How the AWS Well-Architected Tool Improves Your Environment

Best Practices of the AWS Framework

A well-architected AWS environment is not only going to be much more cost-effective in the long term but will also be less vulnerable to faults and will see prolonged uptime in the circumstance of such events.  As outlined in our own article, there are five to six concepts called ‘pillars’ that certain design aspects should follow; namely operational excellence, solid security, reliability, performance, efficiency, and cost optimization.  While we do recommend seeking a third party to help verify a platform is well-architected as AWS is a complex platform, AWS does offer a free tool on the side to better aid users.

The need for the AWS Well-Architected Framework arises from the fundamental requirements of ensuring security, reliability, and efficiency in every architecture and application developed on the AWS platform with active user participation. By establishing a set of minimum standards and best practices, the framework serves to standardize and streamline the architectural design and implementation processes across the AWS platform. In doing so, organizations can leverage the framework to enhance the overall performance, cost-effectiveness, and operational excellence of their cloud-based solutions, ultimately leading to more robust and reliable system infrastructures.

Best Practices of the AWS Framework

A well-architected AWS environment is not only going to be much more cost-effective in the long term but will also be less vulnerable to faults and will see prolonged uptime in the circumstance of such events.  As outlined in our own article, there are five to six concepts called ‘pillars’ that certain design aspects should follow; namely operational excellence, solid security, reliability, performance, efficiency, and cost optimization.  While we do recommend seeking a third party to help verify a platform is well-architected as AWS is a complex platform, AWS does offer a free tool on the side to better aid users.

The need for the AWS Well-Architected Framework arises from the fundamental requirements of ensuring security, reliability, and efficiency in every architecture and application developed on the AWS platform with active user participation. By establishing a set of minimum standards and best practices, the framework serves to standardize and streamline the architectural design and implementation processes across the AWS platform. In doing so, organizations can leverage the framework to enhance the overall performance, cost-effectiveness, and operational excellence of their cloud-based solutions, ultimately leading to more robust and reliable system infrastructures.

Well-Architected Tools and Functionality

By its design, the AWS Well-Architected Tool lends an API that allows users to directly incorporate these AWS pillars directly into existing infrastructure with relative ease.  Along with public documentation and self-teaching tools, users can gradually improve their own knowledge and their environments simultaneously.

Customer Scopes

Prior to use, users will be given a small quizlet regarding their organizational needs and the environment they are working in.  Based on those needs, weighting for which pillars take priority will be adjusted accordingly so that some recommendations will have a greater presence.  With the tool, users can share those scopes with upwards of three hundred other IAM (Identity Access Management) users and accounts across an organization.

Remaining Well-Informed

The previously mentioned quizlet can still be somewhat challenging for newer AWS users.  Integrations with other cloud services such as AWS Trusted Advisor and Service Catalog AppRegistry can provide insight into what the pillars are and as such make answering the initial quizlet much easier.

Well-Architected Tools and Functionality

By its design, the AWS Well-Architected Tool lends an API that allows users to directly incorporate these AWS pillars directly into existing infrastructure with relative ease.  Along with public documentation and self-teaching tools, users can gradually improve their own knowledge and their environments simultaneously.

Customer Scopes

Prior to use, users will be given a small quizlet regarding their organizational needs and the environment they are working in.  Based on those needs, weighting for which pillars take priority will be adjusted accordingly so that some recommendations will have a greater presence.  With the tool, users can share those scopes with upwards of three hundred other IAM (Identity Access Management) users and accounts across an organization.

Remaining Well-Informed

The previously mentioned quizlet can still be somewhat challenging for newer AWS users.  Integrations with other cloud services such as AWS Trusted Advisor and Service Catalog AppRegistry can provide insight into what the pillars are and as such make answering the initial quizlet much easier.

Energy Consumption

The biggest factor driving why certain services are priced the way they are or how prices can vary in different regions and continents is energy consumption.  As controlling energy use and developing a more environmentally sustainable organization becomes a rising trend for many companies, being able to understand power burn and compare that with AWS best practices can help companies meet those goals through their environmental setups.

Public Sector Regulations

Government entities such as the US have regulatory requirements imposed on the cloud, resulting in designated AWS regions with specific attributes in place to abide by these guidelines.  Customers with specific compliance requirements and AWS partners can conduct well-architected self-reviews.

Energy Consumption

The biggest factor driving why certain services are priced the way they are or how prices can vary in different regions and continents is energy consumption.  As controlling energy use and developing a more environmentally sustainable organization becomes a rising trend for many companies, being able to understand power burn and compare that with AWS best practices can help companies meet those goals through their environmental setups.

Public Sector Regulations

Government entities such as the US have regulatory requirements imposed on the cloud, resulting in designated AWS regions with specific attributes in place to abide by these guidelines.  Customers with specific compliance requirements and AWS partners can conduct well-architected self-reviews.

Maximizing Framework Optimization

After taking the initial quizlet regarding organizational goals and information, using the Well-Architected Tool breaks down into four overarching steps:

Understand Goals and Needs

By identifying what the organization needs, developers can determine what key factors are necessary.  As mentioned in the features section, depending on the quizlet, some organizations will need to lean on scalability more than reliability or can afford additional performance and security regardless of the immediate demands of the budget.  The Well-Architected Tool will provide tips and assistance based on those infrastructural needs.  Unfortunately, this will just require more extensive research of the Pillars, what they mean, and perhaps a few use cases regarding how that balance is struck.

