diff --git a/bin/council/src/args.rs b/bin/council/src/args.rs
index af71dc6c53..152a2ca5ab 100644
--- a/bin/council/src/args.rs
+++ b/bin/council/src/args.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,28 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(short = 'v', long = "verbose", action = ArgAction::Count)]
     pub(crate) verbose: u8,
 
+    /// Disables ANSI coloring in log output, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_NO_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "force_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) no_color: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Forces ANSI coloring, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_FORCE_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "no_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) force_color: Option<bool>,
+
     /// NATS connection URL [example: demo.nats.io]
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) nats_url: Option<String>,
@@ -30,10 +52,6 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     /// NATS credentials file
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) nats_creds_path: Option<String>,
-
-    /// Disable OpenTelemetry on startup
-    #[arg(long)]
-    pub(crate) disable_opentelemetry: bool,
 }
 
 impl TryFrom<Args> for Config {
diff --git a/bin/council/src/main.rs b/bin/council/src/main.rs
index 788d92538b..4dc07f0be4 100644
--- a/bin/council/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/council/src/main.rs
@@ -25,23 +25,32 @@ async fn async_main() -> Result<()> {
     let task_tracker = TaskTracker::new();
 
     color_eyre::install()?;
-    let config = TelemetryConfig::builder()
-        .service_name("council")
-        .service_namespace("si")
-        .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
-        .app_modules(vec!["council", "council_server"])
-        .build()?;
-    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) =
-        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?;
     let args = args::parse();
+    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) = {
+        let mut builder = TelemetryConfig::builder();
+        builder
+            .service_name("council")
+            .service_namespace("si")
+            .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
+            .app_modules(vec!["council", "council_server"]);
+        if let Some(force_color) = args.force_color {
+            builder.force_color(force_color);
+        }
+        if let Some(no_color) = args.no_color {
+            builder.no_color(no_color);
+        }
+        let config = builder.build()?;
 
-    let (_shutdown_request_tx, shutdown_request_rx) = watch::channel(());
+        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?
+    };
 
     if args.verbose > 0 {
         telemetry.set_verbosity(args.verbose.into()).await?;
     }
     trace!(arguments =?args, "parsed cli arguments");
 
+    let (_shutdown_request_tx, shutdown_request_rx) = watch::channel(());
+
     task_tracker.close();
 
     let config = council_server::server::Config::try_from(args)?;
diff --git a/bin/cyclone/src/args.rs b/bin/cyclone/src/args.rs
index 177c08e61c..e2fa235736 100644
--- a/bin/cyclone/src/args.rs
+++ b/bin/cyclone/src/args.rs
@@ -24,9 +24,27 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(short = 'v', long = "verbose", action = ArgAction::Count)]
     pub(crate) verbose: u8,
 
-    /// Disable OpenTelemetry on startup
-    #[arg(long)]
-    pub(crate) disable_opentelemetry: bool,
+    /// Disables ANSI coloring in log output, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_NO_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "force_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) no_color: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Forces ANSI coloring, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_FORCE_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "no_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) force_color: Option<bool>,
 
     /// Binds service to a socket address [example: 0.0.0.0:5157]
     #[arg(long, group = "bind")]
diff --git a/bin/cyclone/src/main.rs b/bin/cyclone/src/main.rs
index c604df5344..f211ff501f 100644
--- a/bin/cyclone/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/cyclone/src/main.rs
@@ -19,16 +19,25 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let task_tracker = TaskTracker::new();
 
     color_eyre::install()?;
-    let config = TelemetryConfig::builder()
-        .service_name("cyclone")
-        .service_namespace("si")
-        .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
-        .app_modules(vec!["cyclone", "cyclone_server"])
-        .custom_default_tracing_level(CUSTOM_DEFAULT_TRACING_LEVEL)
-        .build()?;
-    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) =
-        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?;
     let args = args::parse();
+    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) = {
+        let mut builder = TelemetryConfig::builder();
+        builder
+            .service_name("cyclone")
+            .service_namespace("si")
+            .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
+            .app_modules(vec!["cyclone", "cyclone_server"])
+            .custom_default_tracing_level(CUSTOM_DEFAULT_TRACING_LEVEL);
+        if let Some(force_color) = args.force_color {
+            builder.force_color(force_color);
+        }
+        if let Some(no_color) = args.no_color {
+            builder.no_color(no_color);
+        }
+        let config = builder.build()?;
+
+        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?
+    };
 
     if args.verbose > 0 {
         telemetry.set_verbosity(args.verbose.into()).await?;
diff --git a/bin/module-index/src/args.rs b/bin/module-index/src/args.rs
index 822b266dfd..c6e4a09c84 100644
--- a/bin/module-index/src/args.rs
+++ b/bin/module-index/src/args.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,28 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(short = 'v', long = "verbose", action = ArgAction::Count)]
     pub(crate) verbose: u8,
 
