Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Automate & manage AWS Outposts capacity across multi-account AWS setup (COM305)

Summary

The session focused on managing and automating AWS Outposts capacity in a multi-account AWS organization.
The speaker, Margaret, is part of a central platform team at Morningstar, a financial services company.
Morningstar aimed to make their AWS usage self-service and cloud-native while migrating to the cloud.
They purchased AWS Outposts as a stepping stone for legacy systems to transition to the cloud.
Challenges arose with Outposts, such as different functionalities than expected and capacity management across multiple accounts.
Morningstar developed a quota system to manage Outposts capacity using AWS tools like Resource Access Manager (RAM), CloudWatch, Lambda, DynamoDB, and Step Functions.
They created a web UI for teams to view and manage their Outposts capacity quotas, democratizing the data and reducing reliance on manual processes.
The solution is serverless, low-cost, and requires minimal maintenance.
Lessons learned include the importance of iteration, collaboration, and not accepting initial solutions at face value.

AWS Outposts can be a valuable tool for organizations transitioning legacy systems to the cloud, but it may come with unexpected challenges and limitations.
Capacity management is a significant concern when using AWS Outposts, especially in a multi-account setup, as it differs from the virtually unlimited capacity in the AWS cloud.
The use of AWS native tools and services can help automate and manage Outposts capacity, but it requires careful planning and implementation.
Democratizing data access and management through a web UI can empower teams and reduce bottlenecks caused by centralized control.
The experience of Morningstar highlights the importance of adapting cloud solutions to fit the unique needs of an organization, rather than forcing the organization to adapt to the limitations of the solutions.