Phase 1: Readiness map
Identify environments, current release process, repository ownership, security requirements, metadata scope, and the person who will operate the system.
Phase 2: Development-org pilot
Create the repository, authorize a non-production org, retrieve the approved metadata scope, schedule a snapshot, and validate that real changes appear as expected.
Phase 3: Control review
Review credential storage, workflow permissions, branch protection, notification channels, retention, and whether a certificate-based authorization pattern is required.
Phase 4: Production decision
Repeat only the approved parts against production. Add credential rotation, incident steps, and a named operating owner before the workflow becomes routine.
Phase 5: Handoff
Walk the team through each job, how to inspect a diff, how to rerun a failure, how to disable access, and how to distinguish metadata history from a managed data-backup product.