How Version Control Systems Protect Your Data and Streamline Development

25 Jul 2025, by Micron21

As a holistic  IT service provider with our own Tier IV data centre, we host systems for and provide support to a lot of different clients working in all sorts of fields.  However, one thing that's common across many of them is that they often have their own software that they've developed and deployed onto their environments.

That's why this month we thought we'd touch on the best practices when it comes to securing your source code, protecting it from data loss, speeding up the development of your software, as well as automating the deployment of that software onto your testing, staging, and production environments.

The good news is that all of these can be achieved through self-hosted version control systems and CI/CD.

What are Version Control systems?

Before version control systems were developed, software development was handled very differently.  Developers would often store their code on individual computers, manually copying files between team members via email or shared folders.  Protecting code meant creating backup copies on external drives or servers, but tracking changes was a manual process that often led to confusion about which version was the most current or who had made specific changes.

Version control systems were invented in the 1970s, with early systems like SCCS (Source Code Control System) paving the way for more sophisticated solutions.  The concept evolved significantly over the decades, with systems like CVS (Concurrent Versions Systems) in the 1980s, Subversion in the 2000s, and Git in 2005.  Today, version control systems are considered standard practice in software development, with virtually every professional development team using some form of version control.

At its core, a version control system is a tool that tracks changes to files over time.  It allows you to record modifications, compare different versions, and revert to previous states when needed. Think of it as a detailed history book for your code, where every change is documented with information about what was changed, when it was changed, and who made the change.

Why should you use Version Control systems?

There are several compelling reasons for implementing version control systems in your development workflow, each addressing critical aspects of modern software development.

Protecting your data through comprehensive change tracking

Version control systems provide robust data protection by keeping track of changes over time, allowing for roll-back to any point in time.  Unlike traditional backup methods that create snapshots at specific intervals, version control systems capture every single change made to your codebase. This means that if a critical bug is introduced or files become corrupted, you can easily revert to a known good state.

The system maintains a complete history of your project, so even if your main development machine fails or files are accidentally deleted, you can recover everything from the version control repository.  This level of protection goes far beyond simple file backups, as it preserves the entire evolution of your project!

Detailed history for better accountability and debugging

One of the most valuable features of version control systems is their ability to provide a detailed history of what changes were made and when they were made.  Each change (called a "commit") includes a description of what was modified, who made the change, and the exact time it occurred.

This detailed tracking proves invaluable during debugging sessions.  When a problem arises, developers can quickly identify when the issue was introduced by examining the commit history.  They can see exactly what code was changed and even communicate directly with the person who made the modification to understand the reasoning behind it.

Accelerated development through parallel workflows

Version control systems significantly speed up development by allowing separate features to be developed in parallel and then safely merged back into your main codebase.  This is achieved through a feature called "branching" - whereby developers can create separate lines of development for different features or experiments.

Multiple team members can work on different aspects of the same project simultaneously without interfering with each other's work.  When features are complete, they can be merged back together using sophisticated tools that help resolve any conflicts that might arise.  This parallel development approach can dramatically reduce project timelines and improve team productivity.

Automated deployment through CI/CD integration

Perhaps one of the most powerful aspects of modern version control systems is their integration with Continuous Integration and Continuous Development (CI/CD) pipelines.  This integration allows for the automated deployment of software onto development, testing, staging, and production environments whenever changes are made to the codebase.

What is Continuous Integration/Continuous Development (CI/CD)?

Continuous Integration/Continuous Development (CI/CD) represents the practice of automating the building, testing, and deploying of software and applications.  When integrated with version control systems, CI/CD creates a powerful workflow that can significantly improve both the quality and efficiency of your software development process.

Automated testing for enhanced quality control

By using CI/CD, you're able to automate the testing of your software prior to deployment, which adds another layer of protection against bugs being deployed onto production environments.  Every time code is committed to your version control system, automated tests can be triggered to ensure the new changes don't break existing functionality.

This automated testing approach means that issues are caught early in the development process, when they're easier and less expensive to fix. So rather than discovering the problems after deployment to production, any potential issues are instead identified and resolved during the development phase.

Streamlined deployment processes

In addition to automated testing, CI/CD significantly reduces the amount of effort required to deploy your software onto the many different environments that  it needs to be deployed onto.  Instead of manual deployment processes that are prone to human error and inconsistency, CI/CD pipelines can automatically handle the deployment process.

This automation ensures that deployments are consistent across different environments and reduces the time required to get new features and bug fixes into production.  What once might have taken hours of manual work can now happen automatically in minutes.

Controlled change management

CI/CD systems also allow for specifying change-control procedures, with delegated responsibility for checking changes and verifying that they should indeed be allowed to go through.  This means you can implement approval workflows where senior developers or project managers must review and approve changes before they're deployed to production environments.

These controls help maintain code quality and ensure that only thoroughly reviewed and tested changes make it to your live systems.

The benefits of using self-hosted Version Control systems

While there are several free public version control systems available out there, such as GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab, there's a strong case for using privately hosted systems instead, particularly for those businesses with sensitive code or strict security requirements.

Enhanced security through private infrastructure

Being able to have your version control system hosted within your own infrastructure provides several security advantages.  You maintain complete control over who has access to your code, as well as being able to implement your own security policies and access controls.

Network-level protection

By being able to lock down your version control system to only be accessible internally or via VPN, you create an additional layer of security that prevents unauthorised external access.  This is particularly important for organisations that handle sensitive code or proprietary algorithms.

Reduced risk from external breaches

Using a self-hosted solution reduces the risk of your data being exposed if public providers are compromised.  While major public platforms have robust security measures, they also represent high-value targets for cybercriminals. By keeping your code on your own infrastructure, you reduce your exposure to these external risks.

Customisation and compliance

Self-hosted solutions also provide greater flexibility for customisation and compliance with specific industry regulations.  You can configure the system to meet your exact requirements and ensure it complies with any regulatory standards that apply to your organisation.

Have any questions about Version Control systems?

If you have any questions about self-hosted version control systems, let us know!  Our team can discuss the best ways of implementing them within your specific infrastructure, taking into account your security requirements, team size, and development workflows.

Reach out to us on 1300 769 972 (Option #1) or email us at sales@micron21.com and we'll be able to provide tailored advice on how version control systems can benefit your organisation.