DevOps for professionals and companies: 10 years of building the NETFORCE Group ecosystem

How did it all start?

The history of NETFORCE Group is not about a startup of beginners. At the time of the company’s founding in 2015, both founders, Pavlo Zavada and Oleksandr Barakhtyansky, had already gone from system administrators, caught the times of DevOps implementation when this term was not yet widely used, and grew to management positions. A deep understanding of the technical part and experience in management became the impetus for creating their own business.

Instead of scattering into different directions, the founders decided to focus on what they had the deepest expertise in and build the entire business around it.

4 projects — one ecosystem

The development of NETFORCE Group is an example of organic growth, where each new project appeared to solve a specific problem of the market and customers. Let’s consider each of them:

• NETFORCE Ukraine is a service company.

It has been operating since 2015 and provides DevOps and system administration services — outstaffing and outsourcing.

Over the entire period of its activity, the company has had about 500 clients in Ukraine and abroad. 80% of them return with new requests, and some have been cooperating with NETFORCE Ukraine almost since its foundation.

• ITEDU by NETFORCE Group is an educational center with practical courses in DevOps and system administration.

Pavlo and Oleksandr developed the programs in key areas — Linux, networks, cloud technologies, containers, virtualization — independently. They are built on an analysis of real vacancies and market requirements, with a focus on practical skills that will be useful on real projects.

Since 2015, over 2,500 beginners and professionals have become ITEDU students, and over 200 companies have entrusted the center with the training of their teams.

There are often cases when new students or switchers find jobs even before completing the ITEDU course.

• NETFORCE Agency is a specialized recruitment agency in the DevOps niche.

This project was publicly launched in 2022 as a response to requests from clients who refused outstaffing and outsourcing formats and asked to hire a DevOps engineer on staff.

Today, NETFORCE Agency is a highly specialized agency that, thanks to its deep understanding of the niche, closes 89% of DevOps vacancies on average in 1 week.

• NETFORCE Jobs is the first platform in Ukraine for searching for jobs and candidates in DevOps and related areas.

As a logical extension of the ecosystem, this project was launched in 2023 so that professionals and companies could close their requests independently. During this short period of existence, about 600 candidates and 200 employers have already registered on the platform.

How to Succeed in DevOps: Tips

The founders of NETFORCE Group, based on their experience in implementing projects and teaching courses, have prepared some advice for those who are building a career in DevOps today or are thinking about it.

Get ready, it won’t be easy.

DevOps is not the easiest way to get into IT. Unlike other areas, it requires a wide range of knowledge right from the start.

«You need to learn a lot before you are allowed into production and onto real client servers. You need to be ready for this,» notes Pavlo Zavada, co-founder and CEO of NETFORCE Group.

Build a strong foundation

The market is constantly generating new trends — MLOps, FinOps, and other Ops. But chasing them without a solid foundation is a risky strategy.

«You can ride the wave of hype for a year or two, raise your salary. But there is a risk that when it ends, a person will not be competitive, because he knows very narrow technologies. The key to relevance for the next 10 years will be a solid base,» says Pavlo Zavada.

According to the founders, this base is deep knowledge of Linux and computer networks.

Develop independence and don’t be afraid of mistakes

Success in DevOps is not only the result of training under the guidance of a mentor, but also of independent work. An engineer is distinguished not by a set of certificates, but by the ability to independently understand complex problems.

Pavlo Zavada: «An important trait of a DevOps engineer is perseverance. You have to concentrate and not get up from your workplace until you understand the task or problem.»

This independent work is also the key to successful learning and career development.

How can I get more information about DevOps?

In honor of its 10th anniversary, NETFORCE Group is holding DEVOPS CYCLE MEET-UP, a series of three free online events.

Company experts and guest speakers will share up-to-date knowledge about the impact of DevOps on business, career building, and hiring secrets.

DevOps events will take place on August 28, September 2, and 4. Join us now — the full program and registration are here.