Services
Platform and Technology Capabilities
Home / Insights / Blog / Understanding Your Position in the DevOps Maturity Model
August 23, 2021 - by Synoptek
Embracing DevOps has become one of the most popular ways to improve software development and delivery outcomes. But given how quickly the DevOps landscape is evolving, it is critical for every organization to understand where they are within the DevOps maturity model to successfully progress. Read on to learn what the DevOps maturity model is and understand which phase of the maturity model you’re currently in.
Since the past couple of years, DevOps has transformed the way software development companies are bringing products into the market. By redefining the workflow paradigm, it enables organizations to improve product quality, accuracy, and timeliness. But as the scope and focus DevOps expands far beyond product delivery, one of the major impediments in the DevOps journey is progressing to the next level.
The DevOps maturity model helps organizations assess their DevOps maturity level and take calculated steps to seamlessly progress to the next level of maturity. Instead of looking at DevOps as a destination, it allows organizations to embrace DevOps as a journey and constantly drive efforts to tap into its full potential for long-term, sustainable gains. By empowering teams to develop a product mindset, the maturity model helps in the seamless scaling of DevOps to meet the evolving needs of the business.
Any maturity model comprises several levels of phases that help organizations gauge their current maturity level. Whether you are yet to embark on the DevOps journey, are already in the middle of DevOps transformation, or want to move further up, you need to first be aware of where you stand today! Most DevOps maturity models are classified under 5 levels; these include:
Organizations at this phase of the DevOps Maturity Model are usually not very aware of what DevOps is or how it can benefit them. Most software development activities are carried out in a sequential manner, with little or no collaboration between teams. Automation or integration are unheard of, and project management is rather slow and prone to risk. Teams work in silos to deliver products, and standardized workflows or processes are non-existent.
In Phase 2 of the DevOps Maturity model, processes are repeatable, standardized, and consistent. Changes undergo a basic change management process and are rolled out to the next stage of the delivery pipeline only after being tested. Teams interact frequently with one another, have a clear understanding of requirements that deliver value, and leverage a handful of tools for effective project management. However, when it comes to implementing massive updates, teams often resort to firefighting tactics. Automation is still overlooked, which makes security and compliance testing a real challenge.
Organizations at this level of the maturity model are well-aware of the core principles of DevOps and implement them into their day-to-day operations. There is real-time collaboration between development and operations teams; environments and configurations are accurately versioned, and documentation and release notes are constantly updated and validated. Any changes that need to be made follow a robust change management process; at the same time, teams make use of modern project management tools and know how to incorporate feedback into their next iteration.
Those in phase 4 of the DevOps maturity model have a deep understanding of DevOps processes as well as automation. Change management is part of the DNA of the team; so is continuous integration and testing. Despite being part of different teams, members work together on projects as one single team – planning their activities, working on issues, and capitalizing on opportunities as and when they arise. Since the project is tracked and monitored in real-time, every team member is clearly aware of the current status of the project as well as his/her responsibilities.
Organizations at Phase 5 of the DevOps maturity model have many reasons to rejoice. DevOps principles are an integral part of their day, and there is constant focus on enhancing the CI/CD pipeline. Processes are not only standardized, but also automated, allowing teams to drive greater value from their efforts while keeping up with changing market and customer demands. Feedback cycles are extremely short, and changes follow a rigorous change management process. Security is also a fundamental part of DevOps activities, so environments and applications are extremely resilient and don’t break so easily. User experience is constantly optimized via continuous testing and performance management.
Embracing DevOps in the realm of software development opens doors to several benefits and opportunities. But given that every organization has unique requirements, the level of DevOps maturity is also likely to be different for different organizations. Understanding your current level in the DevOps maturity model is critical to be able to advance to the next level; such assessment will not only help you in evaluating where you currently are, but also what steps you need to take to reach Phase 5.
If you need help in assessing your DevOps maturity level or want an expert to guide you through the DevOps maturity model, Synoptek can help! With long-standing and wide-ranging experience in Agile and DevOps principles, we can help you in reaching the ultimate level of DevOps maturity. Contact us today!
Blog