What to adopt in what order.
FIRST
Everything in version control Secrets out of version control Backups, tested
SECOND
A documented deployment process A way to revert External monitoring with alerting
THIRD
Automated checks on every change A deployment script replacing manual steps Logging with enough context to diagnose
FOURTH
Automated tests covering what matters A staging environment Configuration described in code
FIFTH, IF EVER
Containers Orchestration Elaborate pipelines
WHY THAT ORDER
Each step reduces risk more than the next, and costs less.
WHAT MOST SMALL BUSINESSES NEVER NEED
Anything in the fifth group.
WHAT TO AVOID
Adopting later steps before earlier ones.
WHY
Automated deployment without backups is faster destruction.
WHAT TO MEASURE AT EACH STAGE
Whether incidents reduced Whether releases became easier
WHAT TO STOP AT
The point where further investment does not pay.
