Our Stories

Real stories and strategies from the engineers keeping mission-critical platforms online and evolving. Learn how we work, think, and solve problems at enterprise scale.

A Decade Empowering World-Leading Engineering Teams

Celebrating 10 Years of solving enterprise challenges and why that matters for your team’s future.




Our Journey

Ten years ago, OpsWerks was founded on a simple but powerful belief: that great people, united by purpose and forged through strong relationships, can transform challenges into opportunities for innovation.

What began as a small, committed support team has grown into a trusted partner to some of the world’s most advanced engineering teams. Together, we’ve helped power mission-critical applications and infrastructure used by millions of people every day.

As I reflect on our butterfly logo, a symbol of growth, evolution, and transformation, I’m struck by how far we’ve come. This 10-year milestone is more than just a celebration of longevity. It’s a testament to the kind of team we’ve built, the partners who’ve trusted us, and the values that have guided us.

With the launch of OpsWerks 2.0, we’re not just marking the past — we’re stepping boldly into the future. Our newly refreshed website at opswerks.com captures more than a brand update; it reflects the experience, capabilities, and culture we’ve developed through a decade of hands-on partnership and relentless learning.

In this post, we’ll share the most important lessons we’ve learned, the challenges platform teams face today, and how our culture and services are designed to meet them. 

Whether you’ve been part of our journey or are just discovering us now — welcome.


Intersection of Culture, Challenges, and Collaboration

Over the past decade, our proving ground has been the epicenter of Silicon Valley — working shoulder to shoulder with the world’s most demanding engineering teams.

When your customer’s platform supports millions of global users, when uptime is measured in microseconds, and when infrastructure decisions make or break product launches, you quickly learn what really matters: stability, speed, and trust.

At the heart of our evolution is a powerful intersection:

  • A culture shaped by relentless curiosity and ownership

  • A decade of complex, high-impact challenges

  • Deep collaboration with elite engineering partners

Together, these have forged the capabilities and mindset that define OpsWerks today.

We didn’t just scale our services — we grew our judgment, sharpened our execution, and built a company that understands how to create meaningful outcomes in the most complex environments.

So how did we evolve from a small support team into a trusted partner for world-leading platforms?

What have we learned by navigating some of the toughest DevOps challenges in the world?

And how do those lessons translate into solutions that empower your teams to innovate and win?

Let’s explore the journey — and the outcomes that matter.


Challenges Facing Platform Teams

Over ten years of working with the world’s top platform and infrastructure teams, we’ve seen one truth play out time and again: engineering excellence is being held back by operational noise.

Teams are under immense pressure to maintain uptime, ship features, support migrations, reduce costs, and modernize platforms — all at once. The result? Burnout, bottlenecks, and missed opportunities.

Here are the most common and costly challenges we’ve seen across the industry:

🔄 Interrupt-Driven Operations

Constant incident response, often from aging, complex systems, robs engineers of rest and focus. Instead of building the future, teams are stuck firefighting the past.

🏗️ Legacy Platform Burden

Teams struggle to modernize because they’re trapped maintaining critical legacy platforms. Progress stalls as effort splits between fixing yesterday and designing tomorrow.

⚖️ Technical Debt Bottlenecks

Innovation slows when teams are stretched thin trying to deliver new features while holding together fragile, debt-laden systems. Tradeoffs become unsustainable.

👤 Attrition and Burnout

Top engineers leave when their work becomes reactive, repetitive, or misaligned with personal growth. Those who remain carry an even heavier load — until they don’t.

🔌 Misaligned Vendor Support

Fragmented outsourcing arrangements create misaligned incentives, communication gaps, and management drag — leading to more problems, not fewer.

These challenges aren’t theoretical. We’ve seen them, and solved them, at scale. The next section shares what we’ve learned about why conventional solutions fall short and what actually works.


Why Current Approaches Fall Short

Many of the platform teams we’ve supported tried everything before finding us.

They added headcount. They brought in traditional vendors. They rewrote documentation. They built new dashboards. But the results rarely matched the effort.

The reality? Most approaches to operations and support aren’t built for innovation. They’re designed to survive, not scale.

Here’s why they fail — even with the best of intentions:

🛠️ Throwing Headcount at Noise

Hiring more engineers to handle incidents increases payroll without solving root causes. It delays tech debt reduction and traps teams in a cycle of reactivity.

🧩 Fragmented Vendor Support

Traditional outsourcing offers people, not outcomes. Engagements are scoped by time and tickets, not transformation. Teams stay busy, but not better.

🐘 Legacy Systems Never Get Retired

In-house teams stretched across support, innovation, and migration rarely have the bandwidth to decommission legacy platforms — even when modernization is a top priority.

