Atlantic Business Technologies, Inc.

Author: Atlantic BT

  • How to Integrate Security into DevOps

    [pull_quote]Good DevOps practices ensure that the same code bundle can be deployed into multiple environments and environment-specific elements can be automatically injected from outside the code bundles themselves.” -Bernard Golden, Author and CEO of Navica[/pull_quote]

    Golden describes just one example of how DevOps delivers significant improvements in development speed and agility. By increasing cooperation between IT engineers and developers, DevOps streamlines workflows across a software project. This has made DevOps a popular approach for many IT leaders.

    However, with all of this increased speed it is easy to view security concerns as inhibitors to DevOps agility. After all, if your developers are nailing their deadlines and your IT engineers are creating rock-solid environments for your software, why would you want worries about security to slow down your incredible progress? As the CommitStrip below amusingly points out, security doesn’t seem like a major concern until something goes wrong. And then, it may be too late to stop the issue from bringing down the entire application or system.

    SecDevOps means you don't make security an afterthought.
    SecDevOps means you don’t make security an afterthought.

    Question: When Should You Integrate Security into DevOps?

    Answer: Yesterday.

    [pull_quote]Information security architects must integrate security at multiple points into DevOps workflows in a collaborative way that is largely transparent to developers, and preserves the teamwork, agility and speed of DevOps and agile development environments, delivering ‘DevSecOps.’” -Gartner 2016 report  [/pull_quote]

    It is not enough to add on patchwork security protocols or systems just before deployment. Nor can you simply recruit a security expert to check your developers’ code as they work. To truly integrate security throughout your workflows, you need to ensure your developers are a transparent part of the security process. In short, stay true to the collaborative spirit of DevOps.

    This is not easy. Modern security infrastructure has lagged in its ability to become “software defined” and programmable, making it difficult to integrate security controls into DevOps-style workflows in an automated, transparent way. In addition, because developers often download and use open-source components and frameworks, modern applications are largely  “assembled,” rather than developed from scratch. This creates application security issues as many of these open-source additions are vulnerable to cyberattack.

    SecDevOps Training, Tools, and Best Practices

    So how can you stay true to the collaborative vision of DevOps as you weave security into your development processes? Information security architects should take the lead by adopting the following tactics to create a strategic SecDevOps approach:

    • Start with secure development and training. This does not mean you need to force your developers to become security experts or adapt an entirely new set of tools, but introducing the right secure practices can safeguard your software. For example, you should create deployment pipelines that allow for controlled code pushes into the production environment; by using Red/Black deployments, you can transition to the updated code running on the new infrastructure with zero impact to sessions, transactions, or the user experience. When scanning platforms, the Nessus product, from Tenable Security, can improve security without impacting your workflow.
    • Embrace the concept of people-centric security. Beyond training, this means empowering developers to take personal responsibility for security by encouraging a “trust and verify” mindset. Note that monitoring your systems is still important, but you need every team member to take ownership.
    • Require all information security platforms to expose full functionality via APIs for automatability. By automating regular code tests, you help ensure your software will be secure without demanding more effort from your team.
    • Use proven version control practices and tools for all application software and, equally as important, for all scripts, templates and blueprints used in DevOps environments. A GIT branching model is also helpful while writing code.
    • Adopt an immutable infrastructure mindset. Rather than focusing on maintaining and improving, your data center’s individual machine uptime, an immutable infrastructure relies on API-driven infrastructure-as-code. This improves flexibility by letting you lock down and change production systems via development.

    Learn More about SecDevOps Training

    This is only an introduction for how you can integrate a security mindset into your DevOps practices. If you’d like to learn more about best practices and tools to secure your applications and systems during development, contact our security team here at Atlantic BT. We know all of the ins and outs necessary to guide you to confidence and safety. 

    With these best practices and more, you will be well on your way to delivering secure-by-design software that integrates effectively with your chosen platforms.

  • This is When Your Web Design Team Should be in Touch

    You’ve made it to this moment. Finally, you have decided on a direction to head in with your large web development project. As a result, you’ve found and chosen the best creative vendor for the job. You’ve also signed a contract, paid a deposit, and cleared them to begin working. So, now what? How often should you expect to hear from your web design team?
     
    There isn’t a set answer to this question, of course, given that every project and client are different. Some of the executives we work with like to communicate with us regularly. Others only want updates when we have something new to show them. And some only want us to check in and get their input before making important decisions. Also, consider the web development process itself. There are some parts that call for more feedback than others.
     
