01What CI/CD means
CI stands for continuous integration: every change to the code is built and tested automatically. CD stands for continuous delivery or deployment: tested changes are released to staging or production through an automated, repeatable process.
The goal is simple. Releasing becomes routine instead of an event that needs a late night and a checklist.
02What a CI/CD consultant does
- Reviews how you build, test and release today, and finds the slow and risky steps
- Designs a pipeline that fits your code, team and hosting
- Sets up automated builds and tests on every change
- Automates deployments, with staged rollouts and a quick way to roll back
- Manages secrets, environments and access safely
- Adds checks for code quality and security into the pipeline
- Adds monitoring so you can see whether a release went well
- Documents the setup and trains your team to run it
03Signs you need one
- Releases are manual, slow and done by one or two people
- Deployments often break something, and fixing it takes hours
- Testing happens late, or not at all
- Staging does not match production
- Developers wait for builds, or avoid releasing because it is painful
- You are moving to containers or the cloud and want to do it properly
04What a good engagement delivers
Working pipelines
- What it means for you
- Code is built, tested and deployed automatically
Infrastructure as code
- What it means for you
- Environments can be rebuilt from files, not from memory
Safe releases
- What it means for you
- Staged rollouts and a tested way to roll back
Monitoring and alerts
- What it means for you
- You see problems quickly after a release
Documentation and training
- What it means for you
- Your team can run and change it without outside help
05Questions to ask a CI/CD consultant
- Will you review our current process first, and give us a written plan?
- Which tools will you use, and will they run in our own accounts?
- How will you handle secrets, access and rollback?
- Who owns the pipelines and the code when you finish?
- What will we be able to do ourselves at the end?
- How will we measure success, for example release time or failed deployments?
06Consultant, contractor or managed service?
Consultant for a project
- Works well when
- You need the pipeline built and your team will run it
- Watch out for
- A good handover, or you depend on them later
Dedicated DevOps engineer
- Works well when
- You need ongoing work across several systems
- Watch out for
- You need enough work to keep them busy
Managed service
- Works well when
- You want someone to run it day to day
- Watch out for
- Keep accounts and code in your own name
07How MOUNTSMY approaches CI/CD
We start with a written review of how you release today, then build pipelines with tools such as GitHub Actions, Docker and Terraform in your own accounts. We add tests, staged rollouts, monitoring and documentation, and make sure your team can run it. You can hire a DevOps engineer by the hour, as a dedicated engineer or for a fixed project.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CI and CD?
CI builds and tests every change automatically. CD releases tested changes through an automated process, either to staging for approval or straight to production.
How long does it take to set up CI/CD?
It depends on your code, tests and hosting. A first pipeline can often be running quickly, and it grows over time. After a review you get a plan with stages.
Do we need Kubernetes for CI/CD?
No. CI/CD works with plain servers, managed container services or Kubernetes. Choose the simplest option that fits your needs.
Can you work with our existing tools?
Usually, yes. We start with what you already use, such as GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket, and change tools only where there is a clear reason.
Will our team be able to run it afterwards?
That is the aim. We document the setup and train your team, so you are not dependent on us.