Question 1

What is a DevOps consulting company?

Accepted Answer

A DevOps consulting company provides organizations guidance, expertise, and services related to DevOps (Development and Operations) principles and practices. It encompasses many tools, practices, and cultures to improve team collaboration and communication and automate processes and technologies.

A professional DevOps consulting company can:

Create a custom roadmap for DevOps adoption
Strategize ways to improve processes and performance
Integrate automation into the development processes
Plan, schedule, and control software releases
Promote collaboration between development, testing, and operations teams
Address security vulnerabilities

DevOps consultants provide three types of on-site consulting services:

Technical consulting: Provides technical expertise and guidance in designing and developing a DevOps strategy that meets the client’s needs. DevOps practices and tools, such as continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) and cloud computing platforms, are also implemented and optimized to create a more efficient and collaborative software development lifecycle.
Strategic consulting: Assisting clients in identifying pain points in their existing processes and creating a DevOps assessment based on that information. The firm defines the goals, objectives, and long-term plans for DevOps implementation and recommends tools and methods needed to achieve them.
Operational consulting: The agency collaborates with the client’s development and IT teams and other stakeholders to monitor and optimize their DevOps processes. It also provides insights and guidance on improving collaboration between the development and operations teams.

DevOps consulting has become essential for the growth of businesses like Handy AI, a virtual assistant services provider. Looking to expand its reach in the European market, Handy AI partnered with IT Outposts to help them migrate their internal infrastructure to the cloud while minimizing costs. The DevOps consulting agency must also provide workflow assistance in CI/CD implementation, cluster maintenance, and support for the in-house dev team.

After a thorough assessment of the client’s infrastructure, IT Outposts made recommendations and implemented solutions to streamline the development workflow. This included AWS resource optimization and scaling, introducing a GitOps approach to CI/CD processes, and platform migration. The result was a 40% reduction in the internal infrastructure budget, automation of time-consuming, repetitive tasks, and constant monitoring and assistance to the tech team.

Question 2

What services do DevOps consulting companies provide?

Accepted Answer

DevOps consulting companies offer various services to help companies adopt DevOps practices and technologies within their organization. Some of those services include:

DevOps assessment and strategy: Review and audit the client’s existing processes and create a DevOps roadmap based on that information. The DevOps consulting firm will also identify weak points and potential bottlenecks in the processes and create an action plan to address them.
CI/CD implementation: The agency applies CI/CD methodologies across the organization, including merging code changes in a central repository, creating an automated build system to verify integrations and conduct tests, and fixing errors and integrations as early as possible. The consultants also recommend how to configure Kubernetes and other CI/CD tools and manage various automation processes.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC): A DevOps consulting firm implements and configures critical infrastructure components such as virtual machines, networks, servers, and storage according to the DevOps methodology. It also automates infrastructure management tasks.
Testing automation: Automating the entire QA process, including UI tests, integration, security, and performance tests, using specialized software tools and scripts. Depending on the project, this may apply to various devices, browsers, and platforms.
Infrastructure monitoring: Special monitoring tools and processes define and control the parameters for the data centers, networks, hardware, and software data critical to the client’s operations. They also identify errors, vulnerabilities, and other issues that cause system failures and performance degradation.
Cloud computing: The agency collaborates with clients to plan their cloud strategy and assist in moving their databases, services, and digital assets and resources to the cloud securely and efficiently. The agency develops and implements processes and practices to improve the performance of the client’s cloud platform in a scalable manner.
Configuration management: Covers the management and maintenance of applications and infrastructure components to ensure their reliability. Specifically, the consulting firm will track, control, and manage changes in the software, hardware, and system components so that they are all properly documented, versioned, and easily restored to a known state as necessary.
Monitoring and logging: Implement and set up tools and processes to collect, analyze, and visualize data from various sources within the IT ecosystem. It uses data to identify issues, optimize system performance, and make decisions based on that information.
Governance and compliance: The DevOps consulting firm assists the client in establishing a robust governance framework that controls application development, testing, deployment, and management so that they comply with industry regulatory standards. The firm also guides the management of changes and achieves scalability without compromising the organization’s security and compliance.
Project recovery: A specialized service that rescues and restores failing or problematic DevOps projects, such as missing deadlines, budget overruns, substandard performance and deliverables, and lack of alignment with the business goals. The firm works with the client to identify the root causes of these problems, develop strategies to address them and take corrective actions.

Question 3

Why should I hire a DevOps consulting company?

