What Happens in Cloud1's Continuous Services?

Continuous services play a vital role in every system and cloud delivery. But what exactly are they, why are they essential, and who ensures they operate smoothly?

What Exactly are Continuous Services?

It’s hard to imagine a modern IT system or cloud solution that doesn’t involve continuous services. Yet, the term itself reveals very little. Broadly speaking, it encompasses support, maintenance, monitoring, and ongoing development. But even this general description may not clarify much for those unfamiliar with the concept.

So, what exactly are continuous services, why do they matter to clients, and who are the professionals behind them? To find out, we took a closer look at our Continuous Services team.

Cloud1's Continuous Services keep Client Data Flowing

“We make sure our clients’ data moves as it should and where it needs to,” explains Merja Paaso, Cloud1’s Head of Continuous Services.

But what does that actually mean? Where should data go and exactly what data is moving?

“To put it concretely, we take care of tasks like data integrations between client systems, managing data platforms, and ensuring data flows related to reporting solutions,” Paaso clarifies.

With a background in consulting for data solutions, Paaso has developed a deep understanding of the interplay between data technologies and business operations. From her perspective, what is the true significance of continuous services for clients’ businesses?

“Clients aren’t really buying integrations or data platforms; they’re buying the functionality of their systems and the continuity of their business operations. That’s what we deliver to them,” Paaso explains.

When needed, Cloud1 has the capability to provide continuous services 24/7.

“For some clients, we literally deliver uninterrupted services year-round, with no breaks. We’re ready to provide the same level of service to others if required,” Paaso concludes.

Continuous Services are Rooted in Problem-Solving

According to Merja Paaso, continuous services can be summarized in one word: problem-solving. Internally, the team often refers to their work as "putting out fires," but for clients, JaPa's work is more likely seen as proactive. The team’s goal is to identify errors and issues before the client even notices—and ideally, before any real damage occurs.

To achieve this, the monitored data processes have client-specific thresholds. If these thresholds are exceeded or fall below the set limits, the team is immediately alerted.

"Often, it’s a case of data flows slowing down—not enough to halt the client’s systems but enough to signal that something isn’t right. In those cases, we notify the client that we’ve detected a potential issue and start addressing it preventively," Paaso explains.

Support services are also part of continuous services, but continuous services is rarely the first point of contact. Instead, Paaso’s team typically steps in when all other options have been exhausted. Despite this, she emphasizes that the team members are just as much client service professionals as they are technical experts.

"We are our clients' trusted advisors when it comes to data. That trust comes with the responsibility to communicate clearly and to help in every way possible," Paaso concludes.

More than just Support

Cloud1's Continuous Services team, led by Merja Paaso, consists of a close-knit group of eight experts—and the team is growing. As demand for these services increases, new talent is being actively sought.

In addition to monitoring and maintenance work, team members actively participate in development projects. This serves two key purposes: meeting the demands of the role and supporting employees’ professional growth.

According to Paaso,  her continuous services experts have a comprehensive understanding of the solutions delivered by Cloud1. Beyond their problem-solving skills in data environments, they bring development expertise and a solid grasp of system architectures.

With experience comes a deeper insight into clients’ business processes as well.

“The most important question in this job is always ‘why.’ By asking it constantly, your expertise grows rapidly and across a wide range of areas. You learn to both prevent and extinguish all kinds of fires,” Paaso explains.

Who Works in Cloud1's Continuous Services?

While the skill requirements for continuous service roles are high, no one is expected to master everything. In the continuous services team—and more broadly at Cloud1—there’s a strong culture of collaboration and support. Help is always available, not just from the team but also from developers and architects.

According to Merja Paaso, continuous services provides a solid foundation for various career paths within IT. She sees two clear paths emerging within the team:

“Some people thrive on problem-solving. In continuous services, they can develop into true specialists, taking on increasingly complex challenges as their skills and experience grow.”

And the other career path?

“Others are more inspired by development and move in that direction. Many have later thanked us for the chance to learn what not to do,” Paaso laughs.

Nikolaos Lod is an example of the first path. After working in various IT roles for 20 years, Lod joined the Cloud1 continuous services team through an Azure Administrator training program. He’s driven by problem-solving and helping others, but he also enjoys the variety that development projects bring to his workday.

“I really enjoy my job. When I joined Cloud1, my experience with cloud and data environments was still quite limited. Continuous services gave me the opportunity to learn at my own pace, through hands-on work. My responsibilities have grown alongside my skills, and now my role feels just the right mix of diverse and challenging,” Lod shares.

Business-Critical Work that Often Goes Unnoticed

In Cloud1's continuous services, the work is undeniably business-critical, even if it doesn’t always receive the recognition it deserves. Paaso, Lod, and the rest of the team ensure that clients’ data-dependent systems stay operational, reports remain up-to-date, and AI solutions have the data they need to function effectively.

Paaso recalls a case where a significant issue in Azure affected nearly all of Cloud1’s clients, keeping the team busy for an entire day. In the midst of the chaos, she realized she wouldn’t have time to visit the grocery store and decided to place an online order—only to find that service also experiencing problems. It didn’t take long for her to guess which cloud platform was behind it.

“The service provider communicated the situation’s progress proactively and handled it well. I even sent them a thank-you message. The next day, they called me to say they had read my feedback aloud in their team meeting,” Paaso laughs.

Recognition for putting out fires isn’t always immediate, but failing to do so can lead to serious consequences. Continuous services ensures those fires are extinguished before they can cause lasting damage.

Interested in a career at Cloud1? Explore our open positions: Career at Cloud1