be taken free of charge.

Simply sign up on Brokee with a company name, and get quick access to a feature-limited free trial that allows new users to conduct 5 easy tests and manage 1 user, giving you a preview of our platform’s capabilities.

Once you get comfortable with the process, simply upgrade to any paid plan to send tests to more users and have access to more advanced tests.

What do we mean by advanced DevOps tests? We have environments where candidates can work with live systems deployed to major cloud providers and showcase their skills in real-time. We've found that live DevOps tests help avoid hiring risks more than relying on professional certifications or resumes.

Pricing Plans for DevOps Tests

Our payment plans are crafted with the understanding that every hiring team has its own set of unique needs. Whether you're a startup looking for flexibility or a large enterprise seeking comprehensive solutions, our plans are designed to suit a wide range of requirements.

Flexible System: Credits Rollover Each Month

At the core of our payment system is the credit model. Users can choose between buying a certain amount of credits upfront or opting for a monthly subscription that comes with 2 credits each month.

Test credits indicate how many hiring candidates can take skills assessments. Every time a candidate starts a test, 1 credit is deducted from the company's balance.

Our Growth Plan has one amazing feature: credits accumulate month-to-month if not used. So, no need to stress about paying for a product and not using it. The hiring process can be sporadic, so you can use rollover credits from less active months to hire confidently, without seeing a spike in your billing.

This system offers unparalleled flexibility – if you're on a Growth Plan and go over your credit limit, candidates can still continue taking skills assessments - you will be charged for the extra usage at the end of the month based on a tiered pricing model (the more tests that are used in a month, the cheaper they get).

Similarly, if you’re on an On-Demand Plan and run out of credits, you may simply buy more as needed.

Send as many invites as you'd like to candidates. You'll only get charged if they take the test.

Unlimited Candidate Test Invites

We wanted to mirror the natural hiring process when designing our payment plans. We've seen that when you're hiring engineers for a specific role, you often invite many candidates for a technical interview, but only some of them will show up.

With this idea in mind, Brokee allows you to invite an unlimited number of candidates to take a skills assessment, even though not all of them will actually take a test. This way, we charge customers based on the skills assessments that were started by candidates, not based on the number of invitations you send.

Add Multiple Admins for Team Management

When you're a small startup, one admin user might be enough for a testing platform. However, for tech recruiting firms or large hiring teams, you'll want to be able to provide access to multiple teammates. This is why we added basic team management to our paid plans to support bigger teams.

Right now, the only role is an admin user, but in the future, we'll add more roles with different levels of access.

Team Management Dashboard

Ready to Try Our Free DevOps Testing?

We developed Brokee's payment plans with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by tech hiring teams. We invite you to sign up for our free trial and experience firsthand how our platform can revolutionize your tech hiring process.

Meghan Neville 1/12/24 Meghan Neville 1/12/24

We Transformed Flatworld’s DevOps Vetting Process

Our technical assessments improved Flatworld’s process of vetting candidates and enabled them to expand their DevOps recruiting services.

Our technical assessments improved Flatworld’s process of vetting candidates and enabled them to expand their DevOps recruiting services.

About the Client:

Flatworld is a Global Recruitment Platform that harnesses the power of predictive hiring algorithms to deliver fully vetted, high-fit remote candidates. For over two years, Flatworld has utilized Brokee’s live, interactive technical assessments to improve their vetting process for DevOps roles.

The Problem:

Flatworld, driven by its ambitious goal to deliver the top 1% of developers to clients, continuously seeks ways to enhance its hiring processes.

Flatworld depended on two testing platforms that utilized rudimentary multiple-choice questions and basic programming tests. These methods proved insufficient in effectively assessing the day-to-day proficiency of DevOps engineers.

Consequently, Flatworld had to invest additional time in live interviews following these assessments. However, even with this extra step, determining the suitability of candidates remained challenging.

Recognizing the limitations of their existing tests, Brokee's Founder engaged with Flatworld, presenting a tailored solution to elevate the quality of their candidates.

Given Flatworld's commitment to delivering high-caliber candidates to its clients, they swiftly embraced the idea of incorporating a more robust evaluation of DevOps engineers' day-to-day proficiency.

Solution:

Initially, Brokee's comprehensive and high-quality DevOps assessments were offered to Flatworld on a trial basis.

