What is Deployment Pipeline? — UK Software Development Guide
Direct Answer
A deployment pipeline is the automated sequence of processes that takes code from a developer's laptop to production. A typical pipeline includes: code commit → build → unit tests → integration tests → security scanning → staging deployment → acceptance tests → production deployment. Modern pipelines are defined as code (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) and run on every code change.
Deployment-pipeline in the UK
Deployment pipelines have direct UK Cyber Essentials relevance. The Patch Management control (high-risk vulnerabilities patched within 14 days) is only practically achievable with an automated deployment pipeline — manual deployments create bottlenecks that prevent rapid security patching. FCA operational resilience (PS21/3) requires demonstrable ability to restore services — documented deployment pipelines support this evidence requirement. NHS DSP Toolkit Standard 6 (cyber resilience) expects automated deployment processes for software suppliers.
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