Deploying a Sample Application with AWS Well-Architected Framework Best Practices

As cloud adoption accelerates, building applications that align with the AWS Well-Architected Framework becomes crucial for ensuring scalability, security, cost-efficiency, and operational excellence. In this blog, we’ll explore how to deploy a sample serverless application, the Blue Car Application, while adhering to the best practices outlined in the Well-Architected Framework. This deployment leverages Dashbird, a tool for monitoring and enforcing serverless best practices.

Why Follow the AWS Well-Architected Framework?

The AWS Well-Architected Framework helps architects and developers design cloud-native applications that are:

• Operationally efficient
• Secure
• Reliable
• Cost-effective
• Environmentally sustainable

This guide demonstrates deploying the Blue Car Application, a sample serverless solution, while automating these principles using Dashbird.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

1. An AWS account with IAM administrative access.
2. AWS CLI installed and configured.
3. Basic knowledge of Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB.
4. Dashbird account for monitoring (optional but recommended).

Step 1: Clone the Blue Car Application Repository

Begin by cloning the sample application from the official GitHub repository:

git clone https://github.com/dashbird/aws-well-architected-blue-car.git
cd aws-well-architected-blue-car

This repository contains all the necessary infrastructure as code (IaC) templates and application code.

Step 2: Deploy Using AWS SAM (Serverless Application Model)

The application is designed to leverage AWS SAM for streamlined deployment:

1. Build the Application: Run the following command to prepare the application for deployment:

   sam build

1. Deploy the Application: Deploy the application to AWS:

   sam deploy --guided

During deployment, you’ll be prompted for parameters such as stack name, region, and resource configurations. Accept the defaults or customize as per your requirements.

1. Post-Deployment Outputs: After deployment, SAM will provide the following key outputs:
   • API Gateway URL: Endpoint to access your application.
   • DynamoDB Table Name: The table where application data will be stored.

Step 3: Understand the Architecture

The deployed Blue Car Application consists of:

• API Gateway: Manages HTTP requests and routes them to Lambda functions.
• AWS Lambda: Processes business logic and interacts with other AWS services.
• DynamoDB: A serverless database for storing application data.

This architecture embodies Well-Architected principles by emphasizing scalability, fault tolerance, and managed services.

Step 4: Integrate Dashbird for Observability

Dashbird enhances monitoring and compliance with the Well-Architected Framework by providing insights into serverless workloads:

1. Sign Up for Dashbird:
   
   Create an account at Dashbird.

2. Connect Your AWS Account:
   
   Follow the instructions to securely integrate Dashbird with your AWS account.

3. Monitor the Application:

   • Use Dashbird to view execution metrics, detect potential issues, and receive best practice recommendations.
   • Dashbird automatically maps your workloads to the Well-Architected pillars, providing actionable insights.

Step 5: Validate Best Practices

After deployment, verify that your application aligns with the AWS Well-Architected Framework:

1. Operational Excellence:

   • Use AWS CloudWatch Logs for monitoring and debugging.
   • Ensure deployment pipelines are automated.

2. Security:

   • IAM roles for Lambda should follow the principle of least privilege.
   • API Gateway should enable HTTPS and authentication mechanisms.

3. Reliability:

   • Verify DynamoDB uses on-demand scaling for consistent availability.
   • Ensure retries and error-handling logic in Lambda functions.

4. Performance Efficiency:

   • Use appropriate memory and timeout configurations for Lambda functions.
   • Optimize API Gateway endpoints for latency and caching.

5. Cost Optimization:

   • Leverage DynamoDB's on-demand pricing model.
   • Monitor usage with AWS Cost Explorer and Dashbird.

Step 6: Test the Application

1. Use the provided API Gateway URL to interact with the application:

   curl -X GET <API_Gateway_URL>/bluecars

1. Validate the application's behavior for all endpoints.

Step 7: Iterate and Improve

The Well-Architected Framework emphasizes continuous improvement. Regularly review the application using the AWS Well-Architected Tool and integrate suggestions to maintain alignment with best practices.

Conclusion

By following the steps above, you’ve successfully deployed a serverless application aligned with the AWS Well-Architected Framework. Integrating tools like Dashbird ensures ongoing compliance with best practices, enabling you to build robust, scalable, and cost-effective cloud solutions.

Start deploying with confidence and harness the power of AWS Well-Architected Framework to transform your cloud journey!