# EdTech serverless exam-day readiness checklist (July 2026)

Pair with [assessment buffer checklist](https://www.factualminds.com/examples/architecture-blog-2026/edtech-lms/assessment-buffer-checklist.md) and [exam-day capacity worksheet](https://www.factualminds.com/examples/architecture-blog-2026/edtech-lms/exam-day-capacity-worksheet.csv).

## Traffic shape

- [ ] Peak model uses **exam window** concurrency (not average DAU)
- [ ] SQS buffer in front of grading / write-heavy paths
- [ ] API Gateway / WAF rate limits set **above** honest exam peak with alarm, not silent drop
- [ ] DynamoDB on-demand or pre-warmed capacity for known windows

## Media + auth

- [ ] CloudFront + signed URLs for video; egress cost modeled separately from Lambda
- [ ] Cognito / IdP fan-out tested at enrollment + SSO login storms
- [ ] FERPA / under-13 boundaries reviewed ([ferpa matrix](https://www.factualminds.com/examples/architecture-blog-2026/edtech-lms/ferpa-boundary-matrix.md))

## Cost sanity

| Line item         | Peak month \$ | Off-peak month \$ |
| ----------------- | ------------- | ----------------- |
| Lambda + API GW   |               |                   |
| DynamoDB          |               |                   |
| CloudFront egress |               |                   |
| MediaConvert      |               |                   |

Reprice after any Lambda / CloudFront rate change in your geography.