AWS INFRASTRUCTURE

Table of Contents

• Module 1: The AWS Hero >_ Control Plane at Global Scale
• Module 2: First Principles >_ What AWS Actually Provides
• Module 3: AWS Operating Model >_ Shared Responsibility
• Module 4: AWS Hybrid Architecture Patterns
• Module 5: AWS Economics & Cost Physics
• Module 6: AWS Security & Governance >_ Zero Trust
• Module 7: AWS Workload Strategy >_ Compute Spectrum
• Module 8: AWS as a Platform for Modern Architectures
• Module 9: Migration & Modernization Patterns
• Module 10: Decision Framework >_ When to Choose AWS
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Additional Resources

Architect’s Summary: This guide provides a deep technical and strategic breakdown of AWS infrastructure architecture. It covers control plane design, security responsibility, hybrid connectivity, cost physics, workload strategies, and modernization patterns. Specifically, it is written for cloud architects, platform engineers, and IT leaders designing production-grade AWS and hybrid environments.

Module 1: The AWS Hero >_ Control Plane at Global Scale

Specifically, AWS functions as a globally distributed software-defined control plane. This system effectively abstracts compute, storage, networking, and identity to enable elastic infrastructure at a planetary scale. Consequently, designing for AWS requires a shift in mindset. You must stop managing physical hardware and start orchestrating global service planes.

Architectural Implication: High-availability designs on AWS must account for the physical distance between discrete Availability Zones (AZs). Initially, many architects assume AZs are just “rooms” in a building. However, they are often miles apart. Therefore, your synchronous replication strategy must balance data consistency with the physical latency of cross-AZ traffic.

Module 2: First Principles >_ AWS Core Building Blocks

To master AWS cloud strategy, you must separate the control plane from the underlying services.

• IAM: Initially, this serves as an identity-first security model. It acts as the primary firewall for the cloud by controlling every API call.
• VPC: Specifically, these provide network isolation. They define your private boundaries and routing logic within the public fabric.
• EC2: Furthermore, this represents a compute abstraction layer. It provides resizable capacity on demand while managing hardware virtualization.
• S3: Additionally, this is an object storage service. It is a fundamental architectural component for durable, internet-scale data.
• APIs: Finally, these ensure that every resource is programmable. Everything is accessible via standard, versioned interfaces.

Module 3: Shared Responsibility >_ Security of vs. In the Cloud

This section explains the AWS shared responsibility model in practice to ensure total operational integrity. Initially, AWS manages the “Security of the Cloud.” This includes physical data center access, hardware lifecycle, and the virtualization layer. Conversely, the customer is responsible for “Security in the Cloud.” Specifically, you must manage guest OS patching, data encryption, and network traffic filtering. Statistically, most AWS breaches occur due to misconfigured identity rather than platform failures. Therefore, architects must focus on the “Identity Perimeter.” For example, a single misconfigured S3 Bucket Policy can bypass millions of dollars in network security. Consequently, your strategy must include automated configuration auditing to maintain this boundary.

Module 4: Hybrid Architecture >_ Connectivity & Routing Fabric

Specifically, hybrid success depends on identity and routing rather than simple VM migration speed. For organizations integrating on-premises environments, AWS offers deterministic connectivity models. Initially, Site-to-Site VPN provides an encrypted tunnel over the public internet. Furthermore, Direct Connect offers a dedicated, private physical connection for deterministic latency. Additionally, the AWS Transit Gateway (TGW) serves as a central hub. It simplifies the routing fabric across thousands of VPCs and on-premises sites. Consequently, by federating IAM with existing identity providers, you ensure that security policies remain centralized across the entire hybrid estate.

Module 5: Economics & Cost Physics >_ Beyond the Bill

Importantly, cloud cost reflects architectural decisions rather than just pricing models. To prevent cost spikes, you must address “cost leaks” like unplanned data egress and idle resources. Specifically, adopting AWS Graviton processors often provides a 40% better price-performance ratio. Furthermore, separate your workloads by their runtime behavior. Use Reserved Instances for steady-state applications. Conversely, use Spot Instances for stateless, fault-tolerant batch jobs. Additionally, implement S3 Intelligent-Tiering to automate storage cost savings. Thus, cost control becomes a function of engineering discipline rather than accounting.

Module 6: Governance & Trust >_ Zero Trust Enforcement

Specifically, AWS security and governance best practices rely on identity-first Zero Trust design principles. Governance is automated through AWS Organizations and Service Control Policies (SCPs). These set firm guardrails that even local administrators cannot override. Furthermore, continuous auditing via AWS CloudTrail ensures that every API call is logged and analyzed. Additionally, utilize VPC PrivateLink to keep traffic off the public internet. Therefore, you retain ownership of the encryption lifecycle through customer-managed KMS keys. Consequently, your data remains secure regardless of the underlying infrastructure location.

Module 7: Workload Strategy >_ The Compute Decision Tree

Specifically, architects must move beyond “EC2-only” thinking to achieve true cloud-native efficiency. The choice of compute determines your operational overhead and scaling speed.

• EC2: Use this when you require full control over the operating system or specific kernel configurations.
• EKS/ECS: Specifically, choose container orchestration for microservices that require high portability and rapid deployment cycles.
• Lambda: Furthermore, use serverless execution for event-driven tasks. This eliminates the need to manage any underlying server fleet.
• Fargate: Finally, this allows you to run containers without managing the EC2 host instances. Consequently, it reduces your “Security in the Cloud” surface area.

Module 8: Modern Platforms >_ Shifting to Service Composition

Initially, AWS shifts teams from infrastructure management to service composition. This acceleration allows you to build platforms rather than managing components.

• Managed Databases: By leveraging RDS or Aurora, teams eliminate the burden of patching and backups.
• Event Mesh: Specifically, an event mesh built on Amazon EventBridge allows for decoupled services that scale independently.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Furthermore, using the AWS CDK or Terraform ensures that the platform is reproducible and auditable.
• DevOps Velocity: Consequently, your engineering talent can focus on business logic rather than racking hardware.

Module 9: Migration Patterns >_ The 6-R Framework in Depth

Importantly, migration without a clear architectural strategy leads to cloud sprawl.

• Rehost (Lift & Shift): Initially focuses on speed. It is used to exit a data center quickly by moving VMs as-is.
• Replatform: Specifically, this involves tactical optimization. For example, moving a self-managed database to Amazon RDS.
• Repurchase: Furthermore, this shifts the workload to a SaaS model. This effectively eliminates the maintenance of legacy code.
• Refactor: Additionally, this requires an extensive cloud-native redesign. Use this for maximum scalability via serverless components.
• Retire: Identifies obsolete workloads. This eliminates technical debt and unnecessary monthly spend.
• Retain: Finally, this keeps the workload in its current environment. Use this for applications with high migration friction.

Module 10: Decision Framework >_ Strategic Validation

Specifically, AWS is the right choice when global scale is required and governance is automated. Architects must validate their choice through the lens of workload physics and DevOps maturity. Choose AWS if your demand is elastic and you can justify a usage-based cost model. However, avoid public cloud if strict data sovereignty disallows shared infrastructure platforms. Ultimately, the decision must be based on whether the speed of service composition outweighs the risk of platform lock-in. Thus, you ensure long-term architectural integrity.

Module 11: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Additional Resources:

• AWS Well-Architected Framework: Design principles for secure, reliable, and cost-optimized workloads. This is the gold standard for AWS design
• AWS Architecture Center: A technical library containing reference architectures and whitepapers for global-scale systems.
• AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF): Guidance for accelerating business outcomes through structured cloud transformation and stakeholder alignment