How Will Gearset’s Clayton Acquisition Enhance Salesforce DevOps?

September 18, 2024

Gearset, a prominent DevOps platform provider, has announced its acquisition of Clayton, a company renowned for its expertise in analyzing code for SaaS applications, particularly on the Salesforce platform. This strategic move aims to integrate Clayton’s code analytics capabilities into Gearset’s existing services, providing more comprehensive and secure DevOps workflows. Gearset’s CEO, Kevin Boyle, emphasized that this acquisition would facilitate the deployment of secure applications without compromising the development speed, which remains a critical factor in the fast-paced world of software development.

Enhancing DevOps Workflows with Clayton’s Expertise

Streamlining Deployment and Security

With the acquisition, Gearset intends to streamline the deployment of secure Salesforce applications. Clayton’s platform is adept at detecting anti-patterns and vulnerabilities throughout the software development lifecycle of custom Salesforce applications. This capability is invaluable, given the complexity and proprietary nature of Salesforce development. The integration aims to help developers, including those with varying levels of expertise such as citizen developers, avoid common pitfalls and ensure higher-quality outcomes. According to a survey conducted by Gearset, over half of the organizations building custom Salesforce applications already use continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) platforms, while another 28% plan to adopt them soon. The survey also highlighted that 59% of these organizations have embraced version control, and 54% have implemented automated testing, all of which are essential components of a modern DevOps strategy.

The survey further revealed positive impacts of DevOps practices on release quality and team collaboration. Specifically, 54% of respondents reported improved release quality, and 46% noticed better team collaboration. However, only 38% cited more frequent releases, and a mere 33% saw reduced lead times as justifications for their return on investment (ROI) in DevOps. This suggests that organizations prioritize application quality over speed. By integrating Clayton’s capabilities, Gearset aims to enhance both aspects, ensuring secure and efficient development processes. Boyle’s vision highlights that even with accelerated development enabled by generative AI, maintaining stringent DevSecOps practices will be crucial for delivering high-quality Salesforce applications.

Independent Operations and Future Integration

Following the acquisition, Clayton will continue to operate as an independent business unit. This decision allows Clayton to maintain its specialized focus while benefiting from the broader resources and strategic direction provided by Gearset. The immediate goal is to further integrate the platforms of both companies, although specific financial terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed. This move reflects a thoughtful strategy, aiming to leverage Clayton’s deep expertise without disrupting its core operations. As organizations increasingly adopt sophisticated DevOps practices, the combined company seeks to offer a more cohesive and robust solution for Salesforce developers.

In addition to enhancing security and efficiency in deploying Salesforce applications, the integrated platforms will serve as a comprehensive toolset for a variety of development needs. The survey’s findings that 54% of organizations experienced improved release quality and 46% saw better team collaboration underscore the benefits of robust DevOps practices. By further integrating Clayton’s code analytics, Gearset aims to address the continuous challenges posed by proprietary programming languages and formats in Salesforce development. This is particularly important as organizations look to optimize both speed and quality in their development workflows.

Navigating the Future of Salesforce Development

The Importance of DevSecOps Practices

The development of Salesforce applications involves mastering a range of proprietary programming languages and formats, presenting significant challenges for developers. These challenges are compounded for developers with varying expertise levels, including citizen developers, increasing the risk of misconfiguration and vulnerabilities. Gearset’s platform is designed to help enforce best DevSecOps practices, which combine development, security, and operations to ensure the highest quality of applications. This approach is not only about catching vulnerabilities early but also about creating a culture of security awareness and best practices throughout the development lifecycle.

Looking to the future, the role of generative AI in accelerating application development cannot be overstated. While this technology promises faster development cycles, it also underscores the need for robust DevOps workflows. Organizations that adopt DevSecOps practices are better positioned to consistently produce high-quality applications, even as the pace of development quickens. Kevin Boyle points out that many organizations might be unaware of the best practices for building Salesforce applications, a gap that Gearset aims to fill with the integration of Clayton’s analytics capabilities. By focusing on both speed and security, Gearset and Clayton are poised to help organizations navigate the complexities of modern Salesforce development.

Conclusion

Gearset, a leading provider of DevOps solutions, has announced its acquisition of Clayton, a company acclaimed for its expertise in analyzing code for SaaS applications, with a particular focus on the Salesforce platform. This strategic acquisition is designed to merge Clayton’s powerful code analytics capabilities into Gearset’s already robust DevOps services. By doing so, Gearset aims to deliver more thorough and secure DevOps workflows to its users. Kevin Boyle, CEO of Gearset, highlighted that this acquisition will enable the deployment of secure applications without sacrificing development speed. He stressed that maintaining rapid development is crucial in today’s fast-paced software development environment. In essence, this move by Gearset is intended to enhance the security and efficiency of DevOps pipelines, making it easier for developers to deliver high-quality software quickly. Integrating Clayton’s technology is expected to yield significant advantages, reinforcing Gearset’s position as a formidable player in the DevOps market and providing customers with cutting-edge tools and services.

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