In-House vs Outsourced DevOps: How to Choose

DevOps, a fusion of “development” and “operations,” serves as an integral cog in the modern business machine. By bridging the gap between developers and IT staff, DevOps fosters a more cohesive, collaborative, and effective work environment that ultimately improves the speed, efficiency, and quality of delivery for your software and systems.

Markets and Markets predicted that the DevOps market will grow by almost 20% annually until 2028. As the importance and popularity of DevOps has grown, so too has the dilemma faced by many companies: do we maintain an in-house team or do we outsource our needs to a specialist? 

This decision between in-house and outsourced DevOps is no trivial matter. Making the choice marks a strategic point that can significantly impact your business operations, culture, and bottom line. Variables like control, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and expertise in DevOps consulting can all change significantly based on your decision.

To navigate this choice, you must compare the two models. Once you understand the benefits and challenges of each DevOps model, you can gain insight into the best possible choice to enhance your business value.

Understanding In-House DevOps

As its name suggests, in-house DevOps means hiring your own team of professionals who are well-versed in the principles of the DevOps concept and how it benefits your company. These individuals work for your business, and only for your business, at all times.

Undoubtedly, the control and integration that the in-house DevOps model offers can be appealing. With your internal DevOps team sitting in the same building, or at least connecting via your company’s communication channels, you can have direct oversight of their work, ensuring alignment with your company’s culture, goals, and methodologies.

However, the in-house model is not without its challenges. The cost of hiring, training, and retaining skilled DevOps professionals can be substantial. That cost only goes up when looking for professionals with existing experience in DevOps.

Just as importantly, the rapidly evolving nature of software development means that your internal DevOps team will need to be continually upskilled to stay abreast of the latest DevOps strategies, practices, and technologies, requiring a cost and time investment that can be significant.

Understanding Outsourced DevOps

The potential downsides of in-house professionals suggest a natural alternative: outsourcing your DevOps needs to a specialist firm. The outsourced DevOps model offers a range of benefits, including:

• Cost-effectiveness, as you’ll only need to pay for the hours spent specifically on DevOps services performed on behalf of your business
• Access to a larger pool of expertise, enabling you to tap into a broad talent pool of DevOps professionals who aren’t necessarily needed full-time
• Scalability, thanks to the capability and flexibility to increase or decrease your investment in DevOps services at any given time

Managed DevOps providers are experts in their field, staying on top of the latest DevOps strategies, trends, and technologies, so you don’t need to. Managed DevOps providers can scale their services to match your needs, whether you’re a startup looking for foundational support or an established company needing to ramp up your operations.

Outsourcing your DevOps services through Managed DevOps comes with some challenges as well. Communication can sometimes be a hurdle, especially if the provider is in a different time zone. Data security can also be a concern, as sensitive information will need to be shared with an external party. A strong relationship with your DevOps provider is key to navigating both challenges, requiring careful consideration of the partner you choose.

Comparing In-House DevOps to Outsourced DevOps

Given the advantages and disadvantages of both hiring internal DevOps experts or outsourcing to external experts, it’s worth considering just how the two models stack up when comparing the pros and cons related to common factors such as cost, expertise, scalability, control, and security.

• Cost
• Expertise
• Scalability
• Control
• Security

Outsourcing DevOps tends to be more cost-effective, because you only pay for actual work performed and don’t need to consider indirect costs, such as benefits for full-time employees.

Outsourcing provides access to more initial DevOps expertise. You can get exactly the help you need right away. In-house DevOps, on the other hand, provides more control over professional development and ongoing training.

Expanding or reducing your in-house staff is not easy. In contrast, simply outsourcing more or less DevOps work during a given month is inherently more scalable.

In-house DevOps provide direct control within the larger organization, including the ability to report on progress and direct efforts within the team.

Outsourced DevOps partners may not always follow your own data security policies. Choosing a partner that prioritizes security concerns is important.

Given this direct comparison of the DevOps delivery models, the benefits of outsourcing DevOps can outweigh the challenges. Access to a pool of DevOps experts who are always up to date with the latest practices and technologies, coupled with the ability to scale services as needed, can provide a significant advantage in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Working with a Managed DevOps partnerthat also offers managed cloud services can help to elevate your company’ssoftware development and delivery efforts.

3 Factors to Consider When Choosing Between In-House and Outsourced DevOps

When making the choice between managing DevOps in-house and outsourcing DevOps, 3 factors are particularly relevant to make the best possible use of your resources:

1. Your Business Size
2. Your Budget
3. Your Specific Needs

For example, a small startup may not have the DevOps consulting resources to maintain a fully staffed in-house DevOps team. An outsourced team will bring more value and expertise for less.

Large corporations with a hefty budget may be accustomed to the control and integration possibilities that hiring in-house DevOps experts can provide. That said, outsourcing DevOps is still a better choice for maintaining a healthy budget and keeping the focus on your business needs while still accessing the right DevOps operations expertise.

Outline exactly what you need your DevOps efforts to achieve and then evaluate that goal against the difference between in-house and outsourced DevOps options.

Ultimately, your decision on DevOps delivery should always be based on which option brings the most value to your business. Consider the long-term implications of your choice and how it aligns with your company’s software delivery goals and strategies.

Take the Next Step in Your DevOps Implementation

The decision between in-house and outsourced DevOps needs to be strategic. Both DevOps models come with their own benefits and challenges, and the choice largely depends on your company’s specific needs, goals, and resources. Thinking the decision through by considering factors such as your business size, budget, and specific software delivery needs can bring significant long-term benefits to achieve your desired DevOps operations results.

If outsourcing DevOps is the right fit for your company, Macedon Technologies is the ideal choice for a Managed DevOps partner. We are DevOps consultants and experts at software development with a specialization in business process automation. Macedon has a successful track record of working with companies in key industries to develop custom solutions that streamline workflows.

Ready to explore the benefits of outsourced DevOps for your business? Talk to an expert today to get started.