Summary of AWS blogs for the week of monday Mon Dec 30
In the week of Mon Dec 30 2024 AWS published 17 blog posts – here is an overview of what happened.
Topics Covered
- AWS DevOps & Developer Productivity Blog
- Official Database Blog of AWS
- Microsoft Workloads on AWS
- AWS Storage Blog
- AWS Architecture Blog
- AWS Partner Network (APN) Blog
- AWS Cloud Operations Blog
- AWS for Industries
- AWS Marketplace
- Front-End Web & Mobile
- AWS Open Source Blog
AWS DevOps & Developer Productivity Blog
As the new year begins, AWS takes a moment to reflect on the most engaging DevOps and Developer Productivity blog posts of 2024. These articles offered key insights and tools for developers looking to enhance their AWS experiences. Below is a recap of the top highlights from this year.
Highlight: CDK Migrate
One standout blog post announced the general availability of CDK Migrate, a tool designed to ease the transition to the AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK). CDK Migrate introduces a single command that significantly simplifies the migration process, empowering developers to leverage the full capabilities of AWS infrastructure as code. By automating complex tasks, CDK Migrate enhances efficiency, allowing developers to focus more on innovation rather than infrastructure management.
re:Invent 2024 Playlist: A Treasure Trove of Knowledge
The re:Invent 2024 event featured an extensive DevOps and Developer Productivity (DOP) track, curated by AWS experts including Jessie VanderVeen, Krishna Dalal, and Megan Sattler. This track comprised 60 sessions packed with valuable insights for developers. For those who could not attend live, AWS compiled a comprehensive playlist of on-demand sessions. These recordings cover a range of topics, from CI/CD best practices to advanced automation techniques, providing developers with a rich repository of resources to enhance their productivity.
Both CDK Migrate and the re:Invent 2024 playlist serve as powerful tools for developers aiming to streamline their workflows and maximize efficiency. By embracing these resources, teams can improve their DevOps practices, optimize their AWS usage, and ultimately drive business success through enhanced productivity.
How KeyCore Can Assist
KeyCore is at the forefront of AWS consultancy in Denmark, offering both professional and managed services. Our team is well-equipped to assist organizations in adopting tools like CDK Migrate and leveraging re:Invent resources effectively. With deep AWS expertise, KeyCore can help streamline your DevOps processes and enhance developer productivity, ensuring your business reaps the full benefits of AWS technology.
Read the full blog posts from AWS
- The most visited DevOps and Developer Productivity blog posts in 2024
- re:Invent 2024 DevOps and Developer Productivity Playlist
Official Database Blog of Amazon Web Services
In the realm of database management and optimization using AWS, several advanced techniques can enhance flexibility, security, and performance. The following summaries delve into recent explorations within Amazon’s official database blog, focusing on extensions, data masking, and monitoring practices.
Handling Foreign Objects with mysql_fdw Extension
The mysql_fdw PostgreSQL extension is a powerful tool for managing large datasets across external databases, particularly MySQL and MariaDB, from Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. This extension allows users to import objects at the schema level, facilitating efficient reading and writing of data. The extension provides a seamless interface for dealing with external data sources, streamlining operations significantly.
Additionally, the post introduces techniques for evaluating query performance on foreign tables. By understanding how queries interact with foreign data wrappers, database administrators can optimize their operations and ensure efficient data retrieval and manipulation. This functionality is crucial for businesses that rely on integrating diverse data sources to maintain comprehensive datasets.
Dynamic Data Masking Techniques
Data security is paramount, especially when handling sensitive information. Dynamic data masking offers a solution by anonymizing data during retrieval without altering the underlying data. This technique uses dynamic masking views to mask personally identifiable information (PII) for unauthorized users. It enhances security protocols by ensuring that data exposure is minimized, even when accessed by non-privileged users.
The post outlines the implementation of dynamic data masking in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, including Babelfish for Aurora PostgreSQL. By applying these techniques, organizations can maintain high levels of data security and comply with privacy regulations while enabling necessary access to data.
Preventing Integer Sequence Overflow
Integer sequence overflow can disrupt database operations significantly, leading to potential data integrity issues. This post addresses the causes of such overflows and provides guidance on setting up alerts and resolutions using Amazon SNS and AWS Lambda. These tools enable automated responses to overflow conditions in Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL.
