AWS re:Invent 2024 - Simplifying multi-tenancy with SaaS applications on AWS Fargate

Picture this: Your Software as a Service (SaaS) business is doing well. You have customers who pay for your service. But then you notice something scary - people are using your app less and some are even quitting. What happened? And how can you make a SaaS that people want to keep using?

At re:Invent 2024, Nathan Peck, who knows a lot about building SaaS, talked about how to use AWS Fargate to make SaaS apps that people can trust. He shared four important things that can make your SaaS succeed or fail. Let's look at what he said.

Pillar 1: Availability - "I trust your software to be available when I need it"

Imagine your SaaS is like a 24/7 store. Customers expect it to be open whenever they need it. But keeping it "open" all the time isn't just about being on or off. It's more like a dimmer switch - sometimes everything works perfectly, sometimes a few things might be slow. The goal is to make sure that even if something goes wrong, most of your customers don't notice.

Here's how AWS Fargate helps:

1. Separate Rooms: Think of Fargate like a building with separate rooms. If there's a problem in one room (or Task), it doesn't affect the others. This way, if one part of your app has issues, the rest keeps working.
2. Multiple Stores: Instead of one big store, imagine having several smaller stores across town. If one store has a problem, customers can still shop at the others. This is called "Cellular Architecture".
3. Smooth Updates: When you need to change things in your store, you don't close the whole place. With AWS Fargate and Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), you can update your app bit by bit, keeping it open for business the whole time.
4. Quick Fixes: If a change causes problems, Amazon ECS lets you quickly go back to the old version, like hitting an "undo" button.

The Big Idea: By using these AWS Fargate features, you can build a SaaS that stays up and running, even when small problems happen. It's like having a store that's always open, no matter what!

Pillar 2: Keeping Your Customers' Data Safe

Your SaaS holds valuable customer data, and people want to be sure their information is secure. Keeping data safe is crucial for earning and maintaining customer trust. AWS Fargate offers several helpful features to boost your SaaS security:

1. Private Networks: Each part of your app (a Fargate "task") gets its own network. This lets you control exactly who can access what, similar to having security checkpoints at every entrance.
2. Special Keys for Each Room: Every part of your app receives its own set of credentials that change automatically. This limits damage if one set of credentials is compromised, as it won't give access to everything.
3. Separate Spaces for Each Customer: You can organize your SaaS so each customer's data stays in its own area. This prevents accidental mixing of different customers' information.
4. Security Cameras: With ECS FireLens, you can track everything happening in your system. This tool records who accesses what and when, helping you spot and stop any suspicious activity.

The Big Idea: Using these AWS Fargate security features helps you build a SaaS that keeps each customer's data separate and protected. This level of security helps build trust with your customers, showing them that their valuable information is in good hands.

Pillar 3: Adding New Features Quickly

To keep customers happy, you need to keep improving your SaaS. AWS Fargate helps you do this faster by taking care of boring, time-consuming tasks:

1. Less Busywork: AWS Fargate handles updates and management of the basic system stuff. This means your team can spend more time making cool new features instead of fixing and updating the background systems.
2. Easy Setup: With tools like AWS CDK, setting up your system is like using building blocks. You can quickly put together the pieces you need, making it easier to add new features.
3. Focus on What Matters: AWS Fargate lets your developers concentrate on making your app better, not worrying about how to keep the computers running smoothly.

The Big Idea: AWS Fargate takes care of the behind-the-scenes work, so your team can spend more time creating new features that your customers will love.

Pillar 4: Keeping Your SaaS Business Healthy for the Long Run

For your SaaS to stick around, it needs to make money without spending too much. Fargate helps you save money in smart ways:

1. Pay Only for What You Use: With AWS Fargate, you only pay for the computer power you actually use, not for idle time.
2. Cheaper, Faster Computers: You can use special Graviton processors that work better and cost less.
3. Bargain Prices for Less Important Tasks: For work that's not super critical, you can use cheaper "Spot" capacity to save money.
4. Mix and Match: You can use a combination of regular and bargain-priced capacity to balance reliability and cost.
5. Detailed Cost Tracking: AWS Fargate gives you tools to see exactly how much each customer's usage costs you, helping you price your service fairly.

The Big Idea: AWS Fargate's flexible pricing and cost-saving features help you run your SaaS business efficiently, so you can keep serving your customers for years to come.

Conclusion

Building a SaaS that people trust isn't easy. You need to keep it running smoothly, protect customer data, add new features regularly, and make sure your business stays healthy. That's a lot to handle!

The good news is that AWS Fargate, working together with Amazon ECS, gives you powerful tools to tackle all these challenges. With Fargate, you can:

• Keep your SaaS up and running reliably
• Protect your customers' data better
• Spend more time creating cool new features
• Save money to keep your business going strong

By using these tools, you can focus on what really matters: making your customers happy and growing your business. If you're interested in getting all the details, you can watch Nathan Peck's full talk on the AWS YouTube channel. He shows lots of cool examples and shares even more tips to help you build an awesome SaaS!