Why I Stopped Doing Everything Manually in DevOps

There was a time when I believed manual work was the hallmark of a diligent engineer. I’d SSH into servers one by one, typing the same commands repeatedly: sudo apt update && sudo apt install nginx At first, it felt productive, like I was "in control." But over time, the cracks began to show. I was spending hours on tasks that should have been trivial. Typos crept in, deployments became inconsistent, and solving the same problems over and over left me exhausted. It wasn’t progress, it was stagnation. The Break Point Manual processes are deceptively risky. A misplaced command, a forgotten step, or a server accidentally overlooked could lead to downtime or security gaps. I realized I wasn’t just wasting time; I was introducing unnecessary human error into systems that demanded precision. The Automation Everything changed when I discovered automation tools like Ansible. Instead of manually configuring servers, I wrote a single playbook: - name: Install and configure Nginx hosts: webservers tasks: - apt: name: nginx state: present update_cache: yes Suddenly, What took hours was reduced to minutes. Servers were provisioned identically every time. Updates rolled out uniformly. Best of all, I could step back and focus on higher-value work. Three Shifts in My Engineering Mindset This experience reshaped how I approach problems: Automation First If a task is repetitive, it’s a candidate for automation. Whether it’s server setup, CI/CD pipelines, or monitoring, scripting eliminates drudgery and ensures consistency. Minimize Manual Intervention Manual work should be the exception, not the rule. Tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, and even simple shell scripts reduce the “human touch” to critical decision points, not routine execution. Design for Scale and Resilience Automated systems are easier to scale and audit. Need to deploy to 100 servers? A playbook handles it. Troubleshooting? Logs and version-controlled scripts provide clarity. A Question to always Ask Yourself If you’re still executing manual tasks in your DevOps or cloud workflows, pause and ask: “Can this be automated?” Start small—automate one script, one deployment, one backup process. The compounding savings in time, stress, and reliability will surprise you. Finally Automation isn’t about replacing human ingenuity, it’s about freeing it. By letting machines handle repetition, we gain space to solve harder problems, innovate, and build systems that last. To those on a similar journey: How has automation changed your workflow? Let’s share stories and learn from each other. The best engineering happens when we step back, think critically, and let automation do the heavy lifting. What’s your automation story? Share your experiences below. Check-Out this E-book. 7,000+ DevOps Interview Questions: Master Cloud, Kubernetes, and CI/CD Prepare for your dream DevOps role with this question bank! Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced professional, this guide offers over 7,000 expert-curated questions covering: Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, and GCP Kubernetes & Docker: From basics to advanced orchestration CI/CD Pipelines: Questions on Jenkins, GitLab, and Azure DevOps Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform, Ansible, and more Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, and real-world scenarios This book doesn’t waste time on unnecessary theory. Instead, it focuses on real-world interview questions to help you prepare smarter and faster.What You’ll Get:✔ Over 7,000 focused questions to prepare for DevOps roles✔ Topics ranging from Linux commands to advanced CI/CD setups✔ Real-world examples and hands-on scenarios for better learning✔ Immediate access to a digital downloadWho Is This For? Job Seekers: Preparing for DevOps, cloud, or Kubernetes interviews Students: Learning Cloud, CI/CD, and automation Professionals: Upgrading skills or preparing for certifications Why Choose This Book?✔ Comprehensive coverage of DevOps essentials✔ Simple, clear, and easy to follow✔ Designed to save you time and focus on what mattersYour next job or promotion starts with the right preparation. Let this guide take you there!Table of Contents1. Introduction to DevOps 172. Interview Question Related to Networking in DevOps 19Beginner Level Networking Questions 20Intermediate Level Networking Questions 24Advanced Level Networking Questions 28Advanced Pro-Level Networking Questions 32Pro-Level Advanced Networking Questions 383. Interview Question Related to Operating System: Linux command 46Beginner Level Linux Command Questions: 46Intermediate Level Linux Command Questions: 51Advanced Level Linux Command Questions: 55Pro-Level Advanced Linux Command Questions: 594. Interview Question Relat

May 16, 2025 - 12:02

Why I Stopped Doing Everything Manually in DevOps

There was a time when I believed manual work was the hallmark of a diligent engineer.

I’d SSH into servers one by one, typing the same commands repeatedly:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install nginx

At first, it felt productive, like I was "in control." But over time, the cracks began to show. I was spending hours on tasks that should have been trivial.

Typos crept in, deployments became inconsistent, and solving the same problems over and over left me exhausted. It wasn’t progress, it was stagnation.

The Break Point

Manual processes are deceptively risky.

A misplaced command, a forgotten step, or a server accidentally overlooked could lead to downtime or security gaps.

I realized I wasn’t just wasting time;

I was introducing unnecessary human error into systems that demanded precision.