By implementing these monitoring practices, businesses can prevent data losses and maintain continuous operations. The proactive approach ensures that potential issues are caught and resolved before impacting the larger database environment.
How KeyCore Can Assist
KeyCore, as a leading AWS consultancy, offers expert guidance and implementation services for these advanced database techniques. Whether it’s optimizing data interactions with external sources, securing sensitive information through dynamic data masking, or setting up robust monitoring systems, KeyCore provides tailored solutions. Our expertise ensures that your AWS database environment is not only efficient but also secure and resilient.
Explore how KeyCore can transform your database management strategies by visiting our website at KeyCore.dk or contacting our team for personalized advice and assistance.
Read the full blog posts from AWS
- Querying and writing to MySQL and MariaDB from Amazon Aurora and Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL using the mysql_fdw extension, Part 2: Handling foreign objects
- Dynamic data masking in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, and Babelfish for Aurora PostgreSQL
- Monitoring your Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible and Amazon RDS PostgreSQL from integer sequence overflow
Microsoft Workloads on AWS
Managing licenses across multiple Amazon EC2 instances, particularly when using custom Amazon Machine Images (AMIs) containing software like Microsoft Windows Server or SQL Server, can be challenging. Organizations that deploy these AMIs need a robust solution for tracking and enforcing license compliance across all accounts within AWS Organizations.
Centralized License Tracking
The solution for centralized license tracking leverages AWS Organizations, allowing businesses to enforce and monitor license usage across various accounts. By setting up a centralized approach, organizations can ensure that every EC2 instance created from a custom AMI is compliant with the necessary licensing agreements. This is particularly useful for companies using Microsoft’s enterprise software, which often requires strict adherence to licensing terms.
Implementing the Solution
To implement this solution, organizations can use AWS Organizations to create a structured approach for license management. This involves configuring AWS License Manager, which helps in tracking licenses by associating them with specific AMIs. By defining automated rules and policies, businesses can ensure compliance and get alerts in case of any violations. This not only simplifies management but also reduces the risk of potential non-compliance penalties.
Benefits of the Approach
This centralized tracking system offers several benefits. It streamlines the process of license management by providing a single pane of glass for monitoring usage and compliance across all AWS accounts. Additionally, it helps optimize costs by preventing over-provisioning of licenses, ensuring that organizations only pay for what they use. Furthermore, it minimizes the administrative burden on IT teams, freeing them to focus on other strategic initiatives.
How KeyCore Can Assist
KeyCore offers expert guidance in implementing effective license tracking solutions on AWS. With deep expertise in AWS infrastructure and Microsoft workloads, KeyCore can help configure AWS License Manager to suit specific organizational needs. Whether it’s designing the initial setup or providing ongoing managed services, KeyCore ensures that businesses maintain compliance and optimize their license usage efficiently.
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AWS Storage Blog
Designing for multi-account scenarios using AWS Disaster Recovery Service is a comprehensive guide to integrating disaster recovery (DR) into an organization’s business continuity strategy. Understanding the critical role of DR in maintaining business operations during unexpected interruptions is essential. Businesses must consider their unique governance, security, and operational requirements when designing a DR solution. One common requirement is maintaining separate AWS accounts to ensure security isolation and cost control.
Understanding Business Drivers
The article emphasizes the importance of aligning DR strategies with business drivers. This alignment ensures that the DR solution effectively supports the organization’s objectives and compliance needs. Key business drivers could include minimizing downtime, ensuring data integrity, and meeting regulatory compliance standards.
Security Isolation and Cost Control
Maintaining separate AWS accounts is often necessary for achieving security isolation. Different accounts can help prevent unauthorized access across environments and provide a clear boundary when managing permissions. Additionally, using multiple accounts can also help in cost allocation, making it easier to track and manage expenditures for disaster recovery separately from other business operations.
Implementing Effective DR Solutions
When designing a DR solution, AWS provides a range of services that can be employed to meet these diverse requirements. The AWS Disaster Recovery Service offers robust features that allow for swift recovery of applications and data, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations. Utilizing AWS’s extensive service offerings, organizations can tailor a DR strategy that aligns perfectly with their needs.
