A DevOps methodology is the greatest way to maximise the benefits of cloud computing while minimising expenditures. We explain why in this blog article.

The combination of the cloud and DevOps speeds up software delivery.

According to a survey by IT analyst firm Freeform Dynamics, employing cloud or DevOps in isolation speeds up software delivery by slightly more than 50%. Using them together, however, results in an 81 percent acceleration.

According to the report's authors, cloud changes the game for software delivery and operations, but DevOps is required to reap the full benefits:

"...when done correctly, cloud may remove a lot of the hurdles and friction...

To fully reap the benefits of the cloud, you must also have rapid and iterative software development and delivery procedures, most notably DevOps, backed up by a commitment to cloud-based tools and services."

When applications are moved to the cloud, it provides an excellent chance to modernise the hosting platform in order to take use of new cloud services. DevOps approaches, for example, can be utilised to reduce the complexity and toil involved with maintenance by automating common processes. Furthermore, on-demand scaling can simplify software delivery and deployment while drastically lowering the costly over-provisioning that is frequent in on-premise setups. These enhancements, when combined, free up more time and energy for innovation and value-added work that improves customer satisfaction.

In summary, developers spend more time developing, and operations employees may work strategically instead of dealing with heavy unexpected activity, also known as 'firefighting.' Many organisations struggle to meet their strategic objectives because their staff are too preoccupied with putting out fires. A DevOps strategy to cloud migration, on the other hand, allows you to put out many of these fires once and for all.

The combination of the cloud with DevOps improves operational efficiency.

Implementing DevOps principles alongside cloud adoption provides a more seamless and focused path to operational maturity. This is especially critical for companies that have just transitioned from start-up to scale-up.

Adopting proven best practises can help you accelerate success in this area. AWS and Azure's Well-Architected Frameworks provide an excellent starting point. The five Well-Architected pillars – Operational Excellence, Security, Reliability, Cost-Optimization, and Performance Efficiency – provide a wealth of expert advice on how to construct and operate your cloud successfully. Conducting a Well-Architected Review can assist influence DevOps-led process decisions and goals. This allows you to redesign systems in a focused and systematic manner, 'baking in' the operability that will support and accommodate future development.

The combination of cloud and DevOps reduces total cost of ownership.

Cloud cost optimization is becoming a primary goal for CTOs as cloud adoption continues to climb. DevOps can also help with this.

As previously stated, traditional on-premise server infrastructures are typically over-provisioned in order to meet peak demand. Depending on your industry, traffic may rise once a year (for example, on Black Friday) or more regularly (e.g. weekend grocery shopping). It may also surge abruptly at other times due to unforeseen causes beyond your control.

The key is that you pay for this peak capacity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even if you turn off servers during off-peak hours to save energy, you still have to pay for rack space, network provisioning, and software licences.

DevOps can turn this around by fully utilising the quick elasticity provided by cloud computing. By automating essential components of provisioning, application deployment, and orchestration, you can utilise (and pay for) only the capacity you require, when you require it. This saves waste and lowers overall cost of ownership.

What is the best way to integrate cloud and DevOps?

DevOps principles can be incorporated from the start when developing a cloud-native application.

Existing apps, on the other hand, can be adapted to benefit from DevOps methods of operation.

This can occur during a cloud movement or following a lift and shift. It entails re-platforming, modifying, or reworking the programme. It is about upgrading and modernising the infrastructure without requiring major recoding or redesign. For many organisations, this is the simplest and quickest way to increase targeted performance in a new cloud environment.

Businesses that implement DevOps alongside cloud adoption, in our view, do more than just save money and drive innovation. They also have happier and more motivated employees. People feel more fulfilled and energised as a result of their work. This, in turn, fosters a readiness to adjust and grow, resulting in continuous progress and a competitive advantage.