
Platform engineering is emerging as a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure as it evolves to help organizations achieve greater agility, scalability and robust developer experiences (DevEx).
According to the third edition of Humanitec and Gitpod’s State of Platform Engineering Report, the discipline continues to expand, driven by a growing focus on internal developer platforms (IDPs), cross-functional collaboration and aligning platform goals with broader business outcomes.
This evolution reflects the challenges and opportunities faced by platform engineers as they strive to build scalable, secure and efficient systems while maintaining a strong DevEx.
“Platform engineering is about more than building robust systems; it’s about fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation,” said DoControl vice president of product management, Guy Rosenthal. “By integrating security and usability into the core of development, platform engineering empowers teams to achieve secure-by-design outcomes while driving business value.”
The Growing Role of Internal Developer Platforms
A key trend identified in the report is the increasing adoption of IDPs, which streamline operations for developers while offering scalable infrastructure orchestration.
However, many organizations struggle with securing executive buy-in, managing technical complexity, and fostering collaboration between development and operations teams.
“To balance DevEx with scalable infrastructure, organizations must treat the platform as a product,” said Derek Ashmore, application transformation principal at Asperitas. “Developers are the customers and their needs must guide usability, performance and reliability efforts.”
He emphasized that collaboration and incremental improvement are essential.
“Involve developers early in the design process to ensure the platform aligns with their workflows,” he said. “Build and release features incrementally based on feedback to avoid disrupting existing processes.”
Balancing Security and Developer Productivity
The integration of security into platform engineering is becoming increasingly important as organizations face heightened cybersecurity risks.
According to the report, nearly 20% of respondents identified payment fraud as their greatest cyberthreat, reflecting a growing need for comprehensive security strategies.
“Platform engineering can help by embedding security directly into the development process,” Rosenthal said.
He explained automated security checks, compliance monitoring and real-time threat detection systems ensure that secure-by-design principles are consistently applied without slowing development.
Rosenthal added that a collaborative environment is vital for maintaining security standards.
“A shared platform where development, operations and security teams work seamlessly together makes security a collective responsibility,” he said.
This integration fosters a culture where everyone is accountable for maintaining a secure environment.
Addressing Organizational Challenges
While platform engineering holds immense potential, organizational hurdles remain a significant barrier to adoption. Aligning platform goals with business outcomes is critical to securing executive support and demonstrating value.
“Connect the platform to organizational goals like faster innovation, cost efficiency and market growth,” Ashmore said. “Use metrics to tell the story, quantifying pain points and projecting improvements to highlight the platform’s impact on developer productivity and business outcomes.”
He noted pilot projects can showcase success and build momentum, with tangible results helping to justify scaling the initiative and demonstrating the platform’s value to stakeholders.
Skills Driving Demand and Rising Salaries
The growing demand for platform engineering expertise has led to higher salaries for professionals in this field, compared to traditional DevOps roles.
The report highlights key skills and certifications driving this demand, including proficiency in platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP), infrastructure as Code (IaC) expertise for use of tools including Terraform, CloudFormation, or Pulumi, and deep knowledge of Docker and Kubernetes for managing workloads.
Experience with CI/CD pipelines and monitoring tools like Jenkins, Prometheus and Grafana, and in Python, Bash, or Go for automation, alongside familiarity with languages like JavaScript or Java, were among the other top skills.
“Platform engineers must be equipped with both technical expertise and a collaborative mindset,” Rosenthal said. “Their role is not only to build systems but also to integrate diverse tools and practices into a cohesive, scalable platform.”
Future Evolutions
The future of platform engineering lies in its ability to integrate security, scalability and usability seamlessly into development processes.
By prioritizing incremental improvements, fostering collaboration and aligning platforms with business objectives, organizations can maximize the value of their investments while addressing the challenges of modern IT landscapes.
“Platform engineering isn’t just about building tools — it’s about enabling business success,” Ashmore said. “When executed thoughtfully, it becomes a powerful driver of innovation, security and efficiency.”