Impressed by the relevance and accuracy of the tests, Flatworld asked Brokee to implement measures limiting access for potential candidates. This strategic move aimed to eliminate the prospect of candidates accessing the tests prematurely, mitigating the risk of cheating.

This milestone marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership, as Flatworld seamlessly transitioned to Brokee's advanced platform, ensuring a more precise evaluation of candidates' capabilities.

Brokee’s quick and effective assessments enabled Flatworld to to take on more clients that were hiring for DevOps roles.

The Benefits

Over the last two years, Flatworld leveraged Brokee’s technical assessments to enhance its vetting process.

Some of the greatest advantages they’ve experienced with Brokee include:

Improved Quality of Candidates: Brokee's assessments enabled Flatworld to identify and present high-caliber candidates to clients, reinforcing their claim of providing unmatched vetting.
Time Savings: Brokee's efficient testing process saved Flatworld over two months of time in technical interviews, contributing to a streamlined recruitment pipeline.
Risk Reduction: The enhanced testing process boosted Flatworld's reputation among clients, as the risk of sending an unqualified candidate was reduced by nearly 90%.
Customization and Support: Flatworld's close collaboration with Brokee provided access to tailored features, quick problem resolution, and a responsive support system, fostering a positive working relationship.
Integration and API Development: Responding to Flatworld's request, Brokee developed an API, which will help facilitate seamless integration with their systems and further optimize the testing process.
Opportunities to Work with New Clients: Brokee’s assessments gave Flatworld the confidence to pursue collaborations with clients that have DevOps roles to fill.

Conclusion

Our collaboration substantially improved the efficiency and effectiveness of Flatworld's DevOps vetting process. With Brokee's DevOps assessments, Flatworld experienced significant time savings, reduced hiring risks, and improved candidate quality.

If you're in search of highly-vetted developers and DevOps engineers, we confidently recommend Flatworld. Our ongoing partnership reflects a commitment to innovation, customization, and continued success in the ever-evolving landscape of technical recruitment.

Maksym Lushpenko 12/11/23 Maksym Lushpenko 12/11/23

Now Providing DevOps Tests for all Major Cloud Providers

Brokee has achieved one important milestone - providing skills assessments for all major Cloud providers by adding skills assessments for Azure.

As 2023 is coming to an end, we are excited to share that the team at Brokee has achieved an important milestone – Providing skill assessments for all major Cloud providers - Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). We also improved our method of notifying customers about the tests submitted by their candidates.

Keep reading for a deeper dive into our new Azure assessments and other latest updates. Plus, jump to the bottom to read about what we have in store for next month (hint: free tests)!

Azure Skills Assessments

In November, we released two new tests for companies running their IT infrastructure on Azure cloud. These tests are to qualify Junior, Mid, and Senior-Level Cloud Engineers.

Considering how actively Azure is promoting their service and that they are offering free credits for startups, we expect many companies to take advantage of Azure’s cloud platform.

When creating cloud assessments – like our newest Azure tests – we have to keep the following in mind:

Ensuring each candidate has an isolated unit for their test, so no one can mess with the environment;
Automating the creation and deletion of testing environments;
Providing candidates the ability to easily log in to their test.

When it comes to setting up infrastructure to allow for automated creation and deletion of testing environments, it is never a simple task. In terms of the ease of cloud resource management, we learned that Azure falls somewhere between GCP and AWS.

I’ll explain what this means – On AWS, we have a granular set of permissions for each test, specifying in detail what candidates can and cannot do within the testing environment.

Similarly, for GCP, we provide a separate project for every test, with broad permission inside the project, but with a set of guardrails to ensure candidates will stay within the bounds of the environment.

However, Azure has an unusual structure for managing access to cloud resources. They have completely separate User Management and Resource Management (servers, networks, etc.).

For resource management, Azure has ‘Resource Groups’, which allow you to create and delete a set of resources in one go. To create our Azure skills assessments, we used ‘Resource Groups’ to automate resource management and to create isolated units for each test.

Candidate Login Process

Another challenge we faced when creating the Azure tests, was simplifying the login process for candidates. For other tests like our CGP Assessments, candidates could just log in to the testing environment with their Brokee credentials.

Although Azure has many different options for authentication to the Azure portal, unfortunately for us, most of them are geared toward collaboration with other businesses or for typical end-user applications. In our case, we needed an integration with our user database, and this wasn’t within our means.

