diff --git a/backend/Cargo.lock b/backend/Cargo.lock
index 2fad901c9..bbec6e696 100644
--- a/backend/Cargo.lock
+++ b/backend/Cargo.lock
@@ -1745,6 +1745,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "tower-http",
  "tower-service",
  "tracing",
+ "tracing-subscriber",
  "url",
 ]
 
diff --git a/backend/graph-proxy/Cargo.toml b/backend/graph-proxy/Cargo.toml
index 668b74ffb..99d3e42c1 100644
--- a/backend/graph-proxy/Cargo.toml
+++ b/backend/graph-proxy/Cargo.toml
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ async-stream = "0.3.6"
 eventsource-stream = "0.2.3"
 opentelemetry = { workspace = true }
 opentelemetry_sdk = { workspace = true }
+tracing-subscriber.workspace = true
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 mockito = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/backend/graph-proxy/src/graphql/subscription_integration.rs b/backend/graph-proxy/src/graphql/subscription_integration.rs
index 776f8ca20..dfd790a05 100644
--- a/backend/graph-proxy/src/graphql/subscription_integration.rs
+++ b/backend/graph-proxy/src/graphql/subscription_integration.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ use axum::{
     response::IntoResponse,
     Error,
 };
-use axum_extra::headers::Authorization;
+use axum_extra::{
+    headers::{authorization::Bearer, Authorization},
+    TypedHeader,
+};
 use futures_util::{
     future,
     future::BoxFuture,
@@ -140,6 +143,12 @@ where
                 .total_requests
                 .add(1, &[KeyValue::new("request_type", "subscription")]);
 
+            let header_token =
+                TypedHeader::<Authorization<Bearer>>::from_request_parts(&mut parts, &())
+                    .await
+                    .ok()
+                    .map(|it| it.0);
+
             let resp = upgrade
                 .protocols(ALL_WEBSOCKET_PROTOCOLS)
                 .on_upgrade(move |stream| {
@@ -149,10 +158,15 @@ where
                                 .get("Authorization")
                                 .and_then(|value| value.as_str())
                                 .and_then(|token| token.strip_prefix("Bearer "))
-                                .map(str::to_string)
-                                .ok_or(async_graphql::Error::new("No auth token was provided"))?;
+                                .map(|it| Authorization::bearer(it).ok())
+                                .flatten()
+                                .ok_or(async_graphql::Error::new("No auth token was provided"));
+
+                            let auth_header = token.or_else(|it| {
+                                header_token
+                                    .ok_or(async_graphql::Error::new("No auth token was provided"))
+                            });
 
-                            let auth_header = Authorization::bearer(&token);
                             match auth_header {
                                 Ok(header) => {
                                     let mut data = Data::default();
diff --git a/backend/graph-proxy/src/main.rs b/backend/graph-proxy/src/main.rs
index 0ab169293..fb881dab9 100644
--- a/backend/graph-proxy/src/main.rs
+++ b/backend/graph-proxy/src/main.rs
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 #![doc = include_str!("../README.md")]
 #![warn(missing_docs)]
 #![warn(clippy::missing_docs_in_private_items)]
-
 /// GraphQL resolvers
 mod graphql;
+mod noop;
 /// S3 client
 mod s3client;
 
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ mod metrics;
 use crate::{
     graphql::subscription_integration::GraphQLSubscription,
     metrics::{Metrics, MetricsState},
+    noop::NoopMeter,
 };
 use async_graphql::{http::GraphiQLSource, SDLExportOptions};
 use axum::{
@@ -101,6 +102,11 @@ pub struct KubernetesApiUrl(Uri);
 
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() {
+    tracing_subscriber::fmt()
+        .with_max_level(tracing::Level::TRACE)
+        .with_writer(std::io::stdout)
+        .init();
+
     dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
     let args = Cli::parse();
     rustls::crypto::ring::default_provider()
@@ -109,12 +115,13 @@ async fn main() {
 
     match args {
         Cli::Serve(args) => {
-            let otlp_guard = setup_telemetry(args.telemetry_config.clone()).unwrap();
+            //let otlp_guard = setup_telemetry(args.telemetry_config.clone()).unwrap();
 
             // TODO: This unwrap isn't ideal, but the telemetry lib is configured in such a way that
             // it's necessary. probably needs a tweak on the telemetry lib.
-            let metrics = otlp_guard.meter_provider.as_ref().unwrap();
-            let metrics_state = Arc::new(Metrics::new(metrics));
+            // let metrics = otlp_guard.meter_provider.as_ref().unwrap();
+            let metrics = noop::NoopMeterProvider::new();
+            let metrics_state = Arc::new(Metrics::new(&metrics));
 
             info!(?args, "Starting GraphQL Server");
             let s3_client = Client::from(args.s3_client);
diff --git a/backend/graph-proxy/src/metrics.rs b/backend/graph-proxy/src/metrics.rs
index 236ef4cb2..71b7b3988 100644
--- a/backend/graph-proxy/src/metrics.rs
+++ b/backend/graph-proxy/src/metrics.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use opentelemetry::metrics::{Counter, Histogram, MeterProvider};
-use opentelemetry_sdk::metrics::SdkMeterProvider;
 
 /// Thread-safe wrapper for OTEL metrics
 pub type MetricsState = Arc<Metrics>;
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@ pub struct Metrics {
 
 impl Metrics {
     /// Builds a new metrics carrier instance
-    pub fn new(meter_provider: &SdkMeterProvider) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(meter_provider: &impl MeterProvider) -> Self {
         let meter = meter_provider.meter("otel-proxy");
 
         let total_requests = meter