[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":819},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/en-us/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops":3,"navigation-en-us":39,"banner-en-us":450,"footer-en-us":460,"blog-post-authors-en-us-Sharon Gaudin":700,"blog-related-posts-en-us-7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops":714,"blog-promotions-en-us":757,"next-steps-en-us":809},{"id":4,"title":5,"authorSlugs":6,"authors":8,"body":10,"category":11,"categorySlug":11,"config":12,"content":16,"date":20,"description":17,"extension":25,"externalUrl":26,"featured":14,"heroImage":19,"isFeatured":14,"meta":27,"navigation":28,"path":29,"publishedDate":20,"rawbody":30,"seo":31,"slug":13,"stem":35,"tagSlugs":36,"tags":37,"template":15,"updatedDate":26,"__hash__":38},"blogPosts/en-us/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops.yml","7 tips on how to successfully talk to execs about DevSecOps",[7],"sharon-gaudin",[9],"Sharon Gaudin","\nIf you want to begin using DevSecOps to speed, secure, and improve software development, you need to get business executives behind your plan. But talking with leadership – especially C-suite executives – isn’t always easy.\n\nSoftware development teams want to use DevSecOps because it will reduce hands-on work, make the development process more efficient, [foster collaboration](/blog/5-ways-collaboration-boosts-productivity-and-your-career/), [improve security](/the-source/security/how-to-strengthen-security-by-applying-devsecops-principles/), and speed development and deployment. Getting executives to understand how that all translates into [business benefits](/blog/five-essential-business-benefits-a-devops-platform-gives-smbs/) is the key here. That’s what will spur them to OK a DevSecOps adoption.\n\n> **Be sure to download our latest guide *[How to drive business success with DevSecOps](https://page.gitlab.com/resources-ebook-devsecops-success.html?utm_campaign=devsecopsplat&utm_content=ebookdevsecopssuccess)* for more advice.**\n\nTo help executives understand the technical and business benefits of [DevSecOps](/blog/its-time-to-put-the-sec-in-devsecops/) there are pitfalls you’ll need to avoid, as well as things you should make sure you do and discuss. Let’s dive into 7 things to consider right from the start.\n\n## 1. Know your audience\nEveryone is different. Some executives want every little detail. Others want a quick overview. And if, for instance, you’re talking with a CEO, focus on reducing costs and how more efficient and faster production can boost revenue and improve time to market. For CIOs, focus on productivity and efficiency. Tell them how automation and artificial intelligence (AI) features will save teams time and hands-on work.\n\n## 2. Find a champion\nIf you’re going to be walking into a boardroom packed with C-suite executives or having a small meeting with a CEO, it helps to have backup. Find an executive who knows the language of business and key business drivers and pitch the idea of using DevSecOps to get her backing. Then she can help you make the pitch to other executives.\n\n## 3. Make sure you have a plan\nBefore talking to an executive, you first need to draft a plan. Create a basic outline that gives you guidance about the key points to touch on, but also leaves room to take questions and feedback. Make sure you listen as much as you talk. Meetings are learning opportunities.\n\n## 4. Don’t geek out on the tech\nRemember that you are talking to business people. It’s easy for a technical person to fall back on using technical lingo and talking about the excitement of using the shiniest tools. But that’s not going to get someone far with most executives. Even a CTO, who is a technical person, is focused on the business – and how any technology is going to support that business or weigh it down. Don't use technical jargon or acronyms. Convey engineering objectives into a language of profit and loss. Tell execs why migrating to a DevSecOps platform will make the software development team, and the company as a whole, more successful.\n\n## 5. Do your homework\nIf you work for a public company, listen to the quarterly reports to learn about immediate business objectives and long-term strategic goals. Have a coffee chat with or shadow someone who works in financial planning, analysis, and/or accounting. Learn from your colleagues how the company makes money and what its business needs are. Understand challenges, like security issues, [compliance issues](/blog/top-5-compliance-features-to-leverage-in-gitlab/), or competitors coming out with new features faster. Then address those challenges. Make sure your presentation focuses on the company’s specific needs and any potential future challenges.\n\n“I would recommend always starting by figuring out the business needs first,” says [Fatima Sarah Khalid](https://gitlab.com/sugaroverflow), developer evangelist at GitLab. “How does this bring value to the organization’s customers and how does this impact the company? Will it save money, unlock a new customer segment, open up new channels, or boost production and efficiency? These are the kind of strategic levers that are most helpful for leadership to hear.”\n\n## 6. Focus on benefits to the executives\nOf course, executives will want to know how DevSecOps will benefit the business that they’re running, but they’ll also want to know how it can benefit them and the specific job they’re doing. Let executives know that a DevSecOps platform will give them visibility into the entire software development lifecycle so they can see where projects slow down or progress, giving them more insight and control. And make it clear that an end-to-end platform fosters a culture where everyone, from customer service to marketing and the C-suite, can collaborate.\n\n## 7. Don’t forget the money\nAs you plan out what to talk about with executives and what business challenges to focus on, remember that money always has to be part of the conversation. Since you likely will be reducing a complex and costly toolchain with the adoption of a DevSecOps platform, estimate the savings in both cost and time that will come from cutting that toolchain. Point out the savings, in terms of money and brand image, by reducing security vulnerabilities. Management also is going to want you to estimate how much it will cost to migrate to a platform, along with the human hours needed, and an adoption timeline.\n\n“Tech people can never forget that executives are very focused on ROI,” says [Ayoub Fandi](https://gitlab.com/ayofan), senior field security engineer at GitLab. “It’s always a central issue. They need to understand if any decision will bring them closer to their business goals. Adopting a DevSecOps platform can be a massive cost reduction. Each year companies spend more money on IT so if they can learn a way to spend less, it’ll be very welcome information.”\n\nRemember that leadership likely is looking for reasons to say yes. You just need to provide them with those reasons – and make sure they’re solid business reasons. Make it clear what an adoption will look like in practice. Show them [case studies](/customers/) of other companies that have made the move.\n\nAnd the impact of enabling executives to understand the benefits of DevSecOps go beyond a single adoption. Learning how to understand an organization’s business needs and strategy, and learning the language of business are [great skills for anyone in tech](/blog/best-advice-for-your-devops-career-keep-on-learning/) to have. Continuing to educate yourself and pursuing knowledge on the business side are top ways to increase your standing in your company, your hireability, and [your paycheck](/blog/four-tips-to-increase-your-devops-salary/).