The argument that more staging environments is rooted in a common fallacy: that staging environments reduce risk. They don’t. They create a false sense of security.
Windows, Microsoft Teams, Starbucks POS; these platforms risk losing millions per hour during downtime. Yet they rely on continuous delivery and testing in production. Why? Because they understand that real safety comes from fast, automated feedback loops and quality built in from the start, not from artificial gates.
The only reason production deployments feel risky is because organisations underinvest in quality. Test-first development, continuous integration, automated testing, and audience-based deployments are proven strategies for reducing risk while delivering faster. Staging environments merely delay the discovery of issues—they don’t prevent them.
If your business can’t tolerate downtime, the solution isn’t more pre-production gates. It’s engineering excellence through modern delivery practices. The choice isn’t between staging or risk; it’s between outdated practices and professionalism.
If you've made it this far, it's worth connecting with our principal consultant and coach, Martin Hinshelwood, for a 30-minute 'ask me anything' call.
We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.
Hubtel Ghana
Deliotte
Sage
Workday
Higher Education Statistics Agency
CR2
NIT A/S
Teleplan
Big Data for Humans
MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.
Cognizant Microsoft Business Group (MBG)
Slicedbread
Philips
Boxit Document Solutions
Akaditi
Ericson
SuperControl
Alignment Healthcare
Washington Department of Transport
New Hampshire Supreme Court
Nottingham County Council
Royal Air Force
Ghana Police Service
Washington Department of Enterprise Services
Capita Secure Information Solutions Ltd
Flowmaster (a Mentor Graphics Company)
CR2
Trayport
Sage
Lockheed Martin