What Is Amazon Web Services and Its Key Features

Amazon Web Services, or AWS, is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services for computing, storage, databases, analytics, machine learning, and more.

At its core, AWS is a suite of cloud-based services that allow businesses to store, process, and manage data in a highly secure and scalable environment. This is made possible through a network of data centers located across the globe.

One of the key features of AWS is its ability to provide on-demand access to computing resources, such as servers and storage, allowing businesses to scale up or down as needed. This flexibility is particularly useful for businesses that experience fluctuating workloads or have variable data storage needs.

AWS offers a wide range of services, including Amazon S3 for object storage, Amazon EC2 for virtual servers, and Amazon RDS for relational databases.

AWS offers a vast array of features that make it a go-to cloud service for many businesses. With over 1,400 new features launched in 2017 alone, it's clear that AWS is constantly innovating and expanding its capabilities.

You can control all of these features with extensive admin controls accessible via a secure web client. This includes identity management, auditing, encryption key creation/control/storage, monitoring, and logging.

AWS has more options than anyone else in the cloud business, with services like Amazon Aurora for database management and AWS Snowball for storing terabytes or even petabytes of data. It also offers Redshift for data warehousing and Amazon Elastic MapReduce (EMR) for Hadoop and Spark services.

Amazon S3 cloud storage was launched on March 14, 2006, and was followed by EC2 in August 2006.

The first beta-user of EC2 outside of Amazon was Pi Corporation, a startup co-founded by Paul Maritz.

SmugMug, an early AWS adopter, attributed savings of around $400,000 in storage costs to S3 in 2006.

S3 was built with 8 microservices when it launched in 2006, but had over 300 microservices by 2022.

AWS announced its annual Start-up Challenge in September 2007, a contest with prizes worth $100,000 for entrepreneurs and software developers using AWS services.

The first edition of the Start-up Challenge saw participation from Justin.tv, which Amazon would later acquire in 2014.

Ooyala, an online media company, was the eventual winner of the first edition.

AWS launched several additional services during this period, including SimpleDB, Mechanical Turk, Elastic Block Store, Elastic Beanstalk, Relational Database Service, DynamoDB, CloudWatch, Simple Workflow, CloudFront, and Availability Zones.

AWS offers a wide range of core features that make it a powerful and versatile cloud platform. With over 200 products and services, you can choose from a variety of options to suit your needs.

One of the key features of AWS is its extensive admin controls, accessible via a secure web client. This allows you to control all of the various services offered by AWS, including identity management, auditing, encryption key creation/control/storage, monitoring and logging, and more.

AWS has more options than anyone else in the cloud business, with services like Amazon Aurora, a MySQL- and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database service, and AMS Snowball, a briefcase-size appliance that can store terabytes or even a petabyte of data.

AWS offers a range of database services, including Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) and managed NoSQL databases through services like Amazon DynamoDB key-value store and Amazon Neptune graph database.

Here are some of the key database services offered by AWS:

AWS also offers a range of developer tools, including the AWS Command Line Interface, AWS Tools for PowerShell, and AWS SDKs for various programming languages. These tools allow developers to deploy and manage applications and services, as well as create custom application programming interfaces (APIs) with Amazon API Gateway.

With AWS, you can also create continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines with services like AWS CodePipeline and AWS CodeBuild. Additionally, you can store code in Git repositories with AWS CodeCommit and evaluate the performance of microservices-based applications with AWS X-Ray.

AWS provides services from dozens of data centers spread across 105 availability zones (AZes) in regions across the world.

A business will choose one or multiple AZes for a variety of reasons, including compliance, proximity to customers and availability optimization. This allows for a highly reliable, cost-effective cloud infrastructure with scalability that's resistant to the failure of individual servers and an entire data center.

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) offers dozens of instance types with varying capacities and sizes, tailored to specific workload types, use cases and applications.

AWS performance was approximately on par with other cloud services, with a Geekbench 4 score of 3021 for single core performance and 2862 for multi-core performance. These numbers were reasonably close to other virtual servers in this test with similar configurations.

