1. The cloud provides on-demand access to computing resources like servers, storage, databases, and applications over the internet. 2. Using the cloud provides flexibility, security, and enables innovation by allowing easy scaling of resources and focusing on building applications rather than infrastructure. 3. The cloud reduces the need for companies to purchase their own hardware and maintain their own data centers, instead paying only for the resources they use on a pay-as-you-go model.

1. Thanks to our Sponsors, Eplexity!
Please thank them for the location, food and beverages!
WiFi for members:
Network: The Office @ DTC
Password: office@dtc

2. AWS Users’ Group August 2018!
David “Mac” McDaniel
Sr. Solution & Cloud Architect
Director of Professional Services, Eplexity
david@mobile-360.com & David.McDaniel@Eplexity.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbmcdaniel
Twitter: @ServerlessJava, @DenverAWSUG
Twitter list: https://twitter.com/CloudKegGuy/lists/aws/members

3. Communication Items
Slack Channel: https://DenverAWSUsersGroup.slack.com, email me at
david@mobile-360.com for an invite.
We now have our own Twitter handle: @DenverAWSUG. Please follow and we’ll
post updates and surveys there as well!
We are now listed on AWS UG site:
https://aws.amazon.com/usergroups/americas/
Announcements: Please email me announcements at
least the day before the Meetup!

4. Recent AWS Updates
Translate Adds 6 New Languages
Transcribe to identify speakers based
on input channel
Comprehend supports syntax analysis
S3 faster
SBE1 / Snowball Edge instances
Bring your own IP to VPC
API Gateway Private/VPC APIs
AWS Landing Zone
Added Cognito security
JupyterHub on EMR 5.14.0
AppStream 2.0 enhancements
AWS LimitMonitor w/notifications
AWS AppSync - Managed GraphQL

5. I’ll discuss and try to give a rational explanation for what a
cloud is and why one would need it.
New Meetup:
Join the Denver Alexa group for the inaugural Denver
meetup Tue Sept 4th as we kick off the series. Learn about
the Alexa ecosystem, skill building, share what you have
built, and meet some awesome VoiceFirst people.
https://www.meetup.com/Denver-Alexa-Meetup/events/
253499611/
Topic: What is the Cloud and Why do you need it?

6. Definitions of “Cloud”
Microsoft: “The definition for the cloud can seem murky, but essentially, it’s a term used to describe a global
network of servers, each with a unique function. The cloud is not a physical entity, but instead is a vast network of
remote servers around the globe which are hooked together and meant to operate as a single ecosystem. These
servers are designed to either store and manage data, run applications, or deliver content or a service such as
streaming videos, web mail, office productivity software, or social media. Instead of accessing files and data from a local
or personal computer, you are accessing them online from any Internet-capable device—the informa… blah blah blah”
AWS: “Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of compute power, database storage, applications,
and other IT resources through a cloud services platform via the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.”
Google: “Google Cloud Platform, offered by Google, is a suite of cloud computing services that runs on the same
infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search and YouTube. ”
???

7. What does any of that mean?
1. Everybody offers computers and want to run the software that runs your
business.
2. Each provider thinks theirs is best
3. Each provider has the same services - and different ones
Virtualized Servers?
Availability Zones?
Regions?
Cap-Ex? Op-Ex?

8. My .02 worth
To me, what the cloud is about:
1. Making people more valuable
How?
● Reducing mundane, low-value work (monitoring, admin, reliability)
● Reducing mundane, low-value work (“who’s gonna write the queuing code?”)
● Reducing mundane, low-value work (securing data centers, networks,
systems & data)
● Increasing differentiating work (features/functionality)
●

9. Why do I want it?
Flexibility
Security
Innovation
Responsiveness

10. Why is it Flexible?
How many times have you incorrectly sized your server needs?
How long does it take to correct?
In AWS:
● Not enough disk space? 10 minutes to fix
● Not enough CPU? Usually less than 1 hour to fix
AWS EC2 provides easy methods to provision, upgrade or downgrade servers
on the fly.

11. Why is it More Secure?
How many full-time, 100% dedicated security professionals do you have?
I promise it’s less than AWS does.
While AWS is responsible for security OF the cloud, you are still responsible for
your security within the cloud. But, AWS will make it easier to do and help you
because it’s in their best interest that you’re secure.
Services like GuardDuty, WAF focus just on security while many services have
security features built-in at no additional cost (API Gateway, CloudFront,
SNS/SQS, etc). AWS provides audited guarantees of compliance as well:

14. PCI? HIPAA? GDPR?
Many AWS Services PCI DSS 3.2 Level 1 - the highest possible.
65 AWS Services HIPAA compliant - Do you encrypt ALL HIPAA data in transit
and at rest? With AWS, you can and it’s easy.
Again, many services GDPR compliant and you didn’t spend a penny.
Basically, do you want to spend your time ensuring PCI, HIPAA, PHI, GDPR, ISO,
FIPS, FISMA, ITAR (etc) compliance? Or building applications that help increase
you & your company’s value?
https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/services-in-scope/

15. Innovation
So your boss comes to you one day and says “Hey, can we do that ML thing I’ve
been reading about?”
After you remove your palm from your face, you have to deal with the request.
So, how do you do that? Figure out that you’ll need
servers with GPUs, lots of memory and, ugh,
racking….?
Or upload your data to AWS SageMaker and have
a model trained the same day.
Basically, AWS allows you to experiment without
the massive investment in hardware and talent
just to get an environment setup.

16. Responsiveness
140+ Services in 19 Categories.
These services help you respond to all needs:
1. Customers want more capacity - focus your resources on that instead of
installing the latest patches on database or web servers.
2. Developers need new environments - Spin up a new CloudFormation stack
3. Expanding into new geographies - Deploy your application(s) into new
regions
4. Management wants more functionality - get your developers doing what
they love - creating!
In all cases, use these 140+ services to increase your responsiveness to market,
management, customer and internal demands!

17. Next in Series
Part 2: What is the Cloud and Why Do I Need It? - Check!
Part 3: Beyond Lift and Shift: Cloud Native

18. Upcoming Meetups
● September 19, 2018 - DataDog - Cloud Monitoring

19. Resources
● My Blog:
○ https://davidmcdaniel.me
● AWS Blog:
○ https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws
● Curated Twitter List:
○ https://twitter.com/Chris_Kasten/lists/aws
● AWS Podcasts:
○ https://aws.amazon.com/podcasts/aws-podcast

20. ServerlessDays Denver!
AWS has formally taken over organization of ServerlessDays worldwide and I’ve
been asked to run the Denver ServerlessDays event! “One Day, One Track, One
Community.”
Details: September/October 2018, downtown Denver
150-200 attendees; 10-20 speakers; CFP to be announced as soon as date
picked.
One of nine North American locations; four South American; ~14 in Europe.
Sponsorship opportunities available!
Previously called JeffConf

21. Sponsorship - Eplexity
Our new Primary Sponsor will be Eplexity.
I am now Director of Professional Services for Eplexity. Eplexity completes the
loop on software and infrastructure architect / build / manage lifecycle as
Eplexity will now provide all of these services to our customers. I focus on the
software architect & build aspects.
We have 24x7x52 managed services including monitoring, remediation,
backups etc. Fully staffed NOC with AWS trained and certified resources.

22. Questions?