DevOps is an amalgamation of the words development and operations and the inclusion of DevOps lifecycle in the software development lifecycle itself makes scalable initiatives robust and optimal.

What is the DevOps Lifecycle?

Back in the stone-age era of software development, each aspect of the software development process was siloed and mostly an afterthought whilst approaching the problem using a waterfall methodology.

Given that most organizations are adopting the fail fast approach to software development and focusing on developing products swiftly and iteratively, the siloed approach becomes a Moo point (Joey from Friends calling it redundant!). That means that the entire team needs to be cognizant of all steps in the process and there is an overlap in execution responsibilities. Such a scenario warrants maximum automation,fault tolerance and reliability.

For enterprise and mid-market tech companies, stellar customer impact and surpassing yearly OKR(Objective-Key Results) goals could define the difference between sky-rocketing share values like NVIDIA vs going bankrupt. These are dependent on an effortless DevOps process that ensures that from the problem definition stage to deployment and post-production support stage,all steps are in sync and feeding back into the initial step to help enhance the product further.

The DevOps lifecycle is a continuous process,emphasis being on the word “Continuous”. It’s stages are:

1. Continuous Planning and Collaboration
2. Continuous Development and Building
3. Continuous Integration and Testing
4. Continuous Deployment and Operations
5. Continuous Monitoring and Feedback.

Key Stages of the DevOps Lifecycle

To get a deeper understanding of what the DevOps lifecycle comprises and to make it a little more relatable for folks who may be new to the concept, let us take an example of a factory that produces a screw. Below is a walkthrough of the screw manufacturing process:

Planning and Collaboration

After the company decides to make screw manufacturing their objective for the year,the first step is to decide on the type of screw,the raw material to be used, the physical traits etc.This process primarily focuses on ensuring that all actions that could contribute to the fulfillment of the objective are planned out in advance.

Akin to this process, in DevOps, the team (comprising Technical program/Project managers, engineering team,designers etc. plan what set of goals need to be achieved to attain the key results planned for in the Objective.
To learn more about how to hire the best technical project managers who help orchestrate entire initiatives so as to set the teams up for success, visit How to hire technical project managers.

All risks, dependencies, stakeholders and communication strategies are mapped out along with detailed specification documents and setting up agile processes for task management using tools like Azure DevOps, Trello etc. You can learn about how to build a robust DevOps implementation plan strategy here. This establishes the edifice of the level of collaboration needed during the software development process.

Development and Building

Next, the factory moves on to the building phase where molds are created for the right set of machines to build the screws.If there is a mistake in making the molds, the error is fixed and screws are built again.

In the DevOps lifecycle, this process entails procuring the right resources (software,hardware,people) to begin coding. Hiring the best DevOps engineer is imperative to kick off the development process.Learn more about it at How to hire a DevOps engineer.‍

The developer desktop is configured with automated unit test suites and source management tools are used to push individual units of source code files to the main repository (main storage of the code on cloud). Tools like Docker,Git etc are used to manage this process and the goal is to ensure consistency and accuracy in the code generation process. Code is peer-reviewed and any issues found during this phase again go back to the backlog to be resolved.

Continuous Integration and Testing

Before the screws actually go to the packaging stage, they are quality tested and evaluated for meeting specific industry standards.

Similarly, in the software development process, the quality of the code that is integrated into the master repository is tested and validated against automated testing frameworks. During continuous integration, global or industry specific standards or compliance metrics are also tested like SOX compliance, Security, Accessibility, GDPR etc.

The intent is to course correct through established feedback loops by fixing all the bugs resultant of the testing and increase the overall code stability.

Deployment and Operations

In this step,in  case of the factory manufacturing the screws, the screws would finally be dispatched to the storage or warehouses after being mass-produced.

Similarly, for software, the stable code produced in the previous step is deployed to production servers and continuous deployment is supported by establishing different kinds of deployment strategies like blue-green deployment. The intent is to ensure that the application has high availability,reliability and fault tolerance. A lot of automation is also plugged in to ensure that as need arises the cloud instances where the application is deployed can auto-scale,roll-back,spin up new instances of servers as needed.

Monitoring and Feedback

When the customers finally get the end product i.e. the screws, they have the power and means i.e. established feedback channels like customer service helpdesk to provide feedback on them.

In the software development world, this translates to creating telemetry systems for the final application,monitoring the threshold of established metrics for availability,reliability etc. and course correcting based on the metric values. Performance monitoring and using established customer feedback channels feeds into the continuous monitoring and continuous improvement aspect of devops.

Why the DevOps Lifecycle Matters for Tech Leaders

For CTOs, Technology Directors, and IT leaders in general, understanding and leveraging the DevOps lifecycle isn’t a luxury—it’s survival. When milliseconds in deployment speed can translate to millions in market advantage, the stakes are too high to operate on outdated systems. Let’s break down why this matters, using metrics that cut to the core of engineering and business success:

• Optimal DORA Metrics: Deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and mean time to recover (MTTR) aren’t just KPIs—they’re the pulse of your tech ecosystem. Achieving top performance in these areas reflects an organization that innovates rapidly and bounces back from failures with resilience.
• Fault Tolerance and Recovery: Systems with embedded DevOps practices experience fewer critical failures and recover faster when issues occur. For leaders, this translates into minimized operational risk and improved service reliability, which keeps stakeholders happy and reduces firefighting efforts.
• Cross-Team Collaboration: DevOps isn’t just about automation—it’s about breaking silos. Teams that collaborate across development, operations, and QA don’t just move faster; they identify blind spots before they become critical failures.
• Time-to-Market Efficiency: Faster deployments mean you’re not just keeping up with competitors—you’re staying ahead of them. Whether it’s a product launch or a security patch, a DevOps-centric approach ensures that time-sensitive updates don’t become liabilities.