\n\nGet even more advice in our our latest guide *[How to drive business success with DevSecOps](https://page.gitlab.com/resources-ebook-devsecops-success.html?utm_campaign=devsecopsplat&utm_content=ebookdevsecopssuccess)*, available for download now.\n","devsecops",{"slug":13,"featured":14,"template":15},"7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops",false,"BlogPost",{"title":5,"description":17,"authors":18,"heroImage":19,"date":20,"body":10,"category":11,"tags":21},"If you want to begin using DevSecOps to improve software development, you need to get business executives behind your plan. Here are tips to do just that.",[9],"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1749670694/Blog/Hero%20Images/how-to-keep-remote-teams-engaged-cover.jpg","2023-07-12",[22,23,24],"DevSecOps","collaboration","careers","yml",null,{},true,"/en-us/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops","seo:\n  title: 7 tips on how to successfully talk to execs about DevSecOps\n  description: >-\n    If you want to begin using DevSecOps to improve software development, you\n    need to get business executives behind your plan. Here are tips to do just\n    that.\n  ogTitle: 7 tips on how to successfully talk to execs about DevSecOps\n  ogDescription: >-\n    If you want to begin using DevSecOps to improve software development, you\n    need to get business executives behind your plan. Here are tips to do just\n    that.\n  noIndex: false\n  ogImage: >-\n    https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1749670694/Blog/Hero%20Images/how-to-keep-remote-teams-engaged-cover.jpg\n  ogUrl: >-\n    https://about.gitlab.com/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops\n  ogSiteName: https://about.gitlab.com\n  ogType: article\n  canonicalUrls: >-\n    https://about.gitlab.com/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops\ncontent:\n  title: 7 tips on how to successfully talk to execs about DevSecOps\n  description: >-\n    If you want to begin using DevSecOps to improve software development, you\n    need to get business executives behind your plan. Here are tips to do just\n    that.\n  authors:\n    - Sharon Gaudin\n  heroImage: >-\n    https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1749670694/Blog/Hero%20Images/how-to-keep-remote-teams-engaged-cover.jpg\n  date: '2023-07-12'\n  body: >\n\n    If you want to begin using DevSecOps to speed, secure, and improve software\n    development, you need to get business executives behind your plan. But\n    talking with leadership – especially C-suite executives – isn’t always easy.\n\n\n    Software development teams want to use DevSecOps because it will reduce\n    hands-on work, make the development process more efficient, [foster\n    collaboration](/blog/5-ways-collaboration-boosts-productivity-and-your-career/),\n    [improve\n    security](/the-source/security/how-to-strengthen-security-by-applying-devsecops-principles/),\n    and speed development and deployment. Getting executives to understand how\n    that all translates into [business\n    benefits](/blog/five-essential-business-benefits-a-devops-platform-gives-smbs/)\n    is the key here. That’s what will spur them to OK a DevSecOps adoption.\n\n\n    > **Be sure to download our latest guide *[How to drive business success\n    with\n    DevSecOps](https://page.gitlab.com/resources-ebook-devsecops-success.html?utm_campaign=devsecopsplat&utm_content=ebookdevsecopssuccess)*\n    for more advice.**\n\n\n    To help executives understand the technical and business benefits of\n    [DevSecOps](/blog/its-time-to-put-the-sec-in-devsecops/) there are pitfalls\n    you’ll need to avoid, as well as things you should make sure you do and\n    discuss. Let’s dive into 7 things to consider right from the start.\n\n\n    ## 1. Know your audience\n\n    Everyone is different. Some executives want every little detail. Others want\n    a quick overview. And if, for instance, you’re talking with a CEO, focus on\n    reducing costs and how more efficient and faster production can boost\n    revenue and improve time to market. For CIOs, focus on productivity and\n    efficiency. Tell them how automation and artificial intelligence (AI)\n    features will save teams time and hands-on work.\n\n\n    ## 2. Find a champion\n\n    If you’re going to be walking into a boardroom packed with C-suite\n    executives or having a small meeting with a CEO, it helps to have backup.\n    Find an executive who knows the language of business and key business\n    drivers and pitch the idea of using DevSecOps to get her backing. Then she\n    can help you make the pitch to other executives.\n\n\n    ## 3. Make sure you have a plan\n\n    Before talking to an executive, you first need to draft a plan. Create a\n    basic outline that gives you guidance about the key points to touch on, but\n    also leaves room to take questions and feedback. Make sure you listen as\n    much as you talk. Meetings are learning opportunities.\n\n\n    ## 4. Don’t geek out on the tech\n\n    Remember that you are talking to business people. It’s easy for a technical\n    person to fall back on using technical lingo and talking about the\n    excitement of using the shiniest tools. But that’s not going to get someone\n    far with most executives. Even a CTO, who is a technical person, is focused\n    on the business – and how any technology is going to support that business\n    or weigh it down. Don't use technical jargon or acronyms. Convey engineering\n    objectives into a language of profit and loss. Tell execs why migrating to a\n    DevSecOps platform will make the software development team, and the company\n    as a whole, more successful.\n\n\n    ## 5. Do your homework\n\n    If you work for a public company, listen to the quarterly reports to learn\n    about immediate business objectives and long-term strategic goals. Have a\n    coffee chat with or shadow someone who works in financial planning,\n    analysis, and/or accounting. Learn from your colleagues how the company\n    makes money and what its business needs are. Understand challenges, like\n    security issues, [compliance\n    issues](/blog/top-5-compliance-features-to-leverage-in-gitlab/), or\n    competitors coming out with new features faster. Then address those\n    challenges. Make sure your presentation focuses on the company’s specific\n    needs and any potential future challenges.\n\n\n    “I would recommend always starting by figuring out the business needs\n    first,” says [Fatima Sarah Khalid](https://gitlab.com/sugaroverflow),\n    developer evangelist at GitLab. “How does this bring value to the\n    organization’s customers and how does this impact the company? Will it save\n    money, unlock a new customer segment, open up new channels, or boost\n    production and efficiency? These are the kind of strategic levers that are\n    most helpful for leadership to hear.”\n\n\n    ## 6. Focus on benefits to the executives\n\n    Of course, executives will want to know how DevSecOps will benefit the\n    business that they’re running, but they’ll also want to know how it can\n    benefit them and the specific job they’re doing. Let executives know that a\n    DevSecOps platform will give them visibility into the entire software\n    development lifecycle so they can see where projects slow down or progress,\n    giving them more insight and control. And make it clear that an end-to-end\n    platform fosters a culture where everyone, from customer service to\n    marketing and the C-suite, can collaborate.\n\n\n    ## 7. Don’t forget the money\n\n    As you plan out what to talk about with executives and what business\n    challenges to focus on, remember that money always has to be part of the\n    conversation. Since you likely will be reducing a complex and costly\n    toolchain with the adoption of a DevSecOps platform, estimate the savings in\n    both cost and time that will come from cutting that toolchain. Point out the\n    savings, in terms of money and brand image, by reducing security\n    vulnerabilities. Management also is going to want you to estimate how much\n    it will cost to migrate to a platform, along with the human hours needed,\n    and an adoption timeline.