Ensure that all RDS databases instances provisioned within your AWS account are using the latest generation of instance classes in order to get the best performance with lower costs. If you are currently using RDS database instances from the previous generation (see Audit section), Cloud Conformity strongly recommends that you upgrade these instances with their latest generation equivalents.
This rule can help you work with the AWS Well-Architected Framework
This rule resolution is part of the Cloud Conformity Security & Compliance tool for AWS
efficiency
optimisation
Using the latest generation of RDS database instances instead of the previous generation instances has tangible benefits such as better hardware performance (more computing capacity and faster CPUs, memory optimization and higher network throughput), better support for latest DB engines versions (e.g. MySQL 5.7) and lower costs for memory and storage.
Audit
The following table will help you to identify any previous generation RDS instance types in use:
RDS Instance Family | Previous Generation DB Instance Types |
General Purpose | db.m1.small | db.m1.medium | db.m1.large | db.m1.xlarge |
Memory Optimized | db.m2.xlarge | db.m2.2xlarge | db.m2.4xlarge | db.cr1.8xlarge |
Micro Instances | db.t1.micro |
To determine if there are any RDS database instances from the previous generation currently active in your AWS account, perform the following:
Remediation / Resolution
The following table will help you choose the current generation instance type for your previous generation database instances during the upgrade process:
Previous Generation DB Instance Types | Current Generation DB Instance Types |
db.m1.small | db.m1.medium db.m1.large | db.m1.xlarge | db.t2.small | db.t2.medium db.t2.large | db.m3.xlarge |
db.m2.xlarge | db.m2.2xlarge db.m2.4xlarge | db.cr1.8xlarge | db.r3.large | db.r3.xlarge db.r3.2xlarge | db.r3.8xlarge |
db.t1.micro | db.t2.micro |
To upgrade your previous generation instances to their latest generation equivalents, perform the following:
References
- AWS Documentation
- Amazon RDS FAQs
- Previous Generation DB Instances
- DB Instance Class
- Modifying a DB Instance and Using the Apply Immediately Parameter
- AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) Documentation
- rds
- describe-db-instances
- modify-db-instance
Unlock the Remediation Steps
Gain free unlimited access
to our full Knowledge Base
Over 750 rules & best practices
for and
Get started for FREE
You are auditing:
DB Instance Generation
Risk level: Medium