Understand DevOps and what is a DevOps Engineer. This article will guide you through some important knowledge related to DevOps engineers such as responsibilities and requirements. Also explore different tools, interview tips, course and certifications and tips on how to become a DevOps Engineer.
In the field of Information Technology, DevOps is a day-to-day word. With such huge interest in this field, the requirements for DevOps engineers has also increased. DevOps engineers are one of the most demanding job profiles with no signs of slowdown. Statistically, the demand for DevOps professionals in the employment market has increased by about 35-45% over the last 2 to 3 years, and that number is growing rapidly. DevOps is currently a challenging task that requires a wide range of skills as well as adequate experience and in-depth knowledge in this area. It’s no wonder DevOps is set to dominate the IT world in the future. And if you’re looking forward to your career as a DevOps engineer, then you are on the right track!
Patrick Debois, an independent IT consultant coined the word ‘DevOps’. After that the field hasn’t stopped spreading or evolving. DevOps Engineers bring development and operations together to rapidly accelerate delivery. The demand for DevOps Engineers stemming from the limitations of Agile is slowly becoming a bottleneck in agile delivery. While development teams are rapidly pushing new changes each sprint, operations teams are struggling to maintain application stability and security at such a rapid rate.
Bringing together both developers and operations engineers, DevOps Engineers has bridged the gap between processes. Teams understand each other’s requirements, prepare and plan accordingly. DevOps Engineers uses different tools and processes to enable better collaboration and communication between teams. Infrastructure flexibility is enhanced with continuous monitoring that makes it easier for teams to manage and secure their applications.
What Are the Different Phases of the DevOps Model?
> Continuous Development
Continuous development, the first phase of the DevOps lifecycle, includes all planning and coding of a software application. At this stage, DevOps Engineers sit down and visualize the results, i.e., what the software application will be. Once the vision is in place, developers start writing and maintaining the code. There are several tools used to maintain the code. This process is called source code management. Some of these tools include SVN, Git, Jira and CVS.
> Continuous Integration
The phase of Continuous Development is followed by the phase of Continuous Integration, and the first phase naturally transforms into the second. This phase consists of several processes, including the preparation of test execution to be carried out during the testing phase, as well as comprehending the project requirements supplied by the customer in order to add the essential features into the software product. The stage also includes frequent updates to the source code, generally on a daily or weekly basis. The Continuous Integration stage is sometimes referred to as the “heart” of the broader DevOps lifecycle since it is the step in which errors in the code may be spotted early on.
> Continuous Testing
The Continual Testing step entails testing the created code on a continuous basis to check for bugs, errors, and weaknesses. This is also the phase in which the program’s usability is tested using a set of best practices for QA, and it is assessed whether the product fits the client’s criteria. Continuous testing is accomplished through the use of automated testing technologies, which can be open-source tools like Selenium or complex test management platforms like QARA Enterprise and TestNG. These technologies enable the DevOps Engineer of QA team to run several tests concurrently in order to maximize test coverage and testing efficiency.
> Continuous Deployment
The fourth step of the DevOps lifecycle is Continuous Deployment, which entails delivering code in such a way that it does not impair the performance of the product or website. During this step, it is critical to ensure that the code is correctly distributed on all servers. It is all about ensuring that the product is deployed with the highest precision and with no room for error.
> Continuous Monitoring
Monitoring is the fifth step of the DevOps lifecycle, and it entails capturing and analysing vital information about the application in order to determine places where more work is necessary, as well as general trends. This is an operational phase, and the goal is to improve the operational efficiency of the software engineer while also regularly monitoring its performance.
Top Skills and Tips on Becoming a DevOps Engineer
The following section will talk about top 8 essential skills to have in order to become a perfect DevOps Engineer.
1. Communication and Collaboration
Given the fundamental nature of DevOps, communication and cooperation are critical to success for DevOps Engineers. These two are critical in breaking down silos between Dev and Ops teams, aligning team goals with business objectives, and implementing DevOps culture cross-functionally.
2. Soft Skills
If you’re only strong at code and automation, it won’t cut it. DevOps requires a new kind of person, one with soft skills, self-motivation, flexibility, and a willingness to learn. DevOps Engineers should be both doers and listeners.
They must understand that DevOps transformation entails stakeholder dialogues, understanding of company goals, assessment, and identification of areas for improvement, all of which are fuelled by cooperation.
3. Usage of Tools
The success of DevOps is solely dependent on the toolset used throughout various stages of implementation. It’s difficult to keep track of how many tools DevOps has introduced. However, the importance of DevOps success is something that should be examined in depth.
4. Security Management
In many cases, the pace of risk matches the pace that DevOps enables delivery. Due to this limitation, the security of the usual method may not work in the end or as a separate process. This is where DevSecOps is great at building security on SDLC from the beginning.
Therefore, DevSecOps skills will definitely help you succeed as a DevOps Engineer.
