It often seems as though we are each constructing our own digital highways, clicking through portals and adding applications with ease. Yet, behind that glossy interface lies a reality that is frequently overlooked. Every day, I observe how tempting it is for organizations to quickly activate functionalities without giving due consideration to security, compliance, and costs. However, this meticulous attention is crucial. It should be an ongoing balance between freedom and regulation.

The cloud abstracts many underlying layers but does not make them disappear. It’s tempting to rapidly activate and use services in the cloud by simply navigating through portals. But as any IT professional knows, this can quickly escalate from bad to worse. Security breaches and soaring costs are lurking. The only way to mitigate these risks is by mastering the craft and committing to responsible, regulated IT practices day in and day out.

I believe in empowering developers and end-users with the freedom to innovate and experiment. At the same time, this freedom must be governed by a robust framework for security, compliance, and management to ensure it does not lead to irresponsible risks.

As someone overseeing exceptional software and platform engineers, I recognize how vital freedom and autonomy are for developers and end-users. However, freedom without regulation is like a car without brakes – it may accelerate quickly, but the risk of accidents is significant. Hence, I am a strong advocate for providing this freedom in a regulated manner. This is the essence of platform engineering – offering capabilities and support that encourage creativity while ensuring necessary regulations are in place.

Imagine a developer who can effortlessly explore new ideas without being bogged down by technical challenges. That is the type of freedom you should aim to provide. Daily, my teams ensure that developers can concentrate on their core competencies – innovating and creating – while we manage security, networking, identities, compliance, governance, and operations. This way, developers can build the future with confidence, without being distracted by technical obstacles.

Platform engineers’ responsibility begins where the developer’s ends. They ensure that everything built is secure, compliant, and cost-efficient. This means they work diligently every day to maintain a stable and reliable environment where data and applications are consistently protected.

I often liken platform engineers to the backstage crew at a concert. Although they operate behind the scenes, they ensure everything runs smoothly, allowing the performers – the developers and end-users – to excel. Every day, platform engineers create standardized and automated solutions that simplify complexity, enabling more time to focus on what truly adds value.

“Standards are useful, but what if my needs are unique?” The good news is that customization and standards often do not have to be mutually exclusive. By employing modular and composable approaches, you can work efficiently with standards while still tailoring solutions to meet specific requirements. Discussing deviations from standards is essential, so you can make informed decisions together as platform engineers and stakeholders. Both parties will then be aware of the implications and consequences. By blending standards with unique needs, you can build exactly what you require without the delays and costs associated with complete customization.

In my perspective, freedom and regulation are complementary. Developers need the space to innovate and experiment, but always within a framework that ensures safety and compliance. This is also the strength of cloud and platform engineering. They provide the infrastructure, security, and support needed so that developers and product teams can focus on what truly matters – creating value and driving innovation.