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Architecture Planning

Design and Plan New Infrastructure with Visual Tools Use Cloudeval to design new infrastructure, compare architecture options, visualize proposed changes, and make informed decisions before implementation.

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Use Case Overview

Who: Cloud architects, solution architects, DevOps engineers, technical leads When:
  • Designing new infrastructure
  • Planning migrations
  • Comparing architecture options
  • Evaluating alternatives
  • Presenting to stakeholders
Why: Visual planning helps make better decisions and communicate architecture effectively

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Workflow

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Step 1: Design Architecture

  1. Create new template - Start with basic structure
  2. Add resources - Define required resources
  3. Configure relationships - Set up dependencies
  4. Iterate design - Refine architecture

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Step 2: Visualize Design

  1. Generate diagram - See visual representation
  2. Review layout - Ensure clarity
  3. Add annotations - Explain design decisions
  4. Customize view - Focus on important areas

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Step 3: Compare Options

  1. Create variants - Different architecture options
  2. Compare diagrams - Side-by-side comparison
  3. Analyze differences - Pros and cons
  4. Evaluate trade-offs - Cost, security, performance

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Step 4: Validate Design

  1. Run security analysis - Check for issues
  2. Estimate costs - Understand cost impact
  3. Review best practices - Follow standards
  4. Test scenarios - Validate design decisions

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Step 5: Present and Document

  1. Export diagrams - For presentations
  2. Create documentation - Architecture decision records
  3. Share with stakeholders - Get feedback
  4. Finalize design - Approve architecture

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Key Features for Planning

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Visual Design

Design Tools:
  • Web Editor - Edit templates directly
  • Real-Time Preview - See changes instantly
  • Template Library - Start from examples
  • Resource Browser - Explore available resources
Benefits:
  • Visual feedback during design
  • Quick iteration
  • Easy experimentation
  • Immediate validation

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Option Comparison

Compare Architectures:
  • Side-by-Side - View options together
  • Difference Highlighting - See what’s different
  • Cost Comparison - Compare costs
  • Security Comparison - Compare security
Example Comparison: 
Option A: Single Region
- Cost: $500/month
- Security: High
- Performance: Good
- Complexity: Low

Option B: Multi-Region
- Cost: $1,200/month
- Security: Very High
- Performance: Excellent
- Complexity: High

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Cost Estimation

Plan Costs:
  • Resource Costs - Individual resource estimates
  • Total Costs - Overall infrastructure cost
  • Comparison - Cost of different options
  • Optimization - Cost-saving suggestions
Use Cases:
  • Budget planning
  • Option evaluation
  • Cost optimization
  • Stakeholder approval

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Security Validation

Validate Security:
  • Security Analysis - Check for issues
  • Best Practices - Follow standards
  • Compliance - Meet requirements
  • Risk Assessment - Understand risks
Benefits:
  • Catch issues early
  • Follow security standards
  • Meet compliance requirements
  • Reduce security risks

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Planning Scenarios

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Scenario 1: New Application Infrastructure

Goal: Design infrastructure for new application Process:
  1. Define requirements - Performance, scale, security
  2. Design architecture - Resources and relationships
  3. Visualize design - Generate diagram
  4. Validate - Security, cost, best practices
  5. Iterate - Refine based on feedback
  6. Document - Create architecture documentation
  7. Approve - Get stakeholder approval
Tools Used:
  • Web editor for design
  • Visual diagrams
  • Security analysis
  • Cost estimation
  • Export for documentation

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Scenario 2: Migration Planning

Goal: Plan migration from on-premises to cloud Process:
  1. Map current infrastructure - Document existing setup
  2. Design cloud architecture - Target cloud design
  3. Compare options - On-prem vs. cloud
  4. Plan migration - Phased approach
  5. Validate design - Security, cost, performance
  6. Create migration plan - Step-by-step guide
Tools Used:
  • Comparison diagrams
  • Cost analysis
  • Security review
  • Migration documentation

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Scenario 3: Architecture Options Evaluation

Goal: Choose between architecture options Process:
  1. Create option A - First architecture design
  2. Create option B - Alternative design
  3. Compare visually - Side-by-side diagrams
  4. Analyze differences - Pros and cons
  5. Evaluate costs - Cost comparison
  6. Review security - Security comparison
  7. Make decision - Choose best option
Tools Used:
  • Multiple diagrams
  • Cost comparison
  • Security analysis
  • Visual comparison

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Best Practices

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Start with Requirements

Define:
  • Performance - Latency, throughput requirements
  • Scale - Expected load and growth
  • Security - Security requirements
  • Cost - Budget constraints
  • Compliance - Compliance requirements

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Iterate and Refine

Process:
  • Initial design - First draft
  • Review - Get feedback
  • Refine - Improve design
  • Validate - Check requirements
  • Finalize - Approve design

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Document Decisions

Include:
  • Architecture diagrams - Visual documentation
  • Decision rationale - Why this design
  • Alternatives considered - Other options
  • Trade-offs - What was sacrificed
  • Cost estimates - Budget information

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Validate Early

Check:
  • Security - Before implementation
  • Cost - Within budget
  • Best practices - Follow standards
  • Requirements - Meet all requirements
  • Feasibility - Can be implemented

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Integration with Planning Process

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Combine with Other Tools

  • Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) - Document decisions
  • Project Management - Track planning tasks
  • Stakeholder Presentations - Share designs
  • Implementation Guides - Plan execution

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Track Planning Progress

  • Design iterations - Version control
  • Decision log - Track decisions
  • Feedback - Collect input
  • Approval status - Track approvals

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Next Steps

Ready to plan your architecture? Try Cloudeval now
Last modified on March 5, 2026