Accepted Answer

A DevOps consulting company can offer the expertise and assistance businesses need to successfully adopt DevOps practices within their organization. These, in turn, can lead to many substantial benefits, such as:

Shorter lead times. Companies adopting DevOps practices have 200x faster lead times for changes than non-adopters. The same companies have reported 2.8x more frequent deployments and can deploy updates 30 times more often.
Increased system stability and reliability. A DevOps consulting firm can help businesses reduce their reliance on manual deployments, which can lead to poor productivity and run the risk of human error and delays. In contrast, organizations implementing automated deployments through CI/CD pipelines have reported a 60% decrease in deployment failures.
Faster time-to-market. By automating the software development process and optimizing the development lifecycle, DevOps enables businesses to roll out new features and updates up to 70% faster.
A more stable and resilient operating environment.
Better customer experience. Integrating development and operations teams also improves customer response times, resulting in a 65% improvement in customer satisfaction.
Improved collaboration and communication. A DevOps consultant can break down silos, implement effective communication channels, and foster collaboration between teams. This results in more streamlined processes and less team friction.
Less downtime. DevOps consulting agencies have the tools and expertise to monitor, log, and analyze processes and applications effectively. They can use the resulting data to detect and report errors before they impact user experience and recover from critical failures up to 24 times faster.

ScienceSoft, a Texas-based DevOps consulting firm, partnered with German video game studio Yager Development to optimize the cloud infrastructure of one of its massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. While transitioning from AWS to the Azure platform, Yager reported performance issues in their MMO game and tasked ScienceSoft to help fix the problem.

In two weeks, ScienceSoft audited the client’s infrastructure and architecture and recommended areas for improvement. Six months later, Yager had a scalable and reliable pipeline to process data in real-time. ScienceSoft also updated the company’s IaC, improved its CI/CD workflow, and set up cloud infrastructure monitoring that collected essential metrics and notified the support team of critical events.

Question 4

What is the difference between a DevOps Consultant and a DevOps Engineer?

Accepted Answer

While they may share similar goals, a DevOps consultant has many distinct differences that set it apart from a DevOps engineer. These include:

Role

A DevOps consultant is a certified professional trained to provide insights, train employees, and resolve issues regarding DevOps practices and technology.
A DevOps engineer is an in-house tech specialist who implements DevOps practices within the company according to an established roadmap.

Engagement

DevOps consultants work with multiple clients on a per-project basis. They complete their work within a short time frame.
DevOps engineers work with only one company for an extended period.

Responsibilities

DevOps consultants assess infrastructure, identify areas of improvement, develop implementation strategies, and help resolve specific issues.
DevOps engineers help clients build software and develop, deploy, and release code according to DevOps practices.

Cost

DevOps consultants typically charge clients per hour or project
DevOps engineers receive a salary after each task

Some DevOps consulting companies now offer both DevOps consulting and engineering services.

Question 5

How much do DevOps consulting services cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of hiring a DevOps consulting company depends on several factors. For instance, many consulting firms charge an hourly rate. In the US, the average rate is $58 per hour and can reach as high as $85. Some agencies may also offer project-based pricing, especially if the project is large or requires comprehensive DevOps implementation.

Other factors that include the total cost are:

The consulting company’s experience and industry reputation
The geographical location of the client
The scope of services to render
The size of the consulting team needed for the project
Specific tools and technologies used
Cloud integration and optimization
The use of custom-made solutions instead of off-the-shelf services

At DesignRush, the top 50 DevOps consulting companies charge an average hourly rate of $51. Approximately 7% of the agencies listed on DesignRush will take on projects with a minimum budget of less than $1,000, while 8% require a $50,000+ minimum budget.

Question 6

How do I choose the best DevOps consulting company for my business?

Accepted Answer

Here are important steps to follow when looking for a DevOps consulting firm:

Define your objectives: List the specific requirements of a consulting firm. Are you looking for advice on a certain tool or software? Do you need guidance on DevOps practices, or are you having difficulties implementing one?
Identify the skill set needed. Once you’ve identified your objectives, list the specific skills and technology the consulting firm needs to achieve them. This may include tools and expertise in automation, CI/CD, IaC, and monitoring. Make sure that the consultant you choose aligns with these requirements.
Set your budget. Consulting fees vary widely, so set a specific amount you can allocate for the project. Having a clear budget in mind will allow you to narrow down your list of potential firms and identify which consulting services you need or don’t need.
Search the Internet. Agency directories like DesignRush are a good place to start looking for prospects. As a rule of thumb, look for companies with a high ranking and good reviews.
Check their website. The company’s website contains essential information like its core services, tech stack, areas of expertise, industry certifications, how long they’ve been in business, and the customers they’ve worked with.
Review their past work. Check the portfolio, case studies, and testimonials. These can indicate how effective the company was in achieving its objectives. Industry awards and recognitions are also a plus.
Read client reviews. DesignRush and Google are reliable sources for authentic client reviews. While overwhelmingly positive feedback is a plus, criticism can provide insight into how a company deals with client issues. If the company took tangible steps to address a client’s negative review, for example, it shows their dedication towards quality and customer satisfaction.
Consider cultural fit. DevOps consultants will become part of your team throughout the project, so they must mesh well with your company’s culture, values, and work ethic.
Establish communication: Collaboration is critical in a DevOps environment, so you should choose a consulting company that offers appropriate text and voice communication tools and effectively communicates ideas and concerns with your team.
Request for proposals: Once you’ve made a shortlist of candidates who meet your criteria, send a request for proposal (RFP) for each one. The RFP should indicate the project timeline, budget, estimated costs, and other key details relevant to your organization.
Make a decision: Choose the agency that best aligns with your requirements.

