GitLab–Jira integration: code, CI/CD and security for Atlassian teams

GitLab: an all-in-one DevSecOps platform that enhances your Atlassian environment with code management, CI/CD, security and AI

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What is GitLab: An overview of the all-in-one DevSecOps platform

GitLab is the all-in-one DevSecOps platform for the entire software lifecycle. Source code management, CI/CD pipelines, container registry, security scanning and release management are all integrated into a single application, rather than being spread across numerous individual tools.

With the GitLab Duo Agent Platform, AI is integrated into every phase of this lifecycle. Specialised agents handle tasks such as planning, coding or analysing vulnerabilities, whilst flows link multiple agents together to form workflows – for example, to diagnose and resolve faulty pipelines. Those who wish to retain control over their AI can connect their own or a self-hosted model via the GitLab AI Gateway, thereby deciding for themselves which model operates within agents and flows and where it is deployed. The options available depend on your pricing plan and operating model; we’d be happy to discuss this with you.

With more than 30 million users worldwide and adoption by businesses of all sizes, GitLab has become a key player in the Atlassian ecosystem. Those who wish to retain control over their code and data can choose between three operating models: GitLab SaaS, GitLab Self-Managed on your own or European infrastructure, and GitLab Dedicated, the isolated SaaS platform that GitLab operates on your behalf.

GitLab and Jira Integration: Smarter Together with Atlassian

GitLab and Atlassian complement each other perfectly and share the same vision of an open DevSecOps strategy. Atlassian promotes this as Open DevOps: teams choose the right tool for every situation without having to maintain their own interfaces. GitLab provides the DevSecOps side of things and works alongside your existing tools, allowing you to transition to a platform-based approach at your own pace. 

Jira remains the central planning and control layer, whilst GitLab handles code management, CI/CD and security. The native integration ensures that both worlds work together seamlessly:

GitLab and Atlassian complement each other perfectly
  • Native Jira integration: commits, branches, merge requests and pipelines are automatically displayed in the Jira Development Panel, with no manual effort required
  • Two-way linking: Jira ticket keys in commit messages and branch names automatically link code changes to the corresponding user stories and bugs
  • CI/CD status in Jira: Pipeline results (Success, Failed, Running) are visible directly in the Jira ticket, so the whole team can see the build status without having to switch tools
  • Security findings in Jira: Vulnerabilities identified by GitLab scans can be tracked as Jira tickets and appear right where your team is already working.
  • Merge request tracking: Open, merged and closed merge requests per Jira ticket at a glance
  • Deployment tracking: Which code was deployed to which environment and when? Visible in Jira, executed by GitLab
  • Confluence integration: GitLab snippets, repositories and pipeline statuses can be embedded in Confluence pages

GitLab and Jira: A toolchain for code, CI/CD and security

Jira combines planning, implementation and tracking, whilst GitLab brings code management, CI/CD and security together in a single application. This creates a toolchain that is tailored to your requirements in terms of operating model, scalability and data sovereignty, whilst leaving your tried-and-tested Atlassian processes untouched.

Choose the right operating model

Whether you choose GitLab as SaaS, Self-Managed or Dedicated, the toolchain is tailored to your requirements in terms of infrastructure, scalability and data sovereignty. 

SaaS is the quickest way to get started; Self-Managed runs on your own or European infrastructure, such as StackIT; and GitLab Dedicated offers a fully isolated SaaS platform operated and maintained by GitLab. Jira Cloud remains your planning layer across all variants.

Expanding CI/CD, security and AI

GitLab offers comprehensive CI/CD pipelines, an integrated container registry and native security scans such as SAST, DAST, dependency and container scanning. The Duo Agent Platform complements agents and flows that take the strain off teams when it comes to reviews, pipeline errors and vulnerabilities. 

This is beneficial for teams looking to integrate builds, tests, security and AI more closely into a single workflow.

Embed governance throughout the organisation

Jira combines planning, implementation and tracking, whilst GitLab brings compliance pipelines, security findings and deployment information to the table. 

This creates transparency across the entire development process, without your teams having to switch between tools.

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Use cases for GitLab with Jira: migration, data sovereignty, AI

GitLab and Atlassian complement each other perfectly

Governance & Data Sovereignty

Organisations in regulated sectors such as finance, public administration or healthcare require code hosting on their own infrastructure or on European infrastructure. GitLab Self-Managed, for example on StackIT, meets this requirement. If GitLab is to take over operations without data and source code being shared with other customers, GitLab Dedicated is the appropriate alternative. Jira Cloud serves as the planning layer in both cases.

Migration from Azure DevOps

Many companies are moving away from Azure DevOps and looking for a modern alternative. GitLab takes over repositories and pipelines, whilst Jira replaces Azure Boards.

Change in the operating model

Requirements change. Those who started out with GitLab SaaS may later need more control over their data and operations, whilst those running a self-managed solution may wish to hand over the administrative burden. Communardo supports the transition between SaaS, self-managed and dedicated solutions.

Advanced CI/CD, DevSecOps & AI

Teams requiring advanced CI/CD features such as parent-child pipelines, multi-project pipelines or dynamic environments, integrated security scanning or AI-powered flows will find a comprehensive solution in GitLab without the need for additional tools.

