Overview

The Well-Architected Framework defines six pillars by which a system can be reviewed to assess how well the system, its people and process are delivering outcomes towards the business needs.

Like any general framework, the Well-Architected Framework needs to take into consideration local environment dependencies and objectives, and its recommendations should be evaluated in line with organisations strategies, values and objectives.

The WAR process assesses the six pillars of the Well-Architected Framework as follows:

1. Operational Excellence – The ability to run and monitor systems to deliver business value and continually improve supporting processes and procedures.
2. Security – The ability to protect the information, systems, and assets while delivering business value through risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
3. Reliability – The ability of a system to recover from infrastructure or service disruptions, dynamically acquire computing resources to meet demand, and mitigate disruptions such as misconfigurations or transient network issues.
4. Performance Efficiency – The ability to use computing resources efficiently to meet system requirements, and to maintain that efficiency as demand changes and technologies evolve.
5. Cost Optimisation – The ability to run systems to deliver business value at the lowest price point.
6. Sustainability - Managing the environmental impacts, especially energy consumption and efficiency, since they are important levers for architects to inform direct action to reduce resource usage.

For more details on the principles within each of the pillars see - Are You Well Architected?

Process

An AWS Well-Architected Review has the following deliverables:

• Onsite or remote Well-Architected Review workshop
• Well-Architected Review presentation and report
• Uplift backlog containing recommended remediation activities, effort estimates and priorities

An AWS Well-Architected Review & Remediation has the following deliverables:

• Onsite or remote Well-Architected Review workshop
• Well-Architected Review presentation and report
• Uplift backlog containing recommended remediation activities, effort estimates and priorities
• Backlog implementation activities
• You may be eligible for US$5,000 worth of AWS usage credits on your AWS account following the successful remediation of identified issues. T&C's apply.

Benefits

• Faster build and deployment timeframes
• Reduction in security and compliance risks
• Increased confidence in systems operations
• Improved reliability and availability
• Uplift the approach to continuous improvement