Identify Points Needing Improvement

Utilizing the AWS Well-Architected Tool effectively involves integrating it into your existing architecture governance processes. By extending the tool’s capabilities through robust APIs, you can tailor it to suit your applications and workflows, ensuring that all aspects of your infrastructure are aligned with best practices. This proactive approach allows for the continuous evaluation and enhancement of your systems.

The tool will then automatically highlight areas in the environment that require attention.  Recommendations pertaining to each of the pillars are provided, and information about best practices and other AWS resources necessary for making those improvements are included.

To fully capitalize on the benefits of the AWS Well-Architected Tool, it is crucial to implement improvements and track these changes over time. This measurement of progress will help quantify the impact of the adaptations made and ensure that they contribute positively to achieving your architectural goals.

Plan and Act

With the key improvement areas identified, begin drafting a course of action. The tool will automatically organize these proposed changes around the organization’s goals, simplifying the decision-making process for prioritizing implementations. Develop a timeline to implement these changes, ensuring each phase is manageable and aligned with broader business objectives. Steadily roll out these changes, phase by phase, to ensure each is effectively integrated into your systems without disrupting existing operations.

Monitor and Double-Check

As changes are implemented, it’s crucial to continuously monitor the environment to observe the effects of each modification. Regular monitoring allows developers to verify that performance is improving as expected. Additionally, this step offers the opportunity to identify any new potential areas for further optimization, ensuring that your environment remains aligned with best practices and technological advancements.

Regulations and Requirements

While the initial stages of using the AWS Well-Architected Tool can be handled independently, engaging with experienced professionals can significantly enhance the outcome. The tool itself is complimentary, but for complex applications or solutions development, the firsthand expertise and knowledge of implementing designs according to AWS best practices can be invaluable.

Maximizing Framework Optimization

After taking the initial quizlet regarding organizational goals and information, using the Well-Architected Tool breaks down into four overarching steps:

Understand Goals and Needs

By identifying what the organization needs, developers can determine what key factors are necessary.  As mentioned in the features section, depending on the quizlet, some organizations will need to lean on scalability more than reliability or can afford additional performance and security regardless of the immediate demands of the budget.  The Well-Architected Tool will provide tips and assistance based on those infrastructural needs.  Unfortunately, this will just require more extensive research of the Pillars, what they mean, and perhaps a few use cases regarding how that balance is struck.

Identify Points Needing Improvement

Utilizing the AWS Well-Architected Tool effectively involves integrating it into your existing architecture governance processes. By extending the tool’s capabilities through robust APIs, you can tailor it to suit your applications and workflows, ensuring that all aspects of your infrastructure are aligned with best practices. This proactive approach allows for the continuous evaluation and enhancement of your systems.

The tool will then automatically highlight areas in the environment that require attention.  Recommendations pertaining to each of the pillars are provided, and information about best practices and other AWS resources necessary for making those improvements are included.

To fully capitalize on the benefits of the AWS Well-Architected Tool, it is crucial to implement improvements and track these changes over time. This measurement of progress will help quantify the impact of the adaptations made and ensure that they contribute positively to achieving your architectural goals.

Plan and Act

With the key improvement areas identified, begin drafting a course of action. The tool will automatically organize these proposed changes around the organization’s goals, simplifying the decision-making process for prioritizing implementations. Develop a timeline to implement these changes, ensuring each phase is manageable and aligned with broader business objectives. Steadily roll out these changes, phase by phase, to ensure each is effectively integrated into your systems without disrupting existing operations.

Monitor and Double-Check

As changes are implemented, it’s crucial to continuously monitor the environment to observe the effects of each modification. Regular monitoring allows developers to verify that performance is improving as expected. Additionally, this step offers the opportunity to identify any new potential areas for further optimization, ensuring that your environment remains aligned with best practices and technological advancements.

Regulations and Requirements

While the initial stages of using the AWS Well-Architected Tool can be handled independently, engaging with experienced professionals can significantly enhance the outcome. The tool itself is complimentary, but for complex applications or solutions development, the firsthand expertise and knowledge of implementing designs according to AWS best practices can be invaluable.

Meeting Regulations and Requirements

Although the Well-Architected Tool itself is complimentary, it is recommended to engage a team of experienced professionals during the initial stages of application or solution development. While the Tool can identify best practices, the firsthand expertise and knowledge of implementing such designs can significantly enhance the outcome. At AllCode, we are a continuously developing AWS partner and can provide these services and more as detailed in our AWS Marketplace offering.

Meeting Regulations and Requirements

Although the Well-Architected Tool itself is complimentary, it is recommended to engage a team of experienced professionals during the initial stages of application or solution development. While the Tool can identify best practices, the firsthand expertise and knowledge of implementing such designs can significantly enhance the outcome. At AllCode, we are a continuously developing AWS partner and can provide these services and more as detailed in our AWS Marketplace offering.