So, to overcome this obstacle, we settled on a simple approach of creating a temporary user for each test. We made it easy for candidates by pre-populating the username, so the candidate only has to provide an automatically generated password from the test description to access the test.

We Simplified Candidate Login for Accessing the Azure Testing Environment

Improved Test Submission Notifications

At the beginning of Brokee's development, our product was geared toward engineers. Most engineers communicate via Slack, so that is exactly where we sent test submission notifications.

As we’ve grown, we realize that not everyone uses Slack, and configuring private Slack channels with test notifications is not the most scalable option. So, we decided it was due time to move to email notifications.

In November, we configured email notifications as a default notification method to inform clients when their candidates submit tests. Now when candidates finish a test, our clients will receive an email notification looking similar to the one below:

While we still may provide Slack notifications as an option, rather than creating private channels, we'll allow companies to provide a Webhook to send notifications to. We believe this automated approach will be a win-win for our clients and our team.

Other Updates at Brokee

This month, we worked on updating our backend services, improving our monitoring setup to resolve issues quicker, and most importantly - integrating payment infrastructure.

Brokee was given Congressional and State recognition this month for our economic impact in Nevada. We're happy to say that ever since we moved some operations to Reno, we've had an absolutely welcoming reception.

Finally, we've published new articles on the blog, that we believe will be insightful and interesting to any professionals or teams that hire DevOps (or plan to hire DevOps in 2024):

Coming Up in 2024

Want to reduce DevOps hiring costs? In 2024, will release a free trial plan allowing users to sign up with just their business email (no credit cards required!).

This way, you can enjoy Brokee without having to talk to a single human (or pay a dime!). What could be better, right? ;) Stay tuned for the details next month, and have a great holiday season!

Meghan Neville 12/8/23 Meghan Neville 12/8/23

The DevOps vs. Developer Dilemma: Choosing the Right Engineer Ratio for Your Team

Choosing the right team of engineers plays a pivotal role in product success. Striking the right balance between DevOps engineers and software developers can seem like a daunting task, but understanding their roles, responsibilities, and benefits can facilitate that decision.

In this article, we delve into the nuances of DevOps vs Developer roles and help you understand how to make the best investment for your team.

What's the Difference Between a DevOps Engineer and a Developer?

DevOps engineers and software developers (sometimes called software engineers, programmers, coders, SWEs) form the backbone of software development teams. Intersectionality exists but each profession harnesses distinctive roles, responsibilities, skills, and abilities which we will differentiate in this segment.

DevOps job titles can vary greatly, while work may be similar

Common DevOps Job Titles: Infrastructure Engineer vs DevOps Engineer vs Systems Engineer

DevOps can encompass many similar roles, some that are more-or-less interchangeable and others with subtle differences. DevOps-related roles often include the following:

Platform Engineer
Build/Release Engineer
Release Manager
Automation Engineer or Architect
Cloud Engineer
Security Engineer
Cloud Systems Administrator
Infrastructure Engineer
Systems Engineer
Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
System Administrator (Sysadmin)
AWS / GCP / Azure Engineer
DevSecOps Engineer
Observability Engineer
FinOps Consultants

The biggest distinctions among DevOps roles are between Platform, SRE, Cloud, Build Release, FinOps, and "traditional" DevOps engineers. DevOps emphasizes collaboration and automation, while Platform Engineers create scalable infrastructure. SREs prioritize reliability, Cloud Engineers leverage cloud platforms, and Build Release Engineers streamline development cycles. FinOps consultants align cloud usage with budgetary goals.

These roles, though interconnected, bring specialized focus to optimize modern IT ecosystems for efficiency and reliability.

Role and Responsibility: DevOps Engineer vs Software Developer

A DevOps engineer focuses on the development and maintenance of software release systems, collaboration with the software development team, aligning with industry standards, and employing DevOps tools. On the other hand, a software developer's role concentrates on building scalable software applications, coding, integrating data services, testing, and debugging.

Does Full Stack include DevOps?

While Full Stack developers handle the complete development process, many are expanding their skills to include DevOps practices. However, DevOps is a broader scope that needs a shift in mindset, not just skills, to achieve operational success.

DevOps vs Full Stack Developer: Spotting Key Differences

While both roles may seem similar, the key difference lies in scope. Full Stack developers handle the front and backend software development along with deployment, while a DevOps engineer has an overarching role that includes creating, testing, deploying, and managing an application's infrastructure and operations while using DevOps tools and cloud systems.

