Complex hybrid IT setups are leading us to rethink how we structure our IT departments. Let’s discuss ITOps and CloudOps in 2025. Could making them a single team be more effective?
The Traditional Roles of ITOps And CloudOps
Let’s look at how things are usually organized. IT Operations (ITOps) professionals include network engineers, network administrators, systems administrators, analysts, and infrastructure managers. They focus on managing their organization's on-premises infrastructure, working to ensure the health of physical servers, storage, and network components. On the other hand, CloudOps professionals include cloud engineers and cloud architects tasked with managing cloud-based resources such as deployment, orchestration, and service integration across various cloud platforms. The teams have traditionally been separate, given the differing demands of each role and the skillsets required to fulfill them. However, recent technological advancements have made this division less of a foregone conclusion.
How New Technology Is Bringing CloudOps and ITOps Closer
Several developments are reshaping the relationship between the teams.
- Hybrid IT: Our recent trip to KubeCon confirmed that most organizations continue to operate in hybrid environments. This complex set of dependencies blurs the line between on-premises and cloud operations. The need for seamless integration between the two environments makes it counterproductive for teams to operate in silos. Plus, the broad skill set required from both teams means increasing overlap between their expertise.
- Cloud Evolution: The advancement of cloud technologies like containerization and microservices has changed how applications are developed and deployed. These innovations foster closer collaboration between ITOps and CloudOps teams by providing shared tools that support both DevOps practices and infrastructure management. The result? More seamless knowledge sharing and an integrated approach to responsibilities, both of which help bridge gaps between the teams.
- Unified Observability: Both teams traditionally relied on multiple, poorly integrated monitoring tools to oversee their environments. However, the modern full-stack observability solution can establish a unified view across on-prem, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures, creating a single source of truth for ITOps and CloudOps teams.
The Potential Benefits of Unifying ITOps and CloudOps Teams
Is the distinction between ITOps and CloudOps personnel still fruitful when the components of the environment they are tasked with managing have become so closely entwined? What stands to be gained by amalgamating the teams? As the gap between on-prem and cloud infrastructure becomes less distinct and fragmented monitoring tools are replaced by unified full-stack solutions capable of visualizing dispersed environments, it becomes feasible to unite your people, too. A successful unification of ITOps and CloudOps teams promises to make your organization more streamlined and agile. Communication, collaboration, and the exchange of expertise will likely flourish, while more closely knit IT personnel will accelerate troubleshooting across hybrid environments.
Steps to Unite ITOps and CloudOps Teams
Would your organization work better with ITOps and CloudOps if they were more closely aligned? To establish whether the project is worthwhile, conduct a comprehensive team audit to evaluate the current roles, responsibilities, and workflows of both ITOps and CloudOps teams. How much overlap is there? In an organization with a clear distinction between cloud and on-prem infrastructure, the division of teams may be appropriate. However, amalgamation may be the way forward when a complex hybrid setup finds the teams overseeing similar terrain. Here are some things to remember if you decide to take the leap toward restructuring:
- Establish clear goals for the amalgamation process.
- Create a detailed transition plan with timelines and responsibilities.
- Designate a leader or steering committee for oversight during the integration.
- Encourage open communication to address concerns and promote dialogue.
- Establish shared KPIs and objectives to measure the success of the integrated team.
- Monitor progress and adapt based on team feedback for continuous improvement.
- Be aware of cultural resistance and the challenges of aligning team priorities.
Is This Right for Your Organization?
IT environments are changing, and how we structure our organizations must respond. While the division of ITOps and CloudOps teams will remain suitable for many organizations, some may find that a more unified approach leaves them better equipped to meet the demands of a hybrid world. Unify your tools, and your teams will follow. Check out this Orange Matter™ article to learn more about technology's role in organizational cohesion.