How KeyCore Can Help
KeyCore’s expertise in AWS solutions positions them as a valuable partner in designing and implementing effective DR strategies. Their team can assist in identifying the appropriate AWS services, ensuring security compliance, and optimizing costs. By leveraging KeyCore’s professional and managed services, organizations can confidently establish a disaster recovery solution that enhances their overall business continuity strategy.
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AWS Architecture Blog
Amazon Bedrock is revolutionizing property management operations by streamlining lease agreement workflows. By leveraging Amazon Bedrock, organizations can efficiently tackle the complexities of processing large volumes of lease agreements and ensure compliance with diverse regulatory mandates.
Streamlining Lease Agreement Processes
One of the primary challenges in property management is handling the sheer volume of lease agreements. Amazon Bedrock simplifies this task by providing a scalable infrastructure that automates repetitive processes, reducing manual errors and freeing up valuable human resources for more strategic tasks.
Ensuring Compliance with Regulatory Requirements
Compliance is a critical concern in managing lease agreements, as they must adhere to various local, national, and international regulations. Amazon Bedrock’s robust compliance features ensure that lease agreements meet all necessary legal standards, minimizing the risk of violations and potential fines.
Optimizing Costs and Resources
By automating and streamlining processes, Amazon Bedrock helps property management companies optimize operational costs. The platform’s ability to integrate with existing systems means businesses can leverage their current infrastructure while enhancing efficiency and productivity, leading to significant cost savings over time.
How KeyCore Can Assist
KeyCore, as a leading AWS consultancy, offers expertise in implementing and optimizing Amazon Bedrock solutions tailored to specific business needs. By partnering with KeyCore, organizations can ensure a seamless transition to automated workflows, achieve compliance, and reduce operational costs effectively. KeyCore’s professional and managed services provide ongoing support and guidance to help property management businesses harness the full potential of Amazon Bedrock.
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AWS Partner Network (APN) Blog
As organizations transition to cloud-based solutions, their infrastructure needs have evolved significantly. They now manage complex systems across numerous AWS accounts and geographic regions. This complexity necessitates a robust solution for infrastructure governance, and ControlMonkey’s Terraform Platform offers just that.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Management
ControlMonkey is an AI-powered platform that enhances Terraform’s capabilities, delivering a comprehensive solution for managing cloud infrastructure at scale. The platform provides a centralized control plane that enables users to visualize, automate, and govern their AWS environments effectively.
Enhanced Governance and Automation
With its robust automation features, ControlMonkey simplifies the deployment and management of infrastructure, reducing the likelihood of human error and ensuring compliance with organizational policies. By using ControlMonkey, businesses can maintain a clear overview and control over their cloud resources, making the management of large-scale AWS environments more efficient.
Generative AI continues to be a focal point for AWS Partners and their customers as innovations in the field progress rapidly. The 2024 AWS re:Invent event highlighted key advancements in generative AI, setting the stage for developments into 2025.
Generative AI Competency Expansion
A significant update from the event was the expansion of the Generative AI Competency. This development demonstrates AWS’s commitment to providing partners with the resources needed to excel in the rapidly growing field of AI.
Introduction of New AI Security Category
Additionally, AWS introduced a new AI Security category to address emerging concerns around AI implementation. This category aims to ensure that AI solutions are deployed securely and responsibly across various industries.
Welcoming New Competency Partners
The event also saw the introduction of a new wave of Generative AI Competency Partners. These partners are equipped to offer cutting-edge solutions and services, further enhancing the AWS ecosystem’s capability in addressing diverse AI-driven business needs.
At KeyCore, Denmark’s leading AWS consultancy, we specialize in helping organizations navigate the complexities of AWS environments. Our expertise in Terraform automation and generative AI allows us to provide tailored solutions that align with your specific needs. Whether you are looking to streamline your infrastructure management with ControlMonkey or explore the latest generative AI advancements from AWS, KeyCore offers the professional and managed services necessary to achieve your business goals. Discover more about our offerings and how we can support your AWS journey at KeyCore.
Read the full blog posts from AWS
- Using ControlMonkey’s Terraform Platform to Govern Large-scale AWS Environments
- AWS re:Invent 2024 Recap: New Generative AI Competency Partners and Updated Resources in the Generative AI Center of Excellence
AWS Cloud Operations Blog
In the context of enforcing governance and compliance best practices across multiple AWS accounts, AWS Control Tower presents a streamlined starting point. It centralizes the management of accounts, offering a comprehensive framework for establishing a baseline of AWS environment configurations. However, maintaining continuous compliance is an evolving challenge that requires proactive drift detection and remediation strategies.