Dev vs DevOps: Breaking Down the Skill Set required

While developers specialize in languages like Java, DevOps professionals master web and cloud services such as AWS, GCP, and Azure, while also being familiar with various programming languages (most commonly Python, Javascript, Java, and Ruby). Their training goes beyond software engineering to include system operations, making them adept at managing CI/CD pipelines and understanding cloud operations better.

DevOps engineers and software developers have different functions

DevOps Engineer vs Developer: Who Builds and Operates Better?

The answer to this question depends on the need of the project. Developers build software applications while DevOps engineers optimize the software development process using cloud services, agile methodologies, and advance QA techniques making the operations seamless and error-free.

Difference between DevOps and Software Development Team

The significant difference between Cloud Engineers vs Software Engineers is their functions. A software development team is focused on building software applications, while a DevOps team emphasizes automating the software development process, enhancing collaboration between development and operations, and maintaining the application environment for continuous deployment and improvement.

Unpacking the DevOps Culture: What Does DevOps Really Mean?

DevOps culture is more than a fusion of development and operations. It involves shared responsibility, seamless communication, continuous learning and improvement, automation, and integration of tools. Here's looking at what this means.

Responsibility and Operations in a DevOps Culture

In a DevOps culture, responsibility is shared. DevOps engineers are responsible for not just application development and deployment, but for system operations, standardizing deployments, setting up automation processes, handling security, and monitoring application performance.

Who does DevOps Report to?

Organizational structure dictates who DevOps Engineers reports to, but ideally, they collaborate directly with different stakeholders including development, infrastructure, IT operations and security teams, ensuring the smooth functioning of software applications from conception to delivery.

How DevOps Changes the Software Development Process

By deploying agile methodologies and automating manual tasks, DevOps has revolutionized the software development process. Changes include Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD), automated testing, microservices architecture, and cloud adoption, that ensure the pipeline is efficient and updated.

Mastering DevOps Tools for Optimal Product Development

DevOps tools like Docker, Jenkins, Kubernetes improve product lifecycle management by optimizing various aspects such as version control, testing, integration, deployment, and monitoring. Mastering these tools allows for efficient product development and helps maintain product reliability and speed.

DevOps Culture: Nurturing Success and Continuous Improvement

DevOps builds a culture of continuous improvement, rapid feedback, and high software quality. Nurturing this culture in your team can significantly enhance the efficiency of your software development process and promote successful outcomes.

Evolution and Future Trends in DevOps Culture

DevOps has evolved dramatically over the years, focusing more on automation and cloud services. Future trends indicate a move towards AI-assisted DevOps (AIOps), wider adoption of microservices, and increased focus on security (DevSecOps).

Weigh the pros and cons of the tech talent to hire for your team

Pros and Cons of Hiring a DevOps Engineer Vs A Developer

Everything has its pros and cons. Deciding on whether to hire a DevOps engineer or a software developer will depend on evaluating these trade-offs.

Why Hire a DevOps Engineer? Pros and Benefits

DevOps engineers bring with them a rich set of benefits such as increased deployment frequency, less complexity, reduced failure rate of new releases, improving productivity and work culture. They are the driving force behind Continuous Integration & Deployment, making it a compelling role.

Challenges and Risk Factors in Hiring DevOps Engineers

Despite their strengths, hiring DevOps engineers can be challenging. The expertise required, the shortage of skilled professionals, salary expectations, and investment in training can make hiring difficult.

The Hiring Dilemma: Full Stack Developers vs DevOps Engineers

Full stack developers can handle the entire development pipeline from ideation to deployment, but the operations and agility that DevOps engineers bring to the table is unmatched. The choice between the two comes down to specific company and project needs.

How DevOps Engineers Also Benefit Software Development Teams

DevOps engineers bring systematic efficiency, orchestrate better scalability with automation, ensure consistency across environments, and offer accelerated time to market – benefits that can significantly enhance the performance of your software development teams.

Finding the Balance: Developers Vs DevOps in the Cloud

The cloud has revolutionized how developers and DevOps engineers contribute to app development. Here's a look at how they handle cloud operations and the role they play.

