Jim Mercer is a research VP within IDC's DevOps and DevSecOps Solutions research practices. In this role, he is responsible for researching, writing and advising clients on the fast-evolving DevOps and DevSecOps markets. Mr. Mercer’s core research includes topics such as rapid enterprise application development, modern microservice-based packaging, GitOps, application security, software supply chain security and automated deployment and lifecycle/management strategies as applied to a DevOps practice. In addition, he examines how the move to DevOps methodologies impacts enterprise use of open source and preferences for using on-premises computing and development platforms vs. public cloud services. He looks at how organizations prioritize DevSecOps and use automation to insert security assessments into the DevOps delivery pipeline (i.e., shift left). Mr. Mercer advises senior IT, business and investment executives globally in creating strategy and operational tactics that drive the execution of digital transformation and business optimization.