How to Effortlessly Conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review: Partner vs. In-House

Most organizations start confident in their internal team’s ability to conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review process. However, challenges soon emerge as they deep-dive into the evaluation and best practices outlined in the AWS Well-Architected Framework Review. Critical misconfigurations, incomplete compliance documentation, and inefficient cost optimization strategies compromise performance. Worse, in-house technical teams often overstretch themselves, lose valuable time, and face delays and rejections from AWS.

Why does this happen? While internal teams may have AWS knowledge and access to AWS self-service tools, they often lack the specialized expertise required to conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review process.

Conversely, a partner undergoes rigorous training to conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review and must maintain a steady record of project delivery and customer success. 

This blog will discuss how to conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review. We will also explore the AWS Well-Architected Partner program requirements and how an AWS Well-Architected partner can help ISVs save time, money, and unnecessary risks while ensuring their cloud environment is well-architected.

Pitfalls in Conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review

1. Security blind spots: Overlooking security gaps is the number one reason ISVs falter when conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review. A study by Gartner states that 99% of cloud security failures are the customer’s responsibility. The benchmarks in the security pillar of the AWS Well-Architected Framework are in-depth, and even minor misconfigurations can add to data risks.
2. Elaborate review process: The AWS Well-Architected Framework Review is elaborate and spans six main pillars: security, performance efficiency, reliability, operational excellence, cost optimization, and sustainability. Without prior experience and review tools, conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review can be overwhelming for in-house teams. For example, teams must manually audit every IAM user, simulate failure scenarios, etc.
3. Lack of certified AWS professionals: ISVs, particularly startups, operate with lean teams and often lack in-house AWS-certified professionals. The absence of cloud architects or DevOps teams can make conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review time-consuming and complex.
4. Internal bias: The AWS Well-Architected Framework starts by comparing your current architecture with best practices and answering review questions. Sometimes, internal teams may struggle with bias when answering questions about their architecture, which may prevent optimization and innovation.
5. Inefficient cost optimization: A recent survey indicates that organizations waste 32% of their cloud spend. Without AWS cost-optimization expertise, in-house teams often overspend without rightsizing instances or leveraging Savings Plans.
6. Complex technical remediation: Comparing best practices in the AWS Well-Architected Framework with your existing cloud systems is one part of the problem. ISVs often lack the technical expertise to address all the gaps while conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review, such as fixing IAM role misconfigurations and optimizing compute resources.
7. Performance failure: Running workloads on the cloud at peak performance requires ISVs to have strong knowledge of auto-scaling, caching strategies, and database optimization. Without it, ISVs can run into performance bottlenecks.
8. Poor documentation: After evaluating cloud workloads against the AWS Well-Architected Framework pillars, ISVs must prepare detailed documentation, architecture diagrams, and resource configurations. Many ISVs underestimate the details in the documentation, leading to delayed approvals or rejection. 

Why a Partner to Conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review

To join the AWS Well-Architected Partner Program, an organization must meet strict criteria developed by AWS and learn in-depth about the AWS Well-Architected tool. Here are the measures an organization must take to receive the AWS Well-Architected Partner Program status. 

• Advanced tier services: The organization must be part of the AWS Advanced Tier Services or higher. This designation proves the partner has an excellent track record of successful AWS project delivery and client success.
• Trained by AWS: The AWS Well-Architected Partner must undergo in-depth training and attend workshops designed by AWS. This effort helps partners implement best practices, stay ahead of new AWS services, and build high-quality solutions when required.
• AWS-certified professionals: The organization must have AWS-certified solution architects and engineers who demonstrate a deep understanding of all six AWS Well-Architected Framework pillars.
• WAFR delivery experience: To earn the title of AWS Well-Architected Partner, an organization must complete a minimum number of Well-Architected Reviews for clients. Even after achieving partner status, the AWS Well-Architected Partner should commit to completing a minimum number of reviews per quarter. For example, Ibexlabs completes an average of seven AWS Well-Architected Reviews for its clients per quarter.
• Present valid use cases: To prove the success and effectiveness of their WAFR approach, the organization must present before-and-after scenarios and track milestones. AWS can also request case studies to verify the effectiveness of these reviews.
  
• Continuous activity: The organization must actively and continuously execute Well-Architected Framework projects for clients. They must also track and document remediation efforts.
  