The Role of DevOps Engineers in Cloud Operations

DevOps engineers play a significant role in cloud operations - formulating and executing cloud strategies, selecting appropriate DevOps tools, managing cloud deployments, ensuring security, and enabling scalability. Adopting the cloud has led to greater collaboration between teams and enhanced software delivery efficiency.

Cloud Development: How Developers and DevOps Contribute

While developers build cloud-ready applications, DevOps engineers ensure these built applications are effectively deployed and managed in the cloud, making their contribution to cloud development invaluable. Together, they make cloud projects agile, robust, and successful.

Cloud Migration: DevOps vs Software Developers

Both roles actively contribute to cloud migration. Software developers redesign applications to be cloud-friendly, while DevOps engineers take the existing software development process and enhance it to seamlessly fit the cloud architecture, thereby enabling smooth migration while minimizing downtime.

Software Development in the Cloud: The DevOps Advantage

A major advantage of DevOps in cloud development is its ability to automate procedures, quicken releases, bring agility, and maintain high-quality standards. The nature of cloud demands enhanced collaboration and rapid deployment – a key facet of the DevOps methodology.

Full Stack Developers and DevOps: Collaboration in the Cloud

Full Stack developers build and deploy applications in the cloud while DevOps engineers ensure collaborative, seamless, and automated cloud operations. When both roles come together, they deliver a highly efficient, resilient, and successful cloud project.

What are the right skills and training to become a DevOps engineer?

How to be a DevOps: Can Your Engineers Gain These Skills?

Transitioning to a DevOps role requires a blend of technical prowess, continuous learning, and an adaptable mindset. With the right training and skill development, engineers can successfully make this transition.

Cloud DevOps Engineer Skills

Understanding of Cloud Infrastructure: A fundamental requirement for Cloud DevOps engineers is a thorough understanding of cloud services and infrastructure, such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. This involves knowing how to manage, deploy, and scale applications in the cloud.

Proficiency in Automation and Scripting: Automation is at the heart of DevOps. Skills in scripting languages like Python, Bash, or Ruby are essential for automating deployment and other processes.

CI/CD Pipeline Management: Knowledge of Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines is crucial. This includes using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI to automate the testing and deployment of code.

Containerization and Orchestration: Familiarity with container technologies like Docker and orchestration tools like Kubernetes is vital for creating scalable and efficient DevOps workflows.

Monitoring and Logging: DevOps engineers must be skilled in monitoring the performance of applications and infrastructure. Proficiency in tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK Stack is important for this aspect.

Security Best Practices: Understanding of DevSecOps principles, including incorporating security into the software development lifecycle, is a key skill for DevOps engineers.

Training and Skill Development for Aspiring DevOps Engineers

If you're wondering if your engineers can learn and transition to become DevOps, there are certain skills and training they would require.

Formal Education and Training: Many online courses and certifications, like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or Kubernetes Certification, can provide foundational and advanced knowledge. To make ensure engineers have sufficient knowledge to handle DevOps processes, we recommend using DevOps assessments to evaluate their skills.

Hands-On Experience: Practical experience is crucial. Encourage engineers to set up their own CI/CD pipelines, work with cloud services, and deploy applications in a controlled environment.

Regular Workshops and Tech Talks: Hosting or attending workshops and tech talks can keep engineers updated with the latest trends and best practices in DevOps.

Mentorship Programs: Pairing up aspiring DevOps engineers with experienced mentors can facilitate a smoother learning curve and provide guidance on industry-specific challenges.

DevOps Scope

DevOps covers a wide array of skills including coding, scripting, configuration management, infrastructure management, CI/CD methodologies, and a deep understanding of cloud services. Gaining these skills could open up greater opportunities for your engineers to support your website and cloud infrastructure.

What's the right ratio of talent for your tech team?

DevOps Statistics for Your Team

How Many DevOps Should Your Company Have?

The number of developers in a startup or small and medium business (SME) can vary based on the size and specific needs of the organization. According to FasterCapital, startups typically need between one and four developers. On the other hand, large enterprises may hire tens of thousands of tech roles, the majority being developers, as well as a large amount of DevOps engineers.

The role of a developer in a startup can vary significantly based on the size and type of the startup. In smaller startups, developers may be responsible for all aspects of software development, while in larger companies, developers may specialize in specific areas such as website development, database administration, or software development tools.

