The Guide to Platform Engineering: 7 Steps to Get It Right

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, platform engineering is becoming essential for optimizing software delivery and operations, with predictions indicating that by 2026, the majority of large software engineering organizations will have dedicated platform engineering teams. Platform engineering addresses the challenges posed by uncoordinated application teams and diverse cloud deployments, which often lead to operational inefficiencies and security risks. The guide outlines essential steps for successfully implementing platform engineering, beginning with securing executive buy-in and staffing a competent team, followed by defining the platform mandate and implementing infrastructure as code (IaC) and policy as code (PaC). It emphasizes the importance of building a consistent pre-production pipeline and ultimately evolving towards a self-service model that empowers application teams. By following these steps, organizations can develop a robust internal developer platform (IDP) that enhances security, scalability, and efficiency, thereby supporting broader digital transformation efforts.