AWS Managed Services: A Deep Dive
AWS Managed Services (AMS) is a service offered by Amazon Web Services that provides ongoing operational support for your AWS infrastructure. It’s designed to help organizations focus on their core business by offloading the day-to-day tasks of managing their AWS environments. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown, covering what it is, what it includes, who it’s for, pricing, and how it compares to other options.
What is AWS Managed Services (AMS)?
Think of AMS as an extension of your internal IT team, but with specialized expertise in AWS. It’s a proactive, managed service provider (MSP) offering that handles the operational aspects of running your AWS workloads. Instead of dedicating your own resources to tasks like patching, monitoring, incident management, and cost optimization, you delegate those responsibilities to AWS experts.
Key Features & What’s Included
AMS offers a broad range of services, generally categorized into these areas:
- Infrastructure Management:
- Operating System & Database Management: Patching, updates, backups, performance tuning.
- Security Management: Vulnerability management, security monitoring, incident response, compliance support.
- Automation: Automating routine tasks to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
- Configuration Management: Maintaining consistent configurations across your environment.
- Monitoring & Alerting:
- 24/7 Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of your AWS resources for performance, availability, and security issues.
- Proactive Alerting: Notifications when issues are detected, allowing for quick resolution.
- Event Management: Analyzing events to identify trends and prevent future problems.
- Incident Management:
- Incident Resolution: Responding to and resolving incidents quickly and efficiently.
- Root Cause Analysis: Identifying the underlying causes of incidents to prevent recurrence.
- Service Request Fulfillment: Handling requests for changes and new services.
- Cost Optimization:
- Cost Monitoring & Analysis: Tracking your AWS spending and identifying areas for optimization.
- Resource Right-Sizing: Ensuring you’re using the appropriate size and type of AWS resources.
- Reserved Instance & Savings Plan Management: Leveraging AWS cost-saving programs.
- Governance & Compliance:
- Policy Enforcement: Implementing and enforcing security and compliance policies.
- Audit Support: Providing documentation and assistance for audits.
- Compliance Frameworks: Support for common compliance frameworks (e.g., PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2).
- Reporting & Analytics:
- Performance Reports: Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and identifying areas for improvement.
- Security Reports: Providing insights into your security posture.
- Cost Reports: Detailed reports on your AWS spending.
Who is AWS Managed Services For?
AMS is a good fit for organizations that:
- Lack internal AWS expertise: If you’re new to AWS or don’t have a dedicated team with deep AWS knowledge.
- Want to focus on innovation: Freeing up your IT team to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine operations.
- Have complex AWS environments: Managing a large and complex AWS infrastructure can be challenging.
- Require 24/7 support: Ensuring your applications are always available and responsive.
- Need help with compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements can be complex and time-consuming.
- Are experiencing rapid growth: Scaling your AWS infrastructure can be difficult without the right expertise.
- Want to optimize AWS costs: Reducing your AWS spending without sacrificing performance or reliability.
Pricing
AMS pricing is based on a percentage of your monthly AWS spend. The exact percentage varies depending on the complexity of your environment, the services you require, and the level of support you need.
- Generally, pricing starts around 4% of your monthly AWS bill.
- There’s a minimum monthly fee. (This varies by region and agreement)
- Setup fees may apply.
- AWS provides a customized quote based on your specific needs. It’s crucial to get a detailed quote to understand the total cost.
Important Considerations Regarding Pricing
- AWS spend included: The percentage is calculated on most of your AWS spend, but there are some exclusions (like marketplace purchases).
- Commitment: AMS typically requires a minimum commitment period (e.g., 12 months).
- Tiered Pricing: Higher AWS spend may qualify for lower percentage rates.
How does AWS Managed Services compare to other options?
| Feature | AWS Managed Services (AMS) | AWS Support Plans (Basic, Developer, Business, Enterprise) | Third-Party MSPs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proactive Management | High – Proactive monitoring, patching, optimization | Limited – Primarily reactive support | Varies – Can be high, depending on the MSP |
| Operational Responsibility | AWS takes on operational tasks | You retain operational responsibility | MSP takes on operational tasks |
| Expertise | AWS experts with deep AWS knowledge | AWS support engineers | Varies – Depends on the MSP’s expertise |
| Cost | Percentage of AWS spend (typically 4%+) | Fixed annual fee based on AWS spend | Varies – Typically hourly or monthly rates |
| Customization | Moderate – Some customization options available | Limited – Standard support levels | High – Highly customizable |
| Integration with AWS | Seamless – Native integration with AWS services | Seamless – Native integration with AWS services | Can vary – Integration may require effort |
| Focus | Full operational management | Technical support and guidance | Operational management and strategic consulting |
Here’s a breakdown of when to choose each option
- AWS Support Plans: Best for organizations that want access to AWS support engineers for technical assistance but want to retain control of their own operations. Good for smaller deployments or teams with existing AWS expertise.
- AWS Managed Services: Best for organizations that want to offload the operational burden of managing their AWS infrastructure and focus on innovation. Ideal for complex environments and organizations lacking internal AWS expertise.
- Third-Party MSPs: Best for organizations that need highly customized solutions or have specific requirements that AWS Managed Services doesn’t meet. Requires careful vetting of the MSP’s expertise and experience.
Getting Started with AWS Managed Services
- Contact AWS: Reach out to AWS sales or a partner to discuss your needs and get a customized quote.
- Assessment: AWS will conduct an assessment of your AWS environment to determine the scope of services required.
- Onboarding: AWS will work with you to onboard your environment to AMS.
- Ongoing Management: AWS will provide ongoing operational support for your AWS infrastructure.
Resources
- AWS Managed Services Website: https://aws.amazon.com/managed-services/
- AWS Managed Services FAQs: https://aws.amazon.com/managed-services/faqs/
- AWS Pricing Page: https://aws.amazon.com/managed-services/pricing/
In conclusion, AWS Managed Services is a powerful option for organizations looking to simplify the management of their AWS infrastructure and focus on their core business. However, it’s important to carefully consider your needs and budget before making a decision. Don’t hesitate to reach out to AWS for a personalized consultation and quote.