Slight Reliability Episode 86 - Evolving SLOs with Dom Finn

Podcast - Slight Reliability

Published Jun 15, 2024

Summary:

1. Introduction: The podcast episode opens with the host, Steven Townend, introducing Dom Finn, an SRE Tech Lead within regulated industries in Australia. The discussion topic is about the evolution and maintenance of Service Level Objectives (SLOs) .
2. Importance of SLO Review Cycles: The conversation emphasizes that establishing SLOs is just the beginning and highlights the importance of evolving and reviewing them periodically to adapt to changing business needs. Various review timelines are discussed, such as 60 or 90 days .
3. Discussion on SLO Targets and Business Alignment: The participants discuss the challenge of setting SLO targets that align with business objectives. The importance of reassessing these targets periodically to ensure they continue to meet business needs is emphasized. One example discussed is the potential to change an availability SLO if it turns out to be more stringent than necessary .
4. Techniques for Review and Implementation: Suggestions include weaving in user experience metrics and considering the psychological impact of wait times on user tolerance. The introduction of latency classes as a more relatable measure for stakeholders, like business owners, is discussed as a more practical approach than strict millisecond targets .
5. Organizational Tools and Strategies: Dom Finn describes how their organization uses a service that maps SLOs to business functions, which helps in risk discussions and decision-making. This integration underlines the emphasis on using SLOs as a tool for broader business reliability and risk management.
6. Encouraging Evolution and Adoption: The difficulties in adopting and adjusting SLOs are acknowledged, and it’s noted that SLOs should be dynamic to remain relevant as business and technology environments evolve. Dom Finn notes the importance of continuing education and shifting perspectives to handle the socio-technical landscape of SLO management effectively .
7. Closing Thoughts: The podcast ends with reflections on leadership and the power of perspective in solving complex systemic issues, reinforcing the need for adaptability and continual improvement in the management and implementation of SLOs . This summary provides a structured look into the various thematic elements discussed in the podcast concerning SRE practices and the strategic use of SLOs in a business context.

Listen to the episode: YouTube