+    /// Disables ANSI coloring in log output, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_NO_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "force_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) no_color: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Forces ANSI coloring, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_FORCE_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "no_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) force_color: Option<bool>,
+
     /// PostgreSQL connection pool dbname [example: myapp]
     #[arg(long, env)]
     pub(crate) pg_dbname: Option<String>,
@@ -80,14 +102,8 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     /// The path to the JWT public signing key
     #[arg(long, env)]
     pub(crate) jwt_public_key: Option<String>,
-
     // /// Database migration mode on startup
     // #[arg(long, value_parser = PossibleValuesParser::new(MigrationMode::variants()))]
-
-    // pub(crate) migration_mode: Option<String>,
-    /// Disable OpenTelemetry on startup
-    #[arg(long)]
-    pub(crate) disable_opentelemetry: bool,
 }
 
 impl TryFrom<Args> for Config {
diff --git a/bin/module-index/src/main.rs b/bin/module-index/src/main.rs
index c3fe37b108..9b3da91e9d 100644
--- a/bin/module-index/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/module-index/src/main.rs
@@ -25,15 +25,24 @@ async fn async_main() -> Result<()> {
     let task_tracker = TaskTracker::new();
 
     color_eyre::install()?;
-    let config = TelemetryConfig::builder()
-        .service_name("module-index")
-        .service_namespace("si")
-        .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
-        .app_modules(vec!["module_index", "module_index_server"])
-        .build()?;
-    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) =
-        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?;
     let args = args::parse();
+    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) = {
+        let mut builder = TelemetryConfig::builder();
+        builder
+            .service_name("module-index")
+            .service_namespace("si")
+            .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
+            .app_modules(vec!["module_index", "module_index_server"]);
+        if let Some(force_color) = args.force_color {
+            builder.force_color(force_color);
+        }
+        if let Some(no_color) = args.no_color {
+            builder.no_color(no_color);
+        }
+        let config = builder.build()?;
+
+        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?
+    };
 
     if args.verbose > 0 {
         telemetry.set_verbosity(args.verbose.into()).await?;
diff --git a/bin/pinga/src/args.rs b/bin/pinga/src/args.rs
index 0533368e74..7b10c348ce 100644
--- a/bin/pinga/src/args.rs
+++ b/bin/pinga/src/args.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,28 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(short = 'v', long = "verbose", action = ArgAction::Count)]
     pub(crate) verbose: u8,
 
+    /// Disables ANSI coloring in log output, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_NO_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "force_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) no_color: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Forces ANSI coloring, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_FORCE_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "no_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) force_color: Option<bool>,
+
     /// PostgreSQL connection pool dbname [example: myapp]
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) pg_dbname: Option<String>,
@@ -61,10 +83,6 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) nats_creds_path: Option<String>,
 
-    /// Disable OpenTelemetry on startup
-    #[arg(long)]
-    pub(crate) disable_opentelemetry: bool,
-
     /// Cyclone encryption key file location [default: /run/pinga/cyclone_encryption.key]
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) cyclone_encryption_key_path: Option<String>,
diff --git a/bin/pinga/src/main.rs b/bin/pinga/src/main.rs
index 8940411aee..967a36c752 100644
--- a/bin/pinga/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/pinga/src/main.rs
@@ -25,15 +25,24 @@ async fn async_main() -> Result<()> {
     let task_tracker = TaskTracker::new();
 
     color_eyre::install()?;
-    let config = TelemetryConfig::builder()
-        .service_name("pinga")
-        .service_namespace("si")
-        .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
-        .app_modules(vec!["pinga", "pinga_server"])
-        .build()?;
-    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) =
-        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?;
     let args = args::parse();
+    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) = {
+        let mut builder = TelemetryConfig::builder();
+        builder
+            .service_name("pinga")
+            .service_namespace("si")
+            .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
+            .app_modules(vec!["pinga", "pinga_server"]);
+        if let Some(force_color) = args.force_color {
+            builder.force_color(force_color);
+        }
+        if let Some(no_color) = args.no_color {
+            builder.no_color(no_color);
+        }
+        let config = builder.build()?;
+
+        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?
+    };
 
     if args.verbose > 0 {
         telemetry.set_verbosity(args.verbose.into()).await?;
diff --git a/bin/sdf/src/args.rs b/bin/sdf/src/args.rs
index c4361afbe1..db4b1874de 100644
--- a/bin/sdf/src/args.rs
+++ b/bin/sdf/src/args.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,28 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(short = 'v', long = "verbose", action = ArgAction::Count)]
     pub(crate) verbose: u8,
 
