Escalated Visa support model concerns to Greg

January 30, 2026 at 12:32 AMstrategymedium

Situation

Escalated concerns about CIQ support arrangement with Visa to Greg and Bjorn. Questioning why CIQ is on the hook to support Rocky Linux (which CIQ does not build) for Visa, rather than having Visa use RLC so CIQ can actually fix their issues.

Reasoning

Supporting Rocky Linux (which RESF builds, not CIQ) puts engineering in an impossible position - cannot fix what you do not build. This is a business posture issue - CIQ support commitments should align with what CIQ can actually deliver. Visa is an old wart with a wrong/unsupportable support plan (Bjorn agrees). The specific CVE issue today is a symptom of the larger structural problem.

Additional Context

A CVE remediation request for Visa triggered this escalation. Visa is on Rocky Linux but has a CIQ support contract. When RESF does not patch issues in a timely manner, CIQ is stuck - cannot fix Rocky, but is on the hook for support. Peter wants clarity on whether this model should continue or if Visa should move to RLC.

Observed Evidence

From Slack #distinguished-leaders: Peter requested 10 minutes with Greg to discuss Visa issue. Stated he does not like the business posture - CIQ supporting something CIQ does not build. Asked why Visa is not on RLC. Called the current situation crazy/unsupportable/wrong. Also noted in DM with Max: The current process is not what we want, Visa is a very special very old case, support plan is wrong and dumb, Bjorn agrees.

Matching Patterns

55%
Protect Engineering Focus Through Process(unsustainable support obligation, engineering capacity concern, process question)

Confidence Breakdown

32/35
Evidence
15/30
Pattern
20/20
Source
12/15
Corroboration

Reasoning Depth Analysis

Org Signal:CTO questioning sustainability of a support model signals this needs executive attention and resolution
Who Affected:Sets precedent for how other customer support arrangements should be structured - RLC vs Rocky
Precedent:If Visa stays on Rocky with CIQ support, other customers might expect the same unsupportable arrangement
Consequences:Either Visa moves to RLC (CIQ can fix things) or expectations are explicitly reset about what CIQ can deliver
Timing:Triggered by specific CVE issue, but underlying concern is structural - needs resolution before pattern repeats

Source

reflection

AI Confidence

82%

Related Context

💬
#distinguished-leaders

slack

I want to talk about what you expect Greg when CIQ says we support something, why we arent telling Visa to sit on top of RLC instead of Rocky so I can actually fix their stuff. The situation we have set up with Visa seems... crazy/unsupportable/wrong...

Outcome

Clear alignment with Bjorn. Will move Visa to RLC.

Rating: 5/5

Decision ID: 97e97fc7-3331-4651-a369-fa59b86fd50e