Understanding Drift Detection in AWS Control Tower
Drift in AWS refers to the differences between the expected state of resources as defined by AWS configurations and the actual state of those resources running in the environment. AWS Control Tower provides mechanisms to detect these drifts, alert administrators, and facilitate corrective actions. This is achieved through integration with other AWS services such as Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), which publishes notifications whenever drift is detected.
Leveraging Amazon Bedrock for Enhanced Analysis
Amazon Bedrock enhances the capabilities of AWS Control Tower by offering advanced analytical tools that provide deeper insights into detected drifts. This service allows organizations to understand the root causes of drifts, enabling more effective and rapid remediation strategies. By analyzing patterns and trends in drifts across accounts, businesses can fine-tune their governance policies and improve compliance over time.
Business Value of Effective Drift Management
Proactively managing drift is crucial for businesses that must adhere to stringent compliance standards and regulatory requirements. By leveraging AWS Control Tower and Amazon Bedrock, organizations can ensure their cloud environments remain secure, efficient, and consistent with governance policies. This not only mitigates risks associated with non-compliance but also optimizes operational costs by preventing resource misconfigurations.
How KeyCore Can Assist
KeyCore stands ready to assist organizations in implementing and managing AWS Control Tower and Amazon Bedrock for effective drift detection and remediation. Our team of AWS experts can design, deploy, and manage customized solutions that align with your governance requirements, ensuring your AWS resources remain compliant and optimized. With KeyCore’s professional and managed services, businesses can confidently focus on innovation while maintaining robust compliance standards.
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AWS for Industries
Enhancing Data Access for AV/ADAS Applications
In the rapidly evolving field of autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (AV/ADAS), the ability to efficiently manage and access data is crucial. Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 suppliers, and independent software vendors (ISVs) often face the challenge of processing enormous volumes of data. Test vehicles can record up to 300 TB of data per day, necessitating efficient data handling strategies.
Mountpoint for Amazon S3
One effective solution for managing this vast amount of data is the use of Mountpoint for Amazon S3. This innovative approach allows seamless access to data stored in Amazon S3, a scalable and secure storage service. By using Mountpoint, organizations can efficiently retrieve and process data without the bottlenecks associated with traditional data access methods. This is particularly vital for AV/ADAS applications, where timely and efficient data access can significantly impact the development and testing of new technologies.
Business Value
The adoption of Mountpoint for Amazon S3 brings substantial business value to automotive companies. By optimizing data retrieval and processing, organizations can reduce operational costs and enhance the speed of innovation. This leads to quicker development cycles for AV/ADAS technologies, providing a competitive advantage in the fast-paced automotive industry. Moreover, efficient data handling can improve the overall accuracy and reliability of autonomous systems, contributing to safer and more advanced vehicles.
How KeyCore Can Assist
KeyCore offers expert guidance and services to help businesses implement Mountpoint for Amazon S3 effectively. With our deep expertise in AWS technologies and a track record of successful projects, we can assist in designing and deploying data management solutions tailored to specific needs. Whether it’s optimizing data workflows or ensuring seamless integration with existing systems, KeyCore’s professional and managed services provide the support needed to harness the full potential of AWS in the automotive sector.
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AWS Marketplace
Intel and Cintra have demonstrated how full-stack optimization—from silicon to software—can enhance the performance of Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) for PostgreSQL. Leveraging Intel’s hardware capabilities and Cintra’s software enhancements, users experience significant improvements in database performance. This optimization can result in faster application interactions, quicker report generation, and more efficient data processing, proving beneficial for critical workloads. The performance gains are validated using HammerDB benchmarks, ensuring reliable and measurable improvements.
In the AWS Marketplace, managing Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR) repositories effectively requires precise control over access and permissions. The blog post outlines a strategy for employing IAM policies to secure AWS Marketplace repositories, implementing least privilege permissions assigned to IAM user accounts or roles. Three user personas are highlighted to demonstrate these features:
- AWS Marketplace Administrator: This persona has complete administrative access to the AWS Marketplace.
- Developer: With limited access, this user can push images to specific repositories.
- Read-only User: This user is restricted to describing and listing images, with no permission to push.
