Introduction: Growth of Cloud Platforms

By 2026, companies are not just testing containers. They are running important business systems on Kubernetes platforms. Many companies now use automation, GitOps, and large cluster management.

This is where Red Hat and Red Hat OpenShift become very important.

DO280 teaches basic administration.
DO380, which is Red Hat OpenShift Administration III: Scaling Deployments in the Enterprise, teaches automation and large scale management.

In 2026, DO380 is not just an advanced course. It can strongly improve your career.

What Is DO380?

DO380 is for people who already know OpenShift basics and want to manage large and automated environments.

It does not focus on:

• Basic cluster work
• Manual setup
• Simple app deployment

Instead, DO380 teaches you to:

• Automate OpenShift tasks
• Manage many clusters
• Use GitOps methods
• Connect CI CD at platform level
• Use advanced operators

In 2026, manual work is not enough. Automation is required.

Why DO380 Is Important in 2026

1. Companies Are Using More Kubernetes

Many companies now run:

• Hybrid cloud systems
• Many production clusters
• Banking and healthcare systems
• AI and GPU applications

Managing one cluster is not enough anymore.

Companies need experts who can manage many clusters in different locations.
DO380 prepares you for this.

2. Automation and GitOps Are Common

In 2026, companies use:

• Git based deployments
• Infrastructure as Code
• Declarative configuration
• Automatic cluster management

DO380 teaches how to:

• Use Git for deployment
• Use operators for automation
• Keep systems updated automatically

Engineers who know automation are more valuable than engineers who only write YAML files.

Skills You Learn in DO380

After completing DO380, you can:

• Use GitOps workflows
• Deploy and manage OpenShift operators
• Automate cluster settings
• Manage different environments
• Set up advanced networking
• Scale workloads
• Handle large upgrades

These are advanced skills. These skills are used in platform engineering.

DO280 vs DO380 Career Difference

DO280 focuses on:

• Cluster administration
• Troubleshooting
• RBAC, storage, networking
• Keeping systems stable

DO380 focuses on:

• Automation
• Scaling
• GitOps
• Operators
• Platform strategy

DO280 makes you an OpenShift Administrator.
DO380 helps you become a Platform Engineer.

In 2026, platform engineering jobs are growing faster than traditional system admin jobs.

Career Opportunities in 2026

With DO380 knowledge, you can apply for roles like:

• Senior OpenShift Administrator
• Platform Engineer
• DevOps Automation Engineer
• Site Reliability Engineer
• Cloud Infrastructure Architect

Industries hiring OpenShift experts:

• Banking
• Telecom
• Healthcare
• Government
• Retail and manufacturing

Countries with strong demand:

• India
• Germany
• United States
• Middle East

Salary in 2026

Approximate salaries:

India: 18 to 35 LPA
Europe: 75,000 to 110,000 Euro
United States: 125,000 to 170,000 USD

Automation experts earn more because they reduce downtime and save company costs.

Hybrid Cloud and AI

Modern companies use:

• On prem data centers
• Public cloud
• Edge systems

OpenShift helps run applications on all these platforms in the same way.

In 2026:

• AI apps run in containers
• GPU nodes are managed with Kubernetes
• Resources are managed automatically

DO380 helps you manage these large systems.

Who Should Learn DO380?

DO380 is good for:

• OpenShift admins who finished DO280
• Kubernetes admins who want enterprise skills
• DevOps engineers
• SRE professionals
• Cloud engineers

Freshers should first learn Linux and Kubernetes basics before doing DO380.

Certification Benefit

DO380 matches advanced OpenShift certifications from Red Hat.

Red Hat exams are practical. You must:

• Configure systems live
• Fix real problems
• Work in real time

There are no multiple choice questions.

This makes the certification respected by companies.

Why DO380 Is a Smart Choice in 2026

Companies in 2026 do not only want engineers who know:

• Basic kubectl commands
• Simple YAML
• Cloud dashboards

They want engineers who can:

• Automate full platforms
• Manage many clusters
• Reduce downtime
• Secure systems
• Connect CI CD with infrastructure

DO380 trains you for these responsibilities.

For Content Creators and Trainers

If you create DevOps or Kubernetes content, talking about DO380 can:

• Show you as an enterprise expert
• Attract serious learners
• Build trust in the OpenShift field

Advanced topics help build long term authority.

Conclusion

Is DO380 mandatory in 2026?

It may not be officially required. But in real jobs, it is very important.

As companies grow their OpenShift systems, they need experts who understand:

• Automation
• Governance
• Multi cluster management
• GitOps
• Large scale systems

If you want to move from ba sic DevOps to platform engineering, DO380 is a strong step for your career.

FAQs

1. Is DO380 difficult?
   Yes, it is advanced. You must know OpenShift basics.
2. Should I complete DO280 first?
   Yes. DO280 builds your base knowledge.
3. Is DO380 better than learning Kubernetes only?
   Kubernetes gives basics. DO380 teaches enterprise level skills.
4. Is OpenShift used globally?
   Yes. It is used in many industries across the world.
5. Does DO380 help in DevOps careers?
   Yes. It prepares you for automation focused DevOps and platform engineering jobs.