Building trust in an automated database deployment process

In the blog post by Bob Walker, readers are guided through building trust in automated database deployments using Octopus Deploy. The author emphasizes the initial skepticism surrounding database automation and shares strategies to ensure deployments do not result in data loss or production outages. Key techniques include generating and reviewing delta scripts, implementing manual interventions for approvals, and using notifications to keep key team members informed. Walker highlights the importance of separating roles and responsibilities, allowing developers to deploy in lower environments while requiring DBA approvals for staging and production. The process also involves using scripts to check for potentially harmful commands, thereby reducing the risk of errors. The ultimate aim is to create a reliable deployment process that instills confidence in the team, enabling more frequent and secure database changes.