What I learned from using AWS Serverless Architecture in a Real-World Project.

As a 2nd Year IT undergraduate at the University of Moratuwa. I’ve recently been working on a software project called ATG Healthcare Plan Manager, a real-world project for a UK-based client. This project gave me hands-on experience with AWS and serverless architecture- something I had only read about before.

In this blog post, I’ll share how we used AWS tools like Lambda,S3 and RDS, what I learned from building in a serverless environment, and what challenges we faced along the way.

• What is Serverless Architecture?

Serverless architecture allows you to run backend services without managing infrastructure. You write functions(e.g., AWS Lambda), and cloud providers manage server provisioning, scaling, and maintenance.

Unlike traditional apps, You don’t need to maintain a server 24/7, since it's handled on-demand by the cloud. It’s event-driven and cost effective-perfect for modern, scalable app.

Technologies We used :

Here is a quick list of AWS services we integrated into our project.

1. AWS Lambda - to run backend logic and APIs.

2. Amazon API Gateway - Enabled us to create and expose REST APIs that trigger our Lambda functions.

3. Amazon RDS(MySQL)- Used for storing structured healthcare data securely.

4. AWS IAM - Managed permissions and secure access between services.

5. Amazon Cognito – Handled user authentication (login, registration, etc.).

   During this project I also took the opportunity to explore other AWS services that are commonly used in modern serverless applications.

   1. Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) – A tool for sending transactional or bulk emails directly from the backend.

   2. Amazon SNS (Simple Notification Service) – Enables real-time messaging, push notifications, or alerts to users via various channels.

Key Things I learned :

• No server maintenance : Lambda takes care of scaling and running code based on demand.

• Function-first thinking : You write focused, single-purpose functions.

• Permission handling with IAM was tricky but important to keep secure access.

• Integrating RDS with Lambda required careful connection pooling.

• Monitoring with CloudWatch helped trace bugs and logs in real time.

  Challenges Faced :

  • Cold starts in Lambda delayed some response times initially.

  • Debugging permission errors (IAM) took more time than expected.

  • Understanding environment variables and VPCs for RDS integration was complex.

  • Learning to test Lambda locally before deployment.

Why It was Worth It?

This experience gave me a true industry-level learning opportunity:

• Now I understand cloud-first design approaches.

• Serverless makes scaling and development easier for startups or small teams.

• Working in a real project with deadlines helped me grow technically and professionally.

  If you’re a student like me, I highly recommend trying AWS Lambda or serverless functions with the AWS Free Tier. Real-world projects teach you much more than theory, and cloud skills are in high demand in today’s tech world.

🙌 Thank You for Reading!

Working on the ATG Healthcare Plan Manager project was not only an academic milestone but also a huge leap in my technical journey. From exploring AWS services to understanding real-world software development practices, I gained insights I wouldn’t find in textbooks.

If you found this blog helpful or have any questions about serverless development, cloud tools, or project-based learning, feel free to connect with me! I’d love to learn and grow together with the tech community.

Stay tuned for my next blog- more tech stories, learning journeys, and hands-on tips coming soon!🔔