Take a deep dive into DevOps and explore the responsibilities of a DevOps Engineer with this informative article. Discover the essential roles and duties of a DevOps Engineer, gain insight into the tools at your disposal, learn how to prepare for interviews, and find information on certification courses to expand your skill set.
Introduction
DevOps has become a ubiquitous term in the IT industry, with the demand for talented DevOps engineers skyrocketing over the past few years, experiencing growth between 35% and 45%. Due to the multifaceted skill set required for the job, the role of DevOps engineer is considered challenging. It is no wonder that DevOps is increasingly becoming a popular approach in the field of IT. If a career as a DevOps engineer appeals to you, then you are on the right track.
What is DevOps?
Initially coined by independent IT consultant Patrick Debois, “DevOps” has experienced significant growth and development as a discipline. The collaboration of developers and operations staff has given birth to DevOps Engineers, who have been able to cut down delivery times considerably. Given the constraints of Agile, the demand for DevOps Engineers is on the rise, resulting in a bottleneck in the agile software delivery process. Operations teams are struggling to keep up with the pace of development teams, who are pushing new changes in each sprint which raise concerns about application stability and security.
In recent years, DevOps Engineers have played a crucial role in bringing together developers and operations teams, facilitating collaborative workflows utilizing various techniques and technologies. By continuously monitoring, infrastructure agility can be optimized, and application management and security can be streamlined.
DevOps Model: Phases and their Significance
1. Continuous Growth
Continuous Development marks the first phase of the DevOps lifecycle, covering the entire process of creating a software product from inception. DevOps Engineers begin by envisioning the final product and devising a plan accordingly. Developers then proceed to write and modify code, which is typically managed through source code management systems such as Subversion (SVN), Git, Jira, and CVS, which are popular in the industry.
2. Continuous Integration
Effortless transitioning from the Continuous Development phase to the Continuous Integration phase is crucial. Continuous Integration comprises numerous activities such as comprehending project requirements provided by the customer and preparing test execution for the testing stage. Regular source code changes are made, generally on a weekly basis. The Continuous Integration phase is widely regarded as the ‘heart’ of the DevOps lifecycle as potential code issues are likely to be pinpointed during this phase.
3. Continuous Testing
During the Continuous Testing phase, the code is continuously scrutinized for any flaws or vulnerabilities. The compatibility of the product with client requirements is determined during this phase, and the application’s usability is evaluated using a set of standard QA methods. Continuous testing is facilitated by automated testing solutions, such as open-source tools like Selenium or state-of-the-art test management systems like QARA Enterprise and TestNG. DevOps Engineers in QA teams can take advantage of these tools to maximize their time and resources by running multiple tests simultaneously.
4. Continuous Deployment
Continuous Deployment is the fourth phase of the DevOps lifecycle that involves delivering code without affecting the product or website’s features. Verifying the correct installation of the code on all servers is crucial at this stage. Ensuring seamless and error-free product deployment is of utmost importance.
5. Continuous Monitoring
Continuous Monitoring is the fifth and final stage of the DevOps lifecycle. This phase comprises the collection and analysis of data related to the application to identify issues and overall trends. Once the software is launched, it can be continually monitored and adjusted for optimal performance as part of an ongoing operational process.
Essential Skills and Advice: How to Become a DevOps Engineer
The subsequent paragraphs will cover the top eight skills that an aspiring DevOps Engineer must possess.
Collaboration and Information Sharing
DevOps Engineers must possess effective communication and collaboration skills for successful DevOps process implementation. These two factors play a crucial role in establishing a cross-functional DevOps culture, bridging the gap between Development and Operations teams, and ensuring alignment of team goals with business objectives. Hiring remote DevOps Engineers with such skills can be beneficial for the team’s productivity and performance.
Interpersonal Skills
DevOps Engineers must possess more than just coding proficiency and process automation abilities. They must possess interpersonal skills, motivation, flexibility, and a passion for learning. Strong communication skills and the ability to deliver results are also critical for success in this role.
For a successful DevOps transformation, it is vital that all parties involved understand the significance of collaboration. This involves meaningful dialogue between stakeholders, considering the company’s goals, conducting a fair assessment, and identifying areas for improvement.
Utilization of Tools
The effectiveness of DevOps is heavily reliant on the tools utilized throughout the process. With numerous tools associated with DevOps, it can be challenging to be well-versed in all of them. Nevertheless, given the significance of DevOps success, it is important to explore them extensively.
Ensuring Safety and Security
DevOps implementations often display a correlation between risk and delivery rate. The conventional approach to security may prove ineffectual in the long run or on its own. In this regard, DevSecOps stands out as it integrates security into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) right from the start.
Hence, to attain success as a DevOps Engineer, DevSecOps competencies are indispensable.
Robotics and Automation Proficiency
To be recognized as a DevOps Engineer, a thorough understanding of automation is crucial as it serves as the backbone of the DevOps approach. A DevOps Engineer should possess knowledge of automating all stages of the DevOps pipeline, including continuous integration/continuous delivery cycles, application performance monitoring, infrastructure, and configurations.
Proficiency in coding and scripting skills is inherently linked to DevOps automation savvy.
