01 — The operating model
Managed Runtime Assurance is the operating model behind serious software.
Software is becoming faster to create, but production is not becoming easier to operate safely. Every application, AI feature and agentic workflow creates runtime risk: reliability, security, cost, resilience, evidence and human approval. Critical Cloud brings those responsibilities together as one managed outcome.
Production stays healthy, incidents are handled, controls are enforced and evidence is ready.
What we own
- →Observability and signal quality
- →Incident response and escalation
- →Cloud runtime operations
- →Security operations and access governance
- →Cost control and optimisation
- →Runtime evidence and assurance reporting
- →Human governance for AI-assisted operations
What you own
- →Product idea
- →Application code
- →Model behaviour
- →Business logic
- →Customer experience
- →Product roadmap
We operate the stack. You own the product.
02 — The boundary
We operate the stack. You own the product.
We operate, secure, and govern the stack your AI runs on. We never touch your app, your model, or your business logic. That boundary is what makes us a trustworthy, impartial layer: we have no agenda over your product, so we can stand behind whether your operations are sound.
03 — human-in-loop
Agents own the analysis. Humans own the outcome.
Agents are good at the labour: root-cause analysis across telemetry no human can hold in their head, surfacing correlations, drafting fixes. What does not automate is ownership of the outcome. A human evaluates the plan, weighs the context the agent lacks, and stays accountable for accuracy, trust, and compliance.
04 — Cloud · Datadog · AI
Cloud, Datadog, AI.
We operate cloud platforms using Datadog to deliver unified observability across infrastructure, APM, logs, traces, security signals, cloud cost insight, and LLM monitoring. Our services group simply around how we deliver that outcome.
05 — the differentiator
Powered by Datadog, not locked behind it.
Many traditional cloud MSPs rely on locked-down proprietary monitoring that prioritises provider efficiency over customer insight, exposing a one-size-fits-all view and keeping customers dependent.
Read the full approach
Critical Cloud takes a different approach: bespoke managed services built on Datadog, the industry-leading observability platform. Every Critical Support customer has direct access to their own Datadog environment, with full-fidelity visibility across infrastructure, APM, logs, traces, security signals, cloud cost insight, and LLM monitoring, tailored to their AWS and Azure architecture.
Datadog is embedded into our 24×7 operational model, driving real-time alerting, faster diagnosis, and disciplined incident response, so issues are detected early, understood in context, and resolved decisively.
observe → respond → improve
How we operate
Instrument the platform
Datadog foundations: tagging, dashboards, alert hygiene, SLOs and ownership so the signals are trustworthy.
Operate 24×7
Incident ownership with clear escalation. Fast diagnosis, controlled remediation, and structured communication.
Improve continuously
Monthly engineering to reduce repeat incidents, strengthen security posture, and control cloud cost.
06 — proof
Case studies
View all case studies →OPX: Driving observability with Datadog
Datadog underpinned Azure migration, delivering visibility, faster response, proactive monitoring.
CETA: Getting more from a Datadog trial
FETCH delivered rapid Datadog value; HyperCare accelerated adoption with observability.
EIP: Rapid, reliable Datadog onboarding
HyperCare enabled fast Datadog rollout across Azure supporting 140+ services.
Experience you can verify
Critical Cloud delivers Datadog-powered cloud managed services for AWS and Azure. Our work is led by practitioners with deep production experience in modern cloud operations, incident response, and observability.
Around 75% lower than building an in-house team — budget reallocation, not net new spend: recruiting, paying, tooling, and rota-ing an internal team for 24/7 cloud operations, redirected into a managed service that already runs at that standard.
Our capabilities
Built for regulated industries.
Our specialism is sectors where failure has consequences and where compliance obligations mean the operating model, evidence trail, and security posture of the MSP matter as much as uptime.
07 — trust
Partnerships and compliance
Officially accredited. Independently certified. Built for trust. Powered by Datadog and an Advanced Partner in the UK, with AWS and Microsoft partnerships. ISO 27001 and Cyber Essentials Plus underpin secure, auditable delivery.
FAQ
The questions we get most often from tech-led teams considering Critical Support or Datadog services.
What is Critical Cloud’s trust layer for AI operations?
The accountable layer that lets a company ship autonomous systems fast and stay in control of them in production. We operate, secure, and govern the stack the AI runs on, so the team can stay focused on the product.
What is Critical Support?
Critical Support is our 24×7 cloud managed service for AWS and Azure. We take incident ownership and deliver improvement engineering every month so reliability, security, and cost control improve over time.
Do we keep access to our Datadog data and dashboards?
Yes. We aim for transparent operations. You retain access to your operational data and visibility, while we build, manage, and continuously optimise the observability layer and operating practices.
What happens in the first 30 days?
We onboard access safely, establish operational ownership and escalation, baseline dashboards and alerting, and agree the first improvement plan. The goal is to stabilise quickly and then move into continuous improvement.
How fast do you respond to incidents?
Our target is a 15-minute incident response, with clear escalation. We’ll confirm the exact targets and communication model during onboarding to match your platform and risk profile.
Can you help with Datadog even if we don’t need a full MSP?
Yes. We offer implementation and stabilisation packages (e.g., FETCH™ and HyperCare™) as well as ongoing managed Datadog. Ideal if you want Datadog done properly without committing to full 24×7 operations.
Do you support AWS, Azure, or both?
Both. We specialise in AWS and Azure, and can support single-cloud or multi-cloud depending on how your product and risk profile evolve.
Talk to us about your runtime layer.
Start with the cloud, Datadog, incident or AI runtime problem you have today. Build toward a Managed Runtime Assurance model that supports where your software is going.