5. Automation Skills
To be referred to as a DevOps engineer, you must have a strong understanding of automation, which is at the heart of the DevOps process. A DevOps engineer should be able to automate the full DevOps pipeline, which includes CI/CD cycles, app performance monitoring, infrastructure and settings, and so on.
The capacity to know about DevOps toolset, coding, and scripting is tightly tied to DevOps automation expertise.
6. Coding and Scripting
Two critical skill sets for a DevOps engineer to have been coding and scripting. One is Python, Ruby, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Bash, Shell, and Node are all examples of programming languages. NodeJS is one of the most popular programming and scripting languages.
7. Testing Skills
The process of Testing is critical to the success of DevOps. Tests that execute without fail will be required in the DevOps automation pipeline.
This is critical for the success of continuous testing, which involves the execution of automated tests.
8. Cloud Skills
The cloud and DevOps are inextricably linked. The efficiency of one is directly affected and affected by the efficiency of the other. While the DevOps approach drives the process, the cloud drives the process by providing the essential infrastructure for testing, deploying, and releasing code.
The cloud supports DevOps automation by providing the required CI / CD toolset and resource monitoring mechanism.
Technologies to Work With
DevOps Engineer uses a variety of tools to help teams plan and collaborate to reach their DevOps goals. Below are some of the major DevOps tools.
> Git, Jira: Used for scheduling and version control
> Jenkins, Docker: Used to create and manage build pipelines and code deployments
> JUnit, Selenium: These are used for unit testing and other testing methods
> Ansible, PowerShell: Used to manage software during the deployment phase
> Grafana, Splunk, Datalog: Mainly used in production to monitor applications in different environments
Top DevOps Certifications, Courses, Trainings, and Internships
To enter the DevOps sector and take on duties and jobs linked to DevOps, it is necessary to be trained and have credentials that can aid in obtaining the required role.
The following are some of the websites from where you can learn and get certificates and help you upskill.
> AWS
> Microsoft Certifications
> Udemy
> Coursera
> Upgrad
Top DevOps Jobs
DevOps offers many opportunities, and as DevOps adoption grows, many companies are looking for DevOps Engineers. It’s also one of the most expensive jobs in the software industry.
Below are some options for roles in the DevOps world that vary from experience to experience.
> Release Manager
> DevOps Engineer
> Senior DevOps Engineer
> Lead DevOps Engineer
> DevOps Test Engineer
> DevOps Cloud Engineer
> DevOps Architect
> Automation Engineer
> Software Developer
> Experience Assurance (XA) Professional
> Security Engineer
> Utility Technology player
> Evangelist
If you’re good at leading people, interacting with multiple teams, and multitasking, DevOps is a great career option. With the right education and experience, DevOps engineers can multitask in one role and move from a release manager to a DevOps architect in a matter of years.
Top DevOps Interview Questions and Answers
1. What do you know about DevOps?
Your response should be basic and concise. Begin by discussing the increasing significance of DevOps in the IT sector. Discuss how such a strategy tries to synergize the work of the development and operations teams in order to speed the delivery of software products while keeping failure rates to a minimum. Include how DevOps is a value-added practice in which development and operations engineers collaborate throughout the product or service lifecycle, from design to deployment.
2. Name some of the most popular DevOps tools.
Selenium
Puppet
Chef
Git
Jenkins
Ansible
Docker
3. What do DevOps do in Plan, Build and Deploy phases?
We do different things in every different phase. In the Planning Phase, a plan for the sort of application that has to be built should be prepared. It’s usually a good idea to get a broad understanding of the development process.
In the Build phase, the application is built using codes from various phases.
In the Deploy Phase, the code is placed in a cloud environment for later use. It is verified that any new alterations do not interfere with the operation of a high-traffic website.
4. Define Continuous Testing?
Continuous Testing is the execution of automated tests as part of the software delivery pipeline in order to offer immediate feedback on the business risks inherent in the most recent release. Every build is continuously tested in this manner to eliminate difficulties with the Software delivery life-cycle and to allow Development teams to receive rapid feedback. This results in a huge gain in developer productivity since it eliminates the need to re-run all tests after each update and project re-building.
5. What are the three core DevOps KPIs?
The three key performance indicators are as follows:
> Meantime to failure recovery- The time it takes to recover from a failure on average.
> Deployment frequency – The frequency with which deployments take place.
> The percentage of unsuccessful deployments represents the number of times the deployment fails.
Salary
As the demand for DevOps engineers grows, many companies offer competitive rewards for their DevOps role. The average salary for DevOps engineers is Rs per year. It is 674202 and may vary depending on your experience level. Entry-level DevOps positions start at $ 107,250 per year and rise to $ 160,000 per year for senior positions in the United States.
The following is the table that shows salaries in different countries
India – $10,000-$25,000
USA – $90,000-$140,000
UK – $67,000-$110,000
Germany – $68,000-$82,000
Conclusion
DevOps expedites the achievement of corporate objectives. Many firms are embracing the DevOps culture in order to improve delivery speed. Before beginning a DevOps career, an employee must be familiar with numerous technologies and procedures in order to make educated judgments.
