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SaaS Devops Map

What is SaaS Devops?

This article was orginally published as part of a vendor whitepaper Tame SaaS Sprawl with a SaaS Devops Platform publshed by Opsera on August 17, 2022.

Devops is a funny word. It means different things to different people, that is for sure. Today, the original word DevOps is blurred. It has changed from its original meaning breaking down the barriers between developers and system operations staff. Instead, today the word’s meaning is now much more expansive. Understanding devops means you know “how to create world-class agility, reliability, and security in technological organizations,” according to Gene Kim, lead author of The DevOps Handbook (link).

Additional IT thought leaders, like the authors of Team Topologies: Organizing Business and Technology Teams for Fast Flow (link), have injected a “teams of teams” concept into business management. With the Team Topologies backdrop, these writers crystalize the idea of digital product development within an enterprise. Also, Mr. Kim and his co-authors have novelized industry analysis in engaging books like The Phoenix Project (link). All these books are aimed at breaking logjams in IT, linking everyday work to stakeholders, and simply making IT work less dreadful. 

But too many people still have IT impasses, don’t know why they’re doing a project, or hate their job. If that sounds like your organization, then understanding devops may provide you a map towards making things better.

OK, so what is SaaS Devops?

Seeing this expansive perspective, a description of SaaS Devops is how your organization goes about defining, building, and delivering digital products using SaaS. SaaS devops is obviously a huge topic, and not everybody needs to see the big picture all at once. One way to break it down is to stack up the technologies and management practices in the SaaS Devops Map.

The map breaks down SaaS devops technologies into 11 categories. Not everybody needs to understand every part of the map. If you are trying to get started with automation or break some logjams, dive into the blue portions of the map. However, for big companies or Center of Excellence (CoE) staff, you should make sure you have all 11 categories covered in your SaaS devops management plan.

And then there are the cultural aspects of devops that gives it the power to transform organizations. When people talk about a devops culture, they are really focusing on two things devops encourages: scientific thinking and continuous learning. 

Devops improves processes in your organization. When well-managed, some organizations extend devops and value stream management to all operational activities, not just IT-related. This is when devops becomes the instrumentation of a finely tuned engine that lets operators pass their competitors with ease.