    You should never feel left out of the loop when it comes to the progress made on new layouts, software, and features. In fact, there are a few communication moments you should always plan for and expect.
     
    Here are the most noteworthy occasions when you can count on hearing from your web design team.

    Project Discovery and Kick Off Meetings

    The first few weeks of a web development project require most of the client’s time. There are going to be interviews and follow up questions about the organization itself. Also plan on information gathering about topics like users and future goals.

    Regular Updates and Check-ins

    Once the preliminary discovery phase is out of the way, you should still hear from your design and development team regularly. If nothing else, they’re going to want to fill you in on the progress they are making. You can be kept up to speed on how everything is coming together and know when to anticipate future updates.

    Milestone Achievement and Review

    Your website development plan should include a number of milestones, such as the creation of market pages or a wireframe that shows how your website and content will be organized. Expect to hear from your web design team during these times, and to be able to provide feedback without too much delay.

    Escalation or Decision Trees

    You may hear from your project manager or even individual designers or programmers when certain “either-or” decisions have to be made. Your input should guide the process, particularly when there is any disagreement or lack of clarity about the best way to move forward.

    Follow Up After the Website Launch

    Website development doesn’t end after a site goes live; it simply moves on to the next phase. Your web design team will want to stay in touch with you to review analytics, update content, make programming tweaks, and ensure your online marketing campaigns are working as planned.

    All things considered, you’ll find it’s normal to hear from your web designers at least once a week. Expect this to increase when you reach a design stage that calls for more improvements. Making the time to develop a productive dialogue with a creative partner is worth the effort. Especially if you are lucky enough to find a web design team committed to keeping you involved. We don’t mean with only the occasional meeting. We mean every step of the way. Then, you’ll be on a straight path to success, getting the web presence your organization needs.
     
    If you are searching for said creative partner…we know some people. Contact Atlantic BT’s design and development teams for a free consultation.

  • Inspire Excellent Website Content From Your Brave Team

    Editing existing website content and creating new pages is a crucial part of the web development process. It’s also something most clients tend to put off until the last minute. That’s unfortunate, because a large website might have dozens or hundreds of pages to fill. If content isn’t prepared when the rest of the site is ready to go live, it can significantly delay the launch.

    If you’re an executive or business owner, the key to avoiding this problem is starting early and getting the help you need. In many cases, your managers and employees will be your top resource for writing new material. They know their departments, customers, and responsibilities better than anyone else.

    We know how difficult it can be to persuade others to write web content in a timely manner. Here are 7 ways you can inspire your team to hit their keyboards and complete your website content on schedule. 

    #1 Ask for Their Expertise

    Let your team members know why they are so invaluable. Everyone likes to be appreciated. By appealing to their expertise, you are turning them into authorities in their field. They’ll feel more confident, rather than bogged down with extra busywork. 

    #2 Start With a Few Easy Wins

    You don’t have to ask your team to generate lots of website content all at once. Begin by giving them a few simple things to write. Once those “easy wins” are out-of-the-way, they’ll be more receptive to tackling larger content writing projects. Suddenly, writing doesn’t feel so scary anymore. 

    #3 Trade Away Other Tasks

    If your employees or managers are already overwhelmed with other tasks, it’s going to be hard for them to find the time to write. See if you can get some assistance from temps, other departments, or even outside vendors to help lessen the work load. That way, your team can concentrate on generating the pages you need.

    #4 Provide a Template

    Procrastination and writers block can be major obstacles to productivity (#truth). Help your employees avoid these harbingers of doom by giving them a template or example to follow. That way they’ll never start with a blank page and the panic that inevitably comes from not knowing how to proceed.

    #5 Make it a Group Activity

    Gather team members together to share and exchange ideas. That will help remove other distractions, and might encourage a more collaborative spirit. Additionally, most people find it easier to write with the help of others instead of living in Salinger isolation. 

    #6 Try a Sprint

    Sprints are common in the world of programming. They involve bringing lots of people together to work on a concentrated activity for a short period of time. In that same vein, you could hold a content writing sprint for one hour on a Friday afternoon. That could lead to you crossing dozens of pages or articles off your checklist.

    #7 Take the Pressure Off

    Make it easier for your employees to express themselves by letting them know you’ll run anything they write past an editor or proofreader. That could speed up the process, since they won’t have to worry about checking their own work so carefully. It could also make it easier for them to think creatively.

    Need a Complex Website? Turn to the Experts

    At Atlantic BT, we have a talented and experienced team of designers, programmers, and project specialists who can help you create or reimagine your website. Contact us today to set up a free consultation and learn more about our work.

