Software development continues to be more complex and more distributed in both use and design.

With every new innovation, the game changes a bit more in terms of how software programs are engineered and the role of each part of the process.

Whether working across different locations in different parts of the world, or simply on different devices using different systems, programmers and IT professionals need the right tools – collaborative tools.

Cloud automation is a practice that is helping the DevOps approach increase productivity and make software development much more efficient.

The link between cloud computing and software development

The cloud computing industry is now valued in the billions, with both the infrastructure and application markets blossoming at an impressive pace.

More people are now working between desktop and mobile. They may be working between multiple desktop and mobile workstations and any given project could have dozens or even hundreds of participants.

Leveraging talents in this way is wise, but it is only feasible for creating good end-results if all members of the team can work collaboratively. To break down the constraints of both physical barriers and device limitations, more organizations are now turning to the cloud.

Given the flexibility of using the cloud, software development teams have now built their operations around it. Cloud DevOps is the process of building, testing and delivering software entirely through a virtual platform in the cloud. This allows the entire software building process to be done in a single virtual location from development through all deployments. Cloud DevOps allow a team to quickly develop software while maintaining a single, updated version.

Essentially, cloud automation aims to make the cloud computing process as fast and efficient as possible. This is done by putting all (or as many as possible) of the tools and resources used by team memories in a virtual environment accessible through the cloud.

What resources should cloud automation solutions have?

As mentioned, the innovations in software development continue as time goes on and new tools are devised. These don’t just change what developers work on – they change how developers work.

Long gone are the days of simply typing up code, testing it and shipping the results off to the next highest person in the chain. Now multiple parties and companies are coming together in a cloud environment.

What do they need to accomplish this? Here are some specific features to look for in DevOps cloud automation:

• Universality: Cloud platforms must have the necessary architecture to support the technologies and tools programmers use.
• Full Automation: Smart systems can automate the tools companies use, their communication platforms, project data management systems and much more.
• Cloud Registry: Just like computers have registries to help manage core program components, cloud systems can have registries too – meaning programs can be coded, tested and run all on the cloud.
• Security: Operating in the cloud can actually be safer for your data than a local storage solution. Find a cloud service with real-time monitoring and other security measures including strong password protection.

These are just a few of the examples. Features like these can help talented programmers deliver a product faster and cheaper than the old way of doing things.

Move together faster with cloud computing

Program development and implementation are two parts of the same equation – why not approach the process as a single task?

Cloud automation is the tool for leveraging workforce specialists, boosting efficiency, and unlocking real possibilities for a distributed workflow.

Additionally, leveraging the cloud during deployment can simplify. With a single source as the most recent version, issues like compatibility problems or distribution complexities vanish and operations can be fully automatic. This significantly reduces the need for endless meetings and interactions between development teams, operations and business leaders.

The cloud isn’t just the hard drive anymore, it’s the development floor and the center of operations.