\n\n\n    “Tech people can never forget that executives are very focused on ROI,” says\n    [Ayoub Fandi](https://gitlab.com/ayofan), senior field security engineer at\n    GitLab. “It’s always a central issue. They need to understand if any\n    decision will bring them closer to their business goals. Adopting a\n    DevSecOps platform can be a massive cost reduction. Each year companies\n    spend more money on IT so if they can learn a way to spend less, it’ll be\n    very welcome information.”\n\n\n    Remember that leadership likely is looking for reasons to say yes. You just\n    need to provide them with those reasons – and make sure they’re solid\n    business reasons. Make it clear what an adoption will look like in practice.\n    Show them [case studies](/customers/) of other companies that have made the\n    move.\n\n\n    And the impact of enabling executives to understand the benefits of\n    DevSecOps go beyond a single adoption. Learning how to understand an\n    organization’s business needs and strategy, and learning the language of\n    business are [great skills for anyone in\n    tech](/blog/best-advice-for-your-devops-career-keep-on-learning/) to have.\n    Continuing to educate yourself and pursuing knowledge on the business side\n    are top ways to increase your standing in your company, your hireability,\n    and [your paycheck](/blog/four-tips-to-increase-your-devops-salary/).\n\n\n    Get even more advice in our our latest guide *[How to drive business success\n    with\n    DevSecOps](https://page.gitlab.com/resources-ebook-devsecops-success.html?utm_campaign=devsecopsplat&utm_content=ebookdevsecopssuccess)*,\n    available for download now.\n  category: devsecops\n  tags:\n    - DevSecOps\n    - collaboration\n    - careers\nconfig:\n  slug: 7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops\n  featured: false\n  template: BlogPost\n",{"title":5,"description":17,"ogTitle":5,"ogDescription":17,"noIndex":14,"ogImage":19,"ogUrl":32,"ogSiteName":33,"ogType":34,"canonicalUrls":32},"https://about.gitlab.com/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops","https://about.gitlab.com","article","en-us/blog/7-tips-on-how-to-successfully-talk-to-execs-about-devsecops",[11,23,24],[22,23,24],"59DEHYXo4m459ED7lEQcgPV4iP87-h2YdnqBh7MOkdc",{"data":40},{"logo":41,"freeTrial":46,"sales":51,"login":56,"items":61,"search":370,"minimal":401,"duo":420,"switchNav":429,"pricingDeployment":440},{"config":42},{"href":43,"dataGaName":44,"dataGaLocation":45},"/","gitlab logo","header",{"text":47,"config":48},"Get free trial",{"href":49,"dataGaName":50,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://gitlab.com/-/trial_registrations/new?glm_source=about.gitlab.com&glm_content=default-saas-trial/","free trial",{"text":52,"config":53},"Talk to sales",{"href":54,"dataGaName":55,"dataGaLocation":45},"/sales/","sales",{"text":57,"config":58},"Sign in",{"href":59,"dataGaName":60,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://gitlab.com/users/sign_in/","sign in",[62,89,184,189,291,351],{"text":63,"config":64,"cards":66},"Platform",{"dataNavLevelOne":65},"platform",[67,73,81],{"title":63,"description":68,"link":69},"The intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps",{"text":70,"config":71},"Explore our Platform",{"href":72,"dataGaName":65,"dataGaLocation":45},"/platform/",{"title":74,"description":75,"link":76},"GitLab Duo Agent Platform","Agentic AI for the entire software lifecycle",{"text":77,"config":78},"Meet GitLab Duo",{"href":79,"dataGaName":80,"dataGaLocation":45},"/gitlab-duo-agent-platform/","gitlab duo agent platform",{"title":82,"description":83,"link":84},"Why GitLab","See the top reasons enterprises choose GitLab",{"text":85,"config":86},"Learn more",{"href":87,"dataGaName":88,"dataGaLocation":45},"/why-gitlab/","why gitlab",{"text":90,"left":28,"config":91,"link":93,"lists":97,"footer":166},"Product",{"dataNavLevelOne":92},"solutions",{"text":94,"config":95},"View all Solutions",{"href":96,"dataGaName":92,"dataGaLocation":45},"/solutions/",[98,122,145],{"title":99,"description":100,"link":101,"items":106},"Automation","CI/CD and automation to accelerate deployment",{"config":102},{"icon":103,"href":104,"dataGaName":105,"dataGaLocation":45},"AutomatedCodeAlt","/solutions/delivery-automation/","automated software delivery",[107,111,114,118],{"text":108,"config":109},"CI/CD",{"href":110,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":108},"/solutions/continuous-integration/",{"text":74,"config":112},{"href":79,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":113},"gitlab duo agent platform - product menu",{"text":115,"config":116},"Source Code Management",{"href":117,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":115},"/solutions/source-code-management/",{"text":119,"config":120},"Automated Software Delivery",{"href":104,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":121},"Automated software delivery",{"title":123,"description":124,"link":125,"items":130},"Security","Deliver code faster without compromising security",{"config":126},{"href":127,"dataGaName":128,"dataGaLocation":45,"icon":129},"/solutions/application-security-testing/","security and compliance","ShieldCheckLight",[131,135,140],{"text":132,"config":133},"Application Security Testing",{"href":127,"dataGaName":134,"dataGaLocation":45},"Application security testing",{"text":136,"config":137},"Software Supply Chain Security",{"href":138,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":139},"/solutions/supply-chain/","Software supply chain security",{"text":141,"config":142},"Software Compliance",{"href":143,"dataGaName":144,"dataGaLocation":45},"/solutions/software-compliance/","software compliance",{"title":146,"link":147,"items":152},"Measurement",{"config":148},{"icon":149,"href":150,"dataGaName":151,"dataGaLocation":45},"DigitalTransformation","/solutions/visibility-measurement/","visibility and measurement",[153,157,161],{"text":154,"config":155},"Visibility & Measurement",{"href":150,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":156},"Visibility and Measurement",{"text":158,"config":159},"Value Stream Management",{"href":160,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":158},"/solutions/value-stream-management/",{"text":162,"config":163},"Analytics & Insights",{"href":164,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":165},"/solutions/analytics-and-insights/","Analytics and insights",{"title":167,"items":168},"GitLab for",[169,174,179],{"text":170,"config":171},"Enterprise",{"href":172,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":173},"/enterprise/","enterprise",{"text":175,"config":176},"Small Business",{"href":177,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":178},"/small-business/","small business",{"text":180,"config":181},"Public Sector",{"href":182,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":183},"/solutions/public-sector/","public sector",{"text":185,"config":186},"Pricing",{"href":187,"dataGaName":188,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataNavLevelOne":188},"/pricing/","pricing",{"text":190,"config":191,"link":193,"lists":197,"feature":282},"Resources",{"dataNavLevelOne":192},"resources",{"text":194,"config":195},"View all resources",{"href":196,"dataGaName":192,"dataGaLocation":45},"/resources/",[198,231,254],{"title":199,"items":200},"Getting started",[201,206,211,216,221,226],{"text":202,"config":203},"Install",{"href":204,"dataGaName":205,"dataGaLocation":45},"/install/","install",{"text":207,"config":208},"Quick start guides",{"href":209,"dataGaName":210,"dataGaLocation":45},"/get-started/","quick