How do you select and configure networking resources in your workload?
7 best practices
Use "Understand how networking impacts performance" to make architecture and operational choices based on evidence rather than assumptions. Define clear criteria, collect current-…
Use "Evaluate available networking features" to make architecture and operational choices based on evidence rather than assumptions. Define clear criteria, collect current-state d…
Use "Choose appropriate dedicated connectivity or VPN for your workload" to make architecture and operational choices based on evidence rather than assumptions. Define clear crite…
"Use load balancing to distribute traffic across multiple resources" should be delivered as a standard operating capability with explicit scope, controls, and validation checkpoin…
Use "Choose network protocols to improve performance" to make architecture and operational choices based on evidence rather than assumptions. Define clear criteria, collect curren…
Use "Choose your workload's location based on network requirements" to make architecture and operational choices based on evidence rather than assumptions. Define clear criteria,…
"Optimize network configuration based on metrics" helps remove wasted effort, unused capacity, and inefficient patterns that degrade cost and performance outcomes. Focus on contin…
Key Concepts
Performance Architecture Fundamentals
Network topology design: Use this concept to guide architecture and operating decisions for this question area. Define measurable targets, assign clear ownership, and review results regularly against expected business outcomes.
Traffic engineering: Use this concept to guide architecture and operating decisions for this question area. Define measurable targets, assign clear ownership, and review results regularly against expected business outcomes.
Connectivity resilience: Use this concept to guide architecture and operating decisions for this question area. Define measurable targets, assign clear ownership, and review results regularly against expected business outcomes.
Optimization and Operations
Edge optimization: Use this concept to guide architecture and operating decisions for this question area. Define measurable targets, assign clear ownership, and review results regularly against expected business outcomes.
Network observability: Use this concept to guide architecture and operating decisions for this question area. Define measurable targets, assign clear ownership, and review results regularly against expected business outcomes.
Segmentation strategy: Use this concept to guide architecture and operating decisions for this question area. Define measurable targets, assign clear ownership, and review results regularly against expected business outcomes.
Implementation Approach
1. Design network foundations
- Define VPC segmentation and subnet strategy
- Plan routing for east-west and north-south traffic
- Select connectivity options for hybrid requirements
- Design DNS and service discovery patterns
2. Optimize traffic paths
- Use load balancing for horizontal scale and health routing
- Implement caching and CDN for global content
- Apply traffic steering policies by latency and geography
- Minimize cross-AZ and cross-Region data paths where possible
3. Implement controls and visibility
- Apply security groups and network ACL standards
- Monitor flow logs and network performance metrics
- Set alarms for packet loss, errors, and latency spikes
- Test failover and route convergence behaviors
4. Continuously tune
- Review network cost and performance tradeoffs
- Adjust architecture for changing traffic profiles
- Validate hybrid links and redundancy quarterly
- Adopt new networking features where they improve outcomes
AWS Services to Consider
Amazon VPC
Defines network isolation, routing, and segmentation controls for workload traffic paths.
Elastic Load Balancing
Distributes traffic across healthy targets to improve response times and resilience.
Amazon CloudFront
Caches content at edge locations to reduce latency for global users and offload origins.
Amazon Route 53
Provides DNS routing policies and health checks for latency and availability optimization.
AWS Global Accelerator
Improves global application performance using the AWS edge network and static anycast IPs.
AWS Transit Gateway
Simplifies connectivity between VPCs and on-premises networks with centralized routing.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Latency for global users
Solution: Use edge acceleration and latency-based routing to reduce request round-trip time.
Challenge: Bottlenecks in shared network paths
Solution: Instrument critical links and separate high-volume traffic paths when needed.
Challenge: Complex hybrid routing
Solution: Centralize routing policies and automate validation for connectivity changes.