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Collaboration is absolutely inevitable in the business world. No matter whether you are working on an important project at work or building a new tech product, you will often find yourself working with others to accomplish a common goal..
In tech companies, different tech teams often need to collaborate. For example, software development and IT operations. For these two groups, they often have different objectives when working on a software product. Wouldn’t it be nice to have another position that was knowledgeable in both of these fields? The industry has found that it is indeed a necessity.
That is where DevOps comes into play. DevOps Specialists specifically work in conjunction with a company’s software development and IT operations teams, providing the tools, methodologies, and processes to expedite the software deployment process and release newer versions quicker and better to the digital world.
As software products continue to be produced every single day, the demand for DevOps Specialists continues to skyrocket. According to Career Karma, the DevOps job market will increase by 21% annually in the coming years. In a CodeInGame survey of 15,000 developers and HR professionals, nearly 43% of hiring professionals have had difficulty filling DevOps roles, indicating the immediate need for talent to fill these positions.
Prior to the emergence of the DevOps Specialist, there was an inadvertent divide amongst software development and IT operations teams. While many worked in conjunction within an organization, when producing new software, each department normally had different skill sets, and different goals established by various heads of departments. For instance, while developers may be focused on releasing updates to software as frequently as possible, IT may prioritize maintenance and stability checks to ensure the software’s system is sound. While a software team may choose to move ahead with a particular software update, the operations team may disagree or believe another course of action would be better. Regardless of the disagreement, the disconnect often prolongs the deployment of the product for consumption.
Over time, the emergence of a new tech “culture”, known as DevOps, was first coined in 2009 by Patrick Debois, an IT consultant and later deemed the “Father of DevOps”, in a conversation with Andrew Shafer during their event, “DevOpsDays”. The term “DevOps” combines the words “development” and “operations”. DevOps culture sought to implement a more agile methodology that would unify the various departments that create and update software or digital programs, and do so in a quicker, more effective manner. Following Debois’ initial use of the term and explanation of the culture, DevOps slowly began to rise in prominence, and is now being incorporated into the culture of huge companies, like Amazon, HP, and Netflix.
The most prominent method DevOps specialists use is known as the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) Pipeline. DevOps specialists use CI/CD pipelines to gather and update any code changes that the software or IT teams may have made into a central location known as a repository, where all members of the project can see the different changes. Through the process of automation, these code changes immediately prompt the code to be tested. Once the code has been run, feedback is sent almost instantaneously to all developers, allowing them to make changes where necessary. The use of these pipelines allow a more cohesive flow of information between development and IT groups, with the DevOps specialist maintaining the flow.
Another means in which DevOps specialists increase efficiency is through cloud software and computing. Cloud computing focuses on exchanges in data, programs, and digital processes through the internet, rather than a hard drive. As mentioned previously, software is constantly worked on by various people and teams. Having the application on a cloud allows unparalleled collaboration, as access to the project can occur in practically any location with internet. In addition, working on a cloud heightens security to ensure that the network is only accessed by required personnel. Cloud software integration into DevOps culture has increased prevalently in recent years.
Having the CI/CD pipeline and cloud software allows DevOps specialists to analyze and improve the current technology within a company, work alongside project management teams to monitor progress, and assist other department engineers to create practical demonstrations of proposed solutions. This unification allows a more open field of communication amongst the different key players within a project, and makes each new iteration of a software product more readily available to consumers. If you’ve ever had to update the apps on your phone or the software on your computer, you can thank your DevOps specialists working tirelessly to update your digital experience to be the best it can.
In a similar way to how DevOps aims to unify various tech branches, Wawiwa Tech Training connects potential candidates to tech training that will enable them to pursue a high demand tech role within their local ecosystem.
Wawiwa Tech Training is an Israeli education provider that works with partners around the world to reskill people to tech jobs in high demand, including the DevOps specialist. Unlike university education, Wawiwa’s training gives you the needed skills in a matter of months, not years.
Lidor Gerstel, Wawiwa’s Head of the DevOps program, strongly urges those who have any interest in entering the tech world to consider the role of a DevOps Specialist, stating, “If you have previous IT or software experience, strong collaboration skills, and are quick on your feet, the DevOps program at Wawiwa may be perfect for you. The exciting environment allows you to work closely with many tech experts, find solutions, and improve the lives of those who use the software you help to develop.”
The DevOps Program at Wawiwa Tech Training takes approximately 390 hours to complete in a 7 to 9 month part time timeframe. Prospective candidates do need to have prior experience in software or IT.
Graduates of the program are job-ready and able to swiftly integrate into the local tech ecosystem. The program will teach you all the fundamental skills needed to become a DevOps Specialist through various hands-on projects, collaboration, and lectures from Israeli tech experts. In addition, career-oriented soft-skills, CV building, and job-interview preparation are also incorporated into the curriculum to ensure your success and employability in the tech industry.
If you are an individual with a previous IT or software background, with interest in upskilling to a more prominent position, the DevOps program may still be the right choice for you. Take the time, invest in yourself, and wield the power of both IT technology and software development as a DevOps Specialist.