setup checklists",{"text":212,"config":213},"Learn",{"href":214,"dataGaLocation":45,"dataGaName":215},"https://university.gitlab.com/","learn",{"text":217,"config":218},"Product documentation",{"href":219,"dataGaName":220,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://docs.gitlab.com/","product documentation",{"text":222,"config":223},"Best practice videos",{"href":224,"dataGaName":225,"dataGaLocation":45},"/getting-started-videos/","best practice videos",{"text":227,"config":228},"Integrations",{"href":229,"dataGaName":230,"dataGaLocation":45},"/integrations/","integrations",{"title":232,"items":233},"Discover",[234,239,244,249],{"text":235,"config":236},"Customer success stories",{"href":237,"dataGaName":238,"dataGaLocation":45},"/customers/","customer success stories",{"text":240,"config":241},"Blog",{"href":242,"dataGaName":243,"dataGaLocation":45},"/blog/","blog",{"text":245,"config":246},"The Source",{"href":247,"dataGaName":248,"dataGaLocation":45},"/the-source/","the source",{"text":250,"config":251},"Remote",{"href":252,"dataGaName":253,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/company/culture/all-remote/","remote",{"title":255,"items":256},"Connect",[257,262,267,272,277],{"text":258,"config":259},"GitLab Services",{"href":260,"dataGaName":261,"dataGaLocation":45},"/services/","services",{"text":263,"config":264},"Community",{"href":265,"dataGaName":266,"dataGaLocation":45},"/community/","community",{"text":268,"config":269},"Forum",{"href":270,"dataGaName":271,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://forum.gitlab.com/","forum",{"text":273,"config":274},"Events",{"href":275,"dataGaName":276,"dataGaLocation":45},"/events/","events",{"text":278,"config":279},"Partners",{"href":280,"dataGaName":281,"dataGaLocation":45},"/partners/","partners",{"textColor":283,"title":284,"text":285,"link":286},"#000","What’s new in GitLab","Stay updated with our latest features and improvements.",{"text":287,"config":288},"Read the latest",{"href":289,"dataGaName":290,"dataGaLocation":45},"/releases/whats-new/","whats new",{"text":292,"config":293,"lists":295},"Company",{"dataNavLevelOne":294},"company",[296],{"items":297},[298,303,309,311,316,321,326,331,336,341,346],{"text":299,"config":300},"About",{"href":301,"dataGaName":302,"dataGaLocation":45},"/company/","about",{"text":304,"config":305,"footerGa":308},"Jobs",{"href":306,"dataGaName":307,"dataGaLocation":45},"/jobs/","jobs",{"dataGaName":307},{"text":273,"config":310},{"href":275,"dataGaName":276,"dataGaLocation":45},{"text":312,"config":313},"Leadership",{"href":314,"dataGaName":315,"dataGaLocation":45},"/company/team/e-group/","leadership",{"text":317,"config":318},"Team",{"href":319,"dataGaName":320,"dataGaLocation":45},"/company/team/","team",{"text":322,"config":323},"Handbook",{"href":324,"dataGaName":325,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://handbook.gitlab.com/","handbook",{"text":327,"config":328},"Investor relations",{"href":329,"dataGaName":330,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://ir.gitlab.com/","investor relations",{"text":332,"config":333},"Trust Center",{"href":334,"dataGaName":335,"dataGaLocation":45},"/security/","trust center",{"text":337,"config":338},"AI Transparency Center",{"href":339,"dataGaName":340,"dataGaLocation":45},"/ai-transparency-center/","ai transparency center",{"text":342,"config":343},"Newsletter",{"href":344,"dataGaName":345,"dataGaLocation":45},"/company/contact/#contact-forms","newsletter",{"text":347,"config":348},"Press",{"href":349,"dataGaName":350,"dataGaLocation":45},"/press/","press",{"text":352,"config":353,"lists":354},"Contact us",{"dataNavLevelOne":294},[355],{"items":356},[357,360,365],{"text":52,"config":358},{"href":54,"dataGaName":359,"dataGaLocation":45},"talk to sales",{"text":361,"config":362},"Support portal",{"href":363,"dataGaName":364,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://support.gitlab.com","support portal",{"text":366,"config":367},"Customer portal",{"href":368,"dataGaName":369,"dataGaLocation":45},"https://customers.gitlab.com/customers/sign_in/","customer portal",{"close":371,"login":372,"suggestions":379},"Close",{"text":373,"link":374},"To search repositories and projects, login to",{"text":375,"config":376},"gitlab.com",{"href":59,"dataGaName":377,"dataGaLocation":378},"search login","search",{"text":380,"default":381},"Suggestions",[382,384,388,390,394,398],{"text":74,"config":383},{"href":79,"dataGaName":74,"dataGaLocation":378},{"text":385,"config":386},"Code Suggestions (AI)",{"href":387,"dataGaName":385,"dataGaLocation":378},"/solutions/code-suggestions/",{"text":108,"config":389},{"href":110,"dataGaName":108,"dataGaLocation":378},{"text":391,"config":392},"GitLab on AWS",{"href":393,"dataGaName":391,"dataGaLocation":378},"/partners/technology-partners/aws/",{"text":395,"config":396},"GitLab on Google Cloud",{"href":397,"dataGaName":395,"dataGaLocation":378},"/partners/technology-partners/google-cloud-platform/",{"text":399,"config":400},"Why GitLab?",{"href":87,"dataGaName":399,"dataGaLocation":378},{"freeTrial":402,"mobileIcon":407,"desktopIcon":412,"secondaryButton":415},{"text":403,"config":404},"Start free trial",{"href":405,"dataGaName":50,"dataGaLocation":406},"https://gitlab.com/-/trials/new/","nav",{"altText":408,"config":409},"Gitlab Icon",{"src":410,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1758203874/jypbw1jx72aexsoohd7x.svg","gitlab icon",{"altText":408,"config":413},{"src":414,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1758203875/gs4c8p8opsgvflgkswz9.svg",{"text":416,"config":417},"Get Started",{"href":418,"dataGaName":419,"dataGaLocation":406},"https://gitlab.com/-/trial_registrations/new?glm_source=about.gitlab.com/get-started/","get started",{"freeTrial":421,"mobileIcon":425,"desktopIcon":427},{"text":422,"config":423},"Learn more about GitLab Duo",{"href":79,"dataGaName":424,"dataGaLocation":406},"gitlab duo",{"altText":408,"config":426},{"src":410,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},{"altText":408,"config":428},{"src":414,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},{"button":430,"mobileIcon":435,"desktopIcon":437},{"text":431,"config":432},"/switch",{"href":433,"dataGaName":434,"dataGaLocation":406},"#contact","switch",{"altText":408,"config":436},{"src":410,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},{"altText":408,"config":438},{"src":439,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1773335277/ohhpiuoxoldryzrnhfrh.png",{"freeTrial":441,"mobileIcon":446,"desktopIcon":448},{"text":442,"config":443},"Back to pricing",{"href":187,"dataGaName":444,"dataGaLocation":406,"icon":445},"back to pricing","GoBack",{"altText":408,"config":447},{"src":410,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},{"altText":408,"config":449},{"src":414,"dataGaName":411,"dataGaLocation":406},{"title":451,"button":452,"config":457},"See how agentic AI transforms software delivery",{"text":453,"config":454},"Watch GitLab Transcend now",{"href":455,"dataGaName":456,"dataGaLocation":45},"/events/transcend/virtual/","transcend event",{"layout":458,"icon":459,"disabled":28},"release","AiStar",{"data":461},{"text":462,"source":463,"edit":469,"contribute":474,"config":479,"items":484,"minimal":689},"Git is a trademark of Software Freedom Conservancy and our use of 'GitLab' is under license",{"text":464,"config":465},"View page source",{"href":466,"dataGaName":467,"dataGaLocation":468},"https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/marketing/digital-experience/about-gitlab-com/","page source","footer",{"text":470,"config":471},"Edit this page",{"href":472,"dataGaName":473,"dataGaLocation":468},"https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/marketing/digital-experience/about-gitlab-com/-/blob/main/content/","web ide",{"text":475,"config":476},"Please