Devops vs. Production Support: What Are the Differences?
Learn about the two careers and review some of the similarities and differences between them.
DevOps and production support are both essential roles in the software development process. Though they share some similarities, there are several key differences between them. In this article, we discuss the differences between devops and production support, and we provide additional information about each role.
What is a Devops?
A Devops is a software development term for a set of practices that emphasize the collaboration and communication of both software developers and other information-technology (IT) professionals while automating the process of software delivery and infrastructure changes. It aims to help an organization rapidly produce software products and services.
What is a Production Support?
The role of production support is to ensure that the systems and applications that are critical to the business are up and running. They work closely with the development and operations teams to identify and resolve issues in a timely manner. Production Support also works with other teams, such as QA, to ensure that new code changes do not break existing functionality. They may also be responsible for monitoring systems and responding to alerts. In some cases, they may also be responsible for managing and deploying code changes.
Devops vs. Production Support
Here are the main differences between a Devops and a production support.
Job Duties
The primary difference between a devops professional and a production support professional is the duties they perform. Production support professionals focus on addressing issues that occur during the production process, such as when software crashes or users have complaints about the product. They may monitor user activity to identify trends and try to resolve issues before they affect customers.
In contrast, devops professionals work throughout all parts of the development and operations processes to ensure systems are robust and can handle any issues that arise. They may conduct testing after production support completes it, or they may address issues before production support notices them.
Job Requirements
DevOps and production support professionals typically need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another related field. They might also benefit from pursuing certifications in specific DevOps tools, such as Puppet, Chef or Ansible. Additionally, many employers prefer candidates who have experience working in a software development role.
Work Environment
Production support professionals work in a variety of environments, depending on the company. They may work in an office setting or in a manufacturing plant. Some production support professionals travel to different locations to provide technical assistance and troubleshooting for employees.
Devops professionals typically work in an office environment where they collaborate with other IT professionals to develop new products and services. However, some companies hire devops professionals to work remotely so that they can focus on projects without distractions from coworkers.
Skills
There are several similarities in the skills used by Devops and Production Support professionals. Both groups need to have strong problem-solving skills to identify issues and develop solutions. They also both need to be able to work well under pressure, as they often need to respond quickly to problems that arise.
There are also several differences in the skills used by these two groups. Devops professionals typically need to have more technical skills, as they are responsible for developing and maintaining software systems. They also need to be familiar with a wide range of tools and technologies, as they need to be able to select the right tool for each task. Production Support professionals usually need to have more customer service skills, as they are often the first point of contact for customers who are experiencing problems. They also need to be able to effectively communicate complex technical information to non-technical users.
Salary
DevOps engineers earn an average salary of $122,203 per year, while production support engineers earn an average salary of $47,768 per year. Both of these average salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.