Strategic Deployments in AWS: Leveraging IaC for Cross-Account Efficiency

This article provides a step-by-step strategy to streamline Docker deployments on AWS ECS with secure, multi-account CloudFormation.

Prachi Tembhekar

Apr. 15, 24 · Tutorial

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of cloud computing, deploying Docker images across multiple Amazon Web Services (AWS) accounts presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for organizations aiming for scalability and security. According to the State of DevOps Report 2022, 50% of DevOps adopters are recognized as elite or high-performing organizations.

This guide offers a comprehensive blueprint for leveraging AWS services—such as ECS, CodePipeline, and CodeDeploy — combined with the robust Blue/Green deployment strategy, to facilitate seamless Docker deployments. It also emphasizes employing best security practices within a framework designed to streamline and secure deployments across AWS accounts. By integrating CloudFormation with a cross-account deployment strategy, organizations can achieve an unparalleled level of control and efficiency, ensuring that their infrastructure remains both robust and flexible.

Proposed Architecture

The architecture diagram showcases a robust AWS deployment model that bridges the gap between development and production environments through a series of orchestrated services. It outlines how application code transitions from the development stage, facilitated by AWS CodeCommit, through a testing phase, and ultimately to production. This system uses AWS CodePipeline for continuous integration and delivery, leverages Amazon ECR for container image storage, and employs ECS with Fargate for container orchestration. It provides a clear, high-level view of the path an application takes from code commit to user delivery.

Prerequisites

To successfully implement the described infrastructure for deploying Docker images on Amazon ECS with a multi-account CodePipeline and Blue/Green deployment strategy, several prerequisites are necessary. Here are the key prerequisites:

Create three separate AWS accounts: Development, Test, and Production.
Install and configure the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) and relevant AWS SDKs for scripting and automation.
Fork the aws-cicd-cross-account-deployment GitHub repo and add all the files to your CodeCommit.

Environment Setup

This guide leverages a comprehensive suite of AWS services and tools, meticulously orchestrated to facilitate the seamless deployment of Docker images on Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) across multiple AWS accounts.

Before we start setting up the environment, use this code repo for the relevant files mentioned in the steps below.

1. IAM Roles and Permissions

IAM roles:
- Create IAM roles required for the deployment process.
- Use cross-account.yaml template in CloudFormation to create cross-account IAM roles in Test and Production accounts, allowing necessary permissions for cross-account interactions.

    YAML
   
 

   AWSTemplateFormatVersion: "2010-09-09"

Parameters:
  CodeDeployRoleInThisAccount:
    Type: CommaDelimitedList
    Description: Names of existing Roles you want to add to the newly created Managed Policy
  
  DevelopmentAccCodePipelinKMSKeyARN:
    Type: String
    Description: ARN of the KMS key from the Development/Global Resource Account

  DevelopmentAccCodePipelineS3BucketARN:
    Type: String
    Description: ARN of the S3 Bucket used by CodePipeline in the Development/Global Resource Account
  
  DevelopmentAccNumber:
    Type: String
    Description: Account Number of the Development Resources Account
  

Resources:
  CrossAccountAccessRole:
    Type: 'AWS::IAM::Role'
    Properties:
      AssumeRolePolicyDocument:
        Version: "2012-10-17"
        Statement:
          - Effect: Allow
            Principal:
              AWS:
                - !Join [ ":", [ "arn","aws","iam:",!Ref DevelopmentAccNumber,"root" ] ]
              Service: 
                - codedeploy.amazonaws.com
                - codebuild.amazonaws.com
            Action:
              - 'sts:AssumeRole'
      
      Policies:
        - PolicyName: CrossAccountServiceAccess
          PolicyDocument:
            Version: "2012-10-17"
            Statement:
              - Effect: Allow
                Action: 
                  - 's3:List*' 
                  - 's3:Get*'
                  - 's3:Describe*'
                Resource: '*'

              - Effect: Allow
                Action:
                  - 's3:*'
                Resource: !Ref DevelopmentAccCodePipelineS3BucketARN

              - Effect: Allow
                Action: 
                  - 'codedeploy:*'
                  - 'codebuild:*'
                  - 'sns:*'
                  - 'cloudwatch:*'
                  - 'codestar-notifications:*'
                  - 'chatbot:*'
                  - 'ecs:*'
                  - 'ecr:*'
                  - 'codedeploy:Batch*'
                  - 'codedeploy:Get*'
                  - 'codedeploy:List*'
                Resource: '*'


