Access Additional AWS Resources
Learning Objectives
After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:
- Explain the AWS Partner Network (APN).
- Differentiate between APN Consulting Partners and APN Technology Partners.
- Differentiate between AWS Marketplace software and AWS QuickStarts.
Whether you want to introduce new product features, or you just want to migrate your servers to the cloud to simplify development and save on costs, it can be daunting to figure out how to get started.
AWS offers several resources to help accelerate your journey in the cloud.
Tap Into the AWS Partner Network
The AWS Partner Network (APN) gives you access to consulting and technology businesses that can help you achieve your AWS business goals without having to rely on internal knowledge.
APN Consulting Partners
APN Consulting Partners are professional services firms that help you:
- Design
- Architect
- Build
- Migrate
- Manage
These professional services firms include:
- System integrators (SIs)
- Strategic consultancies
- Agencies
- Managed service providers (MSPs)
- Value-added resellers
APN Technology Partners
APN Technology Partners provide hardware, connectivity services, and software solutions that are hosted on, or integrated with, the AWS Cloud.
- Hardware providers include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and semiconductor manufacturers.
- Connectivity services include network carriers.
- Software solution providers include software as a service (SaaS) providers and independent software vendors (ISVs).
Navigate the AWS Marketplace
AWS Marketplace is a digital catalog with thousands of software listings from ISVs. It makes it easy to find, test, buy, and immediately start using software that runs on AWS.
The AWS Marketplace provides:
- Detailed information about products
- Estimated costs associated with running the software in AWS
- Support information
- Customer reviews
Get Going with AWS Quick Starts
AWS Quick Starts are automated reference deployments for workloads on the AWS Cloud. Quick Starts are built by AWS solutions architects and partners to help you deploy popular technologies on AWS, based on AWS best practices for security and high availability. Each Quick Start launches, configures, and runs the AWS compute, network, storage, and other services required to deploy a specific workload on AWS.
Quick Starts condense hundreds of manual procedures into just a few steps. They include:
- A reference architecture for the deployment.
- AWS CloudFormation templates (JSON or YAML scripts) that automate and configure the deployment.
- A deployment guide, which explains the architecture and implementation in detail, and provides instructions for customizing the deployment.
AWS publishes new Quick Starts on a regular basis. They are:
- Fast
- Low-cost
- Customizable
- Fully functional
- Designed for production
Wrap-Up
If you find yourself struggling to find the right solution for your business needs, there are multiple resources to help you get started on the right path.
In this module, you learned about:
- AWS pricing fundamentals and different pricing models for popular AWS services.
- Managing your cost with AWS Budgets, AWS Cost Explorer, and the AWS Cost and Usage Report.
- Using the AWS Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Calculator to compare the cost of on-premises or traditional hosting environments with the cost of running applications with AWS.
- Estimating your monthly bill with the AWS Simple Monthly Calculator.
- Consolidating multiple accounts and billing with AWS Organizations.
- Getting the right level of support for your needs and goals with AWS Support plans.
Resources
- External Site: AWS Partner Network
- External Site: AWS Marketplace
- External Site: AWS Quick Starts
- External Site: AWS Architecture Center