BSides Birmingham 2023

Match your cloud security and architecture to your business environment
10-28, 10:00–10:50 (US/Central), Ballroom D

If security is such an absolute requirement, and if AWS makes it so easy to build secure systems, why don't all companies build secure systems? What is it about companies, the stage lifecycle that they are in, that makes one company choose one architecture over other? What are the trade-offs associated with architectures on the cloud? When you build a secure system, what would you have to give up in return? This talk will discuss the various architectural tools and patterns that you could follow on AWS while building a secure, scalable system.


In this talk, you’ll learn to leverage architectural patterns to gain the most from AWS and build scalable, secure, and performant data systems. Assess the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of your system by interpreting vital signs. I'll discuss various architectures focusing on security, scalability, and availability. This informative presentation is suitable for individuals of all expertise levels. Real-world examples will bring the concepts to life, and I'll touch on the various trade-offs you will make. Rather than fixating solely on technological perfection, I will underscore the significance of evaluating a range of business outcomes.

Explore the utilization of the right architectural patterns to optimize the capabilities of AWS and construct data systems that are reliable, and efficient. Acquire the skills to decipher key indicators that measure system performance and cost-efficiency. I will delve into diverse architectures specifically emphasizing availability, scalability, and security. This informative presentation is suitable for individuals of all expertise levels. Practical illustrations from real-world scenarios will animate the concepts and highlight the inevitable trade-offs you will encounter. Rather than fixating solely on technological perfection, I will underscore the significance of evaluating various business outcomes.


Talk Categories

Beginner, Technical

With over 15 years in software architecture, Gaurav specializes in creating secure, high-availability applications. He authored the book "Security and Microservice Architecture on AWS" (O'Reilly, 2021) and has contributed to the AWS Certified Database Specialty Exam. Gaurav also authored the SHA-224 package for Jython. He is passionate about combining business value with technical excellence. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from RIT, blending business acumen with technical prowess. He's nearing completion of his Doctorate in International Business from Rutgers, reinforcing his commitment to lifelong learning.