Even as some of the world’s biggest banks still rely on old-school systems for their day-to-day transactions, the realm of banking operations remains a massive headache for just about every financial institution out there. 

IT teams are juggling a whole host of issues, from making things run smoother to keeping things safe and being ready to grow when needed. And with hackers getting smarter and customers expecting more, it’s a real challenge to stay ahead of the game.

In this discussion, we delve into the dynamics between platform engineering vs DevOps, exploring how their collaboration can foster harmony within banking operations. We’ll also emphasize the significance of equipping both teams with the necessary tools to thrive in their respective roles.

DevOps vs Platform Engineering: The Key Difference

The core difference between the DevOps team and the platform engineers lies in their fundamental approach to their to-do list:

• Platform engineers are in charge of laying the foundation for the company. They set up, implement, and maintain the core technology that supports the DevOps team.
• A DevOps team streamlines operations to meet the needs of employees and customers. They must adapt to rapid changes and require a robust framework to support their work.

If these two teams fail to collaborate effectively, the repercussions can extend throughout the software infrastructure, impacting various facets of banking operations.

Optimizing Processes: Platform Engineering Contributions

Platform engineers are responsible for architecting the infrastructure essential for software development, while banking managers oversee cloud assets, enhance security protocols, and optimize uptime for users. 

This collaborative team introduces new standards to ensure financial institutions remain agile amidst evolving threats and shifting consumer demands. Their pivotal role in the software lifecycle equips developers with the necessary tools to enhance all products effectively.

They often act as intermediaries within the organization. As end users and DevOps harbor distinct preferences regarding the programs utilized in the bank, platform engineers develop an environment that facilitates a middle ground between these two groups. They can reduce the tension in an organization, allowing for better customer service and client/employee relations.

Agility and Collaboration: Tenets of DevOps in Banking

The DevOps team oversees testing, development, and support for new software within the financial industry, which now operates on a global scale like never before. Amid constantly evolving regulations aimed at protecting the sensitive nature of transactions, the team is required to pivot at record-breaking speeds.

The rising prominence of DevOps teams signals a significant shift in the tech landscape. However, banks adhering to the traditional waterfall software model, characterized by siloed software phases and teams, encounter tangible obstacles. Such institutions aren’t just at risk of falling behind; they also face the potential of incurring hefty fines.

Globalization has made banks subject to rules from multiple governing bodies in various regions. Every year, new requirements debut and not all of them allow banks ample time to make changes.

How to Successfully Implement DevOps and Platform Engineering

Acknowledging the distinct identities of DevOps and platform engineering is crucial when integrating them effectively. Although it may seem convenient to task the DevOps team with environment creation for financial institutions, this approach risks blurring the lines of responsibility and potentially compromising the software’s functionality.

Ideally, you want your DevOps team and platform engineers to work together. DevOps informs the engineers of what they need, and platform engineers explain how they fulfill the requirements of different entities. The goal is to create a stable environment with scalable, flexible infrastructure to support workflows.

CI/CD Principles

Continuous integration (CI) and deployment (CD) are foundational practices in modern software development, particularly in the banking sector. These practices emphasize constant improvement and are facilitated by continuous communication between platform engineering and DevOps teams. By working together collaboratively, both teams ensure that everyone is aligned and informed well in advance of introducing new software programs or updates.

Regular collaboration between platform engineering and DevOps teams is essential for successful CI/CD implementation. This collaboration helps identify and address day-to-day challenges that hinder operational improvement. 

For example, if the infrastructure is poorly configured, the DevOps team may face delays in implementing necessary changes, resulting in longer lead times from software conception to release. By working together closely, these teams can streamline processes, optimize infrastructure, and ensure smoother software delivery pipelines.

Part of how DevOps teams streamline their workflow these days comes down to automation. Because their job duties differ, the two teams must leverage different tools to optimize success. Platform engineers will use tools to define the infrastructure, whereas the DevOps teams automates stages of the software delivery lifecycle.

Meet StackSpot

At StackSpot, we offer the industry’s leading Enterprise Developer Platform (EDP), designed to enhance the efficiency of development environments. Our platform ensures that developers have reliable infrastructure for building the bank’s technology, simplifying the packaging and distribution of multiple components. This capability enables teams to reuse assets strategically, aligning with the needs of the business and promoting greater efficiency in development processes.

AI assistants are also available that go beyond the standard code assistant capabilities. At StackSpot, your team supplies the Knowledge Sources for our AI Assistant, including the company’s standards and specific industry regulations. 

Thanks to emerging technology, our artificial intelligence can learn the individual styles of different banking institutions. This ability to contextualize ensures that language and frameworks are matched nearly pound for pound, which can result in anything from more secure code to faster transactions to more scalable platforms.

AI assistants don’t replace the DevOps team but free up their time from working through every line of code needed for software deployment. The right automation tools reduce the time between deployments and improve the quality and flexibility of the end products.

Bringing Platform Engineers and DevOps Together

It’s not a question of platform engineering vs. DevOps. The collaborative possibilities between the two teams are necessary for banks to thrive. This is especially true when you consider how many products are on the market to help the two come together.

The good news is that new automation tools, like StackSpot’s Enterprise Developer Platform and AI Assistant, can be the key to bridging the gap. Our AI Assistant tool doesn’t just suggest a few lines of basic code; it introduces automated innovation to your teams. This streamlines the work and provides a more straightforward path forward. After implementing this solution, DevOps and platform engineers can finally be on the same page.

To learn more about unlocking financial efficiency across your network, visit StackSpot Developer Platform page.