Introduction
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Managed Services (AMS) is an enterprise service that provides ongoing management of your AWS infrastructure. AWS infrastructure management includes procedures that cover the lifecycle of deploying, supervising, improving, and maintaining technology and resources in the Amazon Web Services cloud environment. AWS Managed Services simplifies deployment, migration, and management using automation and machine learning, which accelerates cloud adoption.
In the context of AWS, RFC stands for Request for Change. An RFC is how you make a change in your AMS-managed environment or ask AMS to make a change on your behalf. Understanding RFCs is essential for AWS users, especially in managed environments, because it is the way to implement changes in your AWS-managed environment.
What is RFC in AWS Managed Services?
A Request for Change (RFC) is how you make a change in your AMS-managed environment, or ask AMS to make a change on your behalf. RFCs play a critical role in IT service management by formalizing the process of requesting, reviewing, and implementing changes to IT systems. To create an RFC, you select from AMS change types, choose RFC parameters (such as schedule), and then submit the request using either the AMS console or the API commands CreateRfc and SubmitRfc.
AWS Managed Services (AMS) uses RFCs to handle infrastructure changes by coordinating all actions on resources. Changes must originate with a change request (an RFC), and can be manual or scripted. AWS MS makes sure that changes are applied to individual stacks on an orderly, non-overlapping basis and also holds all incoming manual requests until they have been approved.
Different types of RFCs:
- Standard RFCs are routine changes that are pre-approved and well-documented.
- Emergency RFCs are implemented to address critical issues or outages that require immediate action.
Why is RFC Important in AWS Managed Environments?
RFCs are important because they ensure controlled and auditable infrastructure changes. It helps maintain compliance with industry standards like ISO, SOC, and HIPAA. A well-structured RFC process reduces risk and prevents unintended downtime or service disruptions. Also, it enhances collaboration and accountability in large organizations.
How AWS Implements RFCs?
To submit an RFC in AWS Managed Services, you configure the request and the parameters for the request. An RFC contains two specifications: one for the RFC itself and one for the change type (CT) parameters. At the command line, you can use an Inline RFC command or a standard CreateRfc template in JSON format that you fill out and submit along with the CT JSON schema file that you create (based on the CT parameters). You can create and submit an RFC with the CreateRfc API, aws amscm create-rfc CLI, or using the AMS console Create RFC pages.
Approval workflows involve AWS MS coordinating all actions on resources[6]. AWS MS makes sure that changes are applied to individual stacks on an orderly, non-overlapping basis and also holds all incoming manual requests until they have been approved.
AWS implements automation of RFCs through AWS services like Lambda, SNS, and CloudFormation.
Common Use Cases of RFC in AWS Managed Services
- Patching EC2 instances and managed databases.
- Scaling infrastructure (adding/removing instances, modifying configurations).
- Enabling new security policies or IAM role changes.
- Upgrading Kubernetes clusters in EKS.
Best Practices for Managing RFCs in AWS
- Submitting detailed RFCs with proper justifications.
- Using automation tools to streamline RFC approval processes.
- Monitoring RFC execution and rollback strategies in case of failures.
- Keeping a record of past RFCs for audits and learning.
Conclusion
RFCs are crucial in AWS Managed Services because they ensure that changes to your infrastructure are controlled, auditable, and aligned with best practices[6]. By following best practices for managing RFCs, organizations can ensure smooth and secure cloud operations. Integrating a well-defined RFC process in your AWS workflows is essential to maintaining a stable, secure, and compliant cloud environment.
Top comments (0)