Top 20 key features of Atlassian Cloud in 2024

2024 marks a breakthrough year for Atlassian Cloud features, delivering a more efficient work experience and optimizing project management processes. With powerful enhancements such as bulk editing in the backlog, advanced security integrations, and seamless multi-project management capabilities, Atlassian Cloud helps you save time and boost productivity.

Explore the Top 20 standout features of Atlassian Cloud in 2024, widely adopted and celebrated by users, in the article below!

1. Custom Domains - Jira, Confluence

Enables the use of branded domains like wiki.mycompany.com, providing a professional and seamless browsing experience. This feature includes automatic SSL configuration for secure HTTPS connections and unified URL management for multiple workspaces.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Improves accessibility, enhances brand recognition, boosts professionalism, and establishes credibility when working with partners or clients.
• Primary Users: Large enterprises, international companies, and teams managing multiple workspaces.

How to Use:

• Go to Admin Settings > Domains > Add Custom Domain.
• Enter your preferred domain and configure the required CNAME and TXT records in DNS.
• Verify the domain and activate SSL for enhanced security.

2. Multiple Sandboxes (Beta) - Jira Service Management, Jira, Confluence

Allows users to create multiple independent test environments separate from the production environment. This feature supports testing major changes like software integrations, workflow configurations, or system upgrades without risking live data.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Minimizes risks when deploying changes, ensuring a safer and more controlled testing process.
• Primary Users: DevOps teams, IT administrators, and development teams using Atlassian Cloud for software projects.

How to Use:

• Register for Beta access via Atlassian Support.
• In Admin Settings, select Sandboxes, then click Create Sandbox.
• Sync data from the production environment or configure the sandbox as per your testing requirements.

3. Priorities per Project - Jira Service Management, Jira

Enables defining unique priority levels for individual projects, moving beyond system-wide default priorities.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Provides flexibility for managing projects with different prioritization needs.
• Primary Users: Project managers, team leads, and admins handling multiple projects.

How to Use:

• Go to Project Settings > Priorities.
• Add new priority levels and assign them to the project’s issues.

4. Selective Data Copy (GA) - Confluence, Jira

Allows users to migrate only specific data (e.g., selected projects) instead of an entire site, enabling focused and efficient data transfers.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Reduces costs and saves time by avoiding unnecessary data migration.
• Primary Users: IT administrators and project managers planning data migrations.

How to Use:

• Go to Admin Settings > Data Management.
• Select the data scope to copy, choose the destination, and execute the migration process.

5. Site Optimizer, Projects Cleanup - Jira

Analyzes the system to identify inactive or outdated projects and recommends actions like deletion, archiving, or merging.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Enhances system performance, reduces storage costs, and simplifies maintenance.
• Primary Users: Jira administrators and IT managers.

How to Use:

• Go to Admin Settings > Site Optimizer.
• Review the suggestions and perform the necessary cleanup actions.

6. Priorities Page, Refresh - Jira

Offers a more intuitive interface for managing priority levels, with added analytics and visualizations to assess prioritization usage.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Improves priority management, reducing misunderstandings across teams.
• Primary Users: Project managers and team leads.

How to Use:

• Navigate to Admin Settings > Priorities.
• Edit or add new priority levels as needed.

7. Bulk Edit Improvements on the Backlog - Jira

Enables users to edit multiple tickets in the backlog simultaneously without leaving the current project.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Saves time and maintains workflow efficiency for backlog management.
• Primary Users: Product owners, Scrum masters, and backlog managers.

How to Use:

• Open the project backlog in Jira Software.
• Select multiple tickets using Shift or Ctrl (Windows)/Cmd (Mac).
• Use the bulk edit menu to apply changes.

8. Surfacing Incidents, PIRs, and PIR Actions - Jira

Displays incidents, post-incident reports (PIRs), and corrective actions directly in Jira for easy tracking and management.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Ensures effective incident handling and prevents recurrence.
• Primary Users: IT operations, DevOps, and support teams.

How to Use:

• Integrate Jira Service Management with tools like New Relic.
• Access the incident and PIR boards to monitor and track actions.

9. Azure DevOps Integration - Jira

Synchronizes CI/CD data and development progress between Azure DevOps and Jira.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Simplifies software development workflows with synchronized data.
• Primary Users: DevOps teams and software engineers.

How to Use:

• Enable Azure DevOps integration from the Jira Marketplace.
• Configure the connection with your Azure DevOps account.

