Amazon Web Services (AWS) Account Information

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that provides servers, storage, databases and a broad set of application services over the Internet. View Amazon's What is Cloud Computing? page to learn how cloud computing works. 

WVU Information Technology Services (ITS) is partnered with TD SYNNEX (formerly DLT Solutions) to provide AWS accounts for University users. The table below outlines the relationships between each group. View the Cloud Responsibility Model below for details about each group's involvement and responsibilities for cloud security, billing, access and activity.

Open

AWS Account FAQ

ITS strongly encourages a free, on-boarding consultation for new AWS accounts. Please review the information below before requesting an account. 

Why go through ITS for an AWS account?

Any AWS account used for university business set up through ITS receives:

• Discount from AWS list price

• Waiver (up to 15% of total monthly spend) of AWS data egress fees for most applications

• Sign-on with WVU Login credentials to access the AWS Management Console

• Ability to utilize University licensing for Red Hat Enterprise Linux

• CloudTrail logging automatically enabled to log activity occurring within your account; can be accessed through the AWS console

• Access to a Solutions Architect with our AWS partner, TD SYNNEX, to discuss project requirements and how to best utilize AWS services

• Cloud billing reporting and analytics

Who is TD SYNNEX? 

TD SYNNEX is our partner for Amazon Web Services and your point of contact for all billing questions. They will send a statement showing charges for the month. Payment is made with PCard or up-front payment. Our TD SYNNEX Account Manager will review both options with you when your account is created.

TD SYNNEX Account Manager contact information:

Learn about AWS costs and billing

With AWS, you pay monthly for what you use. Pricing for each service is listed on the AWS website, rates are typically charged per minute or per quantity used each month. Use the AWS Pricing Calculator to learn about cost before you submit your request and start to use your new account. TD SYNNEX is your point of contact for all AWS billing questions and can provide a cost estimate for your project.

After your AWS account is created, a representative from TD SYNNEX will contact you to discuss payment. TD SYNNEX offers two options:

• Credit Card (PCard): You provide PCard information to TD SYNNEX when your AWS account is created. Your PCard will be charged monthly for AWS services, and you will be responsible for reconciling charges per WVU PCard reconciliation process.

• Up-front Payment: TD SYNNEX will provide a quote based on estimated annual spend. You can use a PCard to pay the quote if the amount is under PCard limit. Or, you can have a Purchase Order issued through Mountaineer Marketplace. With up-front payment, TD SYNNEX establishes a pool of funds for your account and monthly charges are deducted from that pool.
  For example, TD SYNNEX provided a quote for $12,000 based on your estimated annual usage and you have issued a PO to TD SYNNEX for that quote. Your charges for this month are $1,000. The $1,000 will be deducted from the $12,000 and you will have $11,000 in remaining funds. When the remaining balance in the up-front payment is close to being depleted, TD SYNNEX will provide a new quote so you can issue a new PO.

With either payment option, TD SYNNEX will send you a monthly statement of your charges. If you are using up-front payment, the email will also include your remaining balance. You can view your usage information on the AWS Billing Console and have daily/weekly billing summaries emailed to you.

You can use AWS Budgets to track your AWS costs or set monthly cost budgets. Budgets can have a fixed target amount to track all costs associated with your account, or with a variable target amount with each subsequent month growing the budget target by 5 percent each month. You can choose to be alerted for both actual (after accruing) and forecasted (before accruing spends). View Amazon's Creating a Budget page for details and instructions.

What else should I consider before requesting an account? 

• An IT Purchase Request is required for software, hardware, and consulting services purchase requests. This includes new AWS accounts. Submit an IT Purchase Request before requesting an AWS account.

• Do you need resources created in regions other than Northern Virginia (US-East-1), Ohio (US-East-2), Seattle (US-West-2)? If so, you will need to request an exception to the AWS Region Restriction Standard.

• Does my project have data that the University considers Sensitive Data? No PHI, PII and covered financial information can be stored in the public cloud. For more information, review the Sensitive Data Policy.

• Can I use an AWS Free Tier account for my project? Accounts for University projects are created under the ITS Organization and are not eligible for Free Tier offers.

• Do you have adequate skills to complete the project or have you obtained consulting services?

• Have you identified who will be the technical contact? Plan for backup in case of turnover.

• Have you identified who will review usage? Charges can rack up very quickly. Be sure to set up alerts, check usage frequently, and take appropriate action to reduce your charges.

• Cloud vendors offer a range of support plans that provide access to tools and expertise. What level is needed to meet your needs? For example, do you require 24/7 access to support?

• Do I need a “test” instance for testing configuration and process changes?

• Contractors who need access to your AWS account for the purpose of performing university business must have a sponsored guest WVU Login account.

• Do I need another AWS account for my new project, or can I use my existing one?

How do I request a consultation for a new AWS account? 

ITS Cloud Infrastructure strongly encourages a free, on-board consultation for new accounts for all customers. Contact us at ITS-CloudServices@mail.wvu.edu to schedule an appointment.

