Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Boost performance & save money using ElastiCache with Aurora & RDS (DAT335)

Summary

Joe Travolini and Stephen Hans presented on how to enhance database-backed application performance and reduce costs using ElastiCache.
They discussed traditional database scaling methods (scaling up and out) and their limitations.
ElastiCache was introduced as a solution to offload I/O from databases, allowing better performance for write requests and reducing costs.
The session covered identifying workloads suitable for caching, focusing on read-heavy workloads with repetitive and complex reads.
They shared a customer case study of Wiz, a cloud security company, which achieved a 30% cost reduction by implementing ElastiCache.
Stephen demonstrated tools and techniques to identify good candidates for caching and provided insights into caching strategies like lazy loading and write-through.
A live demo showcased the performance benefits of using ElastiCache, with significant improvements in transaction throughput and response times.
The session concluded with a Q&A and provided resources for further information.

Caching is not just about performance; it can also lead to significant cost savings, especially when the database workload is read-heavy and repetitive.
There is an inflection point where adding a cache becomes more cost-effective than scaling the database traditionally.
ElastiCache supports both Redis and Memcached, offering high availability, automated management, and performance optimization.
AWS has developed tools like dbtopmonitoring and DBCSI to help users identify which databases and queries are good candidates for caching.
Implementing caching strategies requires minimal changes to the application code and can be tailored to specific needs using TTL (Time to Live) settings.
The performance benefits of using ElastiCache can be quantified, with the demo showing a 50% increase in throughput and over 50% reduction in response time.
The session emphasized the importance of understanding your system's behavior and using the right tools to make informed decisions about caching.
AWS encourages feedback and provides resources for users to learn more and get assistance with their caching implementations.