The AWS Well Architected Framework
The AWS Well Architected Framework has been helping customers since 2015 to review their existing AWS Cloud environment using design principles, questions, and other best practices. This system of checks addresses selected topics such as operational excellence, security, reliability, performance & efficiency, and cost optimisation.
AWS Well Architected Framework and the associated reviews are conducted by AWS Partners and therefore offer consistently high quality in content and execution. The result of a Well Architected Framework is a catalogue of measures with suggestions for optimising your existing AWS Cloud environment.
Learn more about the AWS Well Architected Framework
In December 2021, Amazon Web Services added a sixth, sustainability pillar to the Well Architected model. The objective of this pillar is to support companies in setting up and operating their own cloud environment in an environmentally friendly manner with the help of a set of relevant questions.
As a result of the CSR reporting obligation of 2023 at the latest, which will come into force for companies with 250 employees or more, numerous companies will be obliged to disclose the environmental activities and impacts of their own business activities. Sustainable corporate management is thus becoming more and more of a focus. In addition to topics relating to a company's own purchasing, supply chain or mobility, the general saving of resources such as water
and energy can also become a central goal in corporate strategy. One of the ways in which this can be achieved is by relocating IT to a public cloud, as this results in direct savings for the company and also reduces CO₂ emissions.
Helpful further links on sustainability in the public cloud:
Sustainability is increasingly becoming a focus of corporate strategies.
IT departments are also increasingly being held accountable, and IT leaders, developers, and administrators are looking for ways to directly contribute to their company's sustainability goals.
Using the AWS Well-Architected Framework, your IT teams can make informed decisions to align security, cost, and performance efficiency with sustainability aspects. Every decision to reduce water and energy consumption, and thus save resources in components of a cloud workload, contributes to a lower environmental impact and supports your company's sustainability goals.
When implementing a Well-Architected Framework, you still have the freedom to choose whether to focus on specific areas, such as security and cost, or whether the team addresses all pillars, including sustainability. The comprehensive check of your cloud environment is cost-neutral for you, thanks to possible support from AWS and collaboration with an AWS partner such as PCG. Therefore, we always recommend considering all areas and placing an additional focus on sustainability.