AWS Landing Zone Accelerator - Part 3: Configuring Global Settings for Your Organization

Welcome back to my deep dive into the AWS Landing Zone Accelerator (LZA)!

We’ve made some good progress so far. In Part 1, we introduced the LZA and explained how it can help you build a well-managed AWS environment. In Part 2, we got hands-on and learned how to set up your AWS Organization and create new accounts.

Now, in Part 3, we’re going to take a broader perspective and explore the global settings that the LZA provides. These settings let you establish standardised configurations across your entire AWS organization, ensuring consistency and simplifying management.

AWS Landing Zone Accelerator - Part 2: Organizational Units and Account Configuration

In Part 1 of our AWS Landing Zone Accelerator (LZA) series, we introduced the LZA and its benefits. Now, we’ll explore configuring OUs and other essential organizational settings, along with the process of creating AWS accounts within your LZA environment.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, let’s make sure you have the following:

• Access to the AWS Management account: You’ll need the right permissions to make changes to the LZA setup.
• Permissions to update the LZA configuration: This means being able to edit the files that control how the LZA works (e.g., in the aws-accelerator-config repository).
• A brand new email address: This will be used for the new AWS account you’re setting up.
• Git access: You’ll need to be able to download and upload the LZA configuration files from and to the aws-accelerator-config repository.
• AWS CLI ready to go: Make sure you have the AWS Command Line Interface installed and set up on your computer.
• The right permissions in Microsoft Entra ID: You’ll need to be able to create and manage groups in Microsoft Entra ID, and connect them to AWS IAM Identity Center (this is what you use to control who can access your AWS accounts).

Important Note: I’m assuming you’ve already set up the LZA in your AWS environment by following the official guide: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/solutions/latest/landing-zone-accelerator-on-aws/step-1.-launch-the-stack.html. This means you’ve got the basic LZA structure in place.

AWS Landing Zone Accelerator - Part 1: Introduction & Overview

Migrating to the cloud can feel like a daunting leap. Where do you even begin? How do you ensure your cloud environment is secure, scalable, and compliant right from the start? Enter the AWS Landing Zone Accelerator (LZA), your trusty launchpad for a smooth and successful cloud journey.

What is the LZA?

The LZA is an open-source solution provided by AWS that helps you quickly build and deploy a well-architected multi-account AWS environment. Think of it as a blueprint for your cloud foundation, complete with pre-configured security controls, network configurations, and account structures.

re:Invent 2024: My Top Takeaways From a Whirlwind Week in Vegas!

Wow, what a week! Just got back from AWS re:Invent 2024 and my head is still spinning from all the announcements. Thousands of sessions, incredible keynotes, and enough new services and features to make your head spin. But re:Invent is more than just tech – it’s about the people! This year was extra special because I got to connect with so many amazing folks in the AWS community.

Community Vibes (and SWAG!)

Huge shoutout to Jason Dunn for organizing the AWS Community Builders meetup at Buddy V’s! It was fantastic catching up with fellow builders, sharing experiences, and geeking out over all the new announcements. And the swag was top-notch! Big thanks to the Community Builders program for hooking us up.

How to Set Up AWS CDK for Python

In this guide, I’ll walk through setting up AWS CDK with Python, including all the required dependencies and steps, and demonstrate how to deploy a simple app that provisions an Amazon S3 bucket.

What is the AWS CDK?

The AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) is an open-source software development framework designed to facilitate the creation and management of cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages. Here are several important features and concepts associated with AWS CDK.:

Preparing for AWS re:Invent 2024

AWS re:Invent 2024, the biggest event in the annual Amazon Web Services (AWS) calendar, is fast approaching once again.

If you’re attending in person, it can be challenging to determine which sessions will be most valuable. In this blog post, I’ve highlighted the sessions I’m planning to attend, along with some tips to help you make the most of the event.

Reserved seating opens on October 8th, a day I like to refer to as “whack-a-mole night.” As soon as you try to reserve a spot, it’s likely the session will already be fully booked, leaving you to queue up on the day and potentially miss out on other opportunities.

AWS Global Ambassador Summit, Seattle

I’m honored to have recently returned to the country after attending the AWS Global Ambassador Summit at AWS headquarters in Seattle, USA, for the second consecutive year. This 3-day event brought together Ambassadors from around the globe, alongside leaders from within the AWS organization.

Day 1

We learned from AWS about the advancements in Amazon Q Developer and its future trajectory, explored Quantum Computing with Amazon Braket, and gained insights into how AWS leverages social media to monitor and amplify their brand. We also delved into the culture of innovation and received the latest updates on Amazon GuardDuty. A highlight for me, as always, was hearing from our peers during the Ambassador Lightning Talks, which is one of my favorite parts of the event.