Tools and frameworks for microservices on AWS

Intro

Digital transformation accelerates, and industries focused on efficiency are turning to microservices. They are preferred to monolithic apps as they break applications into smaller services. This approach allows companies to move quickly and adapt to changing demands. 

The cloud microservices market is set to grow from $7.5 billion in 2024 to $22.1 billion by 2031, driven by businesses shifting to cloud-based infrastructure for better scalability and faster development. North America and Europe lead adoption, but demand is rising in Asia-Pacific and Latin America as more companies adopt cloud-first strategies. 

AWS, or Amazon Web Services, leads this market and provides a rich ecosystem of tools and frameworks designed to support microservices architecture. In this article, our team at Touchlane explores these tools and shares the best ones your business can benefit from. 

Core AWS services for microservices architecture

Amazon Web Services offers a broad range of integrated tools, building blocks, and SDK packages for developing microservice-based applications of any scale or complexity. Its cloud platform includes PaaS, IaaS, and SaaS solutions.

The fundamental elements of the extensive AWS offering include the following:

• Compute – Amazon ECS, Amazon EC2, AWS Lambda 
• Storage and databases – Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon ElastiCache, Amazon RDS, Amazon S3, Amazon Aurora
• Networking – AWS Cloud Map, Amazon API Gateway, Amazon Route 53, AWS App Mesh
• Messaging – Amazon Simple Notification Service, Amazon Simple Queue Service
• Logging and monitoring – AWS CloudTrail, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS X-Ray
• DevOps tools – AWS Developer Tools

Below, we look closely at some of these services, covering multiple categories required to build a solid microservices architecture.

1.

Containerization tools

Containerization forms the backbone of contemporary microservices architecture. It assists applications in running consistently across different environments. In AWS microservices, several examples of efficient containerization tools can be highlighted.

Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) 

A fully managed service that runs and scales containerized applications. It works with AWS Fargate to remove the need to manage servers.

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) 

This is a Kubernetes service that runs and scales containerized applications using open-source Kubernetes. It provides flexibility for those already using Kubernetes.

AWS Fargate 

Fargate is a serverless compute engine for containers that removes infrastructure management responsibilities, focusing only on running applications.

AWS App Runner 

This is a fully managed service for deploying containerized applications without handling infrastructure, ideal for developers looking for a hands-off approach.

How your business can benefit from these services

For companies planning to expand, containerization supports growth without large upfront investments. AWS instruments automate deployments and make it easier to introduce new features, all without disrupting operations. 

With applications running consistently across different environments, engineering teams spend less time troubleshooting and more time building solutions that drive business growth.

2.

Security and governance

Building microservices on AWS requires a strong security and governance strategy. If your architecture is fragmented, it can introduce more entry points and increase exposure to risks such as data breaches. 

With AWS, your development team can choose from a range of tools to maintain control over environments and keep security at the forefront.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) 

AWS IAM defines who can access specific services and data. With role-based access control (RBAC) and fine-grained permissions, businesses can prevent unauthorized actions and protect sensitive information.

AWS Security Hub and GuardDuty 

These services detect threats in real time, which helps companies respond quickly to anomalies. Security Hub aggregates security findings across AWS accounts, while GuardDuty uses machine learning to identify unusual activity.

AWS Organizations and Control Tower

For businesses managing multiple AWS accounts, these tools establish governance at scale. AWS Organizations implements policies across teams, while Control Tower provides a central view of compliance and security posture.

Encryption and Key Management 

AWS Key Management Service (KMS) and Secrets Manager protect sensitive data by managing encryption keys and credentials securely. Encrypting data at rest and in transit adds another layer of protection.

How your business can benefit from these services

A well-structured security and governance framework promotes customer trust and results in better outcomes for your business. Here are additional benefits to consider. 

• Stronger data protection 

Protecting sensitive information reduces the risk of financial and reputational damage from breaches

• Regulatory compliance 

Adhering to industry standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI-DSS avoids penalties and legal issues

• Operational confidence 

Clear access controls and automated security monitoring reduce human errors and unauthorized system changes

• Scalability with control 

As businesses grow, security policies and governance structures prevent chaos across microservices and allow teams to move fast without compromising safety.