Not sure where to look? Let DesignRush guide you to the right DevOps consulting company for your needs. Go to our Marketplace, share some basic information, and we’ll send you a list of our five best DevOps Consulting Services free of charge.

Question 7

What are the key success metrics utilized by DevOps consulting companies?

Accepted Answer

Established DevOps consulting firms rely on multiple success metrics to evaluate performance and ensure they meet target objectives. These metrics vary from one company to another, but the most important ones to look out for include:

Lead time for changes: Represents the duration between making a code change to the trunk branch and completing testing to prepare for deployment. A short lead time should indicate faster development cycles and efficient, error-free workflows.
Change failure rate: Measures the percentage of code changes that require hotfixes or post-deployment remediation (except for failures caught during testing). Companies should strive for a low failure rate, indicating stable releases and robust testing practices.
Deployment frequency: Tracks the frequency of releasing new codes into production. It distinguishes between any code changes deployed to pre-production environments and those released into production. If an organization has frequent deployments, it indicates agile and responsive workflows.
Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR): Calculates the recovery time from partial service interruptions and total system failures. This also applies to cases where the interruption is due to recent deployments or isolated incidents. The DevOps firm should keep this as short as possible to minimize downtime and its impact on users.
Cycle time: Indicates the time a team spends working on an item until it is ready to ship. This metric helps project leads and managers better understand the development pipeline and optimize processes to meet customers’ and stakeholders’ expectations.

Question 8

What questions should I ask before hiring a DevOps consulting firm?

Accepted Answer

The following are some recommended questions to ask when choosing a DevOps consulting services provider:

Relevant Background

How long has your company been doing DevOps consulting?
Who are the notable clients you’ve worked with in the past?
Could you provide an instance of a significant improvement you’ve implemented in a previous DevOps role?
What certifications and tech stack does your company have?
Which DevOps tools are you most comfortable with and why?

Company Services and Processes

What are the DevOps consulting and other relevant services do you offer?
How do you measure the success of a DevOps initiative?
How would you implement CI/CD and other DevOps practices for this project?
How would you manage the DevOps process in a multi-cloud environment?
What strategies do you use to manage and maintain configuration management?
How did you implement containerization in past projects, and what tools did you use?
How do you ensure your team is updated with the latest DevOps tools and practices?
What is your approach towards automating a manual process?
How do you ensure security and compliance when setting up DevOps processes?

The Project

How long do you expect this project to take?
How do you handle critical system failures?
How would you approach and resolve a complex system issue?
How do you ensure that different teams are in sync and communicate effectively?
How do you handle feedback and criticism from team members?
What measurable ROI should we expect from this project?
Do you provide long-term support services?

Question 9

What are the best DevOps consulting companies in the U.S.?

Accepted Answer

The top DevOps consulting companies in the US are:

Urolime Technologies
- 4.9 stars on Google (61 reviews)
- Notable clients: Intel, Wheedle, LeadFerret, VAT19, Carnival Cinemas
ScienceSoft
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (9 reviews)
- 4.6 stars on Google (61 reviews)
- Notable clients: IBM, Child Mind Institute, bioAffinity Technologies, Rivanna, HealthPoint Plus
Hyperlink InfoSystem
- 4.7 stars on DesignRush (4 reviews)
- 4.9 stars on Google (39 reviews)
- Notable clients: Papa John’s, Astral Pipes, Tata Power, Zydus Verify, Q-SYS
Unified Infotech
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (24 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (16 reviews)
- Notable clients: Citibank, NBCUniversal, United Nations, McGraw Hill, Colorcon
Binmile
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (10 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (9 reviews)
- Notable clients: AiDash, Samsung SDS, Adani Digital, IndiGo, Reliance

Top DevOps Consulting Companies

List of the Best DevOps Consulting Services

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