+    /// Disables ANSI coloring in log output, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_NO_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "force_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) no_color: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Forces ANSI coloring, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_FORCE_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "no_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) force_color: Option<bool>,
+
     /// PostgreSQL connection pool dbname [example: myapp]
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) pg_dbname: Option<String>,
@@ -67,10 +89,6 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(long, value_parser = PossibleValuesParser::new(MigrationMode::variants()))]
     pub(crate) migration_mode: Option<String>,
 
-    /// Disable OpenTelemetry on startup
-    #[arg(long)]
-    pub(crate) disable_opentelemetry: bool,
-
     /// Cyclone encryption key file location [default: /run/sdf/cyclone_encryption.key]
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) cyclone_encryption_key_path: Option<String>,
diff --git a/bin/sdf/src/main.rs b/bin/sdf/src/main.rs
index 92e2153be6..7e81d46f3c 100644
--- a/bin/sdf/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/sdf/src/main.rs
@@ -36,15 +36,24 @@ async fn async_main() -> Result<()> {
     let task_tracker = TaskTracker::new();
 
     color_eyre::install()?;
-    let config = TelemetryConfig::builder()
-        .service_name("sdf")
-        .service_namespace("si")
-        .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
-        .app_modules(vec!["sdf", "sdf_server"])
-        .build()?;
-    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) =
-        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?;
     let args = args::parse();
+    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) = {
+        let mut builder = TelemetryConfig::builder();
+        builder
+            .service_name("sdf")
+            .service_namespace("si")
+            .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
+            .app_modules(vec!["sdf", "sdf_server"]);
+        if let Some(force_color) = args.force_color {
+            builder.force_color(force_color);
+        }
+        if let Some(no_color) = args.no_color {
+            builder.no_color(no_color);
+        }
+        let config = builder.build()?;
+
+        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?
+    };
 
     if args.verbose > 0 {
         telemetry.set_verbosity(args.verbose.into()).await?;
diff --git a/bin/veritech/src/args.rs b/bin/veritech/src/args.rs
index dac8162240..36d0c2415e 100644
--- a/bin/veritech/src/args.rs
+++ b/bin/veritech/src/args.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,28 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(short = 'v', long = "verbose", action = ArgAction::Count)]
     pub(crate) verbose: u8,
 
+    /// Disables ANSI coloring in log output, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_NO_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "force_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) no_color: Option<bool>,
+
+    /// Forces ANSI coloring, even if standard output refers to a terminal/TTY.
+    ///
+    /// For more details, visit: <http://no-color.org/>.
+    #[arg(
+        long,
+        env = "SI_FORCE_COLOR",
+        hide_env_values = true,
+        conflicts_with = "no_color"
+    )]
+    pub(crate) force_color: Option<bool>,
+
     /// NATS connection URL [example: 0.0.0.0:4222]
     #[arg(long, short = 'u')]
     pub(crate) nats_url: Option<String>,
@@ -29,10 +51,6 @@ pub(crate) struct Args {
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) nats_creds_path: Option<String>,
 
-    /// Disable OpenTelemetry on startup
-    #[arg(long)]
-    pub(crate) disable_opentelemetry: bool,
-
     /// Cyclone runtime type: LocalProcess
     #[arg(long)]
     pub(crate) cyclone_local_process: bool,
diff --git a/bin/veritech/src/main.rs b/bin/veritech/src/main.rs
index e356733feb..afd7ebb99f 100644
--- a/bin/veritech/src/main.rs
+++ b/bin/veritech/src/main.rs
@@ -11,15 +11,24 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     let task_tracker = TaskTracker::new();
 
     color_eyre::install()?;
-    let config = TelemetryConfig::builder()
-        .service_name("veritech")
-        .service_namespace("si")
-        .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
-        .app_modules(vec!["veritech", "veritech_server"])
-        .build()?;
-    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) =
-        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?;
     let args = args::parse();
+    let (mut telemetry, telemetry_shutdown) = {
+        let mut builder = TelemetryConfig::builder();
+        builder
+            .service_name("veritech")
+            .service_namespace("si")
+            .log_env_var_prefix("SI")
+            .app_modules(vec!["veritech", "veritech_server"]);
+        if let Some(force_color) = args.force_color {
+            builder.force_color(force_color);
+        }
+        if let Some(no_color) = args.no_color {
+            builder.no_color(no_color);
+        }
+        let config = builder.build()?;
+
+        telemetry_application::init(config, &task_tracker, shutdown_token.clone())?
+    };
 