10. Cross-Project Hierarchy (Above Epic Level) - Jira

Connects tasks across multiple projects, enabling easier management of complex, large-scale projects.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Facilitates multi-project management and task linkage.
• Primary Users: Enterprises using Jira Premium and higher plans.

How to Use:

• Go to Plans in Jira.
• Link tasks across projects by dragging and dropping in the interface.

11. JQL Support for Security Vulnerabilities - Jira

Adds the ability to search and report security vulnerabilities in Jira using JQL, integrated with tools like GitHub and Snyk.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Simplifies tracking and managing security issues.
• Primary Users: Security teams and DevSecOps engineers.

How to Use:

• Enable integrations with security tools from the Jira Marketplace.
• Use JQL to search and create reports on vulnerabilities.

12. Global Search on Jira Mobile

Provides a unified search tool on the Jira Mobile app to find projects, issues, filters, and boards.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Enhances search functionality and work management on mobile devices.
• Primary Users: Mobile-first Jira users.

How to Use:

• Update to the latest version of the Jira Mobile app.
• Use the search bar to enter keywords and view results.

13. Publish Views to Your Stakeholders - Jira Product Discovery

Allows publishing read-only views from Jira Product Discovery for stakeholders without Jira accounts.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Improves transparency and collaboration with stakeholders.
• Primary Users: Product managers and business partners.

How to Use:

• Create or open a view in Jira Product Discovery.
• Select Publish View, generate a link, and set appropriate permissions.

14. Unified User Management for New Cloud Migrators - BitBucket

Consolidates all users, groups, and permissions into a single interface during migration to Atlassian Cloud.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Simplifies identity management and ensures user security.
• Primary Users: IT administrators managing system migrations.

How to Use:

• Activate Atlassian Access to connect with identity systems like Azure AD or Okta.
• Go to Admin Hub, select User Provisioning, and sync data.

15. Dynamic Pipelines - Bitbucket

Replaces static pipeline configurations with dynamic pipelines, enabling adjustments based on source code.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Optimizes CI/CD workflows for changing project needs.
• Primary Users: DevOps engineers and development teams.

How to Use:

• Enable Dynamic Pipelines in the project repository’s CI/CD settings.
• Define pipeline steps based on dynamic conditions in the configuration file.

16. Iterative Code Review - Bitbucket

Focuses reviewers on incremental code changes in pull requests, reducing complexity.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Saves reviewers time by targeting recent changes.
• Primary Users: Developers and technical leads.

How to Use:

• Open the pull request in Bitbucket.
• Switch to Iterative View to review recent changes.

17. Connector Enhancements - Jira Align

Synchronizes custom work items between Azure DevOps and Jira Align, enhancing cross-platform data management.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Improves collaboration between teams using both platforms.
• Primary Users: Technical and management teams.

How to Use:

• Set up the Jira Connector and link it with Azure DevOps.
• Synchronize relevant work items and track progress in Jira Align.

18. Custom Hierarchy API - Jira Align

Provides an API for creating and managing custom task hierarchies in Jira, allowing more flexible data organization.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Enables tailored data structures for unique organizational needs.
• Primary Users: Enterprise administrators and large organizations.

How to Use:

• Use the Atlassian API documentation to call the Custom Hierarchy API.
• Define and manage the hierarchy as required.

19. New Objective Experience - Jira Align

Introduces a new interface for managing objectives, including progress tracking and project/task linkage.

Value to Users:

• Benefits: Enhances goal tracking and aligns with OKR frameworks.
• Primary Users: Managers and business teams.

How to Use:

• Access the Objectives tab in Jira Align.
• Link tasks and track progress using the updated interface.

20. Automatic Product Discovery Enhancements - Atlassian Guard

• Automatically collect product requirements from sources such as emails, forms, or internal feedback.
• Utilize AI-powered prioritization to rank importance based on criteria like request frequency and urgency.
• Deeply integrated with Jira Product Discovery to support roadmap planning.

Value to Users:
Saves time on manual data entry, enabling teams to focus on building solutions.

How to Use:

• Activate Jira Product Discovery from the Atlassian Marketplace.
• Configure input sources for automatic requirement collection.
• Review and evaluate recorded requirements through the Product Discovery interface.

Here are the top features of Atlassian Cloud for 2024 that stand out and are widely used. BiPlus will continue to update the latest features monthly/quarterly.

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