🔄 Temporary Fixes, Permanent Fatigue

Stopgap solutions address symptoms, not systems. Engineers remain on alert. Platforms remain brittle. And innovation stalls.

After ten years in the trenches with the most demanding infrastructure teams on the planet, we’ve seen firsthand that what’s missing isn’t effort — it’s alignment:

  • Alignment between incentives and outcomes

  • Alignment between ops noise and team focus

  • Alignment between partner support and long-term transformation

That’s why we built OpsWerks 2.0 — to deliver a new standard of managed services that truly empowers platform teams to stabilize, scale, and innovate.



A New Approach: OpsWerks 2.0

OpsWerks 2.0 is the result of a decade of high-stakes learning, earned trust, and relentless improvement.

Born in the heart of Silicon Valley and forged alongside the world’s most demanding infrastructure teams, our approach has always focused on what matters most: empowering your best people by removing what slows them down.

We don’t replace engineering teams — we extend them. We handle the operational noise, stabilize legacy systems, and unlock your full-time teams to focus on what they do best: building, innovating, and accelerating delivery.

Capabilities That Power Your Outcomes

Our capabilities have grown dramatically — shaped by real-world complexity and sharpened by results. Here’s how we partner with some of the most sophisticated teams on the planet:

Cloud and Infrastructure

Beyond basic migrations — we deliver scalable, automated infrastructure that evolves with your business. From provisioning to cost optimization, our cloud practice ensures speed without sacrificing resilience

Platform Operations

Full lifecycle Kubernetes management and CI/CD enablement. We streamline builds, pipelines, and environments so your developers can ship faster — with confidence and clarity.

Monitoring and Incident Response

Intelligent alerting, 24/7 global coverage, and rapid root cause resolution. Our teams don’t just respond — they communicate, coordinate, and continuously reduce mean time to recovery (MTTR).

AI and Data Engineering

We build the infrastructure and data pipelines that make AI and advanced analytics possible. Scalable. Reliable. Performance-tuned for your data science and product teams.

Security and Compliance

We help you stay audit-ready with security posture management, compliance tracking, and systematic documentation — all baked into your infrastructure, not bolted on.

Managed Services that Evolve

Our outcome-driven managed services model flexes as your needs change. No bloat. No silos. Just the right team, with the right tools, solving the right problems — day and night.


Certified to Deliver

Our team's commitment to excellence is validated through extensive technology certifications across leading platforms. These credentials demonstrate our continued growth mindset and prove our evolving capabilities to tackle complex challenges with cutting-edge expertise.

Examples of industry certifications:

Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Google Associate Cloud Engineer

Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals

Datacamp: Data Engineer Associate

Splunk Core Certified User

Astronomer Certification for Apache Airflow Fundamentals


What Makes OpsWerks Managed Services Unique

Every capability we offer is rooted in a culture shaped by high-pressure, mission-critical work.

Our team is trained to solve real problems, not just surface symptoms, and our delivery model reflects that focus.

Here’s how we approach managed services differently:

🎯 Goals and Incentives Aligned to Your Success

We’re not measured by ticket volume or time spent. We succeed when you do — by solving root causes, enabling innovation, and delivering lasting impact.

📄 Transparent Pricing, Built for Partnership

Fixed, predictable pricing with no surprise invoices and no scope-creep traps. You get cost certainty and shared clarity from day one.

🌍 Resilient Team Structures

Global 24/7 coverage with built-in redundancy. We deliver consistent quality through stable, trained teams that know your environment — not a rotating cast of contractors.

🚀 Fast, Autonomous Onboarding

When one partner faced chaos across 500+ Kubernetes clusters, we executed a full upgrade cycle in 90 days — with zero downtime. We bring the same disciplined autonomy to every engagement.

📐 Execution That Scales

You define the outcomes. We own the delivery. From runbooks to automation to stakeholder updates, we operate with confidence — so you don’t have to look over our shoulder.


Real-World Customer Impact

These examples highlight how our culture and experience empower teams to innovate and deliver:

Accelerating Time-to-Market by Two Years

For a Fortune 500 software and hardware leader, our support enabled them to fast-track their new CI/CD platform, achieving General Availability (GA) two years earlier than projected. Platform outages decreased by 10x, achieving 99% uptime, while technical debt was halved within the first six months.

Bringing 100,000+ Hosts up to Security Standards in 6 Months

A multinational consumer electronics firm, relies on critical infrastructure of over 100,000 hosts that support development platforms and essential internal applications. With mounting technical debt and the need to align with rigorous security standards, their SRE team faced a significant challenge in balancing maintenance with delivering strategic features.

