Now that you are familiar with moving from a POC to MVP, the next key transition is moving from MVP to production rollout. This is where the focus must be put on the requirements and setup involved in a production deployment with considerations for the requirements of the end user.
Before a single line of code is deployed, start a collaboration across technical and business stakeholders. Ask these critical questions:
Before deploying your Azure OpenAI solution into production, carefully consider your target audience, as this will dictate security protocols, access controls, and user experience design. Prioritize data security by planning encryption and authentication, especially for sensitive information. If multiple teams or customers will use the system, create secure boundaries to protect each entity's data. For smooth operation and cost management, estimate potential traffic and ensure the chosen model can handle your expected workload.
After evaluating above criteria, the next step is to reduce risk and increase success during the production rollout. A good rollout is like a solid base for your Azure OpenAI solution. Let's look at three main elements: the gradual approach, deployment checklists, and preparing contingency plans.
Before there is any production rollout, let’s consult with a deployment checklist. This will heavily depend on your individual business needs, but many are likely to cross over across all use-cases.
The reference design above from MVP to Production and has basic foundational components and essential elements for a live deployment.
Once the readiness has been confirmed, then begins the rollout. There are many ways to conduct a rollout, one of the safest and most recommended is a phased approach. A phased approach involves breaking down your Azure OpenAI deployment into smaller, manageable stages. Instead of launching the entire solution at once, you roll it out incrementally, starting with a pilot group or a limited set of features. This allows you to gather real-world feedback and identify potential issues, and refine your solution before expanding to a wider audience. With a phased approach, you minimize disruption, control risk, and ensure a smoother, more successful transition into production.
Characteristics and benefits of a phased approach:
How might a phased rollout look in practise? It might look like this....
Remember: A phased approach gives you the agility to learn, adapt, and ensure a successful, well-received Azure OpenAI deployment.
Monitoring is essential for a smooth and successful Azure OpenAI deployment. Real-time visibility into your solution's performance enables proactive problem-solving, allowing you to address issues before they become major disruptions. Monitoring data also guides optimization efforts, revealing opportunities to refine your model, scale resources appropriately, or improve the user experience based on observed patterns. Reliable monitoring and well-defined alerts foster user trust, demonstrating your commitment to a robust and well-maintained solution. Azure provides robust monitoring tools to ensure your OpenAI solution runs smoothly. Utilize Azure Monitor to track key performance metrics, logs, and set up alerts for potential issues. For deeper application-level insights, leverage Application Insights to track performance, errors, and how your users interact with the solution. For detailed guidance, refer to Microsoft's Azure OpenAI monitoring documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/openai/how-to/monitoring
Some other considerations for deployment include:
While it isn't without its challenges, careful preparation, strategic rollouts, and continuous improvement are the keys to unlocking the full potential in the deployment. By approaching your deployment thoughtfully, you won't simply implement a powerful piece of technology; you'll create a scalable, secure, and user-centric solution that delivers tangible value to your organization or customers. Remember, your deployment journey is about more than the technology itself – it's about harnessing AI to drive innovation.
References:
@Paolo Colecchia @Taonga_Banda @renbafa @arung Morgan Gladwell
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