How do you measure the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback?

1 Time and resources

One of the main factors that affect the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback is the time and resources required to perform it. This includes the time to detect and diagnose the deployment failure, the time to initiate and execute the rollback, and the time to verify and validate the rollback results. It also includes the resources consumed by the rollback process, such as network bandwidth, disk space, CPU cycles, and memory. The faster and smoother you can rollback, the less impact you will have on your system performance, user experience, and business operations.

2 Risk and impact

Another factor that influences the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback is the risk and impact of the rollback itself. This includes the potential data loss, data inconsistency, or data corruption that may occur due to the rollback. It also includes the possible side effects, dependencies, or conflicts that may arise from the rollback, such as breaking other components, services, or features that rely on the deployed version. The lower the risk and impact of the rollback, the more confident and effective you will be in restoring your system to a stable state.

3 Frequency and scope

A third factor that affects the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback is the frequency and scope of the rollback. This includes how often you need to rollback, how many versions you need to rollback, and how many systems or environments you need to rollback. The more frequent and extensive your rollback, the more complex and costly it will be to manage and maintain your system. The less frequent and limited your rollback, the more agile and flexible you will be in delivering and deploying your system.

4 Automation and testing

A fourth factor that impacts the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback is the automation and testing of the rollback process. This includes how much you can automate the rollback process, such as using scripts, tools, or frameworks that can trigger, execute, and monitor the rollback. It also includes how much you can test the rollback process, such as using unit tests, integration tests, or acceptance tests that can verify and validate the rollback results. The more automated and tested your rollback process, the more reliable and consistent you will be in performing and evaluating the rollback.

5 Metrics and feedback

A fifth factor that influences the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback is the metrics and feedback of the rollback process. This includes how much you can measure and monitor the rollback process, such as using logs, dashboards, or alerts that can track and report the rollback status, progress, and outcome. It also includes how much you can learn and improve from the rollback process, such as using feedback loops, root cause analysis, or post-mortems that can identify and resolve the issues that caused the deployment failure. The more measured and feedback-driven your rollback process, the more informed and proactive you will be in preventing and recovering from deployment failures.

6 Best practices and guidelines

A sixth factor that affects the cost and efficiency of deployment rollback is the best practices and guidelines of the rollback process. This includes how much you can follow and enforce the best practices and guidelines of the rollback process, such as using version control, configuration management, backup and restore, or blue-green deployment strategies that can facilitate and simplify the rollback. It also includes how much you can align and communicate the best practices and guidelines of the rollback process, such as using standards, policies, or documentation that can clarify and coordinate the rollback expectations, responsibilities, and procedures. The more compliant and collaborative your rollback process, the more seamless and successful you will be in achieving and maintaining your system deployment.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?