Building a robust IT infrastructure is never a straightforward task. Between monitoring and backups, we thought we had it all figured out—until reality hit. While the end result is a system we’re proud of, the journey was anything but perfect. Along the way, we made our share of mistakes. But each misstep taught us something valuable, and we’re here to share those lessons so you don’t have to learn them the hard way.
Here are the top five things we got wrong while building our monitoring and backup systems—and what we learned from them.
1. Blurring the Lines Between Monitoring and Backups
Monitoring and backups are fundamentally different:
- Monitoring is about keeping systems running smoothly, spotting issues, and acting before they escalate.
- Backups are the safety net—ensuring that data is secure and recoverable no matter what.
We initially treated them as one unified system, which led to:
- Confusion in workflows.
- Unclear priorities when things broke.
What we learned: Treat them as separate systems with distinct architectures and goals. Synergies are great (e.g., shared infrastructure), but clarity comes first.
2. Rushing in Without a Structured Plan
We started with a “let’s build and see what happens” mentality. While this worked for rapid prototyping, it quickly became messy:
- Duplicate efforts slowed progress.
- Inconsistent decisions made debugging harder.
What we learned: Always start with a roadmap, even a basic one. Define your goals, list key milestones, and revisit the plan as you progress. Planning doesn’t have to kill creativity—it keeps it focused.
3. Overengineering Certain Features
We were excited to use advanced tools like machine learning for predictive monitoring. But in hindsight:
- Many problems could have been solved with simpler methods (e.g., basic thresholds).
- The complexity often added unnecessary development time.
What we learned: Start simple. Build what solves the problem first, then iterate and add complexity if it’s truly needed. Technology should serve the solution, not the other way around.
4. Skipping Comprehensive Testing
We didn’t always test enough before rolling out changes. As a result:
- Dynamic monitoring configurations occasionally misfired.
- Backup routes sometimes failed under unexpected conditions.
While we caught these issues quickly, they created avoidable downtime and frustration.
What we learned: Never skip testing. Create a dedicated test environment and stress-test edge cases. Testing upfront saves time and headaches later.
5. Not Communicating Clearly Enough
We sometimes focused so much on building that we forgot to communicate:
- Stakeholders weren’t always clear on what we were building or why.
- This led to questions, doubts, and occasional misalignment.
What we learned: Regular updates are key, even for non-technical stakeholders. Use visuals, summaries, and straightforward explanations to keep everyone in the loop.
Every project has its missteps, but those mistakes are often the best teachers. By separating monitoring and backups, planning better, starting simple, testing thoroughly, and communicating more clearly, we turned our challenges into opportunities for growth.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: Don’t fear mistakes. Embrace them, learn from them, and keep building.