     

  • How to Make Your Web Project Better With the RACI Method

    When it comes to creating a new website, planning, and assigning roles is a crucial task. This is even more critical for large web projects involving institutional web design. Without the proper guidelines in place, you can never be sure that everything is taken care of. There can be important details and considerations missed or overlooked.

    This would be true even if there was only one small team involved. But, that’s not the way large-scale web development works. At Atlantic BT, we have our group of designers, programmers, and content specialists. On top of that, we work with a variety of executives, managers, and vendors on a regular basis. This significantly increases the need for an organizational system.

    We’ve followed a specific strategy for managing project flows over the years. There are the written project plans that keep everyone on track. But, we also assign different tasks and phases using a RACI model. That stands for:

    • Responsible
    • Accountable
    • Consulted          
    • Informed

    Generally speaking, all the major contacts fall into this group. They may not have the same roles for each step, but it’s a handy way of keeping everyone involved and informed.

    The Benefits of RACI

    A structured workflow process is necessary if you want to keep everyone on the same page. Without one, it would be easy to see how things can quickly become convoluted. A lack of communication and clarity can lead to poor decision making. Choices happen without the proper input from the appropriate parties. Or, projects can stall while one team waits on another. They might need feedback or work from someone who didn’t realize they were on the clock.

    RACI lets us manage big web development jobs more efficiently than we would be able to do otherwise. That’s because it keeps us from duplicating tasks both within and outside of our offices. For example, we know who will be generating a given piece of content when it’s due. And we know which parties will be responsible for approving it when it’s finished.

    Another big advantage of the RACI system is the focus it provides. It frees everyone involved to work on what is most crucial or important at the moment. Clients don’t have to track us down in advance of deadlines. At the same time, we don’t need to bother them at the last minute so a project can move forward. Everyone is on the same page, communicating and paying attention. Therefore, everyone is free to do their best work when and where it can have the greatest impact.

    Why Clients Should Care About Workflows

    “Wow, this RACI Method sounds like a neat idea”, you might be thinking right now. “But it doesn’t really apply to me, since I’m overseeing a web design project, I’m not drawing or coding.” Ah! But it can! It’s even more valuable to clients. No executive should work with a firm that doesn’t have a similar system in place.

    Ultimately, a well-organized plan for institutional web design keeps the project running smoothly. You’re working with hundreds of details and moving parts. A team that ignores this aspect of the job is going to cost you time and money in the end.

    The day-to-day process your design team follows may not be the biggest concern for you. But, you should care very much about the way they plan to manage input and communicate with you. Remember the four letters (RACI) that make web design a smoother process and don’t hire anyone who doesn’t know them.

    Is it time to get organized with a creative team that can keep deadlines, schedules, and budgets in check? Contact Atlantic BT today to schedule a free consultation.

     

  • One Simple Way to Make Your Website Strategy More Actionable

    The wonderful thing about web design is that web design is a wonderful thing. Technology is always improving. Nowadays it feels as though anything is possible. If you can dream it, we can build it.

    Unfortunately, there is a second side to that coin. Just because we can create something, doesn’t mean that we should. Its possibility does not make it feasible or affordable. In fact, when you consider the resources involved, it might not even make a lot of sense. Once we have discussed wish lists and concepts with clients, we want to blend dreams with reality. That’s why we encourage them to start thinking in terms of constraints.

    It’s a lot of fun considering the creative choices you can make with your new website. Putting names and numbers next to the things that hold you back? Not as much. But, it’s every bit as important. Let’s look at some common constraints our clients face. They may affect you too, as you plan your next website.

    Current and Ongoing Budgets

    When we talk about constraints, web design clients usually think in terms of budgets. Obviously, this will be the biggest limitation for most organizations regardless of size or industry. However, when considering your budget, you have to look beyond the initial investment for the project. You should also talk to your creative team about ongoing expenses for maintenance, marketing, content creation, and future website audits. Your website strategy should always be looking ahead.

    Deadlines and Schedules

    Next to costs, the biggest constraint most web design clients face has to do with time. They may want a website launched by a certain date, or have to work within a time frame that aligns with other marketing or reporting goals. As with budgets, though, schedules shouldn’t only focus on initial commitments. Ongoing hours could be needed for meetings, content marketing, and analytics review. It’s important to identify and express any post-launch constraints you have in these areas.

