DevOps

⚙️ Software is only as good as the infrastructure it runs on

A well-built shop, a clean integration or a custom application creates value only when it runs reliably: under load, on campaign days, after releases, across multiple stages.

That is what DevOps is for.

We build the infrastructure on which digital platforms run safely and scalably. CI/CD pipelines, container setups, server configuration, monitoring and migrations, delivered as one piece and documented so that other teams can build on top.

DevOps is a project service at Kickbyte. We set up the platform, hand it over cleanly and remain available for continued development, but we do not silently keep operating systems we did not build ourselves.

🧱 Why DevOps is more than “setting up a server”

Many day-to-day issues do not originate in the code, but in the environment around it.

Typical symptoms:

• deployments take hours or fail regularly
• stages drift apart, bugs show up only in production
• performance breaks under peak load
• security updates are avoided because the setup is too fragile
• nobody really knows how production is built

DevOps addresses these issues structurally.

With reproducible environments, automated deployments, monitoring and a clear separation between application and infrastructure, you get a platform that runs reliably, even when nobody is actively watching.

🔄 CI/CD pipelines: releases without drama

We build pipelines that move code from the repository into production safely and traceably.

Typical building blocks:

• build and test automation (unit, integration, E2E)
• static analysis, linting and security checks
• container builds and registry management
• deployments to staging and production
• database migrations and cache invalidation
• rollback strategies and hotfix paths

We work with whichever CI/CD platform fits the existing setup, typically GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions or comparable solutions. All of them integrate cleanly with our stacks for Shopware, Pimcore, Symfony and Spring Boot.

The goal is always the same: a release is a click, not a risk.

🐳 Docker and Kubernetes

Containers are today the standard for reproducible environments.

We use Docker in local development setups, CI pipelines and production. When scaling, high availability or multi-service architectures become relevant, Kubernetes comes into play.

Typical work:

• containerizing existing applications (Shopware, Pimcore, Symfony, Spring Boot, Node.js)
• clean multi-stage builds with small, secure images
• Kubernetes manifests, Helm charts and GitOps workflows
• ingress, TLS, auto-scaling and resource limits
• persistence, backups and storage strategies
• logging, metrics and alerting

We do not build Kubernetes setups because they sound modern. We build them when they make economic sense. For many small and mid-sized platforms a well-configured Docker host is the better choice.

☁️ Cloud and hosting: provider-independent

We are not locked into a single provider. The right choice depends on the project: load profile, data location, budget, team and long-term strategy.

From day-to-day operations, we know the following providers particularly well, each strong for different scenarios:

Hetzner

• affordable, powerful servers in German data centers
• the right choice when operations are owned internally and cost control, German data location and full configuration freedom are the priority

Profihost (Managed Hosting)

• classic managed hosting from Germany with strong Shopware and Pimcore focus
• server, operating system, web server, PHP, databases, caches and search engines (OpenSearch / Elasticsearch) are operated by the provider
• the better choice when there is no in-house DevOps team and none is planned in the mid term

Kubernetes ONE (Profihost)

• managed Kubernetes hosted in Germany
• the right choice when scaling across peak load, containerization and a modern deployment workflow are required, without building and operating a Kubernetes platform in-house

AWS

• broad service portfolio (S3, RDS, CloudFront, SQS, Lambda and more)
• the right choice when specific AWS services are actually needed, or when international reach across multiple regions is a real requirement
• higher operating cost and stronger vendor lock-in are part of an honest assessment

Other hosters, on-premise data centers or existing providers used by our customers can be integrated just as cleanly. We choose the provider based on requirements, not on trends.

🛠️ Server setup and infrastructure as code

We set up servers reproducibly, not by clicking, but as code.

Typical building blocks:

• automated provisioning (Ansible, Terraform)
• clean separation of dev, staging and production
• TLS, firewalls, Fail2Ban, OS hardening
• backup and restore concepts
• update and patch strategies
• documentation as part of delivery

This means a setup can be understood, evolved and rebuilt if needed – without depending on knowledge that exists in one person’s head.

📈 Monitoring, logging and alerting

A platform nobody watches is a platform that will eventually fail.

