Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Modernize application workloads using Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (BIZ208)

Summary

• Containers and Kubernetes are highlighted for their ability to isolate applications, ensure consistency across environments, and enable portability and scalability.
• Red Hat OpenShift is presented as a platform that simplifies Kubernetes by integrating open source projects into a more manageable and reliable service.
• Red Hat OpenShift Service on AWS (ROSA) is a managed service offering that combines OpenShift's capabilities with AWS's infrastructure, providing automated installation, management, and a 99.95% SLA.
• Delta Airlines is cited as a successful case study, having developed and deployed a Wi-Fi system using ROSA.
• Commercial software vendors are increasingly containerizing their applications, with IBM highlighted for moving its software portfolio to containers.
• Maximo, an asset management application, is used as an example of legacy software that benefits from containerization and the addition of AI capabilities.
• ROSA's new features include the ability to run virtual machines, allowing for the modernization of Windows applications alongside containers and serverless architectures.
• AI and data science are emphasized as areas where ROSA can facilitate the integration of new technologies into applications.
• IBM Watson X was announced on ROSA, offering data governance and AI studio capabilities.
• SageMaker is mentioned for model training, which can then be deployed and managed using ROSA.
• The session concludes with a focus on the benefits of modernizing applications with ROSA, such as cost optimization, increased compliance, and accelerated cloud migration without the need to re-architect existing applications.

Insights

• Containerization as a trend: The move towards containerization, even for commercial off-the-shelf software, indicates a broader industry trend towards more portable, scalable, and manageable deployment models.
• Managed services demand: The emphasis on ROSA's managed services suggests a growing demand for solutions that abstract away the complexity of infrastructure management, allowing businesses to focus on innovation and application development.
• Hybrid application strategies: The ability to run virtual machines within container environments on ROSA points to a hybrid strategy that companies can adopt, modernizing parts of their applications incrementally while maintaining legacy components.
• AI integration: The integration of AI into legacy applications like Maximo and the use of platforms like SageMaker for model training reflect the increasing importance of AI in modernizing business processes and applications.
• Enterprise adoption: The mention of Delta Airlines and other large enterprises using ROSA indicates that large-scale, mission-critical applications are being successfully deployed on managed Kubernetes platforms, signaling trust and reliability in these services.
• OpenShift's role in AI: The discussion around OpenShift AI and Watson X on ROSA highlights Red Hat's role in not just application modernization but also in facilitating the adoption of AI technologies within enterprise environments.
• Governance and indemnification: IBM's approach to model governance and indemnification for AI models suggests a maturing AI ecosystem where enterprises are looking for more than just technology—they need the assurance of support and risk management.