Overload protection as a first-class platform capability

In this session, Gaurav Nanda explores overload protection as an underappreciated but critical aspect of platform engineering. While many internal platforms emphasize CI/CD and observability, mechanisms for controlling load are often implemented inconsistently by individual teams, creating hidden reliability risks.

Drawing from real-world experience operating large distributed systems, Gaurav explains why overload protection should be treated as a shared platform responsibility rather than an application concern. The talk covers common failure modes of ad hoc rate limiting, the benefits of platform-level primitives such as quotas and adaptive controls, and the organizational trade-offs involved in standardizing these capabilities.

Attendees will learn how consistent overload protection improves resilience, reduces operational complexity, and helps platforms scale safely as adoption grows.