The Automation

Everything changed when I discovered automation tools like Ansible. Instead of manually configuring servers, I wrote a single playbook:

- name: Install and configure Nginx  
  hosts: webservers  
  tasks:  
    - apt:  
        name: nginx  
        state: present  
        update_cache: yes

Suddenly,

What took hours was reduced to minutes. Servers were provisioned identically every time. Updates rolled out uniformly.

Best of all, I could step back and focus on higher-value work.

Three Shifts in My Engineering Mindset

This experience reshaped how I approach problems:

Automation First

If a task is repetitive, it’s a candidate for automation. Whether it’s server setup, CI/CD pipelines, or monitoring, scripting eliminates drudgery and ensures consistency.
Minimize Manual Intervention

Manual work should be the exception, not the rule. Tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, and even simple shell scripts reduce the “human touch” to critical decision points, not routine execution.
Design for Scale and Resilience

Automated systems are easier to scale and audit. Need to deploy to 100 servers? A playbook handles it. Troubleshooting? Logs and version-controlled scripts provide clarity.

A Question to always Ask Yourself

If you’re still executing manual tasks in your DevOps or cloud workflows, pause and ask: “Can this be automated?” Start small—automate one script, one deployment, one backup process. The compounding savings in time, stress, and reliability will surprise you.

Finally

Automation isn’t about replacing human ingenuity, it’s about freeing it. By letting machines handle repetition, we gain space to solve harder problems, innovate, and build systems that last.

To those on a similar journey: How has automation changed your workflow?

Let’s share stories and learn from each other. The best engineering happens when we step back, think critically, and let automation do the heavy lifting.

What’s your automation story? Share your experiences below.

Check-Out this E-book.