We build monitoring setups that actually get used:

• metrics across applications, databases, caches and infrastructure
• centralized logs with search and filters
• clearly defined alerts on meaningful thresholds
• dashboards for operations and management
• automated notifications into the right channels

Stacks we use in practice: Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, Uptime Kuma and cloud-native solutions where they fit.

🚚 Migrations and hosting changes

Hosting changes and platform migrations are projects where a lot can go wrong.

We support typical scenarios:

• moving from shared hosting to dedicated servers or cloud
• migrating Shopware, Pimcore or Symfony platforms to new environments
• moving between cloud providers, e.g. from AWS to a more cost- effective hoster or between different managed cloud offerings
• consolidating multiple setups onto a single platform
• introducing containers and pipelines into existing setups

Our approach: first a full assessment and risk analysis, then a migration in clear, reversible steps, with rollback paths and explicit cutover plans.

🏗️ Typical DevOps architecture

Repository (GitLab / GitHub)
│
├─ CI/CD pipeline (build, test, security, deploy)
├─ Container registry
├─ Infrastructure (provider by requirement, e.g. Hetzner, Profihost,
│   Kubernetes ONE, AWS, on-premise data center)
│   ├─ Application containers (Shopware, Pimcore, Symfony, Spring Boot)
│   ├─ Databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MSSQL)
│   ├─ Cache & search (Valkey, OpenSearch)
│   └─ Background services (workers, queues, cron)
├─ Monitoring & logging (Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, Uptime Kuma)
└─ Backup & disaster recovery

🧰 Technology stack

Our DevOps stack is intentionally pragmatic:

• CI/CD: GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions or comparable platforms
• Containers: Docker, Docker Compose, Kubernetes, Helm
• IaC: Ansible, Terraform
• Cloud & hosting: provider-independent, frequently used: Hetzner, Profihost (managed hosting), Kubernetes ONE (Profihost), AWS
• Monitoring: Prometheus, Grafana, Loki, Uptime Kuma
• Databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MSSQL
• Cache & search: Valkey / Redis, OpenSearch / Elasticsearch
• Applications: Shopware, Pimcore, Symfony, Spring Boot, Node.js

This keeps operations manageable even when the team grows or another team takes over.

🔐 Security as a default, not an add-on

Security is part of every phase of a DevOps project for us.

Concretely:

• consistent TLS configuration and HSTS
• regular system and container updates
• secret management outside of repositories
• strict network and firewall rules
• automated vulnerability scans in CI
• clear backup, restore and recovery strategies

The result is a platform that is actually secure in daily operations – not only in the architecture slide.

⚠️ Challenges in DevOps projects

DevOps projects rarely fail because of technology. They fail because of unclear responsibilities and grown setups.

Typical challenges:

• undocumented production environments
• strong dependency on individual people
• missing separation of application and infrastructure
• grown tool landscapes without clear strategy
• security topics that have been pushed off for years

We address exactly these topics, with clear steps, documented results and setups the team can run on their own afterward.

🧑‍💻 Our role in DevOps projects

We treat DevOps as a project service with a clean handover.

Typical responsibilities include:

• analyzing the existing infrastructure
• designing pipelines, hosting and monitoring
• building CI/CD and container platforms
• migrations and hosting changes
• introducing monitoring, logging and alerting
• documentation and training of the existing team

We set up the platform, hand it over cleanly and stay available for further development and targeted support, without making your team dependent on us.

🎯 When DevOps projects make the most sense

DevOps projects are particularly valuable for companies that:

• want their shop or platform releases to become reliable
• move from manual, fragile hosting to a modern infrastructure
• want to containerize their systems or move them to Kubernetes
• want to bring monitoring, backups and security to a professional level
• plan a migration to a new hoster or to the cloud

In all these cases, a clean DevOps platform creates real leverage – fewer outages, faster releases, lower operational risk.

🧠 Infrastructure that quietly works

Good infrastructure does not stand out.

It delivers consistent performance, enables fast releases and protects the business from avoidable outages.

We build exactly that kind of platform: pragmatic, secure, documented, and ready to be run by your team.