When you provide software as a service (SaaS), it is important to note that operations are just as significant as development, if not more so. You could have the best features in the market, but customers will leave if the service experiences frequent or lengthy downtime or is riddled with bugs in every update. You need to provide customers with value and do so consistently.

The marriage of development and operations from two disparate silos into what we know as DevOps was a game changer for SaaS. It enabled engineers to build software that they can expand, build upon, scale to accommodate a growing user base and improve based on customer feedback and requests. All team members that comprise DevOps can now synergistically work toward improving service stability and functionality. This transformation in the way SaaS products were developed and updated was like a leap from horse-drawn carriages to modern automobiles.

Step 1 of 7

14%

Which of the following best describes how you currently monitor and manage systems across your hybrid cloud environment?(Required)

Multiple separate tools for different environments

Multiple separate tools for different monitoring and management functions

Single consolidated dashboard

Custom built monitoring and management solution

No full monitoring and management solution

Don’t know

How valuable would it be for your monitoring and management solution to incorporate predictive analytics to help you identify and address system issues that are critical and not waste time or effort working through all the data and “noise” that is not critical?(Required)

Extremely valuable

Moderately valuable

Somewhat valuable

Slightly valuable

Not valuable

How do you most typically address potential system issues BEFORE they impact your operations?(Required)

Automated workflows and playbooks to remediate potential issues as soon as they are detected

An orchestrated response process that leverages automation, AI, and human expertise to rapidly respond to potential issues

Advanced monitoring tools such as predictive analytics and anomaly detection to proactively identify and address potential issues

Respond to issues as they arise, using manual processes and troubleshooting techniques

A combination of automated remediation, orchestrated response, and/or proactive monitoring to address potential system issues

Don’t know

Other

What methods does your organization use to control and monitor cloud/IT spending?(Required)

Centralized procurement processes

Pre-approved budget thresholds

Automated cost monitoring tools

Department-level spending controls

Regular cost audits and reviews

Cloud cost optimization platform

Approval workflows for resource provisioning

Native financial operations tools provided by the cloud provider

No formal controls in place

Don’t know

Other

Please specify:

Which methods do you rely on most to detect security vulnerabilities in your systems?(Required)

Automated scanning tools

Manual assessments

Vendor notifications

Threat modeling (for early detection)

None of these

Don’t know

Other

Please specify:

What are the TWO most common ways you prioritize vulnerabilities to address within your environment?(Required)

Based on potential impact

Based on exploitability

Regulatory compliance requirements

Based on CVSS scores

Risk-based analysis of multiple factors

First-in-first-out approach

No formal prioritization process

Don’t know

How do you typically handle system updates and security patches?(Required)

Automated updates and patches

Manually review and apply updates and patches on a regular schedule

A combination of automation and manual review

Apply updates and patches on an as-needed basis.

Outsourced update and patch management

No defined process

Don’t know

Other

Δ

And now, a new transformation is dawning on DevOps and SaaS, in the form of remote work. It might not be as fundamentally transformative for engineers as merging development and operations, but if remote work isn’t turning the automobile into an airplane, it is at least turning it into a Lamborghini.

Injecting remote work into the equation does not take away from the good that DevOps and SaaS have going for them — we already run everything through the cloud anyway. But we can go on to reap the benefits of remote work, such as having access to a global talent pool — with something as demanding as software, you don’t want to employ just anyone. Moreover, if your product is growing, you would need to expand your team to keep up with it.

There are other benefits like office space cost-cutting or 24-hour workflows utilizing employees from different time zones and more. This is without considering the benefits for the remote employees, such as work-life balance, no commuting or increased productivity (I don’t enter the office without noise-canceling headphones).

That said, a remote DevOps team is a machine that requires a lot of initial setup to run properly.

How to Bring Remote DevOps Productivity on Par or Beyond That of In-Office Teams

The benefits of remote work can be reaped if you use proper tools to facilitate remote collaboration and communication. Software is the glue that holds remote DevOps teams together. Speaking from experience, in addition to the tools used in the office for engineering, version control, testing and deployment, your DevOps team would find it hard to thrive in a remote environment without:

● Team chat software for seamless communication. Written communication goes a long way, but video conferencing is essential. Until VR/AR business tools perfect an actual virtual office space, this is the next best thing.
● Task management software goes without saying. In-office teams can’t do without this either, but for remote teams, you need more comprehensive features like activity logs that don’t expire. It is a big plus if you get something customizable since the whole company will likely use the same solution, so it would need to fit the workflows of all departments, especially the complicated workflow of DevOps.
● Scheduling software is a must. In an office setting, you can see if someone is or if they are currently busy in a meeting or idling away. Working remotely, you don’t have that luxury; but you also don’t want to disrupt your colleagues unnecessarily, so, anything that can reduce friction by openly displaying when team members are available and when they have meetings scheduled is essential. Aside from meetings, I schedule events in my calendar to give myself time to solve difficult problems without interruptions.
● Time tracking software to review progress and performance and identify bottlenecks. Some remote workers shy away from time trackers, thinking of them as monitoring software designed to micromanage employees remotely — it can be if in the wrong hands. But when used properly, it becomes a productivity tool that provides insight into workflow bottlenecks and helps you establish realistic estimates.

Remote Work is Transforming How DevOps Teams Operate in the SaaS Industry

In 2023, the market size of DevOps exceeded $10 billion and its rapid growth is predicted to only continue — remote work being a big factor in this growth. Remote work enables you to populate your team with skilled members than geographic limitations would otherwise allow.

Time will tell what impact this will have on the SaaS industry, but in my experience, remote work has greatly contributed to growth and improved operational efficiency. I can only imagine what kind of SaaS products globe-spanning DevOps teams would be able to conjure now that remote work isn’t such a rare occurrence. The next big SaaS solution is bound to be a team effort from various corners of the world.