    Scope and Customer or User Targeting

    Every web design project has ideas that go unused. Sometimes they are tabled for a future date. There are a few reasons why this happens. Budgets and schedules have to be accommodated (see above), for one. Or certain markets are just too tough to crack into at the moment. Even the biggest organizations can’t be all things to all people. You may have to scale back your vision to stay within the scope of a realistic web design or online marketing effort. Part of a strong website strategy is knowing what to let go of.

    Existing Content, Branding, and Platforms

    You may be coming into your web development project with constraints related to existing content, identity, and software. For example, you have hundreds of inbound links leading to a certain page that will have to be retained. Or, you might want to keep existing logos and marketing materials that have been successful in the past, to tie together with ongoing campaigns. You could have proprietary software that needs to work with your new website. Each of these presents its own challenges that are best addressed early on.

    Regulatory Needs or Legal Requirements

    In many fields there are legal or regulatory guidelines that have to be followed. These can apply to the website itself, the storage or transmission of sensitive data, and even the messaging used to attract customers. For instance, the companies we work with in the healthcare and financial fields have to be very careful about the way they disclose information and promote their work. Our government clients must be in compliance with very specific guidelines. Also, website accessibility laws are crucial to pay attention to. Again, these types of constraints don’t have to cause big headaches. However, you will want to get them out in the open when you begin meeting with web design vendors.

    Want to Get the Most From Your Web Design Budget?

    At Atlantic BT, clients don’t just care about the websites we make for them. They appreciate that we take their needs, budgets, and organizational goals into account before we ever start working on layouts or marketing plans.

    If you want a web design and development partner who will put your priorities first, why not contact us today and schedule a free consultation? What could it hurt?

  • Why Research is the Key to Effective Web Design

    What do you believe you’re getting when you hire a web designer? Many clients think they’re paying for artistic skill and technical expertise. That is true…in a sense. A finished website is usually the “deliverable” at the end of the project. But, in our experience, the real value comes at a different point in the process; the research and Discovery Phase.

    At Atlantic BT, our belief is that not all web design time is equal. In fact, what you think you’re paying for might not be the most important piece or step. Let’s elaborate.

    Discovery Time Offers the Biggest Payoff

    The Discovery process is an essential kick-off point at the beginning of a web design project. This research stage includes interviewing clients and asking about their organization, needs, and challenges. But, many web development companies will treat Discovery as a formality. It’s an unfortunate step to not appreciate. We know that the Discovery phase is where the magic really happens.

    Once a creative team knows what a client truly needs, they can move forward with confidence. The layouts, flowcharts, and content are custom made. They fit a specific situation, marketing personality, and audience. The creative team is aware of past work, current processes, and future goals. They can see the big picture and understand their client’s character, inside and out. Knowing what their client needs and the parameters of the project allows for focus. The team can develop the right solutions for the right problems.

    An experienced, professional web designer can make new layouts and color schemes easily. Figuring out what will help a client meet their needs is much more challenging and vital. This leads us to another important observation.

    Don’t Rush Through the Interview and Data Collection Process

    A thorough Discovery meeting can provide buckets of inspiration and information. It makes everything else that comes later in the web design process, easier. On the flip side of that, rushing through Discovery interviews will come back to hurt you.

    A lack of understanding leads to a product with no real purpose. If your web development team doesn’t understand what you want or need, what can you expect from them? They are likely to present you with work that needs major revisions. Everyone involved could be missing important details throughout the process. In the end, you’ll find yourself with a web presence that isn’t as effective as it could be.

    Lots of executives like to rush through interviews. More than a few web designers are the same way. They all want to get busy designing samples and layouts. But, this almost always backfires. Designers end up reinventing the wheel again and again. In the meantime, clients get more and more frustrated.

    There are Two Ways to Spend Time on Web Design

    Decades of experience with both web design and development has taught us this truth. It takes time to plan and build a great website. Spending that time at the beginning to learn, research, and ask questions, is valuable. The project moves forward smoothly and naturally. Rushing those preparations helps no one. It will only make the project difficult, delayed, and costly.

    Consider this approach to research when outlining your web design or redesign project. Don’t move too fast through the most important step. Refuse to work with anyone who rushes you through the Discovery phase. If you do otherwise, you’ll regret it later.

    Ready for a Better Approach to Web Design and Development?

    There are hundreds of companies out there who can build a website for you. Very few can handle institutional web design and development in a professional way. Work with a creative partner who can keep your project on target, on schedule, and on budget. Contact Atlantic BT, located in North Carolina, to schedule a free consultation.