Sometimes, you know what you want, and just need some specifics. If you are using AWS for a cloud solution, “Optimizing your Modernization journey with AWS” (Packt, 2023) by Mridula Grandhi. This text covers everything you need to know about an initial conversion to AWS and the continuing steps to make sure your company works just as well in the cloud as before. The book is split into four sections, initial migration, modernizing your cloud, security and operations. If you are thinking about a migration, Grandhi’s book can fill in some of the needed context.
The first section discusses the strategy of why cloud, what you should prepare, and the best options. Thee book advocates for an AWS solution to any cloud problems. Also emphasized is the need for a cultural shift, ensuring the company’s people are ready for the change Their is a lot of discussion about finding the right partner, implementing appropriate Service Level Agreements, and then of course, the 6 R’s; retain, retire, re-host, re-platform, re-purchase, re-architect. The 6 r’s form the basis of what stays from on-premise to cloud, and what has to be done to effectively use cloud resources.
This section merges excellently with the next bit about modernizing cloud usage. Some notes appear here about basic modernization strategies from microservices to monolith and incorporating new architecture. The section remains heavily focused on the AWS options for compute but does present some use cases throughout the chapters. In the specifics part of the chapter, discussion centers around EC2, EKS, and lambda as different options of services provided through AWS. One of the parts that excited me was the emphasis on data analysis, data storehouses, and data lakes to truly inform decisions made about cloud resources.
Security and operations comprised the last two sections. Security was a rehash of good security practices from across all networking environments. This linked to the ability to manage a network, load-balance resources, and some slight discussion on edge instances. Cloud operations again touches on AWS concepts like implementing a center of excellence or incorporating Site Reliability Engineers (SRE) into overall practices. It also touches on the ability to use peripheral AWS options like License Manager, Incident Manager, and Health Aware
My primary objection would be the scope of the book. I would want to see either a book focused on AWS, or a generic approach to cloud migration that shows my options. This volume details why migrate to the cloud but the sole answer is AWS. If conducting a strategic review, it is nice to have the comparatives between the different cloud options. I understand how AWS functions, and the benefits, but they would fit better in a solely focused book. True, the title does explain that it is all about AWS but the internal balance seems a little off between the various subjects.
Overall, “Optimizing your Modernization journey with AWS” (@Packt, 2023) by Mridula Grandhi was an interesting book and delivered as promised in the title. The modernization journey, and the options with AWS are well-covered, if a little generic due to the complexity of many issues. The author makes up for these gaps through well-documented use cases to guide the reader through some of the more challenging parts. If you are looking for a good primer on moving an organization to cloud in general, and AWS in particular, this book provides excellent context for both those questions.

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Rating	5 (10 ratings)
Price	$38.89
Category	Software

Optimizing Your Modernization Journey with AWS: Best practices for transforming your applications and infrastructure on the cloud