Often built on top of Kubernetes, an IDP provides application developers with secure, scalable workflows that reduce the complexity of managing infrastructure. This allows application developers to focus on coding, deployments and delivering value without deep Kubernetes or underlying infrastructure expertise. Meanwhile, platform engineering and operations teams retain control over policies, governance, and infrastructure standards, ensuring the platform remains efficient, compliant, and maintainable while supporting rapid software delivery.
An Internal Developer Platform (IDP) will comprise of these five properties:
- Unified Tooling: Brings together development tools into a cohesive interface, simplifying workflows.
- Automated Workflows: Automates tasks like provisioning and deployment, speeding up development.
- Self-Service Capabilities: Empowers developers to manage resources independently, reducing reliance on IT or DevOps teams.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Ensures consistent, scalable, and automated infrastructure management.
- Policy as Code (PaC): Automates security and compliance enforcement, reducing errors and improving governance.