What is DevOps, and Why Should I Care

DevOps—it’s one of those buzzwords that everyone talks about, but when you ask what it actually means, you might get more confused answers than you started with. So, let’s cut through the noise and talk about what DevOps really is, why it’s important, and—most importantly—why you should care.

What is DevOps, Really?

DevOps is a combination of “Development” and “Operations,” but that’s just the start. At its core, DevOps is a set of practices, principles, and tools that help bridge the gap between software development and IT operations. It’s about making things work better together—developers, IT, and even other parts of the business—so that we can build, deploy, and manage systems faster and with fewer issues.

In more straightforward terms, DevOps is about collaboration and breaking down silos. It’s about automating the boring stuff, making sure changes don’t break everything, and creating a culture where everyone takes ownership of the system’s success.

Why the Confusion?

The reason my colleague could say you’d get ten different answers from five people is that DevOps isn’t a single tool, a job title, or even a specific process—it’s a philosophy. Depending on who you ask, DevOps might mean automating infrastructure, improving collaboration, speeding up deployments, or even changing company culture. And, truth be told, it’s all of those things—and none of them at the same time.

The beauty of DevOps is that it’s adaptable. It can mean different things to different teams, and it can be applied in unique ways depending on what you need. This flexibility is what makes it so powerful, but also why defining it succinctly can feel like catching smoke.

Why Should You Care?

Alright, so we’ve established that DevOps is a bit nebulous—but why does it matter to you and your business?

• Faster and More Reliable Changes: DevOps practices help teams make changes to IT systems more quickly and with fewer problems. Imagine being able to roll out new capabilities, updates, or configurations faster and with more confidence—that’s the DevOps dream for any business, not just software teams.
• Efficiency Through Automation: DevOps loves automation. By automating repetitive IT tasks, you free up time, reduce human error, and allow your team to focus on strategic work. Automation is a tangible step that delivers immediate value.
• Improved Collaboration: One of the key pillars of DevOps is breaking down silos between teams. This means better communication between departments, fewer bottlenecks, and a more cohesive approach to solving problems.
• Reduced Downtime and Better Stability: By continuously monitoring and testing, DevOps helps catch problems before they become full-blown incidents. It’s about being proactive rather than reactive.

How Can You Start with DevOps Today?

You don’t need to transform your entire company overnight to benefit from DevOps. Start small. Pick one task that can be automated—maybe setting up new employee accounts or running software updates—and automate it. This single step can begin your journey toward a more efficient and scalable IT setup.

DevOps is less about adopting specific tools or processes and more about changing how you think about technology’s role in your business. It’s about leveraging technology to work smarter, not harder, and fostering a culture of shared responsibility.

Conclusion

DevOps may mean different things to different people, but at its heart, it’s about collaboration, efficiency, and creating systems that help your business grow without the usual tech headaches. So, the next time someone asks, “What the hell is DevOps?” you can smile and say, “It’s how we make everything work better together.”

Next Steps

Ready to take the first step? Check out our blog post on The Most Impactful First Step to Apply DevOps Principles Today to see how automation can kickstart your DevOps journey.

What will be your first move?