Real-time communication systems fail differently from conventional web applications. A retry can create duplicate call legs, a saturated media node can still answer health checks, and a dependency slowdown can consume every available session.
Define failure domains
Document what happens when a SIP node, media node, availability zone, cloud dependency or AI provider fails. The architecture should preserve the largest possible subset of service without creating uncontrolled retries or cascading load.
Maintain explicit headroom
Running media infrastructure near theoretical maximum capacity leaves little room for uneven call distribution, failover or codec-heavy workloads. Capacity targets should include operational headroom and account for the largest credible failure scenario.
Make degradation intentional
When a non-critical service fails, the platform should know whether to bypass recording, reduce AI features, route to a fallback destination or reject new traffic. Explicit degradation modes are safer than allowing each component to fail independently.