Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In late 2017, Civitas Learning did an AWS "This is My Architecture" video. It was one of the first. The video walks through how they handled processing personally identifiable information at scale using batch processing.
Now, a few years later, I react to that video and see what's stood the test of time, what could be done simpler given today's technology, and generally critique the design against the AWS Well-Architected Framework in a mini AWS Well-Architected Review.
The original video: youtu.be/-S5gs8AGKCw
More on the AWS Well-Architected Framework is at aws.amazon.com/architecture/well-architected
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/marknca
Read my AWS Hero bio at aws.amazon.com/developer/community/heroes/mark-nunnikhoven
Learn more about the AWS Well-Architected Framework in my course on A Cloud Guru at markn.ca/courses/#mastering-the-well-architected-framework
Index:
- [00:00] Intro
- [00:40] Problem statement
- [01:30] Batch processing
- [02:26] AWS services used
- [03:36] Data isolation
- [04:42] EMR limitations
- [06:21] Predictive analytics
- [07:21] Improvements?
- [16:23] Review
- [16:55] Can we improve?
In late 2017, Civitas Learning did an AWS "This is My Architecture" video. It was one of the first. The video walks through how they handled processing personally identifiable information at scale using batch processing.
Now, a few years later, I react to that video and see what's stood the test of time, what could be done simpler given today's technology, and generally critique the design against the AWS Well-Architected Framework in a mini AWS Well-Architected Review.
The original video: youtu.be/-S5gs8AGKCw
More on the AWS Well-Architected Framework is at aws.amazon.com/architecture/well-architected
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/marknca
Read my AWS Hero bio at aws.amazon.com/developer/community/heroes/mark-nunnikhoven
Learn more about the AWS Well-Architected Framework in my course on A Cloud Guru at markn.ca/courses/#mastering-the-well-architected-framework
Index:
- [00:00] Intro
- [00:40] Problem statement
- [01:30] Batch processing
- [02:26] AWS services used
- [03:36] Data isolation
- [04:42] EMR limitations
- [06:21] Predictive analytics
- [07:21] Improvements?
- [16:23] Review
- [16:55] Can we improve?


![Do App Stores Help Your Privacy & Security? A Cybersecurity Expert Weighs in on Epic vs. Apple
Epic Games is current waging war on Apple and Google over the right to distribute apps to mobile users. Theres been a ton of excellent coverage of the issues, but its usually missing one key perspective; what do we as users get from the App Stores?
This episode if Impact Assessment looks at the cybersecurity and privacy impacts of the App Store model. Do App Store delivery do anything to improve the security of our devices? Can Apple or Google help protect our privacy? Will they?
- The question [00:00]
- Epic Games vs Apple & Google [00:26]
- Apples App Store Review Guidelines [01:53]
- Googles guidelines [05:40]
- Granting permissions [07:19]
- App Store ecosystems [09:12]
- The impact [11:10]
References:
- The Fortnite Mega Drop - Permanent Discounts Up to 20%, https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/the-fortnite-mega-drop-permanent-discounts-up-to-20-percent
- Fortnite Usage and Revenue Statistics (2020) - Business of Apps, https://www.businessofapps.com/data/fortnite-statistics/
- The EPIC TRUTH About Fortnite’s WAR on APPLE - YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM4QmEw6QDM
- App Store Review Guidelines - Apple Developer, https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
- Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (“COPPA”) | Federal Trade Commission, https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/rules/rulemaking-regulatory-reform-proceedings/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule
- Apple Developer Documentation, https://developer.apple.com/documentation/uikit/protecting_the_user_s_privacy
- Privacy - Apple, https://www.apple.com/privacy/
- Developer Policy Center, https://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy/
- Apple rips into Epic Games in a court filing about the Fortnite saga, https://thenextweb.com/apple/2020/08/21/apple-rips-into-epic-games-court-filing-about-fortnite-saga/
- Review, Refocus, and Recalibrate: The 2019 Mobile Threat Landscape - Security Roundup - Trend Micro USA, https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/research-and-analysis/threat-reports/roundup/review-refocus-and-recalibrate-the-2019-mobile-threat-landscape
- Unprecedented new iPhone malware discovered - Malwarebytes Labs | Malwarebytes Labs, https://blog.malwarebytes.com/mac/2019/08/unprecedented-new-iphone-malware-discovered/ Do App Stores Help Your Privacy & Security? A Cybersecurity Expert Weighs in on Epic vs. Apple](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r0nk-Z35UCA/mqdefault.jpg)
![AWS re:Invent 2020 - Session Catalog & Hero Guide Introduction
The session catalog and Hero Guide information was just published on the official event website (https://reinvent.awsevents.com).
As with previous years, more and more sessions will be added as we get closer to the event.
Unlike previous years, theres no rush to book a seat in the sessions you want. AWS re:Invent 2020 is a free, digital event and youll be able to watch any session you want...either live or on-demand.
This years AWS Hero Guides were also announced today. They will be live sometime soon in the session catalog but in the meantime you can read about each Heros chosen topic and their approach to picking sessions that will help you get a better understand on that topic.
If you want to know more about the free, 3 week show, check out my guide post at https://acloudguru.com/blog/engineering/the-ultimate-guide-to-reinvent-2020
- Intro [00:00]
- The event website [00:13]
- AWS Hero Guides [00:23]
- The session catalog [01:44] AWS re:Invent 2020 - Session Catalog & Hero Guide Introduction](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r1pZWTUo9lY/mqdefault.jpg)


![These Real Apps On Google Play Are Harvesting Facebook Logins #shorts
Several apps were removed from the Google Play Store after it was discovered that they were harvesting credentials from the Facebook log in process.
The really sneaky part? Other than stealing your log in, these apps worked!
More in this short...
References:
- Dan Goodin writing for Ars Technica on the issue, https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/google-boots-google-play-apps-for-stealing-users-facebook-passwords/
- the Facebook helps docs on removing 3rd party connections, https://www.facebook.com/help/170585223002660
Index:
- [0:00] Sneaky apps
- [0:15] Remove ads
- [0:30] Disconnect apps from Facebook
#shorts These Real Apps On Google Play Are Harvesting Facebook Logins #shorts](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rcMUB6FKtGM/mqdefault.jpg)

![Will Windows 11 Helps Advance PC Security? #shorts
Microsoft recently announce Windows 11 and it looks like itll bring the venerable operating system into the modern age. A refreshed look, tight integrations, and a lot of updates under the hood.
One of those updates may stall adoption though. Lear more in this short...
References:
- Microsofts Windows 11 page, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11
- The Verge on the TPM requirement, https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/25/22550376/microsoft-windows-11-tpm-chips-requirement-security
- More on the update experience from Microsoft, https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/06/24/introducing-windows-11/
- DWIZZLE with a summary of what TPMs enable on Windows, https://twitter.com/dwizzzlemsft/status/1408509390563405826?s=21
Index:
- [0:00] Windows 11
- [0:10] Upgrade requirements
- [0:23] What is a TPM?
- [0:39] A welcome security push
#shorts Will Windows 11 Helps Advance PC Security? #shorts](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sMuHBbxiNaw/mqdefault.jpg)

![Is Your Neighbourhood a Surveillance Ring? #shorts
Smart doorbells are increasingly common but do you know what youre bringing into your neighbourhood when you install these types of IoT devices?
In this short, we take a quick look at the issues...
Index:
- The question [0:00]
- Smart doorbells [0:06]
- Surveillance and privacy issues [0:29]
#shorts Is Your Neighbourhood a Surveillance Ring? #shorts](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tXDdEdhMgz0/mqdefault.jpg)