Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Boosting efficiency: How to realize 70% cost reduction with AWS Fargate -CON318

Summary

Stephen Follis and Skylar from Smartsheet presented on cost-effective workload management using AWS Fargate.
Fargate is a serverless container platform that simplifies operations, enhances security, and offers cost efficiency.
It provides isolation of tasks using micro VMs, prevents privileged container usage, and allows for elastic pricing.
Smartsheet's journey with AWS began in 2006 and fully migrated to AWS by 2019, leading to significant growth.
Skylar introduced the OPS framework (Optimize, Propel, Scale) that Smartsheet used to achieve a 70% reduction in costs.
Optimization involved embracing auto-scaling, understanding AWS billing, and eliminating legacy overheads.
Propelling involved simplifying deployment processes, leveraging the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, and utilizing managed services.
Scaling involved anticipating future demands, load testing, and embracing best practices like cell-based architecture.
Smartsheet's cell-based architecture allows for predictable performance and scalability by adding more cells as needed.

AWS Fargate's serverless approach can significantly reduce the operational overhead associated with container management.
Security is a foundational aspect of Fargate, providing an additional layer of isolation and security compared to traditional container methods.
The OPS framework (Optimize, Propel, Scale) can serve as a guideline for organizations looking to improve efficiency and reduce costs in their cloud infrastructure.
Specializing services and understanding workload characteristics can lead to more effective auto-scaling and cost savings.
The transition from a centralized DevOps model to T-shaped engineers can improve agility and reduce reliance on specialized roles.
Cell-based architecture is a scalable design pattern that can help manage growth and ensure predictable performance.
Smartsheet's experience with AWS Fargate and the OPS framework demonstrates the potential for significant cost savings and operational improvements when adopting cloud-native technologies and practices.