DevOps to Engineer Ratio

The ideal Developer to DevOps engineer ratio is 5:1, and in large software organizations like Google, the ratio is 6:1. Large start-ups, can have a Developer to DevOps ratio as high as 15:1, however it is not recommended to have insufficient cloud and infrastructure support.

How Many DevOps Engineers are There Per Company?

Google has approximately 27,000 software engineers, and their 6:1 Developer to DevOps ration means they are estimated to have at least 4,500 DevOps engineers. Amazon employs over 36,000 software engineers, and likely has over 6,000 DevOps roles.

The Costs of Putting Together a Tech Dream Team

Data from the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023 highlights the competitive salaries reported by developers, with Cloud Engineers and Site Reliability Engineers topping the list in the United States.

Hire DevOps Engineers or Software Developers: Salary and Demand Statistics

While salary is always a consideration, both DevOps engineers and software developers bring substantial value to an organization. According to Gartner, the demand for both roles is expected to grow. Based on the scope and nature of work, choose a role that offers optimal value.

DevOps vs Software Engineer Salary

Software engineers can be considered a part of numerous roles and vary greatly, so for this number, we looked to Indeed and Glassdoor, and found an average salary of $117,000 in the US in 2023. From these same statistics, we discovered that DevOps engineers reportedly earned an average salary ranging from $125k to $133k in the US in 2023.

DevOps vs Backend Salary

The average salary for a back end developer is a whopping $157,092 per year in the United States (2023), according to Indeed, and $147,662 according to ZipRecruiter estimates.

DevOps Engineer vs Full Stack Developer Salary

The average salary for a full stack developer in 2023 ranges from $124,943 per year in the United States, to $134,771.

Is DevOps Adoption Worth it?

Adopting DevOps practices can be a significant decision for any organization. It involves integrating development and operations teams to improve collaboration, increase efficiency, and automate processes. Before making this transition, it's essential to weigh the potential benefits against the cost of hiring DevOps engineers or DevOps engineering service providers.

Pros and Cons of DevOps for Your Team

Pros:

Enhanced Collaboration: DevOps fosters a culture of collaboration and communication between developers and operations teams, leading to more cohesive and efficient workflows.
Increased Efficiency: Automation of repetitive tasks and streamlined processes lead to faster development cycles and quicker deployment.
Improved Quality: Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) ensure frequent testing, reducing the likelihood of major issues and improving the overall quality of the software.
Better Customer Satisfaction: Faster deployment of features and fixes means improved customer experiences and quicker response to market demands.

Cons:

Initial Implementation Challenges: The shift to DevOps can require significant changes in culture and processes, which might be challenging initially.
Training and Skill Development: Teams may require training to adapt to new tools and practices, involving time and financial investment.
Hiring Risks: DevOps engineers take care of some of the most vulnerable parts of your infrastructure - make sure you hire a high-quality DevOps (we recommend using DevOps assessments to hire the right candidates!).

DevOps can lead to success in some instances

DevOps Success Stories

Many companies have successfully adopted DevOps, leading to remarkable improvements in their operations. For example, Netflix's implementation of DevOps practices has enabled them to manage massive deployments efficiently across a global infrastructure.

Another success story is Etsy, which transformed from lengthy deployment cycles to deploying more than 50 times a day, significantly enhancing their ability to respond to market needs.

DevOps Engineering Services

For companies looking to transition to DevOps but lacking in-house expertise, DevOps engineering services can be invaluable. These services typically offer:

Assessment and Planning: Evaluating your current IT infrastructure and processes to create a tailored DevOps adoption strategy.
CI/CD Pipeline Setup: Establishing continuous integration and deployment pipelines to automate the software release process.
Cloud Infrastructure Management: Assisting in managing and optimizing cloud resources.
Monitoring and Logging: Implementing monitoring tools for better visibility into the performance and health of applications and infrastructure.
Security Integration (DevSecOps): Incorporating security practices into the DevOps workflow to ensure secure software development.
Training and Support: Providing training and ongoing support to help teams adapt to DevOps practices.

DevOps engineering services can act as a bridge, helping your team to smoothly transition to DevOps practices while minimizing disruptions to your current operations.

Final Word

Determining the right mix of DevOps engineers and developers is crucial for optimizing your team's performance and achieving project success. The choice depends on understanding the distinct roles, skills, and contributions of each.

Balancing these roles ensures a comprehensive approach to software development, from creation to deployment, fostering a culture of innovation, efficiency, and quality in your team's work.