Azure DevOps Best Practices and Implementation

Introduction: What is Azure DevOps?

More and more businesses are starting to implement DevOps, which is characterized by a series of practices, philosophies and tools. It is designed to combine software development and IT operations. The aim is to create superior products by bringing individual entities, including development, IT operations, security and engineering, together. 

Azure DevOps is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product from Microsoft. It offers a diverse set of services, providing an end-to-end chain to develop and implement new software.

Microsoft Azure DevOps comprises five key services, which constitute a full development cycle. These include:

• Azure Boards: a powerful, intuitive planning and task management tool 
• Azure Pipelines: these are tools that are designed to provide seamless, continuous integration and deployment, replacing inefficient manual processes
• Azure Repos: offers access to unlimited free Git hosting
• Azure Test Plans: use manual and experimental tests to test frequently and enhance code quality
• Azure Artifacts: use simple, stress-free processes to integrate package sharing within CI/CD pipelines

In addition to providing a full development service, Microsoft Azure also integrates with other tools and platforms. This means that your team members can utilize selected services alongside existing platforms in line with your requirements and key objectives. 

What are the benefits of using Azure DevOps?

Azure also provides access to innovative DevOps tools. These tools can be used to create third-party platforms to align with existing software programs and strategies. The main benefits for companies include:

Access to new features

In order to remain competitive in the world, it is beneficial for teams to have access to new features. With Azure DevOps, access is open and new features become available every few weeks. Microsoft provides a transparent roadmap, which details new developments and features. This roadmap enables companies to gain an insight into what is coming and how it will benefit them. 

Instant, automated upgrades

As a SaaS product, Azure DevOps takes care of upgrades and updates. This is so teams don’t have to devote time and energy in identifying upgrades and patching up the toolchain. For businesses that previously operated CI/CD tooling, switching to Azure DevOps eliminates the inconvenience of patching up and upgrading. 

Reliability

One of the most significant advantages of implementing Azure DevOps is enhanced reliability. As a reputable, tried and tested SaaS platform, Azure boasts uptime of 99.9%. Customers also have access to 24-hour support.

Scalability and flexibility

Azure offers benefits for all types of businesses. It gives you options to utilise the full suite of tools. It also allows you to select services that are tailored to your individual requirements and/or preferences. 

With Azure, you can scale applications and enhance development operations in line with the objectives of the business and existing operations. The service is scalable and it caters to organisations seeking application and data modernization. 

Versatility

There are few limitations when it comes to implementing Azure DevOps. This is a service that is both cloud and platform agnostic. It provides benefits for a broad spectrum of teams. 

Agility

Agility is essential in modern-day business.  In order to gain a competitive advantage and maximize efficiency, companies need to be able to adjust and adapt. If they are able to do this, it will allow them to take advantage of all the new services and features. With Microsoft Azure, development teams can create programmes and launch them at record speed.  

Best practices for implementing Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps offers an extensive range of benefits for businesses. There are some best practice guidelines to be aware of to capitalize on the features of Azure DevOps. You want to make sure your development team is able to make the most of all the benefits. Here are some best practices:

Work on creating the right DevOps culture

DevOps is not just about processes and tools. It is also about creating a culture that supports cohesion and collaboration between teams and departments. The aim is to combine development and IT operations to produce services, tools and products. This can drive businesses forward and make a positive difference.

If you are looking to implement Azure Devops best practices, you want to make sure everyone is on the same page. This will promote teamwork and cohesiveness in the workplace.

Analyse DevOps workflows

One of the most important benefits of Azure DevOps is its capacity to integrate with other tools and platforms. You want to analyze your DeVops workflows and choose which Azure tools work best for your different tasks. You also want to plan how to integrate those new tools with existing processes and platforms. 

Make use of automation

Automation is a potent weapon for engineering teams. Automate where possible to save time and effort, streamline processes and improve consistency. 

Explore extensions

Azure DevOps has the potential to provide full development services. However, there may be scenarios in which users wish they had access to additional tools. If this is the case, there is a marketplace to browse, which is packed with extensions. 

For some teams, it can be beneficial to try different extensions through trial and error to identify the most effective solutions. Adding extensions enables companies to customize DevOps to achieve individual objectives. 

Conclusion

Azure DevOps provides businesses and organizations with access to a broad spectrum of benefits. Offering access to a fleet of DevOps services and tools, Azure caters to a wide range of companies. If you are thinking about implementing Azure DevOps, you might want to utilize some devops best practice guidelines. These can help to enhance and promote collaboration, streamline processes and boost efficiency. 

Utilizing Azure DevOps can help drive your business forward, while saving you time and effort. It can also ensure that you reap the rewards by gaining access to new features. 

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Our Devops Consulting Services practice is the bedrock of modern application development. Our devops team researches infrastructure and environments to build custom processes using modern tools that complement other frameworks. We also automate cloud infrastructure and processes while ensuring continuous delivery and continuous integration. Our DevOps Services and DevOps best practices will bring any product to market faster and at a lower cost.