Keeping Hundreds of Millions of User Connected

For a Fortune 500 customer's application accessed daily by hundreds of millions of users, we reduced critical errors significantly and dropped technical debt to impressively low levels that have been maintained consistently.

Upgrading 500+ Live Kubernetes Clusters in 90 Days

When faced with version chaos across 500+ Kubernetes clusters, we executed a complete upgrade cycle in 90 days without major disruptions. Service disruptions from version upgrades were eliminated and mean time to recovery (MTTR) was significantly reduced.

Learn more about our impact here.


Moving Forward Together

Our promise is simple: We take care of what’s holding your team back — so they can move forward.

That’s the OpsWerks difference.

Visit opswerks.com to learn how we can help your team move forward.

Unlocking the Power of Tech and Collaboration at Discover OpsWerks

Mark your calendars for the ultimate tech extravaganza—’Discover OpsWerks‘ on December 4, 2023, at Megamall Trade Hall 1 from 2 PM to 7 PM. If you are a Cloud Engineer, Linux Administrator, DevOps Engineer, Linux Infrastructure Engineer, Site Reliability Engineer, or simply a passionate tech enthusiast, Discover OpsWerks is tailor-made for you.  

This is not just an event; but an immersive journey into the heart of technology, engineering, and innovation. It is where brilliant minds converge to celebrate collaboration and share knowledge in the dynamic realm of technology–where innovators and dreamers explore new horizons, exchange ideas, and build bridges with like-minded individuals. Expect enlightening discussions in our learning workshops led by notable speakers, heart-pounding music from the guest band performer NOBITA, free delectable food and drinks, and the thrill of possibly taking home one of two iPhone 15s or Apple Watches in the raffle.  

This will be a day filled with insights, shared knowledge, and the spirit of innovation and you’re invited to be part of it. 


The Heart of Converge: What Sets It Apart? 

Discover OpsWerks is one of our team’s event initiatives under the Converge series and is not just your run-of-the-mill tech event; it is a journey of learning, growth, and a celebration of the remarkable work happening at OpsWerks. Throughout the past seven years, ‘Converge’ has evolved, mirroring the growth of our organization. What started as a simple gathering has grown into a grand showcase of engineering talents, our accomplishments, and the profound impact we’ve made. At its core, Converge embodies the spirit of unity, where ideas, skills, and passions meet to create a unique experience that we wish to impart at Discover OpsWerks.

Steve Kwan, CEO of OpsWerks at Converge 5
Photo: Steve Kwan, CEO of OpsWerks at Converge 5


More than a convergence of talent and curiosity, we appreciate the chance to spotlight what we do and how we do it alongside our partners. It emphasizes the importance of collective culture and the incredible things that can happen when you put brilliant minds in the same room. It showcases the power of human touch in the ever-advancing world of technology, emphasizing that tech, on its own, is not enough. It is the people, the culture, and the connections that drive progress.  


What to discover when you Discover OpsWerks? 

At Converge’s Discover OpsWerks, you will have the chance to dive deep into enlightening sessions: Learn about OpsWerks Academy and its pivotal role in nurturing the tech community, uncover the inner workings of Engineering and Development at OpsWerks, and discover the unique OpsWerks approach to leveling up your technical skills. It’s an experience where you get to pick the brains of our accomplished speakers, including Mark Francois Bay (Platform Group Technical Lead), Tom Cunanan (Infrastructure Lead), and Jon Peter “JP” Perdon (Data Group Technical Lead). 

 While Converge: Discover OpsWerks is packed with invaluable insights, it’s not all about werk. This event is the ideal blend of learning, fun, and networking opportunities so don’t wait any longer! Secure your spot at Discover OpsWerks and experience a day of discovery, innovation, and collaboration. Registration is simple; just click on this [link], and you’re in! 

Discover the limitless networks to success, both in the tech world and in personal growth. Celebrate the magic of ‘Converge’ as you Discover OpsWerks. See you on December 4th!

OpsWerks Converge 5
Photo: OpsWerks Converge 5


The OpsWerks Difference – Neo Experience: Justin Omac

Embarking on a new career journey is a thrilling adventure filled with anticipation and excitement. At OpsWerks, we understand the importance of providing our new hires with a seamless and enriching onboarding experience that sets the foundation for their success. In this blog series, we will take you on a behind-the-scenes tour of our onboarding process, where we prioritize integration, empowerment, and growth from day one – all from the lens of our members.

Discover how we cultivate a culture of inclusion and collaboration, where every voice is heard, and every contribution is celebrated. Stay tuned as we share firsthand accounts, tips, and insights from both our new hires and seasoned team members, highlighting the importance of a well-crafted onboarding journey in promoting engagement, loyalty, and long-term success. Let’s all meet Justin Omac and discover his OpsWerks experience.


