Hi, I’m Matt Lewis, an AWS Data Hero with a passion for the value that data and analytics brings to organizations. This is a huge topic, and it can be difficult to know where to start, which is where this guide comes in. I have hand-selected sessions to include some of my favorite database services provided by AWS that you are likely to encounter. I have also picked sessions to teach some of the best practices for collecting data from various data sources, processing the data, analyzing it and building visualizations on top. These include breakout sessions, chalk talks, and hands-on workshops. Whether you are new to data and analytics, or a seasoned professional, I hope you find this guide useful, and that it encourages you to try out some of these services for yourself.
If you are interested in data warehousing, then Amazon Redshift is the service you are after. This session will quickly get you up to speed with all the latest features it offers.
What’s new in Amazon OpenSearch Service
I've used OpenSearch multiple times to support search and analytics capabilities. I'm interested in this session to understand best practices today, as well as what to expect in the future.
Deploy modern and effective data models with Amazon DynamoDB
It wouldn’t be re:Invent for me without an Amazon DynamoDB modelling talk from Alex DeBrie. This time he’s joined by Amrith Kumar to dive deep into DynamoDB internals.
Building modern data architectures on AWS
I'm really excited about this session. Data architectures have rapidly evolved over the past few years, and I can't wait to hear more around the concepts and reference architectures to use today.
What’s new with Amazon EMR
Amazon EMR is a service I want to learn more about to support big data workloads. This session will bring you up to speed on all the latest developments and best practices.
Choosing the right databases for your application
Werner Vogels wrote that a one size fits all database doesn’t fit anyone. This is a great session to learn more about AWS database services and how to choose the right one.
Enabling agility with data governance on AWS
If you want to build trust in the accuracy and completeness of the data you hold and conform to modern data protection laws, you need a data governance process. Start here.
Build for the future quickly with Amazon RDS open-source database engines
If you want a relational database, you need Amazon RDS, one of the most popular of all AWS services. This session sounds fantastic to get you started, and help evolve your schema over time.
Build a serverless data streaming workload with Amazon Kinesis
Amazon Kinesis is incredibly powerful with capabilities to stream data, query and analyze in real time, and load the streams into data stores. This chalk talk will dive deep on this service.
What’s new in AWS Lake Formation
I'm excited to learn more about creating a secure data lake. This session will bring you up to speed with all the latest features to get the most out of AWS Lake Formation.
Build stunning customized dashboards with Amazon QuickSight
I love interactive visualizsations to convey insights and information. This is an amazing opportunity to learn for yourself the latest skills in building dashboards from the Amazon QuickSight team.
Build a data mesh with AWS Lake Formation and AWS Glue
I'm looking forward to learning more about data mesh architectures as a progression from centralized data lakes, and this workshop allows you to learn in the best way, by opening your laptop and building.
Building a serverless Apache Kafka data pipeline
It is only a few months since Amazon MSK Serverless became generally available. That's why I’m excited about this workshop; it’s giving you the chance to get hands-on building a serverless data pipeline.
Migrate relational databases to Amazon RDS or Aurora using AWS DMS & SCT
I see more and more organizations looking to move their data to AWS. I can't wait for this workshop to get hands-on using services, such as AWS DMS and AWS SCT.
The serverless future of cloud data analytics
I'm a big fan of serverless technologies, with a clear trend of more AWS data services providing serverless offerings. I can't wait for this session to see the future of cloud data analytics.
Swami Sivasubramanian Keynote
The Swami Sivasubramanian Keynote is a highlight of re:Invent, as the VP for Data and Machine Learning at AWS talks about the vision in this area with the occasional surprise thrown in.
AWS re:Invent can be daunting for those attending for the first time. For me personally, the greatest value I get from re:Invent is networking and making connections with other AWS users and AWS product teams. Make sure not to fill your agenda so full that you are rushing around with no time for corridor conversations. A lot of sessions are recorded and can be watched back after the event. I have always been amazed at how inclusive the AWS community is, so even if you are on your own, attend some of the socials and make new friends. And if you see me around, don't forget to come up and say hello.