During this meeting we will:

• Review your project request

• Decide whether the initiative is suited for cloud

• Identify resources and expertise available, internal or external

• Discuss high-level design

• Discuss billing models and billing process

• Review roles and responsibilities

• Recommend Cloud Practitioner training for account owner and technical contact

After the meeting, Cloud Infrastructure will provide a preliminary cost estimate based on the AWS Pricing Calculator and on-demand pricing. TD SYNNEX will provide a final quote.

After you’ve been using AWS for a few months, Cloud Infrastructure will, on request, conduct a follow up meeting to discuss cost optimization and review services used to ensure a well architected framework. Additional fees will apply if Cloud Infrastructure or a third party is engaged to implement changes discussed.

How do I request an AWS account after my consultation?

1. Visit the Amazon Web Services Account Request page and click Submit a Ticket. You may be prompted to sign in with your WVU Login credentials. 

2. Provide the following information: 

   • Project name/account purpose

   • Technical Contact (name, email address, phone number): This is a user that will be the primary owner of the account with administrator access. 

   • Procurement Contact (name, email address, phone number): This is a user that TD SYNNEX can contact for billing information and questions. 

   • Sensitive Data Classification Information: Review the Sensitive Data Practices and Storage FAQ article and then select either Yes if your data is sensitive, or No, if it is not.

   • TD SYNNEX Support Requested: Optional support is strongly encouraged. 

   • Data Egress Waiver Eligibility: Review the explanation for the data egress waiver and then indicate whether the account is eligible to participate. This means that the workload you anticipate running on this account is not an excluded workload (MOOC, media streaming, or web media hosting) and/or that you do not anticipate your Data Egress charges to exceed 20% of your monthly utilization charges.

3. Read the AWS Account Agreement thoroughly and then select Yes to agree.

4. Click Request. 

5. ITS Software Licensing will review the request and confirm that a Purchase Request has been submitted.

6. WVU Information Security (ISS) will review the request to determine whether the account should be provisioned by ITS or TD SYNNEX.
   Note: ISS may determine the account be provisioned outside of ITS' oversight to meet compliance requirements. In these cases, TD SYNNEX will create a standalone AWS account. The customer will maintain root account credentials and work directly with TD SYNNEX for account provisioning and access.

7. Once Information Security approves the account to be provisioned by ITS, the request is sent to Cloud Infrastructure. 

8. A representative from TD SYNNEX will contact you for funding information. TD SYNNEX is our partner for Amazon Web Services and your point of contact for all AWS billing questions. Options are monthly PCard charge or up-front payment.

Understand the shared responsibility model for information security and compliance.

AWS has a "shared responsibility model" for information security and compliance. Because you are building systems on top of the AWS cloud infrastructure, the security responsibilities will be shared.

AWS is responsible for security OF the cloud. The customer is responsible for security IN the cloud. ITS is responsible for your access TO the cloud, including management of the AWS agreement. In most cases, accounts are created under WVU Management Account where ITS maintains “root account” credentials, configures the account for use with WVU Login and assigns admin roles to the customer. If compliance requirements are such that a standalone account is needed, you will work directly with TD SYNNEX for account provisioning and access.

How do I access my AWS account?

If your account is under the ITS Management Account, go to awslogin.wvu.edu and enter WVU Login. If you experience issues when accessing your account, try clearing your browser cache. 

How do I close an AWS account?

Visit the Amazon Web Services Account Request page and click AWS Account Request. You may be prompted to sign in with your WVU Login credentials.

1. Provide the information required in the boxes with the red asterisks (*) next to them.
   Note: To obtain your AWS Account ID for the request, sign into your AWS account and click your name in the top-right navigation pane. Your AWS ID is the 12-digit number under the Account Settings section.

2. Read the AWS Closure Agreement thoroughly and select Yes to agree.

3. Click Request.

Where can I find training and support? 

TD SYNNEX offers a Standard Support Package for AWS. The cost is 10% of total AWS spend. The Standard Support Package includes:

• Telephone Support: TD SYNNEX provides telephone support as a key component of their Standard Support Package for AWS. Telephone support is available 24/7, with all calls answered by a live operator within 10 seconds.

• Online Support: TD SYNNEX supports email-based inquiries for opening new tickets or requests for updates on existing tickets.

• Customer Training

The Standard Support Package is specifically designed to support request relating to:

• “How to” questions about AWS services and features.

• Best practices to help integrate, deploy, and manage AWS services.

• Troubleshooting operational or systemic problems with AWS resources.

• Issues with the AWS Management Console or other AWS tools.

• The TD SYNNEX Cloud Advisory Group and certified Architects are available to provide pre-sales consultative information relating to the AWS platform as well as other cloud services, their models, their usage, and best practices. If desired, TD SYNNEX can develop custom training courses specifically tailored to the AWS resources being purchased. AWS also offers a wide collection of documents, articles, forums, and webcasts that provide everything from high-level overviews of AWS services to technical deep dives at aws.amazon.com.

The DSC is available for technical support 24/7 year-round. Visit the links below for more AWS information: 

• AWS Instructional Videos and Labs

• AWS Documentation