Rapid Deployment Tools – What Are Yours?
I had a great discussion with an Azure MVP today – we’ll have more on that as we get the show produced and ready to go. We talked though about deployment times and the impact that the cloud is having on expectations for getting new databases up and running. It hits me that you need to be thinking about having your own arsenal of fast deployment tools so you can provide excellent service to your users. Here are some ideas that can help:
1. Have model databases that include the basics. These should include tools you use (stored procedures, other goodies) and should be configured easily to address the requirements of bringing up a new database. If you build a lot of SharePoint systems, create the templates, have standards for folder structures, backups and such. Standardize and make a standard deployment fast, easy and dependable.
2. Figure out the questions you need answers to. By knowing what to ask, and (again) standardizing those questions, you’ll make sure you’re getting information needed, and at the same time making it easier to get the information from your users. Think minimalist here. Just what you need to get going and get the users productive. Get the database up and running and then move forward on tweaks and custom things that may have to be done.
3. Think Rapid Deployment. You’re going to be increasingly competing with very easy to access, standardized systems. It’s not that they’re the right solution, or that your own databases are, but it IS that you need to be prepared to work with the cloud-based, quick access databases that are possible by pretty nearly everyone. There are pros and cons all around. You want to be sure you can and do deliver on each of them.
We’ll have more in an upcoming episode of SSWUGtv. We’ll be talking all about the "wild-wild west."
What do you think? Let me know…
swynk@sswug.org