GitLab SaaS, Self-Managed or Dedicated: An overview of operating models

Operating model
GitLab SaaS
How it works
GitLab operates the platform as a multi-tenant service (GitLab.com)
Suitable if
you want to get started quickly and don’t want to worry about operations

 
Operating model
GitLab Self-Managed
How it works
You run GitLab yourself, on your own infrastructure or with a European provider such as StackIT
Suitable if
you want to retain full control over your infrastructure and data

 
Operating model
GitLab Dedicated
How it works
Isolated single-tenant SaaS: Data and source code are completely separated from other customers’ data; GitLab operates and maintains the instance, including upgrades and patches
Suitable if
you have high security and compliance requirements but still do not wish to manage your own operations

 

The benefits for you: What GitLab and Atlassian can achieve together

GitLab and Atlassian are creating a toolchain that brings together strategic requirements, operational transparency and efficient development without disrupting existing Jira processes

Flexible control without compromising on functionality

GitLab handles code management, CI/CD and security, whilst Jira remains the central platform for planning and management. This creates a flexible architecture that combines governance, data sovereignty and comprehensive DevSecOps functionality.

Making development visible

All code-related activities are centralised in the Jira Development Panel. Branches, commits, merge requests, pipelines and deployments are automatically linked to the relevant Jira issues.

Secure delivery and flexible procurement

High-performance CI/CD pipelines, Auto DevOps and integrated security scans such as SAST, DAST, dependency and container scanning support secure releases directly within the development process. Clear pricing tiers with Premium and Ultimate, the Flex licensing model and procurement via Communardo make implementation straightforward.

Why Communardo for GitLab and Atlassian

Communardo is an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner and a Specialised Partner for Software Development

Communardo brings extensive experience in GitLab-Jira integrations across organisations of various sizes and sectors, and also supports complex migrations, such as from Azure DevOps to GitLab and Jira, or from SVN to GitLab. The same applies to transitions between operating models: We provide support for switching from the cloud to self-managed solutions, as well as for GitLab Dedicated, the isolated SaaS platform where GitLab handles operations, upgrades and patches. Together, we determine which model best suits your requirements for security, compliance and data residency, and support you through the implementation and migration process.

As an Atlassian Platinum Solution Partner and Specialised Partner for Software Development, we don’t just focus on the technical tool setup; we work with you to design suitable workflows and empower your teams for their day-to-day work. For self-managed solutions, we can also, on request, take over the day-to-day operation and support of your solution as a managed service.

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GitLab Licences and Flex: Procurement via Communardo

GitLab offers two commercial plans and, with GitLab Flex, a contract model that bundles seats and AI usage under a single commitment. As a partner, we focus on Flex.

GitLab Flex: commit once, use flexibly

With Flex, you commit to an annual amount and allocate it where it’s needed: for seats in Premium and Ultimate, for GitLab Credits – which are used to bill for AI usage such as the Duo Agent Platform – and for usage-based features that become available after the contract is signed and can be used without the need for further procurement.

  • Adjust seats: Reservations can be reallocated monthly without having to wait for renewal.
  • Manage AI expenditure: spending limits per subscription and per user, as well as controls at project and group level, help you keep costs under control.
  • For every operating model: Flex applies to GitLab SaaS, Self-Managed and Dedicated. The feature sets of the plans remain unchanged.

Existing contracts will continue unchanged until they are renewed; for new contracts, GitLab recommends Flex.

The GitLab Duo Agent Platform is available for Premium and Ultimate plans and is billed via GitLab Credits.

GitLab Premium

Target audience:
Teams requiring advanced CI/CD, code review and project management

Key features:
Merge request approvals, push rules, code owners, operations dashboard

GitLab Ultimate

Target audience:
Organisations with security and compliance requirements

Key features:
SAST, DAST, dependency scanning, container scanning, compliance pipelines, value stream analytics

Deployment options

SaaS (GitLab.com) | Self-managed (own infrastructure / StackIT) | Dedicated (isolated SaaS platform)

Communardo advises on pricing, operating models and flexible contracts, and handles the licensing process.

Request a GitLab licence quote

FAQ

Jira remains your planning and management platform, whilst GitLab provides code, pipelines, security findings and deployments. All development activities appear in the Jira Development Panel and are linked to the relevant tickets.

That depends on the scope (number of repos, pipelines and work items). Communardo has tried-and-tested migration paths and supports you throughout the entire process, including data migration, pipeline conversion and team onboarding.

With Self-Managed, you run GitLab on your own infrastructure or with a European cloud provider such as StackIT, and all data remains under your control. Whether the operation as a whole complies with the GDPR also depends on your configuration and processes. We can advise you on this.

GitLab Dedicated is an isolated, single-tenant SaaS platform: data and source code are completely separated from those of other customers, and GitLab handles operations, upgrades and patches. It is a worthwhile option for organisations with high security and compliance requirements that do not wish to set up their own operations. Communardo provides support with selection, implementation and migration.

Yes, the GitLab Duo Agent Platform allows you to integrate your own or self-hosted models via the GitLab AI Gateway. We will discuss with you which option is available for your operational model and subscription plan.

Flex is a contract model with an annual commitment for seats, GitLab Credits and usage-based features. Seats can be reallocated on a monthly basis, and new features can be used without the need for further procurement.

That depends on your requirements: Ultimate includes integrated security scanning and compliance pipelines, whilst Premium covers advanced CI/CD, code review and project management. Thanks to the Flex model, you no longer need to make a definitive choice, as Flex allows for flexible allocation and use depending on your current situation. We’ll advise you on a case-by-case basis.

Do you have any questions or would you like some advice from us?

Arrange a personal, no-obligation consultation with our Atlassian Sales Experts.

Marlen Kaiser, Team Leader Customer Acquisition bei Communardo Software GmbH

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Marlen Kaiser
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