First off, what’s AWS Well-Architected Framework?
The AWS Well-Architected Framework has been developed to help cloud architects build secure, high-performing, resilient, and efficient infrastructure for their applications.
The Framework is a comprehensive review solution with practical, efficient solutions for businesses to implement. Based on five pillars, operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization, the Framework allows partners to accurately monitor their architectures, costs, efficiency, and reliability, and implement designs that are perfect for their environment that allow them to scale as needed.
First Distribution and CBS – A Partnership that Delivers
When CBS Africa needed a review of their architecture, they turned to the AWS team at First Distribution.
Without even needing to determine their needs beforehand, the AWS team used the Well-Architected Framework to help CBS determine their needs and helped create a tailor-made solution using the five pillars.
Operational Excellence - The operational excellence pillar focuses on running and monitoring systems to deliver business value, and continually improving processes and procedures. Key topics include managing and automating changes, responding to events, and defining standards to successfully manage daily operations.
Security - The security pillar focuses on protecting information & systems. Key topics include confidentiality and integrity of data, identifying and managing who can do what with privilege management, protecting systems, and establishing controls to detect security events.
Reliability - The reliability pillar focuses on the ability to prevent, and quickly recover from failures to meet business and customer demand. Key topics include foundational elements around setup, cross project requirements, recovery planning, and how we handle change.
Performance Efficiency - The performance efficiency pillar focuses on using IT and computing resources efficiently. Key topics include selecting the right resource types and sizes based on workload requirements, monitoring performance, and making informed decisions to maintain efficiency as business needs evolve.
Cost Optimization - Cost Optimization focuses on avoiding un-needed costs. Key topics include understanding and controlling where money is being spent, selecting the most appropriate and right number of resource types, analyzing spend over time, and scaling to meet business needs without overspending.
Michael Bailey of the AWS team at FD, said the Framework helps businesses choose the right service for the task.
“This takes the stress and worry out of day-to-day business operations and planning for the future,” he adds.
André Carstens of CBS Africa says the insights provided by the Framework have been invaluable.
“It helps you think outside the box and helps you determine what your needs are,” he says.
Michael, from the First Distribution AWS team, says they are looking forward to helping businesses improve efficiency and to creating exciting new business opportunities.
“The Framework is best described as a complete end-to-end review and implementation solution, and we are excited for all the opportunities it presents.”