Solving the Chaos of Application Delivery: The Technical Vision Behind Servala

Today’s cloud native landscape is rich in innovation - but chaotic in execution. Application delivery is plagued by inconsistent packaging, unpredictable deployment behaviors, and fragmented day-2 operations. This complexity slows down software vendors, overwhelms cloud providers, and frustrates DevOps teams.

At Servala, we’re solving this problem at the root. Our mission is to standardize how modern applications are delivered and operated - so managed services become scalable, secure, and easy to integrate across all environments.

This post explains the technical challenges behind Servala, the patterns we’re creating, and the open standards we’re building to transform cloud native service delivery.

The Real Problem: Everything Works Differently

Cloud native tools have matured - but their implementations haven’t. Platform teams repeatedly encounter the same issues:

• Container images with inconsistent behavior

• Helm charts with wildly different parameter structures

• Applications that log differently, expose different metrics, and require custom configuration each time

• Day-2 operations (monitoring, scaling, patching, backup) that must be reinvented for every app

We’ve seen this firsthand while operating dozens of managed services at VSHN - now the foundation of Servala. Every app came with its own quirks. That complexity doesn’t scale. And it blocks software vendors from delivering services across multiple platforms efficiently.

The Goal: Standardize Application Delivery

Servala is creating an open specification for how cloud native services should be packaged, deployed, and operated. We’re defining common interfaces, conventions, and “golden paths” so that:

• Software vendors can easily onboard services to cloud providers

• Cloud platforms can offer consistent managed service catalogs

• Users get predictable, secure, and enterprise-ready experiences

This specification will define clear defaults across every key area - without sacrificing openness or innovation.

What We’re Standardizing

We are building a modular, open, and extensible specification covering:

Container Behavior
Define how images are built, how entrypoints behave, what ports are exposed, and where data is stored.

Helm Chart Structure
Agree on configuration schemas, naming conventions, and predictable behavior across environments.

Unified Day-2 Operations
Establish consistent interfaces and best practices for:

• Metrics (Prometheus/OpenMetrics format)

• Logging (structured formats, retention policies)

• Alerting (severity levels, escalation paths)

• Backups & restores (standardized flows and verification)

• Scaling (autoscaling configs and thresholds)

• Security & compliance (SBOMs, CVE scanning, policy reporting)

• Billing (usage tracking and cost attribution)

• Maintenance windows (declarative metadata and communication protocols)

• Dependency declarations (with version compatibility)

• Configuration management (env vars, secrets, file-based configs)

• Self-service APIs (Crossplane CRDs, Kubernetes-native workflows)

Why This Matters

For Software Vendors

• Faster time to market: Eliminate custom DevOps for every platform

• Less operational overhead: Use built-in monitoring, compliance, and maintenance tooling

• More market reach: One format = many platforms

• Better security: Standardized scanning and reporting reduce risks

For Cloud Providers

• Stronger service catalog: Instantly offer modern services that follow the same operational patterns

• Operational simplicity: Consistency reduces effort and error

• Competitive advantage: Stand out from hyperscalers with curated, secure, and compliant services

For Enterprises and End Users

• Predictable operations: Every service behaves the same way

• Simplified compliance: Easier audits, better visibility

• Reliable performance: Standard SLAs and monitoring across the board

• Secure by design: All services meet the same baseline security standards

We’re Not Starting from Scratch

Servala builds on proven standards that already work:

• OCI: Container format compatibility

• Kubernetes & CRDs: Declarative orchestration foundation

• Prometheus: Metrics & observability conventions

• OpenAPI: API definitions and automation

• SBOMs: Compliance and vulnerability management

• 12-Factor App: Runtime best practices

• Helm Guidelines: Chart linting and structure

• OAM & Platform Spec: Application definitions and platform contracts

• CNAB: Bundled, multi-environment delivery

We’re connecting these pieces - so software vendors don’t have to.

The Servala Specification: A Foundation for Collaboration

Servala isn’t just solving this problem for ourselves. We’re inviting cloud providers, vendors, and platform engineers to help define and refine the open specifications for scalable cloud native delivery.

By aligning the ecosystem around shared patterns, we can remove friction, accelerate onboarding, and build trust into every service.

If you're building services, platforms, or tools - we’d love your input.

What’s Next

In 2025, our focus is on:

• Making vendor onboarding fully self-service via the Servala platform

• Documenting and testing the Servala specification across real-world services

• Launching a public working group to collaborate on the standard

Servala aims to cut onboarding time by 90% - and bring operational reliability to every managed service.

Want to be part of this?

📬 Join the Servala Specification Initiative (Contact us)
🔎 Explore our growing service catalog
🎥 Watch the “Intro to Servala” Webinar