# OPS05-BP04 - Use build and deployment management systems

Best practice: OPS05-BP04
Pillar: Operational Excellence
Source: https://wellarchitected.cloudvisor.eu/docs/operational-excellence/ops05-bp04.html

## Implementation Guidance

"Use build and deployment management systems" should be delivered as a standard operating capability with explicit scope, controls, and validation checkpoints. Embed it into day-to-day engineering and operations workflows.

For the question "How do you reduce defects, ease remediation, and improve flow into production?", define measurable outcomes, assign owners, and review execution regularly. Integrate this practice into delivery and operations processes so improvements persist as workloads and requirements evolve.

### Key Steps

1. **Define implementation scope and outcomes**:
   - Set explicit success criteria for "Use build and deployment management systems"
   - Identify dependencies, prerequisites, and sequencing constraints
   - Assign accountable owners for execution and maintenance

2. **Implement with standards and validation**:
   - Use reusable templates and runbooks for consistent execution
   - Validate implementation with tests, checks, or controlled rollouts
   - Capture telemetry to confirm adoption and effectiveness

3. **Operate and iterate**:
   - Review outcomes against KPIs on a recurring schedule
   - Fix recurring failure modes and process bottlenecks
   - Update implementation guidance based on operational learning

## Risk / Impact

**Level of risk if not implemented**: Medium

**Impact**: Without this best practice, workloads typically accumulate inefficiencies and execution drift that increase failure probability over time. Problems often surface during traffic spikes, major releases, or dependency failures.

**Benefits of implementation**:
- More predictable operational and engineering outcomes
- Better alignment between architecture decisions and business goals
- Continuous improvement through measurable feedback loops

## AWS Services to Consider

<div class="aws-service">
  <div class="aws-service-content">
    <h4>AWS CodePipeline</h4>
    <p>Automates release workflows with quality gates and controlled promotions.</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="aws-service">
  <div class="aws-service-content">
    <h4>AWS CodeBuild</h4>
    <p>Executes build and test stages in managed environments to validate changes quickly.</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="aws-service">
  <div class="aws-service-content">
    <h4>AWS CodeDeploy</h4>
    <p>Deploys application updates with strategies such as canary and linear rollout.</p>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="aws-service">
  <div class="aws-service-content">
    <h4>AWS CloudFormation</h4>
    <p>Defines infrastructure as code for repeatable, auditable, and reversible changes.</p>
  </div>
</div>

## Related Resources

<div class="related-resources">
  <h2>Related Resources</h2>
  <ul>
    <li><a href="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/ops-05.html">OPS05: How do you reduce defects, ease remediation, and improve flow into production?</a></li>
    <li><a href="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/operational-excellence-pillar/welcome.html">AWS Well-Architected Framework - Operational Excellence Pillar</a></li>
    <li><a href="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/operational-excellence-pillar/design-principles.html">Operational Excellence Design Principles</a></li>
  </ul>
</div>