AWS Well-Architected Framework Study Guide - Introduction
Tags: aws, cloudskills, examprep, cloud
Published: 2022-02-27 00:39:37

**This series is intended to be a personal study guide.  Information may not be comprehensive. Please feel free to comment if any information is inaccurate. I claim no ownership of the language herein; much of it is taken directly from existing AWS documentation - links where available.**

**<u>Introduction</u>**

- The [AWS Well-Architected Framework](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/welcome.html) provides best practices for building workloads in the AWS Cloud
- It documents questions that allow you to align an architecture with these best practices
- It is intended for those in technology roles (CTOs, architects, developers, operations)
- The [AWS Well-Architected Tool](https://aws.amazon.com/well-architected-tool/?whats-new-cards.sort-by=item.additionalFields.postDateTime&whats-new-cards.sort-order=desc) is a service that allows you to consistently review your architecture using this framework 
- [AWS Well-Architected Labs](https://www.wellarchitectedlabs.com/?ref=wellarchitected-wp) provides code and documentation for hands-on experience implementing best practices 

**<u>Definitions</u>**

**Terms**
- _Component_ - code, configuration, and AWS Resources that together deliver against a requirement
- _Workload_ - set of components that together deliver business value
- _Architecture_ - how components communicate and interact in a workload
- _Milestones_ - key changes in your architecture throughout the product lifecycle (design, implementation, testing, go live, and in production)
- _Technology portfolio_ - collection of workloads required for the business to operate

**The Pillars of the AWS Well-Architected Framework**

- [Operational Excellence](https://dev.to/aidutcher/operational-excellence-principles-and-definition-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-3a61) - run workloads effectively, gain insight into their operations, and to continuously improve supporting processes
- [Security](https://dev.to/aidutcher/security-design-principles-and-definition-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-73) - protect data, systems, and assets
- [Reliability](https://dev.to/aidutcher/reliability-design-principles-and-definition-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-24d3) - workload performs its intended function correctly and consistently when it’s expected to
- [Performance Efficiency](https://dev.to/aidutcher/performance-efficiency-design-principles-and-definition-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-li0) - use computing resources efficiently to meet and maintain system requirements
- [Cost Optimization](https://dev.to/aidutcher/cost-optimization-design-principles-and-definition-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-47l5) - run systems to deliver business value at the lowest price point
- [Sustainability](https://dev.to/aidutcher/sustainability-design-principles-and-definition-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-2jo3) - reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency across all components of a workload

**<u>On Architecture</u>**

- Customers often have a central team for architecture
- AWS distributes capabilities into teams rather than having centralized teams for each capability 
- _Practices_ focus on enabling each team to have a given capability
- _Mechanisms_ carry out automated checks to ensure standards are being met
- The Well-Architected Framework is the customer-facing implementation of the AWS internal review process 

**<u>General Design Principles</u>**

- Stop guessing capacity needs
- Test systems at production scale
- Automate to make architectural experimentation easier
- Allow for evolutionary architectures
- Drive architectures using data (about those architectures)
- Improve through game days (simulate events in production)

[**<u>Appendix: Questions and Best Practices</u>**](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/appendix.html)
- [Operational Excellence](https://dev.to/aidutcher/appendix-operational-excellence-organization-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-1pl7)
- [Security](https://dev.to/aidutcher/appendix-security-foundations-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-40bb)
- [Reliability](https://dev.to/aidutcher/appendix-reliability-foundations-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-4kfj)
- [Performance Efficiency](https://dev.to/aidutcher/appendix-performance-efficiency-selection-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-274h)
- [Cost Optimization](https://dev.to/aidutcher/appendix-cost-optimization-cloud-financial-management-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-18m2)
- [Sustainability](https://dev.to/aidutcher/appendix-sustainability-region-selection-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-3mn4)

[**<u>The Review Process</u>**](https://dev.to/aidutcher/review-process-aws-well-architected-framework-study-guide-417j)