Streamlining Infrastructure with AWS CloudFormation

Executive Summary

The process of managing and controlling different services used in the application development lifecycle using a code or a machine readable format is known to be Infrastructure as code (IaC). In this approach, set of IT infrastructure services are defined, deployed, and managed. It involves writing scripts, templates, or configuration files that specify the desired state of the infrastructure, and using tools and frameworks to automate the deployment and management of that infrastructure.

In this case study, we explore how we successfully implemented a cloud infrastructure using AWS CloudFormation. Our client was facing difficulties in managing and scaling its infrastructure, which resulted in prolonged downtime and significant costs. However, with the help of CloudFormation, we were able to automate and streamline the entire infrastructure process, resulting in improved performance, reduced costs, and increased flexibility.

Problem Statement

Our client had been using traditional on-premise infrastructure to run its business operations. However, as they grew, the infrastructure became increasingly difficult to manage and scale. They had to purchase additional hardware and software licenses, resulting in significant capital expenditure. Moreover, downtime due to system failures and maintenance was impacting the productivity and reputation. Therefore, we decided to migrate to the cloud and chose AWS as their cloud provider.

Solution

We decided to use AWS CloudFormation to standardize and automate its infrastructure. CloudFormation is an AWS service that provides a templated infrastructure as code approach to resource management. It allows users to create and manage a collection of related AWS resources in a repeatable and predictable way.

Our infrastructure team created templates for each of the client's applications and services, which included EC2 instances, load balancers, databases, and storage solutions using a JSON or YAML template. They used AWS CloudFormation to provision and manage the resources automatically. The templates were stored in version control, which allowed for easy tracking of changes and collaboration between team members.

Listing below few AWS services/resources from our template:

AWS CloudFormation Architecture

Here is a sample template we follow from AWS for our deployment process:

Why AWS CloudFormation

CloudFormation helps to manage multiple AWS resources as a single entity, making it easier to manage and maintain infrastructure over time.

CloudFormation templates ensures that your infrastructure resources are consistent across different environments (e.g., development, staging, production), reducing the risk of configuration.

CloudFormation supports scaling resources up or down based on traffic, usage, and other factors, making it easier to respond to changing business needs.

Challenges faced

We faced several challenges during the migration process.

The first challenge was the lack of a standardized infrastructure. Each team was using different tools and configurations, which made it challenging to manage and scale the infrastructure.

The second challenge was the need for a cost-effective solution. We wanted to reduce infrastructure costs while improving performance and scalability.

Outcome / benefits

Below were few of the benefits that Pirai could experience after adoption of AWS CloudFormation:

Standardization: We now have a standardized infrastructure that was easy to manage and scale.

Cost savings: We no longer needed to purchase hardware and software licenses, resulting in significant cost savings

Increased agility: We could now easily deploy new applications and services, which improved its ability to respond to market changes.

Flexibility and scalability: It enables organizations to create and manage resources across multiple AWS accounts and regions, providing flexibility to adapt to changing business needs and scale resources as needed

Standardization and governance: By defining infrastructure as code, it provides a standardized approach to resource provisioning and management. This approach helps ensure compliance with organizational policies and governance requirements.