What we do

End-to-end cloud & DevOps expertise

From greenfield infrastructure to mature platform engineering — delivered pragmatically, documented thoroughly.

Cloud Infrastructure

AWS architecture design and implementation. Secure, scalable VPCs, EKS clusters, RDS, S3, CloudFront, and beyond. Built right the first time.

  • AWS
  • Networking
  • Security
  • Cost optimisation

Infrastructure as Code

Production-grade Terraform modules and patterns. Modular, version-controlled, reviewable. No more snowflake environments.

  • Terraform
  • Modules
  • State management
  • Drift detection

CI/CD & Automation

GitHub Actions, ArgoCD, and custom pipelines that ship confidently. Fast feedback loops, safe deployments, reliable rollbacks.

  • GitHub Actions
  • ArgoCD
  • Helm
  • GitOps

Kubernetes & Containers

Containerisation strategy and EKS cluster management. From Dockerfile to production-hardened workloads with observability baked in.

  • Kubernetes
  • EKS
  • Docker
  • Observability
📊

Platform Engineering

Internal developer platforms that reduce cognitive load for engineering teams. Golden paths, self-service tooling, and platform roadmaps.

  • IDP
  • Developer experience
  • Service catalogues
🔒

DevSecOps

Security embedded into every stage of delivery. IAM least-privilege, secret management, SAST/DAST pipelines, and compliance guardrails.

  • IAM
  • Secrets
  • Compliance
  • Shift-left security
🔍

Architecture & Security Reviews

Point-in-time deep dives into existing infrastructure, IaC and security posture. Pragmatic findings with prioritised remediations — not a 90-page audit nobody reads.

  • Architecture audit
  • Security posture
  • Cost review
  • IaC review
🎓

Training & Mentoring

Hands-on cloud and DevOps training for engineering teams. Bespoke workshops for in-house teams, plus structured DevOps courses delivered through Cloudboosta Academy.

  • Workshops
  • Mentoring
  • Cloudboosta
  • Team upskilling
🧠

AI-Augmented Engineering

LLMs and agentic workflows integrated into your engineering and business processes — speeding up delivery, validating architectural decisions, and reducing the overhead of operating lean.

  • Agentic workflows
  • LLM integration
  • Process design
  • AI-assisted review
How we work

An engagement model that puts you in control

For build & run engagements, DDS delivers as a senior engineering function — without becoming a vendor you can't leave.

You own the infrastructure

Cloud accounts, code and data are registered in your business's name from day one. DDS doesn't resell hosting and doesn't lock data behind a contract.

We supply the engineering

Senior platform expertise — design, build, deploy, maintain, iterate — without the headcount, recruitment or management overhead of an in-house team.

Outcomes, not tickets

Retainers dedicate capacity to your roadmap. Smaller iterations land in the same month they're agreed; larger initiatives are scoped jointly across cycles.

Transparent costs

Cloud bills are paid by you, directly to the provider — no markup, no opaque per-seat or per-branch fees. You see exactly what the platform costs to run.

AI & LLMs

Engineering in the age of AI

DDS isn't just building infrastructure — it's building it differently. Emmanuel has hands-on experience designing agentic workflows and integrating LLMs into real engineering and business processes, not as experiments but as production tools that change how work gets done.

In a sole-proprietorship consultancy, speed and leverage matter. AI is embedded into every engagement: drafting and validating architectural designs, stress-testing infrastructure decisions against known failure modes, reviewing IaC before it touches production, and accelerating delivery across the full stack.

The result is a consultancy that punches well above its size — thorough where it matters, fast where it can be.

01

Agentic workflows

Designing multi-step, tool-using agents that automate complex engineering tasks — from infrastructure audits to documentation generation and change validation.

02

LLM-assisted design validation

Using LLMs as a fast second opinion on architecture and security decisions — catching gaps before they become incidents, without waiting for a formal review cycle.

03

Process redesign with AI

Identifying where AI genuinely compresses delivery cycles and redesigning workflows around it — from CI/CD pipelines to client communication and runbook authoring.

04

Staying lean at scale

For small teams and sole operators, AI is a force multiplier that makes senior-level rigour accessible without senior-level headcount. DDS is proof of this in practice.

Technology

The stack we work with

AWS
Terraform
Kubernetes
Docker
GitHub Actions
ArgoCD
Helm
Python
Prometheus
Grafana
Datadog
Linux
Claude / Anthropic
LangChain
Agentic workflows
OpenAI API
FAQ

Common questions

Everything we get asked before — and at — sign-off. If yours isn't here, just ask.

Isn't building a custom platform expensive?

Not when the cloud account is yours and the engineering is contracted. DDS doesn't resell hosting — you pay AWS directly, typically £20–£100/month at small-business scale, then a flat retainer for engineering. Off-the-shelf SaaS often charges £80+ per seat or per branch with per-transaction fees on top, which scales linearly with your business; cloud-native platforms don't.

What happens if DDS goes away?

Everything continues. The AWS account, source code, data and infrastructure are registered in your business's name from day one — DDS supplies the engineering, you own the assets. If we part ways, the platform keeps running. Source code is handed over on request.

Do I need an in-house tech team to use a DDS-built platform?

No. Day-to-day operation is designed for non-technical users — mobile-first interfaces for operational staff, dashboards for leadership. Anything technical (deployments, monitoring, updates) is handled by DDS through the monthly retainer.

How long does a typical engagement take?

Build & run engagements: 4–6 weeks from sign-off to first production rollout, then a rolling retainer reviewed annually. Architecture or security reviews: 1–3 weeks. Training engagements: scoped to your team's needs.

How does the retainer differ from a typical agency contract?

It's outcome-based, not ticket-based. DDS dedicates capacity to your roadmap each month — smaller enhancements typically land within the month they're agreed; larger initiatives are scoped jointly and delivered across cycles. There's no "support hours" timer running in the background.

Why not use an off-the-shelf SaaS instead?

For some businesses, SaaS is the right call — fast to start, no engineering overhead. Where DDS makes more sense: when you want to own your data, when per-seat or per-branch pricing scales badly with your model, or when the workflow is specific enough that off-the-shelf platforms force you to bend your business to their assumptions.