Evolving DevOps to Iterate Quicker, Fail Early and Deploy Faster
Some of the most admirable DevOps-driven companies – Netflix, Google, and Amazon to name a few – have set the bar for rapid application deployment. One of their keys? Breaking down applications into bite-sized code, or microservices, using practices for loosely coupled architecture.
By breaking applications into containerized microservices for individualized processes, such as resetting a password or creating a user, development teams can achieve the rapid development, and deployment, they desire. How? Because teams can work simultaneously on separate pieces of the application – getting to the end application result much more quickly.
Yet, with all it’s benefits, microservices also creates new challenges. So, as you move your DevOps to a microservices model, be sure to consider the following:
- Employ strong testing practices. With so much development being done simultaneously, by separate teams, you’re going to have many more individual components that need to be architected and interconnected. This can add more complexity to your application, especially if these microservices are not architected or designed well. If you have a problem, you may have a harder time discovering where the application broke.
As you evolve to a microservices model, testing is more vital than ever. Be sure that you employ solid testing practices with consistency, to minimize deployment delays. Automate your quality assurance and engage clearly defined workflow processes to ensure that every microservice is efficiently designed, tested and optimized. This will pay off in droves – enabling you to fail earlier and iterate more quickly, ultimately shortening your development cycle. When your trouble shooting can be minimized, deployment of a quality production app is much faster.
- Mind the Scale.Clearly, one of the largest benefits of adopting a microservices model is scalability. You can scale microservices fast, but only if you are mindful of building code without scale limitations. If you are not constrained by restrictions related to the infrastructure, you can realize much greater agility.
However, approach scalability with caution. If you fail to apply solid architecture practices and you’re not effectively monitoring the impact of your code, you may have higher cloud costs. While building serverless code, be sure that you’re addressing every consideration related to scale and ask: “is this the most effective way to deploy the function.” Longer term, your operations teams will thank you for delivering efficient applications that use cloud resources wisely.
- Never Forget About Security. While security is always top of mind, it’s important to remember that introducing microservices can, in some ways, add more attack vectors and attack surfaces to your applications. Be sure that you thoroughly scan your code for security vulnerabilities and be sure that you’re following best security practices for any API work. Be certain, too, that your microservices are not publicly exposed in any way to protect your applications from cybersecurity threats.
As you look to employ loosely coupled architectures and microservices for your application development, consider the impact of employing consistent testing practices, the wise use of scalability and potential security vulnerabilities. When done effectively, your DevOps implementations will realize the value of continuous delivery and long-term application viability.
Learn more about best practices for using containers, microservices and loosely coupled architecture at the Forty8Fifty Labs DevOps Tech Summit on Tuesday, May 15. Visit hereto reserve your spot.
