Putting machine learning models into production can be long and complex. There is a large margin for error between the experimental phase and the production floor, and the success of the deployment is contingent on several moving parts in the data, machine learning model, and code. The MLOps approach can help simplify this communication. While MLOps takes inspiration from DevOps, it also has its unique characteristics.
What is MLOps?
Machine learning operations (MLOps) is a strategy for overseeing all aspects of the machine learning model’s lifecycle, from development to regular use in production to eventual retirement.
Machine learning ops, or “DevOps for ML,” is an initiative to strengthen the relationship between the data scientists who create machine learning models and the operations groups who monitor the models’ use in production.
It is accomplished through enhancing feedback loops and automating as many routine procedures as possible.
MLOps’ primary objective is to facilitate the application of AI technologies to business challenges, with a secondary focus on assuring that the results of any machine learning (ML) models adhere to ethical and reliable standards.
Let’s have a look at the critical components of the MLOps technique.
1. Version control
DevOps relies heavily on stable and up-to-date code versions. The data and models developed in MLOps must also be versioned. There must also be a correlation between the various versioning procedures.
Each model requires its unique collection of data and version of the software.
2. ML Pipelines
All the steps needed to create a model are part of the ML pipeline.
- Preparing Input Data
- Model development and evaluation
- Providing feedback on the models’ performance (metrics, plots)
- Model code continuous integration/continuous deployment registration and deployment
Modifications to the code, the introduction of new data, or a predetermined timetable can all set off the ML pipeline. It is possible to create non-linear, complex workflows.
3. Monitoring
As machine learning relies on recursive mathematical functions rather than hardcoded instructions, it is not uncommon for an ML model’s performance to degrade over time as new data is added.
It is essential to keep an eye on this phenomenon, known as model drift, to ensure the model’s results stay within acceptable ranges.
4. Collaboration
Effective ML deployments necessitate a wide range of technical expertise and an organizational culture prioritizing teamwork across departments.
Data scientists developing machine learning models and operations teams maintaining them in production can close the cultural and technological gaps through feedback loops.
5. Cloud computing environment
Training the model in the cloud creates a centralized, or at least shared, environment, which is excellent for teamwork among data scientists.
Uniformity and repeatability, two factors essential to the timely completion of a machine learning project, are provided by a centralized setting and automated procedures.
For Data Nectar’s cloud-based code repository, we usually use a DevOps platform. Instead of keeping the trained model on our servers, we save it in a central registry just for models. The information can be held in the cloud and retrieved/mounted at the start of the training process.
MLOps Deployment
An effective MLOps implementation can serve as a monitoring and automation system for ML models from their inception until retirement.
Data scientists, programmers, compliance teams, data engineers, ML researchers, and company executives will all benefit from MLOps at its peak performance.
There is a high failure rate with MLOps if it is not implemented correctly. Cultural issues, such as conflicting priorities and poor communication between departments, are a typical source of problems in organizations.
As a result, new feedback loops and technical features of a model’s lifecycle support services and tools are widely embraced.
What are the most effective MLOps practices?
Teams working on MLOps tools involve people from various parts of the business.
Maintaining open lines of communication and adhering to best practices for each component of the pipeline can help data scientists, engineers, analysts, operations, and other stakeholders create and deploy ML models that consistently produce the best possible outcomes. Some examples are:
1. Data Preparation
One of the most crucial aspects of any ML model is the quality of the data. It is critical that the data used to train ML models is properly preprocessed. This entails the most effective methods for data cleansing, data exploration, and data transformation.
2. Engineered Features
Improving the precision of supervised learning results is a primary motivation for feature engineering. The process of data verification is an example of best practice. Making ensuring feature extraction scripts can be utilized again in production for retraining is also crucial.
3. Data Labeling
Superior label quality is essential for supervised learning. Best practices include having a clearly defined and reviewed labeling procedure that is accepted by experts in the field.
4. Practice and Adjustment
Train and tweak simple, interpretable ML models first since they are simpler to debug.
The debugging process for more sophisticated models can be simplified with the use of the following ML toolkits
- Google Cloud AutoML,
- MLflow,
- Scikit-Learn
- Microsoft Azure ML Studio.
5. Auditing and Managing
Best practices for MLOps include version control, just as they do for DevOps. One way to check for modifications made to a model over its lifetime is to trace its ancestry.
This best practice can be bolstered by utilizing cloud platforms like MLflow or Amazon SageMaker.
6. Monitoring
Monitoring the model’s outputs and summary data on a regular basis after deployment is an essential best practice. This entails keeping a watch on the following
- Measures taken to check the load, utilization, storage, and health of the infrastructure on which the model runs are known as benchmarks.
- Over- or under-representation in the incoming data might induce a bias that is summarized statistically.
- The core of the ML model. When a model’s outputs deviate outside of predetermined statistical thresholds, an automatic alert system can initiate the retraining process.
Advantages of MLOps
1. Lifecycle speed
Machine Learning ops (MLOps) is a defined procedure for developing reusable pipelines for machine learning.
As opposed to the months-long process of unplanned coordination between the various specialist teams involved in a project, a machine learning model can proceed quickly from inspiration to deployment.
2. Convenient Reproduction system
Reproducing models is considerably simpler now because your code, data, and all previous versions of both are stored in the cloud.
Data scientists can reliably recreate their models locally or in the cloud whenever they need to make adjustments.
3. Highly Collaborating
Machine learning tools development often calls for interdisciplinary groups to work together, with members having backgrounds in things like information technology, dev ops engineering, and data science.
In the absence of a development framework that promotes teamwork, individuals tend to work in isolation, leading to inefficient delays that eat up resources.
As part of the MLOps procedure, groups must work together to orchestrate their operations, shortening development timeframes and producing a product more suited to the business goal.
4. Standardization of data governance and regulatory compliance
There has been a tightening of rules and guidelines in the machine learning sector as the technology has matured.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) are two examples of regulations that could affect the use of machine learning.
Machine learning models that are in line with applicable governmental and industry requirements can be replicated using the MLOps procedure.
5. Scalability
Using MLOps practices, which emphasize standardization, helps businesses swiftly increase the amount of machine learning pipelines they construct, manage, and monitor without significantly increasing their teams of data experts.
Hence, MLOps allows ML projects to scale very well.
6. Components and models that can be reused
It is simple to adapt MLOps-built machine learning features and models to serve alternative organizational goals.
The time it takes to deploy is cut even further by reusing pre-existing components and models, allowing for the rapid achievement of meaningful business goals.
Final Words
MLOps helps teams to bring their machine learning applications into a production setting much more quickly and with better outcomes. Teams can more easily adjust to new circumstances if they have a well-defined deployment strategy in place that links the staging and production environments. And since everything (data, models, and code) is versioned meticulously in the cloud, you never have to worry about losing any of your hard work.
While the controlled development process that MLOps provides may involve some growing pains for your team, we at Data-Nectar are firm believers in its merits. Do you need to get your team up to speed on MLOps? Please let us know how we can assist you.