              - Effect: Allow
                Action:
                  - 'codedeploy:Batch*'
                  - 'codedeploy:Get*'
                  - 'codedeploy:List*'
                  - 'kms:*'
                  - 'codedeploy:CreateDeployment'
                  - 'codedeploy:GetDeployment'
                  - 'codedeploy:GetDeploymentConfig'
                  - 'codedeploy:GetApplicationRevision'
                  - 'codedeploy:RegisterApplicationRevision'
                Resource: '*'


              - Effect: Allow
                Action:
                  - 'iam:PassRole'
                Resource: '*'
                Condition:
                  StringLike:
                    'iam:PassedToService': ecs-tasks.amazonaws.com

  KMSAccessPolicy:
    Type: 'AWS::IAM::ManagedPolicy'
    Properties:
      PolicyDocument:
        Version: '2012-10-17'
        Statement:
          - Sid: AllowThisRoleToAccessKMSKeyFromOtherAccount
            Effect: Allow
            Action:
              - 'kms:DescribeKey'
              - 'kms:GenerateDataKey*'
              - 'kms:Encrypt'
              - 'kms:ReEncrypt*'
              - 'kms:Decrypt'
            Resource: !Ref DevelopmentAccCodePipelinKMSKeyARN 
      Roles: !Ref CodeDeployRoleInThisAccount

  S3BucketAccessPolicy:
    Type: 'AWS::IAM::ManagedPolicy'
    Properties:
      PolicyDocument:
        Version: '2012-10-17'
        Statement:
          - Sid: AllowThisRoleToAccessS3inOtherAccount
            Effect: Allow
            Action:
              - 's3:Get*'
            Resource: !Ref DevelopmentAccCodePipelineS3BucketARN
            Effect: Allow
            Action:
              - 's3:ListBucket'
            Resource: !Ref DevelopmentAccCodePipelineS3BucketARN
      Roles: !Ref CodeDeployRoleInThisAccount
  

2. CodePipeline Configuration

Stages and actions: Configure CodePipeline actions for source, build, and deploy stages by running the pipeline.yaml in CloudFormation.
Source repository: Use CodeCommit as the source repository for all the files. Add all the files from the demo-app GitHub folder to the repository.

3. Networking Setup

VPC Configuration: Utilize the vpc.yaml CloudFormation template to set up the VPC. Define subnets for different purposes, such as public and private.

    YAML
   
 

   Description:  This template deploys a VPC, with a pair of public and private subnets spread
  across two Availability Zones. It deploys an internet gateway, with a default
  route on the public subnets. It deploys a pair of NAT gateways (one in each AZ),
  and default routes for them in the private subnets.

Parameters:
  EnvVar:
    Description: An environment name that is prefixed to resource names
    Type: String

  VpcCIDR:
    #Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for this VPC
    Type: String
  
  PublicSubnet1CIDR:
    Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the public subnet in the first Availability Zone
    Type: String  
  PublicSubnet2CIDR:
    Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the public subnet in the second Availability Zone
    Type: String
  PrivateSubnet1CIDR:
    Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the private subnet in the first Availability Zone
    Type: String    
  PrivateSubnet2CIDR:
    Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the private subnet in the second Availability Zone
    Type: String
  DBSubnet1CIDR:
    Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the private subnet in the first Availability Zone
    Type: String    
  DBSubnet2CIDR:
    Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the private subnet in the second Availability Zone
    Type: String

  vpcname:
    #Description: Please enter the IP range (CIDR notation) for the private subnet in the second Availability Zone
    Type: String
    

Resources:
  VPC:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPC
    Properties:
      CidrBlock: !Ref VpcCIDR
      EnableDnsSupport: true
      EnableDnsHostnames: true
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Ref vpcname

  InternetGateway:
    Type: AWS::EC2::InternetGateway
    Properties:
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Ref EnvVar

  InternetGatewayAttachment:
    Type: AWS::EC2::VPCGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      InternetGatewayId: !Ref InternetGateway
      VpcId: !Ref VPC

  PublicSubnet1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      AvailabilityZone: !Select [ 0, !GetAZs '' ]
      CidrBlock: !Ref PublicSubnet1CIDR
      MapPublicIpOnLaunch: true
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Public Subnet (AZ1)

  PublicSubnet2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      AvailabilityZone: !Select [ 1, !GetAZs  '' ]
      CidrBlock: !Ref PublicSubnet2CIDR
      MapPublicIpOnLaunch: true
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Public Subnet (AZ2)

  PrivateSubnet1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      AvailabilityZone: !Select [ 0, !GetAZs  '' ]
      CidrBlock: !Ref PrivateSubnet1CIDR
      MapPublicIpOnLaunch: false
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Private Subnet (AZ1)

