Allbirds

The Challenge

Allbirds approached EPI-USE Services for AWS in 2022 about their need to manage their SAP® environment efficiently. We recognized the importance of identifying opportunities to improve their SAP infrastructure hosted on AWS. Using the AWS Well-Architected Framework, we planned to align their environment with cloud best practices, achieving operational efficiency and eliminating unnecessary costs.

The Solution

After a comprehensive review of Allbirds’ AWS infrastructure, we were able to make recommendations on improving security and performance while optimizing costs. We devised an action plan to make these changes in their environment effectively.

Security

• By using AWS security services like GuardDuty and Security Hub, we were able to harden Allbirds’ security posture and continuously get real-time visibility to prevent any potential security incidents. We also enabled SNS support for alerts and notifications.

Data protection and disaster recovery

• To minimize data loss, we suggested introducing appropriate backup strategies for EC2 instances. In addition, we encrypted unencrypted volumes to protect data.

Performance

• By adhering to AWS best practices for SAP and implementing the rightsizing recommendations from Compute Optimizer, we were successful in eliminating the performance bottlenecks associated with EC2 Production workloads.
• We upgraded the EBS volumes from gp2 to gp3, ensuring better price performance.

Monitoring and governance

• As part of enhancing infrastructure monitoring and governance, we enabled Amazon CloudWatch. This allows Allbirds to monitor all servers in detail and to receive SNS-based alarm notifications for CPU, memory, and disk usage.
• To closely monitor SAP HANA parameters, we evaluated integration with Datadog monitoring to provide machine learning-based intelligent monitoring features like anomaly detection and prediction.
• Additionally, anomaly detection using CloudWatch was used to reduce false positive memory alerts of HANA systems.
• We leveraged Amazon CloudTrail for monitoring and tracking account activities within Allbirds’ AWS environment.

Cost optimization

• We observed that the increase in storage associated with Amazon EFS was contributing significantly to costs. By incorporating well-defined life cycle management policies, we could automate the transfer of infrequently-accessed data to EFS-IA. We switched from EFS-only backup to EFS- and S3-based backup, achieving substantial cost savings (approximately 120 percent decrease in EFS costs).

Managed Services

• As a Managed Service provider, we have always been proactive in performing AWS Well-Architected Reviews for Allbirds. Moreover, we conduct monthly account audits to ensure compliance with AWS best practices. We are available to them 24/7, providing personalized technical support for their SAP workloads and ensuring business continuity.

Billing-as-a-Service

• As an extension to our Managed Services, we also provide Allbirds with Billing-as-a-Service, providing valuable insights into AWS costs and usage. This service includes customized, easy-to-understand AWS monthly cost reports. Our dedicated team can assist with cost and billing queries, ensuring transparency of Allbirds infrastructure costs.