What is your name and position at OpsWerks?

Name: Justin Jullian M. Omac
Position: Site Reliability Engineer


How long have you been working at OpsWerks?

I have stayed with OpsWerks for about five months.


How do you describe your first 3 months at OpsWerks?

The initial three months were packed with intensive training sessions, as our clients require comprehensive instruction on numerous systems. Aside from that, it was truly fun to participate in OpsWerks’ events, such as the Christmas Party and Discover OpsWerks. I must also commend the team; as remarkable. Each member excels in their respective roles, and the camaraderie among us is great, fostering strong relationships.

Justin with his team at Discover Opswerks 2023


What was the hiring process like at OpsWerks?

I recall the interview process consisted of different stages. The first stage involved an exam where, upon learning my prospective role, I studied possible questions to ensure the best outcome.

For the next stage, which was the technical interview, I dedicated myself to thorough preparation. I found the questions to be relevant and the interview struck a perfect balance, incorporating both quirky yet professional inquiries. Crucially, I never felt belittled for my knowledge throughout this phase.

Transitioning to the cultural fit interview, it felt like a natural fit. Although there was inevitable pressure, I never sensed any form of demeaning behavior from the interviewers. In fact, I found them to be quite enjoyable and fun-loving.

From my observation; each process felt purposeful, minimizing wasted time for both parties. From the initial exam to the technical interview, cultural fit assessment, and final interview, it was evident that careful consideration was given to ensure a thorough and efficient evaluation process.


What was your favorite part of the onboarding process?

I put immense importance in cultivating strong relationships, as they provide a sense of security and trust.

It was truly wonderful to be surrounded by supportive colleagues and experienced seniors. Learning from them is effortless, as they put themselves in the shoes of the trainee’s experience and welcomed questions without judgment. They understand that we all begin somewhere on our journey of learning and growth.

Moreover, I never found myself dreading the workday. In fact, I eagerly looked forward to it. Our workplace culture encourages continuous improvement and meaningful contributions. Additionally, learning about the BVMM’s  as guiding principles was awesome, providing a framework for us not just to be good at work, but at life in general.


What was the highlight of your first 3 months at OpsWerks?

At OpsWerks, the workday is far from routine. With engaging events like Discover OpsWerks and the lively Christmas Party, my first three months were fun. Moreover, the perk of free training with PluralSight adds immense value to our professional development.

What truly sets OpsWerks apart is its vibrant culture. The camaraderie of my colleagues make working days fun days and  incredibly fulfilling. It’s a testament to the company’s commitment to creating a dynamic and enriching environment for all employees.


How would you convince someone to apply to OpsWerks?

Given my current circumstances, I’ve been immensely grateful. OpsWerks truly prioritizes its employees’ well-being by offering comprehensive benefits such as training opportunities, office meals, HMO coverage from day one, access to online courses like PluralSight, and support for certifications. It’s truly remarkable to be a part of this organization.

On a personal note, I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering support extended to me by the entire team and management throughout my battle with cancer. It’s rare to encounter a company that demonstrates such genuine care and support for its employees during challenging times.

Just with the benefits alone, and the connection to the right people, most people would jump boat to OpsWerks, I think the only challenge OpsWerks has is the working rotation and on-site requirement, as most of the people I know in IT do prioritize fostering relationships (in that sense, hence the on-site).


Are there any other things you would want to share about your OpsWerks journey, so far?

OpsWerks has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to its people, and I’ve personally experienced this support during a challenging period. Despite the anxiety brought on by my cancer diagnosis, I remained eager to contribute to the team. I made every effort to balance my healing journey with my responsibilities at work. Throughout this time, OpsWerks provided invaluable flexibility and understanding, allowing me to prioritize my recovery while ensuring I felt fully supported.

This level of care isn’t just lip service; it’s a genuine reflection of OpsWerks’ core values and its dedication to fostering a supportive and nurturing workplace culture, as outlined in the BVMMs. The company’s actions speak volumes about its commitment to its people.

As I prepare to return to work, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude for the support I’ve received. I’m eager to come back to OpsWerks, ready to bring my best to the table with guns blazing and renewed vigor.


If you want to werk with awesome people like Justin and experience the OpsWerks difference, head over to our website to check out our opportunities.

Ready to start your awesome journey and be part of OpsWerks?
Ready to start your awesome journey and be part of OpsWerks?
Ready to start your awesome journey and be part of OpsWerks?

© 2025 OpsWerks. All rights reserved.

© 2025 OpsWerks. All rights reserved.

© 2025 OpsWerks. All rights reserved.