How to Get the Most Out of Your AWS App Hosting

Steve Rastall (Founder & CEO) 09-Sep-2022 10:35:00

News

I don't know about you but the number of options for app hosting available now makes my head spin. AWS as the biggest cloud hosting provider globally is a stand-out choice and popular choice for Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses who want to host their own custom application.

AWS offers several advantages over traditional hosting models, such as heightened flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, making it a compelling solution for businesses of varying sizes.

Despite the benefits, AWS hosting for SaaS does present challenges. Given the shared nature of SaaS deployments, data security becomes a critical consideration within the cloud architecture. However, for many businesses, the advantages of using AWS outweigh these challenges, establishing it as the preferred option for their application hosting requirements.

This post delves into key considerations for SaaS businesses contemplating a move to AWS, offering a high-level overview of this significant topic.

Questions can include:

Can I use the programming language/application platform of my choice?
Can I use the Operating System and environment already deployed?
What is the cost of these infrastructure choices?

To get the most out of your AWS app hosting, you need to answer these key questions:

1. What options are available for my programming language and application platform?

This is really important as it will shape your technology choices for development and deployment. AWS offers a diverse array of options for programming languages and application platforms, ensuring you can identify one that aligns with your requirements. Almost anything can be deployed through the VM/EC2 route, providing a broad spectrum of possibilities.

2. What operating system and environment do I need?

AWS offers a diverse array of options for operating systems and environments, providing flexibility to identify one that aligns with your needs. Additionally, using the marketplace with pre-built images offers an alternative avenue for meeting your specific requirements.

3. What is the cost of these infrastructure choices?

The third question is important because it will determine the overall cost of your AWS app hosting solution. AWS provides a variety of pricing options, so you should be able to find a solution that fits your budget. The calculator can be optimistic... Many find it easy to save money and many find the opposite through poor selections.

Who can help answer the key questions?

1. AWS Support can help you answer base-level AWS-specific questions, once you go live using the supplementary chargeable support contract. It is unlikely you will get advice on your specific application challenges via this particular channel.

2. You can also find helpful information in the AWS Documentation.

3. If you need more consultative help, there are a number of AWS Partner Network (APN) members who specialise in AWS app hosting. You can find a list of APN members on the AWS website, such as IG CloudOps

4. Finally, if you have specific questions about your application or environment, you can post them on the AWS Developer Forums.

What challenges do SaaS companies encounter with AWS?

SaaS companies frequently encounter issues with AWS, primarily stemming from the service's associated costs. Additionally, these companies often face the need to rapidly scale their infrastructure to meet customer demands.

Consequently, many SaaS enterprises find it necessary to leverage multiple AWS services to address their requirements. Failure to activate and deactivate these services promptly can lead to a substantial increase in costs, akin to leaving a car running and wasting fuel.

Moreover, SaaS companies often discover limitations in using all of AWS's features due to the app design. Consequently, these companies may only derive partial benefits from AWS, particularly in terms of platform use, or inability to scale due to restrictions in place that would require time-consuming app redevelopment.

What is the first step for a SAAS company moving to AWS?

The first step for a SaaS company moving to AWS involves careful planning and assessment of your current infrastructure and application architecture. Try to identify any restrictions based on any legacy code in your application.

Then match this to an architecture in AWS and see if you need to redevelop anything or if it will run on virtual machines or if you want to move to native services instead.

If you are concerned about performance/ cost issues when moving your app across to AWS then consider how an AWS partner could assist.

At IG CloudOps we have the hard-won experience of working with many different SaaS businesses to help them move or troubleshoot workloads in AWS.

Get in touch and speak to a member of our AWS team.

Or take a test drive and see what CloudOps cloud management platform can do for you.