Agile, DevOps, and Azure Overview

DevOps is a modern application development and delivery approach that helps organizations release quality software more quickly into production with fewer defects! However, the benefits of adopting a DevOps approach are not realized in isolation. They are best realized in conjunction with other concepts such as Agile planning and cloud computing.

Most of this book focuses on DevSecOps, but in this chapter, we will begin with an introduction to DevOps for those unfamiliar with the concept. We will introduce the working definition of DevOps, which we will use for the rest of the book. We will discuss the stages in a DevOps workflow and the five core DevOps implementation practices. We will also explain the relationship between Agile, DevOps, and cloud computing, the security challenges of implementing DevOps, and how organizations can start to address those challenges.

By the end of this chapter, you will have a good understanding of the following:

• What DevOps is
• The five core practices of DevOps
• The stages in a DevOps workflow
• The importance of a collaborative culture in DevOps
• The DevOps anti-types to watch out for
• The DevOps toolchain (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and GitLab)
• The why of DevOps
• The relationship between Agile, DevOps, and cloud computing

These topics will equip you with the essential foundational knowledge to understand and contextualize the discussions presented throughout the remainder of this book. Now, let’s dive in and begin our journey!