Overcoming Technical Obstacles to Enhance System Reliability

Remchannel was grappling with a range of issues, from a lack of detailed documentation and limited SRE practices to unstructured testing and release processes. These challenges hampered their ability to maintain system reliability and efficiency. Recognising the need for a more structured and resilient technical environment, Old Mutual partnered with us to transform Remchannel's operations.

Building a Strong Foundation with CloudSmiths

Our first step was to immerse ourselves in Remchannel's unique technical environment to understand its complexities fully. We established industry-standard observability using open-source and CNCF tools, tailored specifically to meet Remchannel's needs. By implementing metrics, logs, and traces, we gained invaluable insights that allowed us to develop SLI/SLOs for various services, significantly improving system reliability.

Automating Processes and Fortifying Operations

We automated numerous processes within Remchannel's environment, which not only enhanced reliability but also eliminated much of the manual toil that had previously bogged down their operations. Our on-call support further bolstered system uptime by improving the mean time to detection and recovery (MTTD/R). To protect against potential disasters, we developed a comprehensive Disaster Recovery strategy using an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) approach.

In addition to these improvements, we collaborated closely with Remchannel's development teams to enhance application reliability. When existing tools fell short, we developed custom solutions, such as metrics exporters, to address Remchannel's specific needs. Our efforts also extended to the development of critical features and improvements, which further enhanced the overall performance of their system.

A Robust and Reliable Technological Foundation

Today, Remchannel operates on a robust technological footing with a streamlined, reliable, and efficient tech environment. The collaboration with CloudSmiths has transformed Remchannel's operations, providing them with a solid foundation for future growth and innovation. The strategic use of Cloud Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Compute Engine, Google BigQuery, and other Google Cloud services has enabled Remchannel to overcome its initial challenges and achieve a higher level of operational excellence.