DORA metrics

The DORA framework is a set of metrics that help teams measure software delivery performance. DORA metrics give engineering teams clear insights into how fast, reliable, and efficient their development practices are. This empowers teams to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and drive continuous improvement. Read more about these metrics in the dora.dev guide.

How Cortex helps with DORA initiatives

Cortex moves DORA from status reporting to an actionable loop:

1

Measure

Measure and visualize your metrics in the DORA Dashboard.

2

Investigate

Drill down into underlying data in Metrics Explorer.

3

Take action

Codify expectations by launching a Scorecard, allowing you to continuously evaluate entities against DORA standards using live data from integrated tools.

4

Validate impact

Review your DORA Dashboard to see improved metrics, validating the impact of the DORA Metrics Scorecard and other initiatives.

Understanding DORA benchmarks and performance levels

Before getting started, we recommend reviewing the latest State of DevOps report to understand the current performance level standards for the key DORA metrics.

According to the 2024 DORA State of DevOps report, performance level is assessed based on the following benchmarks:

Performance level	Change lead time	Deployment frequency	Change fail rate	MTTR
Elite	>1 day	On demand (multiple per day)	5%	>1 hour
High	1 day-1 week	1x/day - 1x/week	10%	>1 day
Medium	1 week-1 month	1x/week - 1x/month	20%	>1 day
Low	1-6 months	1x/month - 1x/6 months	40%	1 week-1 month

Drive and maintain DORA standards in Cortex

Learn how to configure Cortex features for DORA metric improvements: Standardize and automate DORA benchmarks.

Learn about maintaining DORA benchmarks and continuously improving: DORA metrics in action.

Looking for additional resources on enforcing DORA standards in Cortex?

• Check out the Cortex Academy "Operationalizing DORA Metrics" course, available to all Cortex customers and POVs.

• See Cortex's "Operationalizing DORA Metrics" webinar with Google Cloud's DORA program leader, Nathen Harvey, and learn about the key takeaways in our blog.