Compute in the cloud: Standardization and Extreme Modernization

Greetings, AWS Enthusiasts!

Our theme this time is compute in the cloud!

In the blue corner, we have a huge organization trying to standardize EC2 use across hundreds of AWS accounts.
In the red corner, we have a hacker who explores the edges of serverless and optimizes his setup to his workload.

Hopefully, these two very different presentations will show you the versatility of the cloud and how to pick the tool that fits your needs!

Without further ado, we present you:

Master custom AMIs and automate deployments
Managing thousands of EC2 instances across a multinational organization requires automation, security, and scalability. This session explores Mondelez’s approach to EC2 lifecycle management using GitHub, Spacelift, and AWS. We’ll cover provisioning, monitoring, scaling, security, and cost optimization strategies, ensuring efficient cloud operations in a $36 billion enterprise.

Presented by Maria - Maria Tzanidaki is a cloud engineer specializing in AWS infrastructure, automation, and security. With expertise in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and cloud lifecycle management, she designs scalable, policy-driven solutions that enhance efficiency and compliance.

and

AWS Lambdalith (That Shouldn't Work, But Does)
What happens when you take a Rust web app, stuff it into AWS Lambda, and somehow get it running for less than $2 a month? Chaos, learnings, and a surprising amount of success.
This talk isn't about why you should do this (you probably shouldn't). It’s about what's possible, the trade-offs, the unexpected wins, and how far you can push AWS before it pushes back. I'll cover cold starts, deployment tricks, performance quirks, and why Rust makes all of this slightly less ridiculous.
If you love weird cloud experiments, serverless shenanigans, and stories of unintended consequences, this one's for you.

Presented by Nick: Hey, I'm Nick Angelou, an engineer, hacker, and accidental AWS enthusiast. I somehow built the Vizdom.dev web application, a diagrams-as-code tool, all in Rust and stuffed it into AWS Lambda for less than $2 a month because why not?
I spend my time overengineering things, optimizing stuff that wasn't really broken, and writing Rust code so cryptic even I struggle to read it later. I've dabbled in cryptography, security, and making computers do things they really don't want to do.

Presentation level: Intermediate to Advanced (Basic AWS knowledge is helpful, Rust experience optional, willingness to witness absurdity required)

Meetup Outline
18:30 - 18:45 Warm Welcome
18:45 - 19:35 Automating your network provisioning in your AWS platform
19:45 - 20:30 AWS Lambdalith (That Shouldn't Work, But Does)
20:30+ Networking & Discussions

We are looking forward to meeting everyone in person!
NOTE: Make sure you come to the correct location! We're trying out a new venue!

Sponsors
Dialectica provides the food 🍕 and event venue.
Dialectica is a global information services company that helps businesses access the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.