  PrivateSubnet2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      AvailabilityZone: !Select [ 1, !GetAZs  '' ]
      CidrBlock: !Ref PrivateSubnet2CIDR
      MapPublicIpOnLaunch: false
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Private Subnet (AZ2)


  DBSubnet1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      AvailabilityZone: !Select [ 0, !GetAZs  '' ]
      CidrBlock: !Ref DBSubnet1CIDR
      MapPublicIpOnLaunch: false
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} DB Subnet (AZ1)

  DBSubnet2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Subnet
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      AvailabilityZone: !Select [ 1, !GetAZs  '' ]
      CidrBlock: !Ref DBSubnet2CIDR
      MapPublicIpOnLaunch: false
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} DB Subnet (AZ2)

  NatGateway1EIP:
    Type: AWS::EC2::EIP
    DependsOn: InternetGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      Domain: vpc

  NatGateway2EIP:
    Type: AWS::EC2::EIP
    DependsOn: InternetGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      Domain: vpc

  NatGateway1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::NatGateway
    Properties:
      AllocationId: !GetAtt NatGateway1EIP.AllocationId
      SubnetId: !Ref PublicSubnet1

  NatGateway2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::NatGateway
    Properties:
      AllocationId: !GetAtt NatGateway2EIP.AllocationId
      SubnetId: !Ref PublicSubnet2

  PublicRouteTable:
    Type: AWS::EC2::RouteTable
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Public Routes

  DefaultPublicRoute:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Route
    DependsOn: InternetGatewayAttachment
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PublicRouteTable
      DestinationCidrBlock: 0.0.0.0/0
      GatewayId: !Ref InternetGateway

  PublicSubnet1RouteTableAssociation:
    Type: AWS::EC2::SubnetRouteTableAssociation
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PublicRouteTable
      SubnetId: !Ref PublicSubnet1

  PublicSubnet2RouteTableAssociation:
    Type: AWS::EC2::SubnetRouteTableAssociation
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PublicRouteTable
      SubnetId: !Ref PublicSubnet2


  PrivateRouteTable1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::RouteTable
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Private Routes (AZ1)

  DefaultPrivateRoute1:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Route
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PrivateRouteTable1
      DestinationCidrBlock: 0.0.0.0/0
      NatGatewayId: !Ref NatGateway1

  PrivateSubnet1RouteTableAssociation:
    Type: AWS::EC2::SubnetRouteTableAssociation
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PrivateRouteTable1
      SubnetId: !Ref PrivateSubnet1

  PrivateRouteTable2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::RouteTable
    Properties:
      VpcId: !Ref VPC
      Tags:
        - Key: Name
          Value: !Sub ${EnvVar} Private Routes (AZ2)

  DefaultPrivateRoute2:
    Type: AWS::EC2::Route
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PrivateRouteTable2
      DestinationCidrBlock: 0.0.0.0/0
      NatGatewayId: !Ref NatGateway2

  PrivateSubnet2RouteTableAssociation:
    Type: AWS::EC2::SubnetRouteTableAssociation
    Properties:
      RouteTableId: !Ref PrivateRouteTable2
      SubnetId: !Ref PrivateSubnet2

  NoIngressSecurityGroup:
    Type: AWS::EC2::SecurityGroup
    Properties:
      GroupName: "no-ingress-sg"
      GroupDescription: "Security group with no ingress rule"
      VpcId: !Ref VPC

Outputs:
  VPC:
    Description: A reference to the created VPC
    Value: !Ref VPC

  PublicSubnets:
    Description: A list of the public subnets
    Value: !Join [ ",", [ !Ref PublicSubnet1, !Ref PublicSubnet2 ]]

  PrivateSubnets:
    Description: A list of the private subnets
    Value: !Join [ ",", [ !Ref PrivateSubnet1, !Ref PrivateSubnet2 ]]

  PublicSubnet1:
    Description: A reference to the public subnet in the 1st Availability Zone
    Value: !Ref PublicSubnet1

  PublicSubnet2:
    Description: A reference to the public subnet in the 2nd Availability Zone
    Value: !Ref PublicSubnet2

  PrivateSubnet1:
    Description: A reference to the private subnet in the 1st Availability Zone
    Value: !Ref PrivateSubnet1

  PrivateSubnet2:
    Description: A reference to the private subnet in the 2nd Availability Zone
    Value: !Ref PrivateSubnet2

  NoIngressSecurityGroup:
    Description: Security group with no ingress rule
    Value: !Ref NoIngressSecurityGroup
  

4. ECS Cluster and Service Configuration

ECS clusters: Create two ECS clusters: one in the Test account and one in the Production account.
Service and task definitions: Create ECS services and task definitions in the Test Account using new-ecs-test-infra.yaml CloudFormation templates.

