By In the ever-evolving world of software engineering, DevOps, and cloud computing, Billy Thompson, Global DevOps & Platform Engineering—Office of the CTO at Akamai, challenges the conventional wisdom around “best practices.” He argues that while best practices may provide useful guidelines, they are often fleeting and context-dependent.
“The industry is rapidly evolving… what’s considered best practice today might be a hard ‘no’ tomorrow.” – Billy Thompson
The Problem with Best Practices
One of the key takeaways from Thompson’s perspective is that best practices are not universal. What works for one company or use case might not work for another. While popular industry trends—such as microservices architecture, platform engineering, or Kubernetes—are often hailed as must-follow strategies, they may not be the right fit for every organization.
A Better Approach: Problem-Solving Methodology
Rather than focusing on best practices as rigid, universal rules, organizations should prioritize developing a solid problem-solving methodology. The key questions should be:
- What are our unique challenges?
- What constraints and requirements do we need to account for?
- What solutions align best with our current needs and resources?
Thompson also highlights the importance of innovation, emphasizing that some of the most impactful advancements come from challenging the status quo. He encourages teams to experiment and push boundaries rather than blindly following established norms. However, he acknowledges that in certain areas, such as security, best practices remain critical and more straightforward to implement.
Ultimately, the takeaway is clear: Organizations should be thoughtful in how they apply best practices, ensuring they serve their specific needs rather than following trends for the sake of it. By prioritizing adaptability and creative problem-solving, companies can position themselves at the forefront of technological advancement.
Guest: Billy Thompson (LinkedIn)
Company: Akamai
Show: 2025 Prediction Series
