DevOps on AWS Workshop

Summary Report: “DevOps on AWS Workshop”

Event Objectives

• Understand DevOps culture, principles, and best practices
• Learn AWS DevOps services for CI/CD automation
• Explore Infrastructure as Code with CloudFormation and CDK
• Master container services: ECR, ECS, EKS, and App Runner
• Implement monitoring and observability with CloudWatch and X-Ray
• Apply DevOps practices to real-world scenarios

Event Details

• Location: AWS Vietnam Office
• Date & Time: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday, November 17, 2025

Speakers & Facilitators

Instructors:

• Truong Quang Tinh – AWS Community Builder – DevOps Culture and CI/CD Fundamentals
• Van Hoang Kha – AWS Community Builder – Infrastructure as Code with CloudFormation
• Nguyen Khanh Phuc Thinh – AWS Community Builder – AWS CDK Deep Dive
• Le Huynh Nghiem – AWS Community Builder – Container Services on AWS
• Huynh Hoang Long – AWS Community Builder – Monitoring and Observability
• Pham Hoang Quy – AWS Community Builder – DevOps Best Practices and Case Studies

Facilitators:

• AWS Vietnam Team
• AWS Community Builders Vietnam

Event Agenda

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration and Welcome

• Registration and networking
• Welcome remarks and workshop overview
• Introduction to AWS DevOps services

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM: DevOps Culture and CI/CD Pipeline

Presented by Truong Quang Tinh

• DevOps Mindset: Understanding the cultural shift from traditional development to DevOps
  • Collaboration: Breaking down silos between Development and Operations teams
  • Automation: Automating repetitive tasks to increase efficiency
  • Continuous Improvement: Embracing feedback loops and iterative development
  • Shared Responsibility: Everyone owns quality, security, and reliability
• DORA Metrics: Measuring DevOps success with industry-standard metrics
  • Deployment Frequency: How often code is deployed to production
  • Lead Time for Changes: Time from commit to production deployment
  • Mean Time to Recovery (MTTR): How quickly systems recover from failures
  • Change Failure Rate: Percentage of deployments causing production issues
• CI/CD Pipeline Components:
  • AWS CodeCommit: Secure, scalable Git repository hosting
  • AWS CodeBuild: Fully managed build service that compiles code and runs tests
  • AWS CodeDeploy: Automated deployment to EC2, Lambda, ECS, and on-premises servers
  • AWS CodePipeline: Orchestration service that automates the entire release process
• Deployment Strategies:
  • Blue/Green Deployment: Minimize downtime by switching traffic between environments
  • Canary Deployment: Gradually roll out changes to a subset of users
  • Rolling Deployment: Update instances incrementally to maintain availability
• Live Demo: Building a complete CI/CD pipeline from scratch

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM: Coffee Break

• Networking and refreshments

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM: Infrastructure as Code with CloudFormation

Presented by Van Hoang Kha

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Principles:
  • Version Control: Track infrastructure changes like application code
  • Repeatability: Deploy identical environments consistently
  • Documentation: Infrastructure code serves as living documentation
  • Testing: Validate infrastructure before deployment
• AWS CloudFormation Fundamentals:
  • Templates: JSON or YAML files defining AWS resources
  • Stacks: Collections of AWS resources managed as a single unit
  • Change Sets: Preview changes before applying them
  • Drift Detection: Identify manual changes to stack resources
• CloudFormation Best Practices:
  • Modular Templates: Use nested stacks for reusability
  • Parameters: Make templates flexible with input parameters
  • Outputs: Export values for use in other stacks
  • Cross-Stack References: Share resources between stacks
• Advanced Features:
  • Stack Policies: Protect critical resources from updates
  • Rollback Triggers: Automatically rollback on CloudWatch alarms
  • StackSets: Deploy stacks across multiple accounts and regions
• Live Demo: Deploying a multi-tier application with CloudFormation

