There are many advantages to implementing a DevOps program within an SME, if it’s done correctly. However, since there is some confusion today about what DevOps truly means and what it can accomplish for organisations of all sizes, there are several pitfalls to avoid when undertaking a DevOps initiative.

Before rushing to implement this latest trend, we’ve helped clarify a successful strategy by outlining below some of the DevOps mistakes to avoid.

1. Failing to clearly define DevOps

What does DevOps mean? Today, the answer runs the gamut from a set of tools, to a new type of workflow, to a continuous delivery vehicle, to a mashup of the Development and Operations functions on the organisational chart.

DevOps can be one or all of these things. But in its most basic form, DevOps should be defined according to what it can do for your company: a way to answer the need to achieve more rapid development cycles, greater solutions for fast-changing client needs, and, ultimately, ongoing growth in today’s competitive environment.

How do you define DevOps for your organisation in order to find out if it’s right for you? The answer lies in the reasons driving your need to adopt it.

2. Adopting DevOps for the wrong reasons

Rushing to adopt DevOps simply because it is the latest buzzword, or because your competitors are doing it, are clearly the wrong reasons. What’s wiser is to take both an external and internal look at your organisation to assess if it’s right for you.

Do you compete externally in a more traditional, slow-paced realm? Then DevOps may not be right for you. But, if you compete with companies that are in a cycle of continuous release of new features, then a serious look at adopting DevOps now is a good move to help you keep up and take advantage of the agility your SME status affords.

Internally, take a hard look at whether a DevOps initiative is truly in line with the objectives of your business, and where you feel you are in reaching them. Don’t adopt DevOps when simply modifying your current practices would help you achieve your current goals.

3. Focusing on academics before culture

If you do decide that a DevOps initiative would be the best way to reach your current business objectives, don’t rush to plug in the ‘academics’ of the concept: continuous deployment, automation, quality assurance, etc. What’s wiser is to first address the impact on your company culture that DevOps represents.

DevOps is, indeed, a melding of two functions that, in many organisations, operate quite independently due to vastly different skill sets. What is commonly an ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ relationship between Developers and Operations personnel must be transformed into a ‘we’ ideology where the two teams work together collaboratively on a daily basis.

That kind of cultural shift can be challenging and take time, but if accomplished successfully it will lay the groundwork for a truly successful DevOps program.

4. Trying to do it like the big guys

Going all-in on DevOps, following the lead of larger enterprises, can be a mistake for your SME. The transformation DevOps represents dictates having the proper staffing and therefore budgeting to make it work. Take a good look at your current staff to see if DevOps is feasible utilising their skills.

If not, take a closer look at your budget and assess whether requests for additional funding for staffing are in order, and how feasible granting that request may be, based on the current size and revenue status of your organisation.

All in all, implementing a successful DevOps initiative comes down to clearly defining what the concept means for your business in order to achieve your current objectives.

Done correctly by avoiding the common mistakes listed above, your organisation can reap the rewards that DevOps represents in terms of staying competitive in your specific technology landscape.

Oded Moshe

The post Four DevOps mistakes to avoid when implementing for your SME appeared first on DevOps Online North America.

According to The Path to MSSP report, 17% of companies intend to switch their current service provider in the next year, 10% want to cease outsourcing in favour of in-house management, and 49% plan to outsource their security for the first time.

The report revealed the five types of IT security opportunities over the next year:

• 25% of the market are currently handling security internally but now want to outsource their security primarily due to cost
• 24% of the market are currently handling security internally but now want to outsource it to improve performance
• 10% of the market are currently outsourcing but considering taking security back in-house in the next 12 months
• 9% of the market are considering switching service providers due to poor performance
• 8% of the market are considering changing providers to reduce costs

Tim Brown, vice president of security architecture at SolarWinds MSP, announced: “Every day brings news of a new security hole that needs to be patched, a massive data breach, or a new strain of ransomware that businesses need to watch out for.

“Understandably, this creates nervousness amongst enterprises and SMEs and greater scrutiny of the IT security measures in place.

“Where there is market turbulence, there is also the opportunity, and the good news for IT service providers is that this has resulted in almost half of all businesses planning to outsource their security needs to specialists.

“However, IT service providers need to remember that more opportunity inherently means more competition.

“Providers need to be able to prove their knowledge, capabilities, and available resources to take full advantage.”

The report examined the views of more than 400 SMEs and enterprises in the US and UK.

Written from press release by Leah Alger

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Marking a 2% premium to Broadsoft’s closing price on Friday, the networking technology giant pays US$55 per share.

According to usatoday, BroadSoft’s attention on small and medium-sized businesses will improve Cisco’s offerings.

Cisco noted to usatoday that more businesses expect fully featured voice and contact centre solutions with the ability to deploy them on-premises or in the cloud.

Written by Leah Alger

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Through individuals using computers, phones and tablets to access information and services, the use of cloud technology has become “increasingly mainstream”.

Data dashboard provider, 9 Spokes, carried out a survey to find out if UK SMEs use cloud technology; the results found that a large proportion of SMEs are interested in using cloud-based apps and technology, and are aware of the benefits their business would receive in the cloud.

However, over 50% of survey participants declared they are too busy with other responsibilities to research news apps to meet their business needs.

Vice president at 9 Spokes, Andy Birch, said: “Both our research and our experience with our customers shows that those who do use cloud-based technology see significant benefits and that once they start, they continue to use these services in the long-term. It’s clear that while time is a huge problem, for those SMEs who can take the time to research and implement such solutions, the knock-on benefits are enormous.”

The survey also found that customer and employment management, and accounting and finance apps are most actively used by SMEs, with the majority of SMEs agreeing that these solutions are important to their business.

Birch added: “We know that appropriate business-specific apps can have a significant and measurable impact on SMEs’ business – increasing efficiency and productivity and supporting the process of making important decisions.

“Our goal is to overcome time management barriers by providing a selection of curated apps that will help small businesses narrow their search for the specific tool they need. That way, they can dedicate their time to what matters the most – growing their business.

“This is unfortunate as many of the best apps have invested heavily in providing user-friendly, light touch solutions for SMEs that are scalable and flexible in terms of what they offer, as well as their fee structured.”

Written by Leah Alger

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