    YAML
   
 

   Parameters:
  privatesubnet1:
    Type: String

  privatesubnet2:
    Type: String

Resources:
  ECSService:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Service
    # DependsOn: HTTPListener
    # DependsOn: HTTPSListener
    Properties:
      LaunchType: FARGATE
      Cluster: new-cluster
      DesiredCount: 0
      TaskDefinition: new-taskdef-anycompany
      DeploymentController: 
        Type: CODE_DEPLOY
      HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds: 300
      SchedulingStrategy: REPLICA
      NetworkConfiguration:
          AwsvpcConfiguration:
            AssignPublicIp: DISABLED
            Subnets: [!Ref privatesubnet1 , !Ref privatesubnet2]
      LoadBalancers:
        - TargetGroupArn: arn:aws:elasticloadbalancing:us-east-1:487269258483:targetgroup/TargetGroup1/6b75e9eb3289df56
          ContainerPort: 80
          ContainerName: anycompany-test
  

Create ECS services and task definitions in the Test account using new-ecs-prod-infra.yaml CloudFormation templates.

    YAML
   
 

   Parameters:
  privatesubnet1:
    Type: String

  privatesubnet2:
    Type: String

Resources:
  ECSService:
    Type: AWS::ECS::Service
    # DependsOn: HTTPListener
    # DependsOn: HTTPSListener
    Properties:
      LaunchType: FARGATE
      Cluster: new-cluster
      DesiredCount: 0
      TaskDefinition: new-anycompany-prod
      DeploymentController: 
        Type: CODE_DEPLOY
      HealthCheckGracePeriodSeconds: 300
      SchedulingStrategy: REPLICA
      NetworkConfiguration:
          AwsvpcConfiguration:
            AssignPublicIp: DISABLED
            Subnets: [!Ref privatesubnet1 , !Ref privatesubnet2]
      LoadBalancers:
        - TargetGroupArn: arn:aws:elasticloadbalancing:us-east-1:608377680862:targetgroup/TargetGroup1/d18c87e013000697
          ContainerPort: 80
          ContainerName: anycompany-test
  

5. CodeDeploy Blue/Green Deployment

CodeDeploy configuration: Configure CodeDeploy for Blue/Green deployments.
Deployment groups: Create specific deployment groups for each environment.
Deployment configurations: Configure deployment configurations based on your requirements.

6. Notification Setup (SNS)

SNS configuration: Manually create an SNS topic for notifications during the deployment process.
Notification content: Configure SNS to send notifications for manual approval steps in the deployment pipeline.

Pipeline and Deployment

1. Source Stage

CodePipeline starts with the source stage, pulling Docker images from the CodeCommit repository.

2. Build Stage

The build stage involves building and packaging the Docker images and preparing them for deployment.

3. Deployment to Development

Upon approval, the pipeline deploys the Docker images to the ECS cluster in the Development account using a Blue/Green deployment strategy.

4. Testing in Development

The deployed application in the Development environment undergoes testing and validation.

5. Deployment to Test

If testing in the Development environment is successful, the pipeline triggers the deployment to the ECS cluster in the Test account using the same Blue/Green strategy.

6. Testing in Test

The application undergoes further testing in the Test environment.

7. Manual Approval

After successful testing in the Test environment, the pipeline triggers an SNS notification and requires manual approval to proceed.

8. Deployment to Production

After the approval, the pipeline triggers the deployment to the ECS cluster in the Production account using the Blue/Green strategy.

9. Final Testing in Production

The application undergoes final testing in the Production environment.

10. Completion

The pipeline completes, and the new version of the application is running in the Production environment.

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve explored the strategic approach to deploying Docker images across multiple AWS accounts using a combination of ECS, CodePipeline, CodeDeploy, and the reliability of Blue/Green deployment strategies, all through the power of AWS CloudFormation. This methodology not only enhances security and operational efficiency but also provides a scalable infrastructure capable of supporting growth. By following the steps outlined, organizations can fortify their deployment processes, embrace the agility of Infrastructure as Code, and maintain a robust and adaptable cloud environment.

Implementing this guide's recommendations allows businesses to optimize costs by utilizing AWS services such as Fargate and embracing DevOps practices. The Blue/Green deployment strategy minimizes downtime, ensuring resources are utilized efficiently during transitions. With a focus on DevOps practices and the use of automation tools like AWS Code Pipeline, operational overhead is minimized. CloudFormation templates automate resource provisioning, reducing manual intervention and ensuring consistent and repeatable deployments.

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