contribute",{"href":477,"dataGaName":478,"dataGaLocation":468},"https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/marketing/digital-experience/about-gitlab-com/-/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md/","please contribute",{"twitter":480,"facebook":481,"youtube":482,"linkedin":483},"https://twitter.com/gitlab","https://www.facebook.com/gitlab","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnMGQ8QHMAnVIsI3xJrihhg","https://www.linkedin.com/company/gitlab-com",[485,532,584,628,655],{"title":185,"links":486,"subMenu":501},[487,491,496],{"text":488,"config":489},"View plans",{"href":187,"dataGaName":490,"dataGaLocation":468},"view plans",{"text":492,"config":493},"Why Premium?",{"href":494,"dataGaName":495,"dataGaLocation":468},"/pricing/premium/","why premium",{"text":497,"config":498},"Why Ultimate?",{"href":499,"dataGaName":500,"dataGaLocation":468},"/pricing/ultimate/","why ultimate",[502],{"title":503,"links":504},"Contact Us",[505,508,510,512,517,522,527],{"text":506,"config":507},"Contact sales",{"href":54,"dataGaName":55,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":361,"config":509},{"href":363,"dataGaName":364,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":366,"config":511},{"href":368,"dataGaName":369,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":513,"config":514},"Status",{"href":515,"dataGaName":516,"dataGaLocation":468},"https://status.gitlab.com/","status",{"text":518,"config":519},"Terms of use",{"href":520,"dataGaName":521,"dataGaLocation":468},"/terms/","terms of use",{"text":523,"config":524},"Privacy statement",{"href":525,"dataGaName":526,"dataGaLocation":468},"/privacy/","privacy statement",{"text":528,"config":529},"Cookie preferences",{"dataGaName":530,"dataGaLocation":468,"id":531,"isOneTrustButton":28},"cookie preferences","ot-sdk-btn",{"title":90,"links":533,"subMenu":542},[534,538],{"text":535,"config":536},"DevSecOps platform",{"href":72,"dataGaName":537,"dataGaLocation":468},"devsecops platform",{"text":539,"config":540},"AI-Assisted Development",{"href":79,"dataGaName":541,"dataGaLocation":468},"ai-assisted development",[543],{"title":544,"links":545},"Topics",[546,551,556,561,566,569,574,579],{"text":547,"config":548},"CICD",{"href":549,"dataGaName":550,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/ci-cd/","cicd",{"text":552,"config":553},"GitOps",{"href":554,"dataGaName":555,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/gitops/","gitops",{"text":557,"config":558},"DevOps",{"href":559,"dataGaName":560,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/devops/","devops",{"text":562,"config":563},"Version Control",{"href":564,"dataGaName":565,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/version-control/","version control",{"text":22,"config":567},{"href":568,"dataGaName":11,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/devsecops/",{"text":570,"config":571},"Cloud Native",{"href":572,"dataGaName":573,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/cloud-native/","cloud native",{"text":575,"config":576},"AI for Coding",{"href":577,"dataGaName":578,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/devops/ai-for-coding/","ai for coding",{"text":580,"config":581},"Agentic AI",{"href":582,"dataGaName":583,"dataGaLocation":468},"/topics/agentic-ai/","agentic ai",{"title":585,"links":586},"Solutions",[587,589,591,596,600,603,607,610,612,615,618,623],{"text":132,"config":588},{"href":127,"dataGaName":132,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":121,"config":590},{"href":104,"dataGaName":105,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":592,"config":593},"Agile development",{"href":594,"dataGaName":595,"dataGaLocation":468},"/solutions/agile-delivery/","agile delivery",{"text":597,"config":598},"SCM",{"href":117,"dataGaName":599,"dataGaLocation":468},"source code management",{"text":547,"config":601},{"href":110,"dataGaName":602,"dataGaLocation":468},"continuous integration & delivery",{"text":604,"config":605},"Value stream management",{"href":160,"dataGaName":606,"dataGaLocation":468},"value stream management",{"text":552,"config":608},{"href":609,"dataGaName":555,"dataGaLocation":468},"/solutions/gitops/",{"text":170,"config":611},{"href":172,"dataGaName":173,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":613,"config":614},"Small business",{"href":177,"dataGaName":178,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":616,"config":617},"Public sector",{"href":182,"dataGaName":183,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":619,"config":620},"Education",{"href":621,"dataGaName":622,"dataGaLocation":468},"/solutions/education/","education",{"text":624,"config":625},"Financial services",{"href":626,"dataGaName":627,"dataGaLocation":468},"/solutions/finance/","financial services",{"title":190,"links":629},[630,632,634,636,639,641,643,645,647,649,651,653],{"text":202,"config":631},{"href":204,"dataGaName":205,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":207,"config":633},{"href":209,"dataGaName":210,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":212,"config":635},{"href":214,"dataGaName":215,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":217,"config":637},{"href":219,"dataGaName":638,"dataGaLocation":468},"docs",{"text":240,"config":640},{"href":242,"dataGaName":243,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":235,"config":642},{"href":237,"dataGaName":238,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":250,"config":644},{"href":252,"dataGaName":253,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":258,"config":646},{"href":260,"dataGaName":261,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":263,"config":648},{"href":265,"dataGaName":266,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":268,"config":650},{"href":270,"dataGaName":271,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":273,"config":652},{"href":275,"dataGaName":276,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":278,"config":654},{"href":280,"dataGaName":281,"dataGaLocation":468},{"title":292,"links":656},[657,659,661,663,665,667,669,673,678,680,682,684],{"text":299,"config":658},{"href":301,"dataGaName":294,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":304,"config":660},{"href":306,"dataGaName":307,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":312,"config":662},{"href":314,"dataGaName":315,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":317,"config":664},{"href":319,"dataGaName":320,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":322,"config":666},{"href":324,"dataGaName":325,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":327,"config":668},{"href":329,"dataGaName":330,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":670,"config":671},"Sustainability",{"href":672,"dataGaName":670,"dataGaLocation":468},"/sustainability/",{"text":674,"config":675},"Diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB)",{"href":676,"dataGaName":677,"dataGaLocation":468},"/diversity-inclusion-belonging/","Diversity, inclusion and belonging",{"text":332,"config":679},{"href":334,"dataGaName":335,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":342,"config":681},{"href":344,"dataGaName":345,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":347,"config":683},{"href":349,"dataGaName":350,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":685,"config":686},"Modern Slavery Transparency Statement",{"href":687,"dataGaName":688,"dataGaLocation":468},"https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/legal/modern-slavery-act-transparency-statement/","modern slavery transparency statement",{"items":690},[691,694,697],{"text":692,"config":693},"Terms",{"href":520,"dataGaName":521,"dataGaLocation":468},{"text":695,"config":696},"Cookies",{"dataGaName":530,"dataGaLocation":468,"id":531,"isOneTrustButton":28},{"text":698,"config":699},"Privacy",{"href":525,"dataGaName":526,"dataGaLocation":468},[701],{"id":702,"title":9,"body":26,"config":703,"content":705,"description":26,"extension":25,"meta":709,"navigation":28,"path":710,"seo":711,"stem":712,"__hash__":713},"blogAuthors/en-us/blog/authors/sharon-gaudin.yml",{"template":704},"BlogAuthor",{"name":9,"config":706},{"headshot":707,"ctfId":708},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1749663767/Blog/Author%20Headshots/sharongaudinheadshot.png","sgaudin",{},"/en-us/blog/authors/sharon-gaudin",{},"en-us/blog/authors/sharon-gaudin","lwl3tVS21sy4cT3hDh1caPfqWTJoyKj14Mm8B1cb8ME",[715,728,743],{"content":716,"config":726},{"title":717,"description":718,"authors":719,"heroImage":721,"date":722,"body":723,"category":11,"tags":724},"Teaching software development the easy way using GitLab","Learn how University of Washington lecturer Stephen G. Dame uses GitLab for Education to manage student assignments, distribute course materials, and provide inline code feedback at scale.