Understanding Well-Architected Framework

Well-Architected Framework

Well-Architected Framework

Understanding Well-Architected Framework

Anyone working within the cloud will undoubtedly be familiar with the phrase well-architected framework . The well-architected framework is a series of guidelines and concepts that work to help you develop a highly functioning cloud environment for your business. The well architected is a fantastic guideline for securing your cloud. Here’s a short guide to understanding the well-architected framework itself.

What It Is

If you’ve worked with the cloud for any length of time, you are undoubtedly familiar with the concept of the well-architected framework. Well architected framework refers to a series of concepts and principles that helps you measure your own cloud architecture against established best practices. By using the guidance behind the well architected framework concept, you should be able to successfully answer “yes” or “no” to the simple question: “are you using a well architected framework?” The concept of a well architected framework helps organizations answer that question with ease. It’s about understanding how to build and operate cloud-based architectures. Moreover, using it as a guide is helpful when building your own architecture. It’s a companion to building your architecture the same way life insurance is a companion to your health plan. One works in conjunction with the other to provide comprehensive coverage and planning ahead for the future. In the case of WAF, it means you can design any architecture that meets your needs with the assistance of its guidelines to push things along.

How It’s Used

The concept behind the well-architected framework is used predominantly as a guide to help businesses develop their own architecture. The WAF lets them compare their own architecture against best practices and make any adjustments that can help them thrive. Amazon’s services have a lens through which you can use the WAF principles as a guide for your designs via their console. It starts with defining your intended workload. From there, it needs to have a WAF lens applied to it. The tools within it can be used to develop an action plan and review how well your cloud conforms to WAF best practices.

Design

Designing your cloud within the well-architected framework comes down to following the tenets and principles of the laid out in the guide. It isn’t a special programming language or utility. Instead, it’s an abstract concept that can guide and influence your production designs, deployments, and more. So what’s the best way to design around the WAF? Understand your capacity. Perform some testing within the cloud environment. Since you can deploy and scale within a testing environment, you can test your design in real-time. It’s also easy to use gathered data and automation to design your architecture in an optimal way. Simulations during the design process can also be helpful, insightful windows into what’s working with your design and what isn’t. 

Principles

Well architected framework works along with several different principles. These principles govern how the cloud should operate and run. Learning as much as possible about well architected framework principles is going to help you achieve success and operational excellence within your own cloud architecture. The principles of the well-architected framework are: operational, security, reliability, performance/efficiency, and optimizing cost. Implementing these features appropriately is essential for making your framework well architected. It’s also key to know your default settings and understand what needs to be changed to make your architecture more secure. By utilizing the ideas based on each of these pillar principles, your organization can develop a fully functioning and secure cloud environment that be considered well architected.

Security

Security isn’t just an important part of a well architected framework. It’s a cornerstone of any cloud operation. Hackers, attackers, and other bad threat actors want to compromise and steal data. Data loss is a significant concern in cloud-based industries. The security pillar of the waf guidelines lays out everything you need to know for maintaining a secure cloud. It starts by implementing strong identity foundations and enabling traceability/monitoring/auditing to keep an eye on what’s happening at all times. Furthermore, multi-layered security procedures are essential for preventing data loss. There should also be less direct access available for important data and you should keep a tight leash on whether anybody can access it so that you know your data isn’t going to be compromised. By following many of the guidelines within the security pillar of the WAF, you can ensure broad sweeping security measures that keep your workloads safe.