Why is it important to validate deployed changes after a deployment?

Validating deployed changes after a deployment is crucial because it confirms that the changes meet established acceptance criteria and function correctly as intended. This validation process helps ensure that the implemented changes perform as expected in the live environment, which is essential for maintaining the quality and integrity of the software. It allows teams to identify any unexpected issues or defects that may arise from the deployment, ultimately ensuring user satisfaction and minimizing disruption to business operations.

This process of post-deployment validation is a safeguard that helps teams to detect any regressions or failures before they can affect users. Moreover, achieving confidence in the new functionality before it is broadly released is a vital step in the software development lifecycle. It ensures that end-users experience the benefits of new features and that any potential issues are resolved promptly.

The other options do not address the primary purpose of validation in the context of a deployment. While visibility of changes is useful for team collaboration, simply being visible does not ensure proper functionality. Creating a new version of the software relates more to version control and management than to the validation of changes. Preparing for the next release cycle is an important aspect of project management but does not specifically connect to the immediate need to validate the current deployment.