Microsoft’s Agentic DevOps and the Real Question: What Are You Multiplying?

Agents are everywhere and have ditched their overcoats and fedoras. They not only want to be seen, they are being pushed front and center!

For example, Microsoft’s virtual conference, Build, is geared toward developers. But that’s just the undercurrent for everything that will surface in the business. As expected, AI was front and center at the 2025 event. The focus was on AI Agents for developers, but it’s really something that the broader business should pay close attention to.

Why would you care what tools developers are using?

Because you actually care about the cost-effectiveness of your projects and partners. These tools are no longer simple guides, like training wheels helping their user to bumble through a difficult process. The models have dramatically improved in the past few years and have become more specialized, allowing a multiplication of effort. But what are you multiplying?

This is the essential question a business needs to ask when considering AI tools internally or when selecting a business partner for a project. What tools are they using? What are they multiplying?

Throughout my career, a certain theme keeps popping up. “So easy, you don’t need to be a developer”. Usually, this has been associated with a low-code/no-code platform. When working at a 3D animation/simulation company, one of the artists found that the software we were using now allowed “scripting” by connecting nodes. “So I don’t have to learn code!” After three days of trying to accomplish a certain task, they broke down and asked for help. Twenty minutes later, we had everything working. I’ve seen the same thing with Microsoft Power Apps (which do have their place in a business) and now AI “vibe coding”.

What are they multiplying? If the “code” part of it is simplified, what is it that is really important?

Process. Outcomes. Risks and Rewards. All of these tools are only there to serve the needs of the business. Someone who understands the business and its goals is someone who can apply the tools to your benefit.

Experience is a large part of that. Not just experience in writing code, designing databases, or even designing complex technological solutions, but understanding the process flows, the business priorities, and discerning between options based on the specific realities of your business.

THAT is what we want to multiply. And we know just the agents for the job!

Microsoft Agentic DevOps – image courtesy of Microsoft

That brings us to the next frontier: Agentic DevOps

If AI agents are multiplying effort, then how you apply them and where starts to matter a lot more.

That brings us to Agentic DevOps, Microsoft’s new approach to evolving software development. It combines GitHub Copilot with Azure’s developer tools to create agents that can take on more of the heavy lifting in coding, testing, deployment, and monitoring.

And these aren’t just assistive tools, they’re stepping into decision-making roles. Think of agents that can suggest code, test it, flag risks, and help resolve issues, all while keeping your team focused on high-value work. Microsoft calls it Agentic DevOps because these AI agents act with a level of autonomy, helping your team move faster with fewer manual steps.

For a business leader, here’s the question:
Is your team or partner working with this level of intelligence and speed?

Agentic DevOps isn’t just a productivity boost. It’s a shift in how software projects are delivered. Projects that used to take weeks can now move at the pace of days. Risks get flagged early. Feedback loops tighten. And the tools driving this change are available now.

So when you’re choosing who builds your next solution, ask:
Are they still doing DevOps the old way or are they multiplying results with Agentic DevOps?