Overview:
This white paper introduces a proactive, hazard-based framework for service monitoring, drawing inspiration from the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) model widely used in the food industry. Instead of reactive troubleshooting based on generic metrics, this method centers on identifying and monitoring critical control points across IT systems to manage potential hazards before they escalate into service-impacting incidents.

Key Takeaways

• Industry Challenge:
  The 2023 Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Survey shows 90%+ container usage in production; top challenges include security (40%), complexity (36%), and monitoring (35%).
• New Monitoring Lens:
  Traditional frameworks (e.g., RED, USE, and Google’s Four Golden Signals) fall short in complex systems. This paper proposes a hazard-based alternative that offers more context-aware monitoring.
• Hazard Classes Identified:
  • Capacity & Resource Utilization
  • Undesirable Effects of Change
  • Hardware Failure
  • Security Events
  • External Dependencies
  • Compliance & Internal SLAs
• Guiding Principles for Indicators:
  • Indicators must tie to real hazards.
  • Alerts should include user impact and response steps.
  • Visualizations must be consistent, scaled, and well-labeled.
• Efficiency-Driven Metrics:
  Track CPU, memory, and I/O per unit of work to benchmark performance, compare deployments, and detect anomalies early.
• Change Monitoring:
  Covers both internal (e.g., hardware config, deployments) and external (e.g., SSL certs, upstream SLAs) environments—ensuring no blind spots.
• Outcome:
  Enables faster root cause analysis, improved resource planning, and early warning systems—resulting in better service reliability and reduced costs.

Download the full white paper below to explore the framework, real-world examples, and how your team can implement hazard-driven observability.

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