The Craft of Programming
To achieve success as a DevOps Engineer, it is crucial to have a strong grasp of both programming and scripting.
The programming language arena is vast and encompasses Python, Ruby, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Bash, Shell, and Node.js, which is particularly prolific. Node.js is an extensively utilized scripting environment and programming language.
Competencies Assessment
Testing is a vital aspect of DevOps’ overall success. The DevOps automation pipeline requires tests that can consistently conclude successfully.
This is crucial for automated test execution, which serves as the cornerstone of continuous testing.
Proficiency in Cloud Skills
It is evident that cloud computing and DevOps are inherently intertwined and mutually beneficial. DevOps serves as the driving force for the process, while the cloud delivers the requisite infrastructure for software development, testing, and deployment.
The cloud delivers the critical toolchain for Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment and resource monitoring, enabling the automation of DevOps processes.
Tools for Technology Usage
To aid teams in implementing DevOps solutions, a DevOps Engineer must use a wide range of software applications. Below are the primary DevOps tools.
- Git and Jira: Software for tracking time and issues
- Jenkins and Docker are commonly used tools for overseeing and building software releases and pipelines.
- JUnit and Selenium are testing tools which can offer unit testing and other forms of testing support.
- Ansible and PowerShell are utilised for managing software deployments.
- Grafana, Splunk, and Datalog are widely used for monitoring applications in diverse contexts, with extensive usage in production.
Compilation of the Top DevOps Certifications, Classes, and Internships
In the DevOps industry, training and certifications are crucial for acquiring the desired jobs in the field.
The list below is a sample of online resources that can be used to learn new skills and earn certifications that demonstrate expertise.
- AWS
- Microsoft Certifications
- Udemy
- Online Lecture Series:
- Enhanced
Promising Opportunities in DevOps
With the growing demand for DevOps, companies seek skilled DevOps Engineers to maximise the technology’s advantages. However, due to the role’s intricacy, DevOps Engineers are among the most costly roles in the software industry.
Below you can find a range of entry-level and advanced job descriptions in the DevOps industry.
- Deployment Manager
- DevOps Engineer
- Promoted to Senior DevOps Engineer position
- DevOps Lead Engineer
- DevOps Testing Engineer
- Cloud DevOps Engineer
- Architect – DevOps
- Automation Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Quality Assurance Professional with considerable experience (XAPQA)
- Safety and Security Specialist
- Utility Technology Participant
- Evangelist or Preacher
DevOps is a captivating domain for those with leadership skills, an aptitude for working collaboratively with various individuals and teams, and the capability to manage multiple responsibilities concurrently. With the relevant training, DevOps engineers can promptly undertake the responsibility of serving as both release managers and architects for the organization’s DevOps infrastructure.
FAQs – DevOps Interview Questions and Answers
What’s your level of proficiency in DevOps?
Responding to this question merely with a “yes” or “no” won’t suffice. It is crucial to elaborate on the growing significance of DevOps in the IT industry. This methodology aims to integrate the efforts of development and operations teams to deliver software products swiftly with minimal error rates. It is vital to highlight how DevOps presents a beneficial approach that fosters collaboration amongst development and operations engineers from the inception phases of a service or product’s life cycle, right through to its launch.
Can you provide some examples of commonly used DevOps tools?
- Selenium
- Puppet
- Chef
- Git
- Jenkins
- Ansible
- Docker
What happens in the “Plan,” “Build,” and “Deploy” phases of DevOps?
Our activities evolve at each stage.
During the Planning Phase, it is wise to plan the type of application that needs to be developed and gain an understanding of the development process as a whole.
The Build phase gathers all the programs from the previous stages to create a functional application.
In the Deployment Process, the code is uploaded to a remote server and the new updates are tested for functionality to guarantee the seamless functioning of a high-traffic site.
What is the Meaning of Continuous Testing?
To mitigate business risks linked with the newest release, several companies adopt continuous testing. This process includes the execution of automated tests as a component of the software delivery pipeline, enabling Development teams to receive timely feedback and reduce potential delays in the Software delivery life cycle. Eliminating the necessity to re-run all tests after an update or project re-build boosts developer productivity.
Can you list the top three Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for DevOps?
The following are the three most important metrics:
- The Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR) is the average time taken to restore operations after a failure.
- The Deployment Frequency is the frequency at which deployments take place.
- The Failure Rate is the percentage of unsuccessful deployments.
Salary
Due to the increasing demand for DevOps engineers, companies are offering competitive salaries for the appropriate candidates. The annual average salary for DevOps engineers is around Rs 674,202, depending on their experience. In the United States, salaries for DevOps positions range from $107,250 for entry-level roles to $160,000 for senior positions.
Listed below are salaries in different countries.
- India – $10,000-$25,000.
- USA – $90,000-$140,000.
- UK – $67,000-$110,000.
- In Germany, the salary ranges from $68,000 to $82,000.
Conclusion
Introducing DevOps practices can speed up the achievement of business goals. Many companies are adopting the DevOps approach to improve their delivery performance. Individuals who want to pursue a career in DevOps should familiarize themselves with various relevant technologies and practices before they start.
