Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Building an onboarding COE for AWS: Going beyond automation (PRT227)

Summary

Amado Grimajo, VP at NASDAQ, and Lee Faust from GitLab discuss building an onboarding Center of Enablement (COE) for AWS.
They cover the evolution of platform engineering, the transition from IT operations to a more automated, developer-centric approach.
The talk emphasizes the importance of developers focusing on creating software that provides business value rather than managing infrastructure.
They discuss the role of platform engineering teams in supporting developers and the business by providing a Platform as a Service (PaaS).
The concept of "paved paths" is introduced, which are standardized, approved ways of doing things that guide developers without stifling creativity.
They highlight the importance of measurements and baselines to track growth and improvement.
The session includes discussions on resource utilization, the importance of securing the software supply chain, and the use of GitLab for visibility and automation.
The speakers touch on AWS Landing Zone Accelerator templates and how NASDAQ uses them for account creation and governance.
They also discuss the importance of refactor readiness in app modernization and the need for continuous improvement and data collection.
The session concludes with the importance of measuring success and learning from failures, and how GitLab can help create executive dashboards for better visibility and decision-making.

The transition from traditional IT operations to platform engineering is driven by the need to increase developer efficiency and focus on delivering business value.
Automation is not just about reducing headcount but improving the software lifecycle and freeing up engineers to work on more impactful projects.
The concept of "paved paths" and standardized templates can help guide developers and ensure consistency and security without removing their autonomy.
The use of AWS Landing Zone Accelerator templates can streamline account creation and governance, ensuring compliance and financial oversight.
Refactor readiness is a critical concept in app modernization, allowing organizations to incrementally improve and modernize applications post-migration.
Continuous improvement and data collection are essential for understanding the impact of changes and making informed decisions.
Executive dashboards and analytics are valuable tools for leaders to gain insights into their software development processes and make data-driven decisions.
The session underscores the importance of collaboration between development, operations, and platform engineering teams to drive cloud adoption and improve overall efficiency.