The Value of SREs Right now, many IT managers are wondering what makes a site reliability engineer (SRE) valuable and whether they should add one to…
The value of SREs
Right now, many IT managers are wondering what makes a site reliability engineer (SRE) valuable and whether they should add one to their team. Site Reliability Engineer was a job created at Google in 2013. These engineers work as developers who write code, but also work on IT systems to ensure functionality. Ben Treynor, the creator of the work, describes an SRE as a software engineer with specialized knowledge. Their experience allows them to work as operations team members with the ability to build automated systems.
An SRE is considered one of the new developments on the block, but some of the most recognized brands in the world, such as GitHub, Reddit and Netflix, are already using SREs on their teams. Site reliability engineers are added to teams when designing and developing large-scale systems.
Of course, the technical aspects are crucial, but SREs can also have a positive impact on team morale. This is because SREs don't just rely on knowledge to drive products through each phase of development. SREs are excited about systems operations and genuinely hope to optimize each product.
Despite the variations when working as an SRE, there are numerous benefits to working with these engineers who are standard across all levels. If you're thinking about hiring an SRE, here are some benefits they can offer your company.
4 reasons why your team needs an SRE
Cross-platform skills – Working as a site reliability engineer does not mean working as a systems administrator or developer. An SRE is a combination of both roles, thus avoiding the conflicts that arise when developers and administrators adopt separate ideals and methodologies during development and troubleshooting. Instead of working on opposing sides, SREs leverage the strengths of developers and system administrators to form an operating system that truly embraces the balance of Dev Ops.
Automation – Site reliability engineers write and manage the code that supports functional systems and automate various processes to ensure reliability. Manual reprogramming is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but system automation puts less work on your internal team. Through automation, SREs enable systems to recognize and resolve operational failures without human interference.
Innovation – A site reliability engineer increases the likelihood that your team will create a disruptive product. SREs know that not all products will make it to market, but their focus on reliability remains unwavering. As key team members during development, these engineers are working to discover innovative approaches to solving problems rather than focusing on the end result.
Collaboration – SREs are true team players. While collaboration is critical to high quality, it is even more important when problems arise during development or when systems fail. SREs are exceptional communicators who focus on solutions rather than divisive ideas and habits. This collaborative mindset moves the development process faster while adhering to system administration principles.
Site Reliability Engineers Have Invaluable Skills
Systems must be configured appropriately throughout the development process. Therefore, as developers build code, they must create a system that is intuitive for administrators and front-end users. If a product is already available in the market, customers should not face any malfunctions as changes will be made to the backend. In addition to improving user experience, SREs focus on each design element to create scalable products that can adapt to evolving customer demands and business needs.
At this point, many developers and computer engineers are gaining interest in SRE roles because of the challenging and rewarding work it provides for professionals with a team-oriented mindset. To qualify for SRE roles, engineers are taking the necessary steps to acquire the skill sets and knowledge to perform the role successfully.
Website reliability engineering may still seem like a new occupation, but the role isn't going away anytime soon. After working with SREs, companies will want to have them on their teams to promote innovation, encourage productivity and collaboration, and resolve conflicts.