Through these personas, businesses can ensure secure and efficient management of their container images, aligning with best practices for access control.
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These summaries illustrate the focal points of each article, offering insights into the technical advancements and practical applications within the AWS environment. For organizations seeking to leverage these capabilities, understanding these innovations can lead to improved infrastructure performance and security. KeyCore stands ready to assist enterprises in integrating these solutions, providing expert guidance on optimizing Amazon RDS performance and managing ECR repositories securely. KeyCore’s expertise ensures that businesses can fully realize the benefits of these AWS services, tailored to specific needs and operational goals.
Read the full blog posts from AWS
- Intel and Cintra optimize Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
- AWS Marketplace managed Amazon Elastic Container Registry (Amazon ECR): Controlling access and permissions
Front-End Web & Mobile
As we step into 2025, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the most influential front-end web and mobile blog posts of 2024. These articles have captured the attention of developers and tech enthusiasts alike, offering insights and advancements in the field.
Fullstack TypeScript and AWS Amplify Gen 2
The introduction of AWS Amplify Gen 2 marked a significant milestone in fullstack TypeScript development. This release provides a comprehensive suite of tools for developers looking to build scalable and efficient web and mobile applications. By leveraging the power of AWS services, Amplify Gen 2 offers an enhanced development experience, enabling seamless integration and deployment of applications. The post dives into the capabilities of this new version, highlighting improvements in performance and usability that streamline the developer workflow.
Insights from re:Invent 2024
At re:Invent 2024, the Front-end Web and Mobile (FWM) track featured 29 engaging sessions, curated to provide valuable insights into the latest trends and technologies. Though not everyone could attend in person, the sessions are available on-demand, offering a treasure trove of knowledge for those eager to stay ahead in the industry. The playlist encompasses a wide array of topics, from cutting-edge frameworks to best practices in mobile development, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of front-end technology.
These sessions serve as a valuable resource for professionals aiming to enhance their skills and adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of web and mobile development.
KeyCore’s Expertise in Front-End Development
KeyCore is well-equipped to assist businesses and developers in harnessing the potential of these advancements. With in-depth knowledge of AWS Amplify and front-end frameworks, KeyCore offers professional and managed services tailored to meet the unique needs of its clients. Whether optimizing existing applications or building new solutions from scratch, KeyCore ensures that projects are delivered with precision and innovation. By partnering with KeyCore, organizations can leverage the latest technologies to drive growth and efficiency in their digital initiatives.
Read the full blog posts from AWS
- The most visited Front-end Web and Mobile blog posts in 2024
- re:Invent 2024 Front-end Web and Mobile Playlist
AWS Open Source Blog
AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) has revolutionized how infrastructure as code (IaC) is approached, since its announcement in 2019. This open-source software development framework allows developers to model and provision cloud application resources using familiar programming languages. By transforming the traditional methods of building on AWS, CDK has enabled more efficient and effective development processes.
The Evolution of Infrastructure as Code
The introduction of CDK marked a significant milestone in the evolution of IaC. Before CDK, infrastructure management often involved extensive manual configuration and complex scripting. CDK introduced a new paradigm, where developers could leverage programming languages they were already proficient in, such as Python, TypeScript, and JavaScript, to define AWS infrastructure. This approach simplified coding processes, increased productivity, and reduced the potential for errors.
Community and Collaboration
As an open-source project, CDK thrives on community collaboration. AWS continuously integrates feedback from developers to enhance CDK’s capabilities. The community’s role is crucial in shaping the future of CDK, ensuring it remains relevant and effective in addressing the needs of modern cloud infrastructure management. Open-source contributions allow for rapid innovation, with new features and improvements being added regularly in response to user input.
Business Value and KeyCore’s Role
For businesses, CDK offers significant strategic advantages. It reduces time-to-market for cloud applications, optimizes resource utilization, and provides a scalable infrastructure management solution. By using CDK, organizations can align their development practices with modern DevOps methodologies, enhancing collaboration between development and operations teams.
KeyCore, with its expertise in AWS services, can assist businesses in harnessing the full potential of CDK. Whether through professional services that tailor CDK implementation to specific business needs, or managed services that ensure ongoing optimization and support, KeyCore is dedicated to empowering organizations to innovate and scale with confidence on AWS.