Enterprise DevOps Checklist

A comprehensive checklist for implementing and maintaining enterprise-grade DevOps practices, focusing on automation, continuous integration/delivery, infrastructure as code, monitoring, and collaboration. This checklist covers essential DevOps principles while embracing modern tools and methodologies.

CI/CD Pipeline

Required

Source Control Strategy
Implement Git-based version control with clear branching strategy (e.g., GitFlow, trunk-based development).
Automated Build Process
Set up automated build pipelines with proper dependency management and artifact generation.
Automated Testing
Implement comprehensive automated testing including unit, integration, and end-to-end tests.
Deployment Automation
Automate deployment processes with proper environment management and rollback capabilities.

Suggested

Pipeline Visualization
Implement pipeline visualization tools for better visibility and monitoring.
Release Management
Implement release management tools and processes for coordinated deployments.

Infrastructure as Code

Required

Infrastructure Templates
Maintain infrastructure templates using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or Pulumi.
Configuration Management
Implement configuration management using tools like Ansible, Chef, or Puppet.
Secret Management
Use secure secret management solutions for sensitive configuration data.
Infrastructure Testing
Implement automated testing for infrastructure code and configurations.

Suggested

Policy as Code
Implement infrastructure policies using tools like OPA or HashiCorp Sentinel.
Infrastructure Documentation
Maintain automated infrastructure documentation and diagrams.

Containerization & Orchestration

Required

Container Strategy
Define container strategy including image management and security policies.
Container Registry
Set up secure container registry with proper access controls and scanning.
Orchestration Platform
Implement container orchestration using Kubernetes or similar platforms.
Container Security
Implement container security scanning and runtime protection.

Suggested

Service Mesh
Implement service mesh for advanced networking and security features.
Container Monitoring
Set up specialized container and orchestration monitoring tools.

Monitoring & Observability

Required

Metrics Collection
Implement comprehensive metrics collection across all system components.
Log Management
Set up centralized logging with proper retention and search capabilities.
Alerting System
Implement automated alerting with proper escalation policies.
Performance Monitoring
Set up end-to-end performance monitoring and tracing.

Suggested

Custom Dashboards
Create role-specific dashboards for different stakeholders.
AI-Powered Monitoring
Implement AI/ML-based monitoring and anomaly detection.

Security & Compliance

Required

Security Scanning
Implement automated security scanning in CI/CD pipelines.
Compliance Automation
Automate compliance checks and reporting processes.
Access Management
Implement proper access controls and authentication across tools.
Audit Logging
Maintain comprehensive audit logs for all system changes.

Suggested

Security Training
Provide regular security training for DevOps teams.
Threat Modeling
Implement regular threat modeling for infrastructure and pipelines.

Collaboration & Culture

Required

Documentation Strategy
Maintain comprehensive, up-to-date documentation for all processes.
Communication Channels
Establish clear communication channels and protocols for teams.
Knowledge Sharing
Implement regular knowledge sharing sessions and documentation updates.
Incident Management
Define clear incident management and post-mortem processes.

Suggested

DevOps Training
Provide regular DevOps training and certification opportunities.
Metrics Dashboard
Create dashboards for tracking team and process metrics.

Disaster Recovery

Required

Backup Strategy
Implement comprehensive backup strategy with regular testing.
Recovery Plans
Document and regularly test disaster recovery procedures.
Business Continuity
Define and maintain business continuity plans and procedures.
Data Recovery
Implement and test data recovery procedures for all critical systems.

Suggested

Chaos Engineering
Implement chaos engineering practices to test system resilience.
Recovery Automation
Automate recovery procedures where possible for faster response.