In the fast-paced world of cannabis retail, system reliability isn't just a luxury; it’s mission-critical. Operators depend on technology platforms to ensure seamless transactions, real-time reporting, and uninterrupted service. At Sweed, we’ve built our infrastructure with these needs at the core.
While some technical details might go beyond what most operators need to know, the results speak for themselves. Our partners consistently highlight our exceptional reliability and proactive support. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we do it.
Built for Reliability: Distributed and Redundant by Design
Multi-Region Cloud Infrastructure
Sweed is hosted in Amazon Web Services (AWS) using a distributed, redundant architecture. If one AWS region becomes unavailable, our system can automatically switch to another, minimizing disruption.
Zone-Level Redundancy
Each AWS region we operate in is backed by two separate availability zones. If one zone within a region goes down, our services automatically scale within the other zone to maintain uptime.
Decoupled Services for Maximum Stability
Key services like the point-of-sale (POS) cash register are hosted independently from reporting or analytics. This separation ensures that even if a non-critical component experiences an issue, core sales operations remain unaffected.
Proactive Monitoring & Auto-Scaling
Sweed’s system features:
- Autoscaling infrastructure to handle unexpected surges in traffic
- 24/7 monitoring with real-time alerting to detect and address issues before they impact clients
- Resilient Kubernetes clusters in multiple regions, maintaining high availability at all times
These practices enable us to deliver a seamless experience, whether you’re opening your doors for a big promotion or running routine sales.
Security and Compliance: A Layered Approach
Modern Cloud-Native Architecture
We run our services in Kubernetes clusters behind a secure CDN and DDoS protection layer. Our backend is composed of microservices, data processors, and event consumers, all built for scalability and performance.
High-Availability Databases
Our infrastructure includes:
- Replicated OLTP (Online Transaction Processing) databases
- Integrated caching and message brokers
- Logging, metrics collection, and automated alert systems
This ensures fast, reliable access to your data, no matter the load.
Security: Vigilance from Development to Production
Vulnerability Management
Every line of code we ship goes through:
- Static code analysis
- Peer reviews
- Manual security audits by our dedicated Security team
If any vulnerabilities are detected, we notify affected clients immediately and provide transparent resolutions.
Penetration Testing
We conduct regular penetration testing:
- Manual audits annually
- Automated scans weekly
This dual approach keeps our defenses strong and up to date.
Forensic and Data Backup Capabilities
- Incremental backups every 30 minutes
- Daily full backups
- Soft-delete mechanisms to recover data when needed
Data Loss Prevention
All production data is housed within a secure VPN. Only a select group of technical managers and DevOps engineers are granted access, ensuring maximum confidentiality and control.
Monitoring and Threat Detection
While we don’t use a traditional SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system, Sweed integrates AWS Security Hub for CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management). We take a holistic approach to safety monitoring – no single tool can replace human oversight, architectural reviews, and layered defense systems.
The Bottom Line: Proven Performance and Real-World Trust
While the technical architecture behind Sweed is robust, what really matters is the result: a platform you can count on. We encouraged prospective clients to speak directly with current Sweed users to learn about their experience. In a space where downtime can mean lost revenue and lost trust, our clients know we deliver.
Ready to see how Sweed can help you operate with confidence? Contact us or request a demo today.
