While technology rapidly advances, the demand for skilled individuals is increasing at an incredible pace. Technology is transforming the way in which we work, communicate and do business. And one of the most sought-after skills in the industry today is DevOps.
What is DevOps?
DevOps essentially combines the worlds of software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). It aims to shorten the systems development life cycle when delivering features, fixes, and updates while aligning closely with business objectives. A lot of DevOps aspects come from Agile methodology.
In simpler terms, the main goal of DevOps is to break down the barrier between development and operations teams. A DevOps Engineer will help to streamline the process of software development and deployment, which reduces the time to market for new features and updates.
As well as convenience, DevOps also emphasises automation and monitoring at all steps of software construction, from integration, testing and releasing to deployment and infrastructure management. The idea is to develop and improve products at a faster pace than traditional software development and infrastructure management processes. The improved speed allows organisations to compete more effectively in the market while bettering their customer experience.
Advantages of DevOps
For a business or IT professional, DevOps brings several significant advantages.
- Beating the competition. Firstly, DevOps enables fast, frequent delivery of high-quality software, ensuring that the business can remain ahead of the competition.
- Collaboration. The DevOps approach encourages collaboration and communication between teams (particularly development and operations teams), which results in more efficient and effective decision-making processes.
- Innovation. DevOps promotes a culture of continuous improvement. This encourages innovation and experimentation, and again will allow a business or skilled professional to stay ahead of competition.
Careers in DevOps
DevOps has swiftly become one of the most in-demand skill sets in the technology industry, and job opportunities continue to grow at a rapid pace. Organisations are seeking professionals who have experience in DevOps which include automating system processes, continuous integration and delivery, and infrastructure as code.
A few of the careers and industries that a DevOps engineer may work in can include:
- Software development companies - DevOps engineers play a crucial role in managing the software development lifecycle, making this industry a prime choice.
- Information technology and services - Many IT services, like cloud computing or IT consulting, require the expertise of DevOps engineers to ensure smooth operations.
- Financial services - Banks and financial institutions are increasingly relying on digital platforms, where DevOps engineers can contribute significantly to maintaining and improving these platforms.
- E-commerce - Online retailers require robust and efficient IT systems, which DevOps engineers can help to build and maintain.
- Healthcare - With the rise of telemedicine and electronic health records, the healthcare sector is in need of DevOps professionals to manage their expanding digital platforms.
- Education - While a lot of education is now taught online, Education Technology (or EdTech) companies require DevOps engineers to ensure that their platforms can handle large volumes of users and data.
- Government - Governments are also digitising their services, leading to a growing need for DevOps engineers to oversee any transformations.
- Media and entertainment - Streaming platforms, digital news outlets, and gaming companies all require the skills of a DevOps engineer to keep their digital services running smoothly.
- Automotive - Even cars are becoming more digital, so the automotive industry needs DevOps engineers to manage software development in areas such as in-car entertainment systems and self-driving technologies.
- Telecommunications - The telecom industry often needs DevOps engineers for managing networks, systems, and services.
As you can see, DevOps engineers are required almost everywhere. You’ll need to develop soft skills such as communication, collaboration, and leadership skills, as well as the harder expert-level skills and knowledge.
However, if you don’t yet have this experience, don’t worry. Everyone has to start somewhere, and at Kaplan we offer the DevOps Engineer Apprenticeship (Level 4) which will teach you everything you need to know to become a highly-sought after DevOps engineer.
Boost your career
DevOps has become a buzzword in the data and technology industry - and it’s no surprise why. The methodology has several advantages for businesses and IT professionals and will work to transform the digital world as we know it today.
There’s never been a better time to upskill in this area, and there are plenty of opportunities to do so. If you’re interested in the DevOps Engineer apprenticeship, find out more information online, or read more about how you can talk to your current employer about starting an apprenticeship.
Alternatively, have a browse through our current vacancies.
For all information regarding our Data and Technology apprenticeships, you can also download our brochure where you can find all information in one place such as funding, hiring, and contacting the team.