\n",[720],"Rod Burns","https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1749659537/Blog/Hero%20Images/display-article-image-0679-1800x945-fy26.png","2026-04-29","For instructors teaching software development, one of the biggest logistical challenges is assignment distribution and feedback at scale. How do you give large groups of students access to course materials, keep solution code private, and still deliver meaningful, contextual feedback without lots of administrative overhead?\n\nThe **[GitLab for Education program](https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/education/)** provides qualifying institutions with free access to **GitLab Ultimate**, enabling instructors to build professional-grade workflows that mirror real-world software development environments. In this article, you'll learn how Stephen G. Dame, a lecturer in the Computing and Software Systems department at the University of Washington, Bothell, uses simple workflows in GitLab to manage everything from course materials to student feedback across multiple classes.\n\n## From aerospace to academia: Bringing GitLab to the classroom\n\nDame came to academia with years of experience as a chief software engineer at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where GitLab was used for aerospace projects. As an adjunct professor, he became an early advocate for GitLab within the university, joining the GitLab for Education program to access the full feature set needed to run structured, scalable course workflows.\n\n> **\"GitLab provides the greatest way to organize multiple classes, student assignments, lectures, and code samples through the use of Groups and Subgroups, which I found to be unique to GitLab compared to other repository platforms.\"**\n>\n> - Stephen G. Dame, University of Washington, Bothell\n\n## Set up groups: Build the right structure before writing a line of code\n\nThe foundation of an effective GitLab-based course is a well-planned group hierarchy. GitLab's **[Groups and Subgroups](https://docs.gitlab.com/tutorials/manage_user/#create-the-organization-parent-group-and-subgroups)** allow instructors to model the natural structure of a university department institution, course, and role with precise, inheritable permissions at every level.\n\nDame's structure places the university at the root (`UWTeaching`), with each course occupying its own subgroup (e.g. `css430`). Within each course sit repositories for `lecture-materials` and `code`, alongside dedicated Subgroups for `students` and `graders`. Instructor materials remain private, while student and grader subgroups are configured with controlled permissions so that assignment briefs and solutions are visible only to the right people.\n\n![Screenshot of GitLab group hierarchy — institution, course subgroup, and per-student subgroups](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1777463673/dpxfnitv76pdmvcqtgag.png)\n\nPermissions cascade downward through the hierarchy via **Manage > Members**, allowing Dame to add students to a course's `students` subgroup with `Reporter` access and an expiration date tied to the end of the academic quarter. Students can clone and pull from assignment repositories but cannot push — keeping solution code firmly under instructor control.\n\nStudents are guided to set up SSH keys across all their working environments (local machines, cloud shells, virtual machines) so they can clone repositories and receive weekly updates via `git pull`. They copy relevant code into their own private repositories to manage their own version history.\n\n**Tip for large classes:** For larger cohorts, adding students by hand is impractical. GitLab's REST API lets you automate subgroup creation and membership from a list of usernames. Below is a sample Python script that handles this:\n\n```python\n    import gitlab\n    from datetime import datetime\n\n    # Connect to your GitLab instance\n    gl = gitlab.Gitlab('https://gitlab.com', private_token='YOUR_PRIVATE_TOKEN')\n\n    # Target parent group ID (e.g., the ID for \"css430 > students\")\n    parent_group_id = 12345678\n\n    # Set expiration: typically the beginning of the next month after quarter end\n    expiry_date = '2025-01-01'\n\n    # List of collected student usernames\n    student_list = ['alice_css430', 'bob_css430', 'carol_css430', 'dave_css430', 'eve_css430']\n\n    for username in student_list:\n        try:\n            # 1. Create a personal subgroup for the student\n            subgroup = gl.groups.create({\n                'name': username,\n                'path': username,\n                'parent_id': parent_group_id,\n                'visibility': 'private'\n            })\n\n            # 2. Add student to the new subgroup with Expiration\n            user = gl.users.list(username=username)[0]\n            subgroup.members.create({\n                'user_id': user.id,\n                'access_level': gitlab.const.REPORTER_ACCESS,\n                'expires_at': expiry_date\n            })\n            print(f\"Success: Subgroup created and student added for {username}\")\n        except Exception as e:\n            print(f\"Error processing {username}: {e}\")\n```\nThere is also an [open source project that automates class management](https://gitlab.com/edu-docs/class-management-automation) published by GitLab that provides additional tooling for this workflow.\n## Give feedback where the work actually lives\n\nOnce the structure is in place, the feedback workflow is where GitLab's value becomes most apparent to students. Dame asks students to submit assignments by opening a **[merge request](https://docs.gitlab.com/user/project/merge_requests/)** in their repository. This gives instructors an immediate, clean diff of everything the student has written.\n![A GitLab merge request showing inline code comment function for an instructor](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1777467468/icclzyglbkwlvfysggbi.png)\nInstructors can click any line of code and leave an **inline comment** — not just flagging what is wrong, but explaining why, and pointing to what to look at next. Students receive this feedback in direct context with their code, which is far more actionable than a comment at the bottom of a submitted document.\n\n## Join GitLab for Education\n\nSetting up your first GitLab assignment takes some initial effort, but once the structure is in place it largely runs itself. The real payoff goes beyond organization: Students graduate having worked daily in an environment that mirrors professional software development, building habits around [version control](https://about.gitlab.com/topics/version-control/) and [code review](https://docs.gitlab.com/development/code_review/) rather than learning them as abstract concepts.\n\nIf you are just getting started, keep it simple. Begin with a single course group, one assignment template, and a basic pipeline. The structure will grow naturally alongside your confidence with the platform.