Introduction

  • 6 minutes

Despite continuous efforts geared towards increasing developer productivity, building digital solutions in an optimal manner is getting increasingly complex. One of the important factors affecting this complexity is the dependency on the platform on which developers operate, including the underlying infrastructure, tools, services, and processes that drive development efforts. Optimizing this platform becomes even more challenging considering the pressure organizations place on shortening time-to-value, while, at the same time, expecting the highest levels of software quality and operational stability.

Platform engineering is meant to address these challenges. It's the practice of designing and building integrated platforms that enhance developer experience and accelerate time-to-value. By combining technologies such as infrastructure management, automation, self-service capabilities, and observability, platform engineering empowers developers to focus on delivering value without being burdened by the complexities of the underlying systems. At its core, platform engineering aligns development and operations teams, enabling the seamless delivery of applications and services while meeting business and operational goals.

With continuously growing adoption of cloud-native architectures and DevOps practices, platform engineering has become a critical discipline for any organization that aspires to derive the most value out of its internal development efforts. A well-engineered platform provides developers with the tools and processes they need to innovate faster while maintaining operational excellence. By embedding principles like scalability and resiliency, security and compliance, automation and self-service, as well as observability and continuous improvement into platform development, platform engineers create environments that aren't only developer-friendly but also robust and adaptable to changing business needs.

"Platform Engineering streamlines development by creating tools that increase systems resiliency and enhance efficiency to accelerate value delivery." - According to Luiz Macedo

The Platform Engineering learning paths are designed to guide and support you throughout your Platform Engineering learning journey. The module's content includes graphics, reference links, module review questions, and optional hands-on labs.

Learning objectives

After completing this series, students and professionals can:

  • Understand the importance of platform engineering in enhancing developer productivity and accelerating time-to-value.
  • Learn how to design and build integrated platforms that optimize the developer experience and streamline development efforts.
  • Explore the role of platform engineering in driving digital transformation within an enterprise.
  • Recognize the strategic value of platform engineering as the foundation for both technical success and alignment with broader business goals.
  • Identify key stakeholders in platform engineering and understand their distinct expectations and requirements
  • Gain insights into designing platform architectures that are secure, scalable, and compliant with regulatory standards.
  • Explore the role of automation in maintaining consistency, reducing manual errors, and accelerating deployments.
  • Understand the importance of capacity planning and estimation for forecasting future resource needs.
  • Learn cost optimization strategies to manage resources efficiently and avoid over-provisioning.
  • Discover how to implement scalable solutions that can handle increasing demand and complex workflows.
  • Learn how to enable developers to independently manage their resources and workflows, fostering agility and innovation.
  • Understand the importance of combining flexibility with robust governance to ensure security, compliance, and operational consistency.
  • Explore the benefits of developer self-service in accelerating development cycles and reducing bottlenecks.
  • Recognize the role of self-service platforms in enhancing developer satisfaction and productivity.
  • Identify best practices for implementing and managing self-service capabilities within an organization.
  • Discover the significance of observability in providing real-time insights into system performance and identifying inefficiencies.
  • Understand how continuous improvement creates a feedback loop that drives platform enhancements and optimizes resources.
  • Learn about benchmarking and performance monitoring to track the success of the platform and identify areas for improvement.
  • Explore strategies for adapting to market trends and anticipating shifts in user needs or technological landscapes.
  • Foster a culture of innovation within platform engineering teams to continuously propose and test new ideas.
  • Learn how to align platform engineering initiatives with long-term organizational goals and market trends.
  • Explore key principles of strategic platform road mapping, including preparing for technological advancements and fostering innovation.
  • Understand the importance of defining a clear platform vision that aligns with broader organizational goals.
  • Discover how to build a platform roadmap with actionable milestones and specific deliverables.
  • Learn techniques for phased implementation and prioritization to ensure the platform evolves in a way that supports business goals.

Prerequisites

Successful learners will have prior knowledge and understanding of the following:

  • Cloud computing concepts include understanding PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS implementations.
  • Azure administration and Azure development with proven expertise in at least one of these areas.
  • Intermediate to advanced DevOps concepts, including version control, Agile software development, and core software development principles. It would be helpful to have experience in an organization that delivers software.

If you're new to development practices and DevOps, consider taking the following:

If you're new to Azure and cloud computing, consider one of the following resources:

If you're new to Azure Administration, consider taking the:

If you're new to Azure Developer, consider taking the: