Microsoft Workloads Lens - AWS Well-Architected Framework

Publication date: February 2, 2026 (Document revisions)

This whitepaper describes the Microsoft Workloads Lens for the AWS Well-Architected Framework. It provides AWS customers with a set of Well-Architected best practices and guidance on cloud-based architectures and better understand the impact of design decisions. The document provides general design principles and specific best practices aligned to the six pillars of the Well-Architected Framework.

The AWS Well-Architected Microsoft Workloads Lens helps organizations understand and assess the advantages and challenges of decisions made while building Microsoft-based systems on AWS. By using this specialized lens, you will learn architectural best practices specifically tailored for designing and operating reliable, secure, efficient, and cost-effective Microsoft workloads in the cloud. It provides a systematic approach to consistently measure your Microsoft architectures against proven best practices and identify areas for improvement. This process involves constructive conversations about architectural decisions related to Microsoft technologies, rather than serving as an audit mechanism. AWS believes that well-architected workloads significantly increase the likelihood of business success.

AWS Solutions Architects have extensive experience architecting Microsoft solutions across diverse business verticals, technology stacks, and customer use cases. Through designing and reviewing thousands of customers' Microsoft architectures running on AWS, we have identified comprehensive best practices and core strategies for architecting Microsoft systems in the cloud. This expertise encompasses Windows Server deployments, .NET applications, SQL Server databases, Active Directory implementations, and various other Microsoft technologies and services.

The Microsoft Workloads Lens documents a set of foundational questions that help you understand if your Microsoft-specific architecture aligns with cloud best practices. It provides a consistent approach to evaluating Microsoft systems against the qualities expected from modern cloud-based solutions, along with detailed remediation guidance. The lens includes specialized insights for optimizing Microsoft workload performance, maintaining security, managing licensing, and maintaining operational excellence on AWS.

The Microsoft Workloads Lens extends the core Well-Architected Framework by incorporating best practices specific to Microsoft technologies and scenarios. As an extension of the Framework, it complements rather than overlaps with the Framework's fundamental best practices. Organizations should conduct a Well-Architected Framework Review before applying this specialized lens to their Microsoft workloads. This approach provides for a comprehensive evaluation of both general cloud architecture principles and Microsoft-specific considerations.

This lens is designed for technology professionals, including architects, developers, and operations teams working with Microsoft technologies on AWS. It provides detailed AWS best practices and strategies for designing and operating Microsoft cloud workloads, with extensive links to implementation details and architectural patterns. Additionally, the lens can be accessed through the AWS Well-Architected Tool, allowing organizations to systematically review and measure their Microsoft architectures. To support practical implementation, AWS offers Well-Architected Labs with hands-on examples and collaborates with AWS Partner Network (APN) Partners who specialize in Microsoft workloads. These partners can provide expert guidance in reviewing and optimizing Microsoft-based architectures on AWS.

Lens availability

Custom lenses extend the best practice guidance provided by AWS Well-Architected Tool. AWS WA Tool allows you to create your own custom lenses, or to use lenses created by others that have been shared with you.

To begin reviewing your Microsoft workload, download and import the Microsoft Workloads Lens into AWS Well-Architected Tool from the public AWS Well-Architected custom lens GitHub repository.