A strong AWS microservices security foundation assists businesses in adopting them confidently and protects assets, customers, and long-term growth.

3.

Databases and storage for microservices

Microservices require databases and storage solutions that support scalability and independence, as well as high availability. AWS offers several such options, each designed to fit different workloads and business objectives.

Amazon DynamoDB 

A NoSQL database suited for applications that demand low-latency access and flexible scaling. It handles high-throughput workloads without manual intervention.

Amazon RDS 

A managed relational database service that supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and other engines. It provides automated backups, patching, and replication for high availability.

Amazon S3 

This is an object storage built for high durability and cost efficiency. It supports data archiving, backup, and retrieval across multiple AWS regions.

Amazon ElastiCache 

An in-memory caching service that reduces database load and improves response times for real-time applications.

How your business can benefit from these services

Selecting the right database and storage services comes with multiple benefits. Overall, it keeps applications running smoothly, prevents unnecessary expenses, and avoids slowdowns. 

For AWS-based services, the benefits are plentiful as well. For instance, low-latency databases reduce wait times for data retrieval, which generally leads to a better user experience. Managed backups, failover support, and multi-region replication protect against downtime and data loss. Cloud-native databases scale with demand and prevent over-provisioning or unexpected slowdowns. Pay-as-you-go pricing eliminates the need for expensive on-premise hardware and ongoing maintenance. 

4.

Scaling and high availability

In addition to Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service and Amazon Aurora that we mentioned in the previous sections, we can distinguish the following resources that support scaling and high availability of Amazon’s AWS microservices. 

AWS Auto Scaling

This feature adjusts computing resources based on demand. It prevents over-provisioning during quiet periods and maintains performance when traffic increases.

Elastic Load Balancing (ELB)

ELB distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers. Due to that, it prevents overload on any single instance and helps maintain stability during usage spikes.

AWS Global Accelerator

This service routes traffic through the closest AWS edge locations to reduce latency and improve performance for users worldwide.

How your business can benefit from these services

A system that grows with demand prevents revenue loss during busy periods. When unexpected traffic spikes occur, the system remains stable and avoids slowdowns or crashes. This leads to fast, reliable, and more satisfactory service for customers.

If your application avoids over-provisioning, you can cut unnecessary cloud costs. Resources scale up only when needed, which helps control expenses.

5.

Cost management and optimization

When using microservices, it is vital to keep track of costs in order to keep expenses at bay. Thankfully, AWS provides a number of efficient tools for cost management.

AWS Cost Explorer

This tool provides a detailed view of your costs and usage patterns over time. It permits you to analyze data based on specific AWS services, usage types, and linked accounts. With Cost Explorer, you can pinpoint areas where your expenses might be higher than expected.

AWS Budgets

In AWS Budgets, you can set up custom cost and usage budgets for your resources and then track your progress against these budgets. When you approach or exceed your thresholds, the system sends you alerts.

AWS Trusted Advisor

The service offers personalized recommendations for cost reduction. Trusted Advisor reviews your AWS environment and provides insights into underutilized resources and cost-saving measures.

How your business can benefit from these services

These cost management tools help your company control cloud spending. By closely tracking usage, you can avoid overspending, and setting budgets keeps you within the limits your business is ready to invest. With data-driven insights, you can cut waste and adjust resources based on actual needs, not assumptions.

Conclusion

Microservices architecture continues to rise in popularity. Compared to classic monolithic apps, it offers better scalability, less downtime, and more cost-saving opportunities. AWS is widely regarded as an excellent choice for implementing microservices architecture as it includes a wide selection of tools and services to support an efficient development process. These AWS instruments cover containerization, security, storage, testing, scaling, and more –  they serve as a one-stop shop for engineers and development teams. 

Yet, if you or your team are new to AWS microservices, the abundance of instruments can become confusing fast. In this case, we advise you to consult with a tech partner experienced in AWS services. At Touchlane, we utilize AWS extensively in the apps we build and can find a creative solution for your microservices-fueled idea. Get in touch now to see how we can work together on creating a modern app.