\n\nMake sure to **[sign up for GitLab for Education](https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/education/join/)** so that you and your students can access all top-tier features, including unlimited reviewers on merge requests, additional compute minutes, and expanded storage.\n\n> [Apply to the GitLab for Education program today](https://about.gitlab.com/solutions/education/join/).",[622,725],"open source",{"featured":14,"template":15,"slug":727},"teaching-software-development-the-easy-way-using-gitlab",{"content":729,"config":741},{"description":730,"authors":731,"heroImage":733,"date":734,"title":735,"body":736,"category":11,"tags":737},"AI-generated code is 34% of development work. Discover how to balance productivity gains with quality, reliability, and security.",[732],"Manav Khurana","https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1767982271/e9ogyosmuummq7j65zqg.png","2026-01-08","AI is reshaping DevSecOps: Attend GitLab Transcend to see what’s next","AI promises a step change in innovation velocity, but most software teams are hitting a wall. According to our latest [Global DevSecOps Report](https://about.gitlab.com/developer-survey/), AI-generated code now accounts for 34% of all development work. Yet 70% of DevSecOps professionals report that AI is making compliance management more difficult, and 76% say agentic AI will create unprecedented security challenges.\n\nThis is the AI paradox: AI accelerates coding, but software delivery slows down as teams struggle to test, secure, and deploy all that code.\n\n## Productivity gains meet workflow bottlenecks\nThe problem isn't AI itself. It's how software gets built today. The traditional DevSecOps lifecycle contains hundreds of small tasks that developers must navigate manually: updating tickets, running tests, requesting reviews, waiting for approvals, fixing merge conflicts, addressing security findings. These tasks drain an average of seven hours per week from every team member, according to our research.\n\nDevelopment teams are producing code faster than ever, but that code still crawls through fragmented toolchains, manual handoffs, and disconnected processes. In fact, 60% of DevSecOps teams use more than five tools for software development overall, and 49% use more than five AI tools. This fragmentation creates collaboration barriers, with 94% of DevSecOps professionals experiencing factors that limit collaboration in the software development lifecycle.\n\nThe answer isn't more tools. It's intelligent orchestration that brings software teams and their AI agents together across projects and release cycles, with enterprise-grade security, governance, and compliance built in.\n\n## Seeking deeper human-AI partnerships\nDevSecOps professionals don't want AI to take over — they want reliable partnerships. The vast majority (82%) say using agentic AI would increase their job satisfaction, and 43% envision an ideal future with a 50/50 split between human and AI contributions. They're ready to trust AI with 37% of their daily tasks without human review, particularly for documentation, test writing, and code reviews.\n\nWhat we heard resoundingly from DevSecOps professionals is that AI won't replace them; rather, it will fundamentally reshape their roles. 83% of DevSecOps professionals believe AI will significantly change their work within five years, and notably, 76% think this will create more engineering jobs, not fewer. As coding becomes easier with AI, engineers who can architect systems, ensure quality, and apply business context will be in high demand.\n\nCritically, 88% agree there are essential human qualities that AI will never fully replace, including creativity, innovation, collaboration, and strategic vision.\n\nSo how can organizations bridge the gap between AI’s promise and the reality of fragmented workflows?\n\n## Join us at GitLab Transcend: Explore how to drive real value with agentic AI\nOn February 10, 2026, GitLab will be hosting Transcend, where we'll reveal how intelligent orchestration transforms AI-powered software development. You'll get a first look at GitLab's upcoming product roadmap and learn how teams are solving real-world challenges by modernizing development workflows with AI.\n\nOrganizations winning in this new era balance AI adoption with security, compliance, and platform consolidation. AI offers genuine productivity gains when implemented thoughtfully — not by replacing human developers, but by freeing DevSecOps professionals to focus on strategic thinking and creative innovation.\n\n[Register for Transcend today](https://about.gitlab.com/events/transcend/virtual/) to secure your spot and discover how intelligent orchestration can help your software teams stay in flow.",[738,739,740],"AI/ML","DevOps platform","security",{"featured":28,"template":15,"slug":742},"ai-is-reshaping-devsecops-attend-gitlab-transcend-to-see-whats-next",{"content":744,"config":755},{"title":745,"description":746,"authors":747,"heroImage":749,"date":750,"body":751,"category":11,"tags":752},"Atlassian ending Data Center as GitLab maintains deployment choice","As Atlassian transitions Data Center customers to cloud-only, GitLab presents a menu of deployment choices that map to business needs.",[748],"Emilio Salvador","https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750098354/Blog/Hero%20Images/Blog/Hero%20Images/blog-image-template-1800x945%20%281%29_5XrohmuWBNuqL89BxVUzWm_1750098354056.png","2025-10-07","Change is never easy, especially when it's not your choice. Atlassian's announcement that [all Data Center products will reach end-of-life by March 28, 2029](https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/atlassian-ascend), means thousands of organizations must now reconsider their DevSecOps deployment and infrastructure. But you don't have to settle for deployment options that don't fit your needs. GitLab maintains your freedom to choose — whether you need self-managed for compliance, cloud for convenience, or hybrid for flexibility — all within a single AI-powered DevSecOps platform that respects your requirements.\n\nWhile other vendors force migrations to cloud-only architectures, GitLab remains committed to supporting the deployment choices that match your business needs. Whether you're managing sensitive government data, operating in air-gapped environments, or simply prefer the control of self-managed deployments, we understand that one size doesn't fit all.\n\n## The cloud isn't the answer for everyone\n\nFor the many companies that invested millions of dollars in Data Center deployments, including those that migrated to Data Center [after its Server products were discontinued](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/atlassian-server-ending-move-to-a-single-devsecops-platform/), this announcement represents more than a product sunset. It signals a fundamental shift away from customer-centric architecture choices, forcing enterprises into difficult positions: accept a deployment model that doesn't fit their needs, or find a vendor that respects their requirements.\n\nMany of the organizations requiring self-managed deployments represent some of the world's most important organizations: healthcare systems protecting patient data, financial institutions managing trillions in assets, government agencies safeguarding national security, and defense contractors operating in air-gapped environments.\n\nThese organizations don't choose self-managed deployments for convenience; they choose them for compliance, security, and sovereignty requirements that cloud-only architectures simply cannot meet. Organizations operating in closed environments with restricted or no internet access aren't exceptions — they represent a significant portion of enterprise customers across various industries.