     if args.verbose > 0 {
         telemetry.set_verbosity(args.verbose.into()).await?;
diff --git a/dev/Tiltfile b/dev/Tiltfile
index f6c489b0fd..880fee850a 100644
--- a/dev/Tiltfile
+++ b/dev/Tiltfile
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ local_resource(
     labels = ["backend"],
     cmd = "buck2 build {}".format(module_index_target),
     serve_cmd = "buck2 run {}".format(module_index_target),
+    serve_env = {"SI_FORCE_COLOR": "true"},
     allow_parallel = True,
     auto_init = False,
     resource_deps = [
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ local_resource(
     labels = ["backend"],
     cmd = "buck2 build {}".format(council_target),
     serve_cmd = "buck2 run {}".format(council_target),
+    serve_env = {"SI_FORCE_COLOR": "true"},
     allow_parallel = True,
     resource_deps = [
         "nats",
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ local_resource(
     labels = ["backend"],
     cmd = "buck2 build {}".format(pinga_target),
     serve_cmd = "buck2 run {}".format(pinga_target),
+    serve_env = {"SI_FORCE_COLOR": "true"},
     allow_parallel = True,
     resource_deps = [
         "council",
@@ -134,6 +137,7 @@ local_resource(
     labels = ["backend"],
     cmd = "buck2 build {}".format(veritech_target),
     serve_cmd = "SI_LOG=debug buck2 run {}".format(veritech_target),
+    serve_env = {"SI_FORCE_COLOR": "true"},
     # This is the serve command you might need if you want to execute on firecracker for 10 functione executions.
     # NB: BUCK2 MUST RUN AS ROOT OR THIS WILL NOT WORK
     # serve_cmd = "SI_LOG=debug buck2 run {} -- --cyclone-local-firecracker --cyclone-pool-size 10".format(veritech_target),
@@ -153,6 +157,7 @@ local_resource(
     labels = ["backend"],
     cmd = "buck2 build {}".format(sdf_target),
     serve_cmd = "buck2 run {}".format(sdf_target),
+    serve_env = {"SI_FORCE_COLOR": "true"},
     allow_parallel = True,
     resource_deps = [
         "nats",
diff --git a/lib/telemetry-application-rs/src/lib.rs b/lib/telemetry-application-rs/src/lib.rs
index 3e9fdb0dfa..07da44e04d 100644
--- a/lib/telemetry-application-rs/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/telemetry-application-rs/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@
 
 use std::{
     borrow::Cow,
-    env, io,
+    env,
+    io::{self, IsTerminal},
     ops::Deref,
     thread,
     time::{Duration, Instant},
@@ -121,6 +122,12 @@ pub struct TelemetryConfig {
     )]
     secondary_log_span_events_env_var: Option<String>,
 
+    #[builder(setter(into, strip_option), default = "self.default_no_color()")]
+    no_color: bool,
+
+    #[builder(setter(into, strip_option), default = "false")]
+    force_color: bool,
+
     #[builder(default = "true")]
     signal_handlers: bool,
 }
@@ -194,6 +201,17 @@ impl TelemetryConfigBuilder {
             Some(None) | None => None,
         }
     }
+
+    fn default_no_color(&self) -> bool {
+        // Checks a known/standard var as a fallback. Code upstack will check for an `SI_*`
+        // prefixed version which should have a higher precendence.
+        //
+        // See: <http://no-color.org/>
+        #[allow(clippy::disallowed_methods)] // See rationale in comment above
+        std::env::var_os("NO_COLOR")
+            .map(|value| !value.is_empty())
+            .unwrap_or(false)
+    }
 }
 
 pub fn init(
@@ -292,6 +310,7 @@ fn tracing_subscriber(
     let (console_log_layer, console_log_filter_reload) = {
         let layer = tracing_subscriber::fmt::layer()
             .with_thread_ids(true)
+            .with_ansi(should_add_ansi(config))
             .with_span_events(span_events_fmt);
 
         let env_filter = EnvFilter::try_new(directives.as_str())?;
@@ -387,6 +406,18 @@ fn create_client(
     Ok((client, guard))
 }
 
+fn should_add_ansi(config: &TelemetryConfig) -> bool {
+    if config.force_color {
+        // If we're forcing colors, then this is unconditionally true
+        true
+    } else {
+        // Otherwise 2 conditions must be met:
+        // 1. did we *not* ask for `no_color` (or: is `no_color` unset)
+        // 2. is the standard output file descriptor refer to a terminal or TTY
+        !config.no_color && io::stdout().is_terminal()
+    }
+}
+
 #[must_use]
 pub struct TelemetryShutdownGuard {
     update_telemetry_tx: mpsc::UnboundedSender<TelemetryCommand>,