Backend and microservices improvements

[viviant100]

• [x] 23.3.1 (sprint 1): cleanup/error handling
  • [x] #61
  • [x] #62
• [x] 23.3.2 (sprint 2): #63
• [ ] 23.3.3 (sprint 3): #64
• [ ] 23.3.4 (sprint 4):
  • [ ] #65
  • [ ] #66

[frankinspace]

Remaining tasks are being tracked in future milestones.