Overview
This article outlines what stands out in a web portfolio from a cloud and infrastructure architecture perspective. It focuses on real world design choices, not just visuals, and applies to both AWS and Azure environments.
What I Look For in a Portfolio
A strong portfolio demonstrates practical cloud architecture, security awareness, scalability, and operational thinking. It does not need to be expensive, but it must show intent and understanding.
AWS Based Architecture Expectations
Domain Registration and DNS
Register and manage a domain using Amazon Route 53. DNS records should be clean, intentional, and correctly configured for all integrated services.
Web Server Deployment
Host the web application on Amazon EC2 instances. Instance sizing can be small, but the architecture should support growth and resiliency.
SSL and HTTPS
Use AWS Certificate Manager to issue and manage SSL certificates. Certificates should be attached to the load balancer and CloudFront distribution to enforce HTTPS.
Load Balancing
Implement Elastic Load Balancing to distribute traffic across multiple EC2 instances. This demonstrates availability, fault tolerance, and basic scaling awareness.
Content Delivery Network
Serve static assets such as images, CSS, and JavaScript through Amazon CloudFront. Store static content in Amazon S3 and cache it globally to improve performance.
Multi Availability Zone Design
Deploy EC2 instances and supporting services across multiple Availability Zones. This shows understanding of redundancy and downtime mitigation.
Logging and Monitoring
Use Amazon CloudWatch for metrics, logs, and alarms. Bonus points for using AWS Lambda for automation or custom alerting.
Email Services
Integrate Amazon SES for outbound email notifications. For mailbox hosting, use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 and configure DNS records properly in Route 53.
Azure Based Architecture Expectations
Domain and DNS Management
Register the domain with a third party provider and manage DNS using Azure DNS.
Web Server Deployment
Deploy the application on Azure Virtual Machines. Start with a small VM size and demonstrate awareness of scaling options.
SSL and Security
Implement SSL certificates using Azure App Service Certificates or integrate them with Application Gateway or Azure CDN.
Load Balancing
Use Azure Load Balancer for basic traffic distribution or Azure Application Gateway for advanced routing and inspection.
Content Delivery Network
Serve static content through Azure CDN and store assets in Azure Blob Storage for global caching and performance.
Multi Zone or Multi Region Design
Replicate application components across Availability Zones or regions to demonstrate resilience and uptime planning.
Logging and Monitoring
Use Azure Monitor and Application Insights to collect logs, metrics, and performance data.
Email Services
Use Microsoft 365 for domain based email and configure DNS records in Azure DNS accordingly.
Design Tips for Minimal Downtime and Small Budgets
Start with the smallest instance sizes that meet requirements.
Take advantage of free tiers and closely monitor usage.
Use a CDN to reduce load on compute resources.
Review performance and cost reports regularly and adjust early.
Why This Matters
A portfolio like this demonstrates architectural thinking, not just technical execution. It shows you understand how real systems are built, secured, monitored, and scaled, which is far more impressive than screenshots or buzzwords.
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