\n\n![GitLab vs. Atlassian comparison table](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1759928476/ynl7wwmkh5xyqhszv46m.jpg)\n\n## The real cost of forced cloud migration goes beyond dollars\n\nWhile cloud-only vendors frame mandatory migrations as \"upgrades,\" organizations face substantial challenges beyond simple financial costs:\n\n* **Lost integration capabilities:** Years of custom integrations with legacy systems, carefully crafted workflows, and enterprise-specific automations become obsolete. Organizations with deep integrations to legacy systems often find cloud migration technically infeasible.\n\n* **Regulatory constraints:** For organizations in regulated industries, cloud migration isn't just complex — it's often not permitted. Data residency requirements, air-gapped environments, and strict regulatory frameworks don't bend to vendor preferences. The absence of single-tenant solutions in many cloud-only approaches creates insurmountable compliance barriers.\n\n* **Productivity impacts:** Cloud-only architectures often require juggling multiple products: separate tools for planning, code management, CI/CD, and documentation. Each tool means another context switch, another integration to maintain, another potential point of failure. GitLab research shows [30% of developers spend at least 50% of their job maintaining and/or integrating their DevSecOps toolchain](https://about.gitlab.com/developer-survey/). Fragmented architectures exacerbate this challenge rather than solving it.\n\n## GitLab offers choice, commitment, and consolidation\n\nEnterprise customers deserve a trustworthy technology partner. That's why we've committed to supporting a range of deployment options — whether you need on-premises for compliance, hybrid for flexibility, or cloud for convenience, the choice remains yours. That commitment continues with [GitLab Duo](https://about.gitlab.com/gitlab-duo-agent-platform/), our AI solution that supports developers at every stage of their workflow.\n\nBut we offer more than just deployment flexibility. While other vendors might force you to cobble together their products into a fragmented toolchain, GitLab provides everything in a **comprehensive AI-native DevSecOps platform**. Source code management, CI/CD, security scanning, Agile planning, and documentation are all managed within a single application and a single vendor relationship.\n\nThis isn't theoretical. When Airbus and [Iron Mountain](https://about.gitlab.com/customers/iron-mountain/) evaluated their existing fragmented toolchains, they consistently identified challenges: poor user experience, missing functionalities like built-in security scanning and review apps, and management complexity from plugin troubleshooting. **These aren't minor challenges; they're major blockers for modern software delivery.**\n\n## Your migration path: Simpler than you think\n\nWe've helped thousands of organizations migrate from other vendors, and we've built the tools and expertise to make your transition smooth:\n\n* **Automated migration tools:** Our [Bitbucket Server importer](https://docs.gitlab.com/user/import/bitbucket_server/) brings over repositories, pull requests, comments, and even Large File Storage (LFS) objects. For Jira, our [built-in importer](https://docs.gitlab.com/user/project/import/jira/) handles issues, descriptions, and labels, with professional services available for complex migrations.\n\n* **Proven at scale:** A 500 GiB repository with 13,000 pull requests, 10,000 branches, and 7,000 tags is likely to [take just 8 hours to migrate](https://docs.gitlab.com/user/import/bitbucket_server/) from Bitbucket to GitLab using parallel processing.\n\n* **Immediate ROI:** A [Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ study commissioned by GitLab](https://about.gitlab.com/resources/study-forrester-tei-gitlab-ultimate/) found that investing in GitLab Ultimate confirms these benefits translate to real bottom-line impact, with a three-year 483% ROI, 5x time saved in security related activities, and 25% savings in software toolchain costs.\n\n## Start your journey to a unified DevSecOps platform\n\nForward-thinking organizations aren't waiting for vendor-mandated deadlines. They're evaluating alternatives now, while they have time to migrate thoughtfully to platforms that protect their investments and deliver on promises.\n\nOrganizations invest in self-managed deployments because they need control, compliance, and customization. When vendors deprecate these capabilities, they remove not just features but the fundamental ability to choose environments matching business requirements.\n\nModern DevSecOps platforms should offer complete functionality that respects deployment needs, consolidates toolchains, and accelerates software delivery, without forcing compromises on security or data sovereignty.\n\n[Talk to our sales team](https://about.gitlab.com/sales/) today about your migration options, or explore our [comprehensive migration resources](https://about.gitlab.com/move-to-gitlab-from-atlassian/) to see how thousands of organizations have already made the switch.\n\nYou also can [try GitLab Ultimate with GitLab Duo Enterprise](https://about.gitlab.com/free-trial/devsecops/) for free for 30 days to see what a unified DevSecOps platform can do for your organization.",[573,22,753,754],"product","features",{"featured":28,"template":15,"slug":756},"atlassian-ending-data-center-as-gitlab-maintains-deployment-choice",{"promotions":758},[759,773,784,795],{"id":760,"categories":761,"header":763,"text":764,"button":765,"image":770},"ai-modernization",[762],"ai-ml","Is AI achieving its promise at scale?","Quiz will take 5 minutes or less",{"text":766,"config":767},"Get your AI maturity score",{"href":768,"dataGaName":769,"dataGaLocation":243},"/assessments/ai-modernization-assessment/","modernization assessment",{"config":771},{"src":772},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1772138786/qix0m7kwnd8x2fh1zq49.png",{"id":774,"categories":775,"header":776,"text":764,"button":777,"image":781},"devops-modernization",[753,11],"Are you just managing tools or shipping innovation?",{"text":778,"config":779},"Get your DevOps maturity score",{"href":780,"dataGaName":769,"dataGaLocation":243},"/assessments/devops-modernization-assessment/",{"config":782},{"src":783},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1772138785/eg818fmakweyuznttgid.png",{"id":785,"categories":786,"header":787,"text":764,"button":788,"image":792},"security-modernization",[740],"Are you trading speed for security?",{"text":789,"config":790},"Get your security maturity score",{"href":791,"dataGaName":769,"dataGaLocation":243},"/assessments/security-modernization-assessment/",{"config":793},{"src":794},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1772138786/p4pbqd9nnjejg5ds6mdk.png",{"id":796,"paths":797,"header":800,"text":801,"button":802,"image":807},"github-azure-migration",[798,799],"migration-from-azure-devops-to-gitlab","integrating-azure-devops-scm-and-gitlab","Is your team ready for GitHub's Azure move?","GitHub is already rebuilding around Azure. Find out what it means for you.",{"text":803,"config":804},"See how GitLab compares to GitHub",{"href":805,"dataGaName":806,"dataGaLocation":243},"/compare/gitlab-vs-github/github-azure-migration/","github azure migration",{"config":808},{"src":783},{"header":810,"blurb":811,"button":812,"secondaryButton":817},"Start building faster today","See what your team can do with the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps.\n",{"text":813,"config":814},"Get your free trial",{"href":815,"dataGaName":50,"dataGaLocation":816},"https://gitlab.com/-/trial_registrations/new?glm_content=default-saas-trial&glm_source=about.gitlab.com/","feature",{"text":506,"config":818},{"href":54,"dataGaName":55,"dataGaLocation":816},1777493560725]