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Break

• Lunch and networking

1:00 PM - 2:15 PM: AWS CDK Deep Dive

Presented by Nguyen Khanh Phuc Thinh

• Introduction to AWS CDK:
  • What is CDK: Cloud Development Kit for defining infrastructure in code
  • Benefits: Use familiar programming languages (TypeScript, Python, Java, C#, Go)
  • Abstraction Levels: L1 (CloudFormation resources), L2 (curated constructs), L3 (patterns)
• CDK Core Concepts:
  • Constructs: Reusable cloud components
  • Stacks: Deployment units containing constructs
  • Apps: Collections of stacks
  • Synthesis: Converting CDK code to CloudFormation templates
• CDK vs CloudFormation:
  • Programmatic: Use loops, conditionals, and functions
  • Type Safety: Catch errors at compile time
  • IDE Support: Autocomplete and inline documentation
  • Testing: Unit test infrastructure code
• CDK Best Practices:
  • Construct Libraries: Leverage pre-built patterns
  • Environment Agnostic: Write code that works across environments
  • Logical IDs: Stable identifiers for resources
  • Context Values: Environment-specific configuration
• Live Demo: Building a serverless application with CDK

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM: Coffee Break

• Networking and refreshments

2:30 PM - 3:45 PM: Container Services on AWS

Presented by Le Huynh Nghiem

• Container Fundamentals:
  • What are Containers: Lightweight, portable application packages
  • Benefits: Consistency, portability, efficiency, scalability
  • Docker Basics: Images, containers, registries
• Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR):
  • Private Registry: Secure storage for container images
  • Image Scanning: Automated vulnerability detection
  • Lifecycle Policies: Automatically clean up old images
  • Cross-Region Replication: Distribute images globally
• Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS):
  • AWS-Native Orchestration: Simple, integrated container management
  • Task Definitions: Blueprint for running containers
  • Services: Maintain desired number of tasks
  • Fargate: Serverless compute for containers
  • EC2 Launch Type: More control over infrastructure
• Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS):
  • Managed Kubernetes: Run Kubernetes without managing control plane
  • Compatibility: Standard Kubernetes APIs and tools
  • Flexibility: Support for complex orchestration needs
  • Add-ons: Integrated AWS services (ALB, EBS, EFS)
• AWS App Runner:
  • Simplest Option: From source code to running service
  • Automatic Scaling: Scale based on traffic
  • Built-in CI/CD: Deploy from source repository
  • Use Cases: Web applications, APIs, microservices
• Choosing the Right Service:
  • ECS: AWS-native, simple, integrated
  • EKS: Kubernetes expertise, complex orchestration
  • App Runner: Fastest time to deployment, minimal configuration
• Live Demo: Deploying a containerized application to ECS and EKS

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM: Monitoring and Observability

Presented by Huynh Hoang Long

• Observability vs Monitoring:
  • Monitoring: Collecting and displaying metrics
  • Observability: Understanding system behavior from outputs
  • Three Pillars: Logs, metrics, traces
• Amazon CloudWatch:
  • Metrics: Collect and track key performance indicators
  • Logs: Centralized log management and analysis
  • Alarms: Automated notifications and actions
  • Dashboards: Visualize metrics and logs
  • Insights: Query and analyze log data
  • Events: Respond to changes in AWS resources
• AWS X-Ray:
  • Distributed Tracing: Track requests across microservices
  • Service Map: Visualize application architecture
  • Trace Analysis: Identify performance bottlenecks
  • Error Analysis: Debug and troubleshoot issues
  • Integration: Works with Lambda, ECS, EKS, API Gateway
• Best Practices:
  • Structured Logging: Use consistent log formats
  • Custom Metrics: Track business-specific KPIs
  • Proactive Monitoring: Set alarms before issues impact users
  • Correlation: Link logs, metrics, and traces
  • Retention Policies: Balance cost and compliance
• Live Demo: Setting up comprehensive monitoring for a microservices application

4:45 PM - 5:00 PM: DevOps Best Practices and Q&A

Presented by Pham Hoang Quy

• DevOps Best Practices:
  • Automate Everything: From testing to deployment to monitoring
  • Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Embrace failures as learning opportunities
  • Blameless Postmortems: Focus on systems, not individuals
  • Progressive Delivery: Use feature flags and canary deployments
  • Continuous Learning: DevOps is an ongoing journey
• Real-World Case Studies:
  • Startup: Rapid iteration with CI/CD and serverless
  • Enterprise: Multi-account strategy with StackSets
  • E-commerce: High availability with blue/green deployments
• Q&A Session: Interactive discussion with attendees

Key Takeaways

DevOps Culture and Mindset

• Collaboration: DevOps breaks down silos between teams
• Automation: Automate repetitive tasks to focus on value
• Measurement: Use DORA metrics to track progress
• Continuous Improvement: Always iterate and optimize
• Shared Responsibility: Everyone owns quality and reliability