7,000+ DevOps Interview Questions: Master Cloud, Kubernetes, and CI/CD

Prepare for your dream DevOps role with this question bank! Whether you're just starting out or are an experienced professional, this guide offers over 7,000 expert-curated questions covering: Cloud Platforms: AWS, Azure, and GCP Kubernetes & Docker: From basics to advanced orchestration CI/CD Pipelines: Questions on Jenkins, GitLab, and Azure DevOps Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform, Ansible, and more Monitoring & Logging: Prometheus, Grafana, and real-world scenarios This book doesn’t waste time on unnecessary theory. Instead, it focuses on real-world interview questions to help you prepare smarter and faster.What You’ll Get:✔ Over 7,000 focused questions to prepare for DevOps roles✔ Topics ranging from Linux commands to advanced CI/CD setups✔ Real-world examples and hands-on scenarios for better learning✔ Immediate access to a digital downloadWho Is This For? Job Seekers: Preparing for DevOps, cloud, or Kubernetes interviews Students: Learning Cloud, CI/CD, and automation Professionals: Upgrading skills or preparing for certifications Why Choose This Book?✔ Comprehensive coverage of DevOps essentials✔ Simple, clear, and easy to follow✔ Designed to save you time and focus on what mattersYour next job or promotion starts with the right preparation. Let this guide take you there!Table of Contents1. Introduction to DevOps 172. Interview Question Related to Networking in DevOps 19Beginner Level Networking Questions 20Intermediate Level Networking Questions 24Advanced Level Networking Questions 28Advanced Pro-Level Networking Questions 32Pro-Level Advanced Networking Questions 383. Interview Question Related to Operating System: Linux command 46Beginner Level Linux Command Questions: 46Intermediate Level Linux Command Questions: 51Advanced Level Linux Command Questions: 55Pro-Level Advanced Linux Command Questions: 594. Interview Question Related to Version Control: Git 64Beginner Level Git Questions: 64Intermediate Level Git Questions: 69Advanced Level Git Questions: 775. Interview Question Related to Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Terraform 87Beginner Level Terraform Questions: 87Intermediate Level Terraform Questions: 92Advanced Level Terraform Questions: 1016. Interview Question Related to Containerization with Docker 110Beginner Level Docker Questions: 111Intermediate Level Docker Questions: 115Advanced Level Docker Questions: 1237. Interview Question Related to Continuous Integration (CI) 134Beginner Level CI Questions: 134Intermediate Level CI Questions : 138Advanced Level CI Questions: 1478. Interview Question Related to Continuous Delivery and Deployment (CD) 161Beginner Level CD Questions: 161Intermediate Level CD Questions: 165Advanced Level CD Questions: 1789. Interview Question Related to Kubernetes & Orchestration 195Beginner Level Kubernetes and Orchestration Questions: 195Intermediate Level Kubernetes and Orchestration Questions: 200Advanced Level Kubernetes and Orchestration Questions: 209Advanced-Level Kubernetes and Orchestration Questions: 21610. Interview Question Related to Monitoring and Logging in DevOps Prometheus, Grafana & More 225Beginner Level Monitoring and Logging Questions: 225Intermediate Level Monitoring and Logging Questions: 229Advanced Level Monitoring and Logging Questions: 23311. Interview Question Related to Soft Skills for DevOps Engineers 249Soft skills for DevOps Engineers: 24912. Interview Question Related to Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 279Set 1: General Scenarios 279Set 2: Technical Scenarios 283Set 3: Problem-Solving Scenarios 286Set 4: Communication Scenarios 289Set 5: Leadership Scenarios 292Set 6: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 294Set 7: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios: 298Set 8: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios: 301Set 9: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 304Set 10: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 306Set 12: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 312Set 14: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 318Set 16: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 326Set 17: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 330Set 18: Real Interview Questions and Scenarios 33513. A Cloud-Specific DevOps Questions: AWS 340AWS General Concepts Questions: 340Compute Services Questions: 341Storage Services Questions: 342Networking Questions: 343Databases Questions: 344Security Questions: 345DevOps Questions: 346Networking Questions: 347Data Management Questions: 348Monitoring and Logging Questions: 349DevOps and CI/CD Questions: 350Security and Compliance Questions: 351Cloud Migration and Management Questions: 352Advanced Topics Questions: 353Practical Scenarios Questions: 354Additional Cloud-Specific DevOps Questions: 355Networking and Security Questions: 356Data Management and Analytics 357Monitoring and Logging Questions: 357DevOps and CI/CD Questions: 358Security and Compliance Questions: 358Cloud Migration and Management Questions: 359Advanced Topics 360Practical Scenarios: 360Additional Topics 361Further Scenarios 362Advanced Questions 362Final Set of Questions 363Wrap-Up Questions: 363Final 50 Questions: 36413.B Cloud-Specific DevOps Questions: AZURE 366Basic Azure Concepts: 367Azure Compute Services: 367Azure Storage Questions: 368Azure Networking 369Azure Security Questions: 369Azure Databases Questions: 370Azure DevOps Questions: 370Azure Monitoring and Management Questions: 371Advanced Azure Topics: 372Deployment and Scaling: 372Networking and Connectivity Questions: 373Storage and Databases 373Security and Compliance questions: 374Advanced Topics: 375Monitoring and Troubleshooting: 375DevOps and Automation: 376Networking and Connectivity 376Security and Compliance 377Storage and Databases 378Advanced Topics 378Azure Compute: 379Azure Storage: 379Azure Networking: 380Azure Security and Compliance: 381Azure DevOps 381Azure Monitoring and Management: 382Advanced Azure Topics: 383Deployment and Scaling: 383Networking and Connectivity: 384Security and Compliance: 384Storage and Databases: 385Advanced Topics: 386Deployment and Scaling: 386Networking and Connectivity: 387Security and Compliance: 387Storage and Databases: 388Advanced Topics: 389Deployment and Scaling: 389Networking and Connectivity: 390Security and Compliance: 391Storage and Databases: 392Advanced Topics: 392Deployment and Scaling: 393Networking and Connectivity: 394Security and Compliance: 394Storage and Databases: 395Advanced Topics: 395Deployment and Scaling: 396Networking and Connectivity: 397Security and Compliance: 39713.C Cloud-Specific DevOps Questions: GCP 399Beginner Level GCP Questions: 399Intermediate Level GCP Questions: 400Advanced Level GCP Questions: 402Networking and Security in GCP: 404Compute Services in GCP: 406Storage and Databases in GCP: 407Advanced GCP Storage and Database Questions: 408CI/CD and DevOps in GCP: 409Advanced CI/CD and DevOps Questions: 410Cloud Networking in GCP: 411Storage and Databases in GCP : 413Advanced Storage and Database Questions in GCP: 414GCP Security and Compliance: 415Advanced Security and Compliance in GCP: 416Data Analytics and AI in GCP: 416Advanced Data Analytics and AI in GCP: 417DevOps and Automation in GCP: 418Advanced DevOps and Automation in GCP: 419Monitoring and Logging in GCP: 421Advanced Monitoring and Logging in GCP: 422Disaster Recovery in GCP: 423Advanced Disaster Recovery in GCP: 424Google Cloud Networking : 425Advanced Networking in GCP: 426AI and Machine Learning in GCP: 427Advanced AI and Machine Learning in GCP: 428GCP Automation: 429Advanced Automation in GCP: 430GCP Security and Compliance : 431Storage and Backup in GCP: 433Advanced Storage and Backup in GCP: 434Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE): 435Advanced GKE Topics: 436GCP Infrastructure Optimization: 437Advanced Infrastructure Optimization: 43714. Interview Question Related to DevSecOps Interview Questions 438Beginner Level DevSecOps Questions: 439Intermediate Level DevSecOps Questions: 440Security Policy Enforcement in DevSecOps: 455Automation and Compliance in DevSecOps: 456DevSecOps for Data Security: 45715. Interview Question Related to Mock Interviews and Practice Tips 459General DevOps Engineer Questions: 459Application Performance and Load Handling: 461Monitoring, Logging, and Alerting: 462Advanced Kubernetes and Helm: 507DevOps and SRE: 508Troubleshooting and Debugging: 508Cloud Security and DevOps: 50916. Conclusion 510

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