Frequently Asked Questions

If deployments are slow, systems are unstable, or your team spends time on repetitive tasks, you likely benefit from automation and infrastructure improvements. Not sure? Take the free 5-minute assessment; it points you at the right next step.

Four steps: a 30-minute discovery call, a written scope and fixed price, build and delivery in short iterative cycles, and optional ongoing support. See How It Works.

Fix engagements typically run 1 to 4 weeks. Build projects run 4 to 12 weeks. Scale partnerships are ongoing or quarterly. We commit to a target window in writing before work starts.

Both. Remote by default; in-person available in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Denver, and statewide. For DoD or regulated environments, onsite work is the norm.

Yes. We backfill platform-engineering capacity, code-review, pair with your engineers, and hand off cleanly. The goal is your team gets stronger, not more dependent on us.

Yes, mutual NDAs are standard before substantive scoping conversations. We can use yours or provide a short one.

Yes. Most engagements that come to us mid-flight start with a 1 to 2 week audit so we know exactly what we're inheriting before committing to forward scope.

Yes. Many clients come to us because employees are manually moving spreadsheets, restarting services, handling repetitive tasks, or relying on tribal knowledge to keep operations running.

We identify operational bottlenecks, reduce unnecessary manual work, and implement automation and documentation that make environments more reliable and easier to manage long term.

Yes. Many engagements begin with a focused infrastructure, operations, or workflow assessment.

We document risks, inefficiencies, technical debt, operational pain points, and opportunities for improvement before recommending larger changes or long-term projects.

No. We work across everything from small-business environments to large distributed enterprise platforms.

Some clients need advanced automation and platform engineering. Others simply need stable systems, backups, documentation, workflow improvements, or help reducing operational headaches.

Yes. Most real-world environments are not perfectly documented or newly built.

We regularly work with inherited systems, aging infrastructure, inconsistent processes, partially completed projects, and environments that have evolved over many years.

Yes. Some clients have internal technical teams while others rely on us for planning, implementation, operational guidance, and ongoing support.

We can work independently or alongside existing staff depending on the organization's needs.

Three tiers: Fix ($2.5k to $10k), Build ($15k to $50k), and Scale ($25k+). Every engagement is scoped after a free initial assessment so you know the number before work starts.

Fixed price by default. Hourly only for ongoing retainer or on-call work where scope is genuinely open-ended. No surprise hourly bills.

We agree on the change in writing first, including the new price and timeline. No silent scope creep, no after-the-fact surcharges.

Fix is quick wins and cleanup (1 to 4 weeks). Build is new applications, integrations, and systems (4 to 12 weeks). Scale is ongoing platform engineering, security, and AI work (quarterly or longer). Detail at /pricing/.

Yes, two ways: a 5-minute self-serve form that scores your situation, or a 30-minute discovery call. Both are free with no commitment.

Kubernetes and OpenShift, Docker, Terraform, Ansible, Linux, GitLab/GitHub CI/CD, Python, Go, PostgreSQL, nginx, and self-hosted LLMs via Ollama. See our services for the full picture.

Yes. We're cloud-agnostic and have shipped on AWS, GCP, Azure, OpenStack, and bare metal. The right choice depends on your workload, team, compliance posture, and cost ceiling.

Yes. We help organizations secure systems, reduce operational risk, meet compliance requirements, and standardize environments for long-term reliability.

Our background includes Zero Trust architecture, FIPS-capable deployments, STIG automation, secure Kubernetes and OpenShift environments, and disconnected or air-gapped infrastructure. See the DoD Zero Trust case study.

Yes. We help organizations deploy AI solutions that can run locally or inside private infrastructure so sensitive business data stays internal and operational costs remain predictable.

We commonly deploy self-hosted AI environments using Open WebUI and Ollama, along with automation and workflow integrations tailored to the organization's needs. See the local AI case study or try our own self-hosted chat.

Yes. Every Build and Scale engagement ships with runbooks, architecture diagrams, and a written handoff. Documentation is part of done.

Pueblo, Colorado. We serve Colorado Springs, Denver, and clients statewide and nationally.

Yes. Most of our work focuses on small teams that need reliable systems without hiring full-time engineers. See For Small Business.

Yes. We help municipalities reduce citizen complaints, replace paper-based workflows, and improve transparency. See For Local Government.

Senior engineering ownership end-to-end, no junior staff handoffs, no per-seat billing, fixed-scope deliverables, and we operate the systems we build. More about us.

Yes, but we run that work under our sister brand SoCo Chic Web Design, which is scoped for clean modern websites without the platform-engineering price tag.