CI/CD Pipeline Automation

• CodeCommit: Secure Git repository for source control
• CodeBuild: Automated build and test execution
• CodeDeploy: Reliable deployment with multiple strategies
• CodePipeline: Orchestrates the entire CI/CD workflow
• Integration: Works seamlessly with AWS services and third-party tools

Infrastructure as Code

• CloudFormation: Declarative IaC with JSON/YAML templates
• CDK: Programmatic IaC with familiar programming languages
• Benefits: Version control, repeatability, and consistency
• Drift detection: Identify and remediate manual changes
• Choose wisely: Select IaC tools based on team skills and requirements

Container Services

• ECR: Secure container image storage with scanning
• ECS: AWS-native container orchestration, simple and integrated
• EKS: Kubernetes on AWS for complex orchestration needs
• App Runner: Simplest option for containerized web applications
• Right tool for the job: Choose based on complexity and requirements

Monitoring and Observability

• CloudWatch: Comprehensive monitoring for AWS resources
• X-Ray: Distributed tracing for microservices debugging
• Observability: Understanding system behavior from outputs
• Proactive monitoring: Detect issues before they impact users
• Data-driven decisions: Use metrics and traces to optimize performance

DevOps Best Practices

• Automate everything: From testing to deployment to monitoring
• Fail fast, learn faster: Embrace failures as learning opportunities
• Blameless postmortems: Focus on systems, not individuals
• Progressive delivery: Use feature flags and canary deployments
• Continuous learning: DevOps is an ongoing journey

Applying to Work

• Implement CI/CD: Start with CodePipeline for automated deployments
• Adopt IaC: Use CloudFormation or CDK for infrastructure management
• Containerize applications: Migrate to ECS or EKS for scalability
• Enhance monitoring: Set up CloudWatch dashboards and X-Ray tracing
• Practice DevOps culture: Foster collaboration between teams
• Measure and improve: Track DORA metrics and optimize processes
• Pursue certification: AWS DevOps Engineer certification validates skills

Event Experience

Attending the “DevOps on AWS Workshop” was an intensive full-day learning experience that provided comprehensive coverage of DevOps practices and AWS services. Key experiences included:

Learning from AWS Experts

• AWS DevOps Specialists provided deep insights into CI/CD best practices and automation strategies
• AWS Solutions Architects demonstrated real-world container deployments and monitoring setups
• Practical examples illustrated how companies successfully implement DevOps on AWS
• Expert guidance on choosing the right tools and services for specific use cases

Hands-on Demonstrations

• Witnessed complete CI/CD pipeline creation from scratch
• Saw Infrastructure as Code in action with both CloudFormation and CDK
• Explored container deployment across ECS, EKS, and App Runner
• Learned monitoring and tracing setup for production systems
• Understood the differences between various deployment strategies

Understanding DevOps Practices

• Gained insights into DevOps culture beyond just tools and automation
• Learned about DORA metrics and how to measure DevOps success
• Understood the importance of observability in modern systems
• Discovered best practices from real-world case studies
• Explored incident management and blameless postmortem processes

Networking and Community Building

• Connected with fellow developers and DevOps engineers
• Exchanged ideas about DevOps transformation challenges
• Built relationships with AWS experts for ongoing support
• Joined the AWS DevOps community for continuous learning

Practical Insights Gained

• CI/CD automation significantly reduces deployment time and errors
• Infrastructure as Code ensures consistency and repeatability
• Containers provide flexibility and portability for applications
• Monitoring and observability are critical for production systems
• DevOps culture is as important as the tools and technologies

Next Steps

• Begin implementing CI/CD pipelines using AWS CodePipeline
• Adopt Infrastructure as Code with CloudFormation or CDK
• Containerize applications and deploy to ECS or EKS
• Set up comprehensive monitoring with CloudWatch and X-Ray
• Work towards AWS DevOps Engineer certification
• Continue engaging with the AWS DevOps community

Overall, this full-day workshop provided a comprehensive introduction to DevOps on AWS, covering everything from CI/CD pipelines to container services to monitoring and observability. The hands-on demonstrations and real-world case studies made complex concepts accessible and immediately applicable. The key takeaway is that DevOps is not just about tools, but about culture, collaboration, and continuous improvement. AWS provides a complete ecosystem for implementing DevOps practices, making it easier than ever to build, deploy, and operate applications at scale.

Event Pictures