6 DevOps Training Programs

When organizations make the decision to pursue a DevOps approach, they often find that their staff needs some training in order for the initiative to succeed.

In a recent interview, Jayne Groll, CEO of DevOps Institute, pointed out that developers and operations personnel who are new to DevOps often don't have all the necessary skills. For example, "It used to be that only QA [Quality Assurance] would go through testing training," she explained. But the continuous testing in DevOps has changed that. "Now development and operations teams — pretty much everyone in IT — needs to know how to test."

Similarly, the entire team needs to have at least a basic understanding of security, and operations needs to have some coding capabilities in order to manage their software-defined infrastructure. "Coding isn't just for developers anymore," Groll said.

In addition, the team also needs be familiar with the core concepts behind DevOps, and they may also need some culture or leadership training, she added.

When looking for a training provider, Groll recommends that organizations seek out quality training vendors who have been active within the DevOps movement and who attend DevOps Days. Free online training may provide a good place to start, but she said that paid training generally offers more depth. And she noted that training that offers a certification may help participants demonstrate proficiency to current and future employers.

Overall, learning is an important aspect of DevOps," Groll said. The team members who are most successful in a DevOps environment are those who are constantly adding to their skillsets.

For those looking to increase their DevOps skills, the organizations below offer a wide variety of training:

• Linux Academy -- This training organization offers 137 hours' worth of hands-on labs and courses related to DevOps. You can try the service for free for seven days; after that, access costs $29 per month or $228 per year with team pricing available.
• Amazon Web Services -- AWS offers a three-day course, delivered through third-party providers, that helps prepare attendees for the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer-Professional exam. Prices for the course vary by the training provider; most U.S.-based training ranges between $1,800 and $2,100. The exam costs another $300.
• Red Hat -- Last year, Red Hat rolled out five new DevOps-related courses and exams. Developers who pass all five exams are eligible for the Red Hat Certified Architect  with a concentration in DevOps certification. Each exam costs $400, and the related training courses range from $2,400 to $3,200.
• Microsoft Virtual Academy — Microsoft offers 24 free, on-demand courses related to DevOps. Most also related to Microsoft products, such as Azure and Visual Studio.
• DevOps Institute — Working with registered education partners, the DevOps Institute offers a variety of DevOps courses and certifications. Prices vary by course,  provider, and training delivery method.
• Linux Foundation -- Through edX, the Linux Foundation offers a massive open online course (MOOC), Introduction to DevOps: Transforming and Improving Operations. The self-paced course is free, but students can add a veritifed certificate of completion for $99.

You can learn more about DevOps from Jayne Groll live and in person at Interop ITX, where she will present, "How to Make ITSM Your DevOps' Best Friend."  Register now for Interop ITX, May 15-19 in Las Vegas.