• Structured review process: AWS expects its Well-Architected partners to have a standard and structured review process. For instance, partners must use automated tools, insights dashboards, and AWS-approved tools.
• Follow guidelines: To ensure ongoing program compliance, partners must follow strict AWS guidelines for documentation and data security and comply with audit requirements.
• Continuous improvement: AWS expects partners to improve their Well-Architected Framework Review process constantly. Partners must attend AWS Well-Architected Partner enablement sessions and stay ahead of any changes in the roadmap. 

Partner Advantages: Conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review

To retain its AWS Well-Architected Partner status, an organization must follow rigorous program requirements before and after achieving it. As a result, partners bring nothing less than best-in-class solutions that remove high-risk issues in workloads and establish customer trust.

Here is an overview of the advantages of having an AWS Well-Architected Partner perform the Well-Architected Review instead of an in-house team.

1. Unbiased evaluation: AWS partners are external agents who have been rigorously trained and follow guidelines when performing the Well-Architected Review. As a result, their recommendations are objective, unbiased, and based on vast client experience.
2. Actionable remediation plans: AWS Well-Architected Partners do not stop at review but also offer clients remediations to the gaps observed in their cloud environment. They prioritize high-risk security issues and provide detailed technical improvements and implementation guidance.
3. Access to AWS credits: Many AWS Well-Architected Partners offer AWS funding through infrastructure credits, which reduces the cost of remediating high-risk issues. As a result, partners can help ease remediation costs that require significant upfront investments.
4. Continuous support and improvement: AWS Well-Architected Partners don’t stop with a one-time review. They extend continuous support, helping organizations improve their cloud environments as AWS services evolve.

Conclusion: Conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review with a Partner

At first, performing the AWS Well-Architected Framework Review in-house may seem economical. However, the hidden risks of non-compliance, misconfigurations, and time lost in AWS rejections outweigh the benefits. Don’t let the challenges of the AWS Well-Architected Framework Review slow down the countless opportunities the review unlocks. Completing the Well-Architected Framework Review is your ticket to success on the AWS Marketplace and access to the ISV Accelerate program. Partner with an AWS Well-Architected expert for a smooth and successful review today.

Ready to fast-track your AWS Well-Architected journey? Contact us for a free WAFR consultation!

FAQs
What is the benefit of using the AWS Well-Architected Framework financial services industry (FSI) lens?
The AWS Well-Architected Framework financial services industry (FSI) lens helps financial institutions comply with industry regulations like PCI DSS, SOC 2, and GDPR. It also provides best practices for risk management, data governance, and fraud detection, helping organizations safeguard sensitive financial data. 

What are the benefits of having well-architected applications in AWS?
Well-architected applications in AWS have several benefits, such as security, reliability, and high availability. These applications can handle traffic spikes and adapt to business growth. Additionally, well-architected applications improve operational efficiency, enabling automation, faster deployments, and easier management of cloud workloads.

What should a team member do before conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review?
Before conducting the AWS Well-Architected Review, a team member should prepare for the review, determine which pillars to focus on, and gather necessary data and cost reports for a thorough assessment. During the review stage, they should assess the pillars identified and identify gaps and high-risk issues. The remediation stage uses AWS best practices, automation, and funding programs to fix gaps effectively.

What are the advantages of working with an AWS Partner to conduct the AWS Well-Architected Review?
An AWS Partner is a certified expert who follows AWS best practices to assess your cloud environment. Partners provide an unbiased, well-architected review, identifying high-risk issues and offering actionable remediation plans. They also extend AWS funding programs, reducing the cost of cloud remediation. Additionally, AWS Partners provide ongoing support and strategic guidance, ensuring your architecture evolves with the latest AWS innovations and business needs.

How do I know if a company is an AWS partner?
You can verify if a company is an AWS Partner by checking the AWS Partner Directory, where AWS lists validated partners. Look for AWS Partner badges on their website, such as AWS Advanced or Premier Tier Services Partner, Well-Architected Partner, or specific AWS Competencies. Organizations can also ask the AWS Account team to connect them with an AWS Well-Architected partner. Another way is to check if they offer AWS-funded programs, like the AWS Well-Architected Framework Review (WAFR), with remediation funding, which only authorized partners can provide. Finally, you can confirm a partner’s status through the AWS Marketplace or by asking for AWS certifications and case studies demonstrating their expertise.