Now, here’s the flip side of ignoring the DevOps lifecycle:

1. Missed Opportunities: Teams operating in silos often lack the real-time feedback loops that expose inefficiencies or areas for improvement.
2. Sluggish Deployment Pipelines: Without robust recovery and fault-tolerance mechanisms, every update becomes a potential bottleneck, dragging your team down.
3. Stakeholder Discontent: From system downtimes to subpar customer experiences, the ripple effects of poor DevOps practices directly impact your bottom line.

Modern tech environments demand high-quality, high-velocity development cycles. Enterprise-grade data engineering companies like Spotify and YouTube aren’t just aspirational—they’re proof that DevOps transforms the impossible into daily operations. From continuous integration to continuous delivery (CI/CD), these companies illustrate the power of automation, collaboration, and innovation.

For tech leaders, DevOps isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s the backbone of digital transformation. The question isn’t whether you can afford to adopt it. The real question is, can you afford not to?

How to Successfully Adopt the DevOps Lifecycle in Your Organization

Rolling out the DevOps lifecycle is less about flicking a switch and more about fostering a systematic, scalable transformation. Here’s how tech leaders can approach it effectively:

1. Start Small and Prove the Concept

‍Begin with a pilot project involving a single team. The objective is to uncover bottlenecks, validate resource allocation, and evaluate scalability before a broader rollout. This "test and learn" approach ensures minimal disruption while identifying what works. Remember, the mantra here is simple: rinse, repeat, and scale.

2. Leverage Existing Tools for Automation

‍Forget reinventing the wheel. Industry-standard tools like Azure DevOps, Jenkins, and Google Cloud Platform come equipped with built-in best practices for rollouts. They streamline CI/CD pipelines, version control, and monitoring, providing a strong foundation for early adoption. Select tools that align with your existing tech stack to avoid compatibility headaches and accelerate time to value.

3. Drive a Cultural Shift from the Top Down

‍Technology is only half the battle. The real game-changer is culture. Leadership must actively champion DevOps as more than just a process—it’s a mindset shift. Foster open communication, host workshops to address concerns, and share case studies that demonstrate tangible benefits. Keep metrics front and center to align conversations with business outcomes, ensuring that every stakeholder sees how DevOps positively impacts their domain.

4. Monitor, Measure, and Iterate

‍Build feedback loops into every stage of the adoption process. Monitor deployment success rates, change lead times, and failure recovery metrics to pinpoint areas of improvement. Adapt your DevOps processes based on this data, and use Objective-Key Results (OKRs) to ensure alignment across teams. Customer feedback and performance insights should drive these iterations to keep the organization moving in the right direction.

5. Tailor to Fit Your Organization

‍There’s no one-size-fits-all in DevOps. The key is to craft a strategy that reflects your organizational culture, scale, and operational goals. This involves aligning your tech stack, workflows, and team structures to the unique needs of your business.

Adopting DevOps is a journey, not a sprint. Start small, automate wisely, lead culturally, and evolve through continuous feedback. By doing so, you’ll create a DevOps way of life that scales with your organization’s ambitions.

Common Challenges in the DevOps Lifecycle and How to Solve Them

Implementing DevOps isn't easy, but most common problems now have solutions.

• Resistance to Change: One reason that teams are reluctant to embrace DevOps is for fear of disruption. Internal buy-in begins with explicit communication that points to the bottom line benefits for example faster delivery and increased reliability. Engage key stakeholders up front, provide training, and illustrate winning stories in order to reduce resistance.
• Tool Sprawl: The plethora of DevOps tools available in the market can give rise to confusion and inefficiencies. To avoid this, choose the right tools to suit your needs and ensure that they are compatible with other software you use; focus on multi-purpose platforms like CI/CD, IaC, or monitoring, more than one-trick ponies
• Lack of Expertise: DevOps involves highly skilled labor that is in short supply. External support such as MSH's talent and consulting services can help bridge the gap with the help of professsionals or help create a strong internal DevOps practice yourself.
• Security Concerns: Integrating security into every lifecycle phase aligns with DevOps principles. DevSecOps ensures vulnerabilities are addressed at the start, without compromising the need for speed of delivery to market, ensuring that the first dose of fix isn't just more headache in future.

MSH’s Role in Your DevOps Journey

By combining deep experience in the DevOps space and proprietary technology, MSH can expertly guide companies through their DevOps transformation.Adopting a seamless operation, MSH makes for faster deployment of new products, improved cooperation between groups and stellar results that you can measure.Trusted for over a decade by both mid-market and large companies, MSH provides tailored solutions that scale with you.

"DevOps isn't just about tools, it's also about changing your mindset and work habits. At MSH we help customers make this transformation with ease." To learn more about DevOps, explore devops implementation plan strategy or get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

‍

-----------

Sources

https://gdpr.eu/

https://www.ibm.com/topics/sox-compliance

https://asana.com/resources/waterfall-project-management-methodology

‍