ITIL Release Management Deployment Checklist

This ITIL Release Management deployment checklist ensures compliance with ITIL 4 Release Management practices, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 release and deployment management, and DevOps/DORA Elite performance benchmarks. Designed for release managers and DevOps leads to systematically validate deployments, coordinate change windows, and ensure successful rollouts with minimal risk. Complete all sections for each production deployment.

  • Industry: Telecommunications & IT
  • Frequency: Per Event
  • Estimated Time: 30-45 minutes
  • Role: Release Manager / DevOps Lead
  • Total Items: 30
  • Compliance: ITIL 4 Release Management Practice, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Release and Deployment Management, DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) Metrics, ISO 27001:2022 A.8.32 Change Management, SOC 2 Type II CC8.1 Change Management Controls

Pre-Deployment Go/No-Go Gates

Mandatory pre-deployment criteria checks.

  • CAB approval obtained for this release?
  • Code freeze enforced since last successful build?
  • All automated tests passing (unit, integration, regression)?
  • Full staging/UAT validation completed?
  • Security scan (SAST/DAST) completed with no critical findings?

Release Package Verification

Verify release artifacts are correct and complete.

  • Release artifacts verified against approved build?
  • All dependencies resolved and documented?
  • Configuration changes documented and approved?
  • Database migration scripts reviewed and tested?
  • Release notes completed and distributed?

Deployment Execution

Step-by-step deployment procedure tracking.

  • Deployment runbook being followed?
  • Stakeholder notifications sent per communication plan?
  • Maintenance mode/downtime notifications active?
  • Pre-deployment backup/snapshot taken?
  • Deployment Execution Notes

Post-Deployment Validation

Smoke tests and production validation.

  • Smoke tests passed in production?
  • Application health checks returning green?
  • Enhanced monitoring active post-deployment?
  • Performance metrics within baseline thresholds?
  • Post-Deployment Validation Screenshot

Backout Decision Point

Evaluate whether rollback is required.

  • Any critical issues detected post-deployment?
  • Backout decision: Proceed or Roll Back?
  • If rolling back, backout procedure executed successfully?
  • Incident tickets raised for any post-deployment issues?
  • Go/No-Go Decision Notes

Release Closure and Lessons Learned

Release record closure and continuous improvement.

  • Release record updated with actual outcomes?
  • DORA metrics recorded (deployment frequency, lead time)?
  • Success/failure notification sent to stakeholders?
  • Lessons learned documented?
  • Process improvement actions raised?

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Why Use This ITIL Release Management Deployment Checklist?

This itil release management deployment checklist helps telecommunications & it teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for release manager / devops lead professionals, this checklist covers 30 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: per event.

Ensures compliance with ITIL 4 Release Management Practice, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Release and Deployment Management, DevOps Research and Assessment (DORA) Metrics, ISO 27001:2022 A.8.32 Change Management, SOC 2 Type II CC8.1 Change Management Controls. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the ITIL Release Management Deployment Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 30 inspection items across 6 sections: Pre-Deployment Go/No-Go Gates, Release Package Verification, Deployment Execution, Post-Deployment Validation, Backout Decision Point, Release Closure and Lessons Learned. It is designed for telecommunications & it operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed per event. Each completion takes approximately 30-45 minutes.

Who should use this ITIL Release Management Deployment Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Release Manager / DevOps Lead professionals in the telecommunications & it industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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