AWS provides services from dozens of data centers spread across 105 availability zones (AZes) in regions across the world. Each region is a collection of AZes in geographic proximity connected by low-latency network links.

A business will choose one or multiple AZes for a variety of reasons, including compliance, proximity to customers and availability optimization. For example, an AWS customer can spin up virtual machines and replicate data in different AZes.

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a service that provides virtual servers -- called EC2 instances -- for compute capacity. The EC2 service offers dozens of instance types with varying capacities and sizes.

These instance types are tailored to specific workload types, use cases and applications, such as memory-intensive and accelerated-computing jobs. AWS also provides Auto Scaling, a tool to dynamically scale capacity to maintain instance health and performance.

The performance of AWS is on par with other cloud services, according to my tests. I used Geekbench 4, a cross-platform benchmarking app, to compare the performance of different virtual servers.

The Geekbench 4 test ran many integer, floating point, and memory tests, and I ran it on a single vCPU and 2 gigabytes of RAM running Microsoft Windows Server 2016. The results were reasonably close to other virtual servers with similar configurations.

The single core performance of the AWS instance was 3021, and the multi-core performance was 2862. These scores are a good indicator of the instance's compute performance.

AWS benefits and drawbacks include cost savings on physical data centers and related investments, as well as extensive service flexibility and scalability features. This can relieve customers from worrying about security, reliability, and compliance issues.

The pay-as-you-go model for AWS cloud services is either on a per-hour or per-second basis, with an option to reserve a set amount of compute capacity at a discounted price for customers who prepay or sign up for one- or three-year usage commitments. This can provide customers with more control over their costs.

AWS offers a range of pricing models, including a free tier that allows customers to access up to 60 products and start building on the AWS platform at no cost. Customers can also use AWS's pricing calculator to estimate expenditures.

Here are some of the services offered by AWS, including their pricing models:

AWS is a cash cow for Amazon, providing affordable and scalable services to everyone from the newest startup to a Fortune 500 company.

AWS benefits and drawbacks are a crucial consideration for any organization looking to move to the cloud.

AWS can save an organization money on physical data centers and related investments. This is a major benefit of moving to a cloud environment.

However, AWS can be expensive, depending on how much a particular service is used. Users must define their requirements carefully before launching an AWS product to assess whether cloud services are the most economical option.

The AWS environment is large and complex, which can be challenging for new users. This complexity may require significant time and resources to navigate.

Despite its flexible pricing models, the loss of control is a common issue for cloud service customers, because the CSP handles administrative functions, unless otherwise arranged by the user.

Security of AWS services is a prime focus for Amazon, yet it is still the user's responsibility to ensure their data and systems are secure.

AWS provides extensive service flexibility and scalability features, making it a popular choice for many businesses.

Here are some of the key pros of using AWS:

Overall, AWS is a powerful tool that can help organizations save money and improve their IT infrastructure. However, it's essential to carefully consider the potential drawbacks before making a decision.

AWS's pay-as-you-go model is either on a per-hour or per-second basis, making it an affordable option for customers. This model allows customers to only pay for what they use, reducing upfront costs.

AWS offers a Free Tier, which gives customers access to up to 60 products at no cost. The Free Tier is offered in three different options: always free, 12 months free, and free trials. This is a great way for new customers to try out AWS services without committing to a paid plan.

Customers can use AWS's pricing calculator to estimate their expenditures and choose the best pricing plan for their needs. AWS-certified third-party experts also provide on-demand help to customers picking a pricing plan.

As of the third quarter of 2023, AWS controlled 32% of the total cloud market, according to Synergy Research Group. In the IaaS market, AWS is the market share leader, ahead of Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM.

Some of the notable companies using AWS include Airbnb, AstraZeneca, BMW Group, Capital One, Coca-Cola, Fox, Goldman Sachs, Heineken, Netflix, NFL, Philips, Pinterest, Salesforce, and Toyota. This list of prominent customers speaks to the reliability and scalability of AWS services.

Here are some of the services offered by AWS:

AWS provides a robust security framework that lets you define and manage user access to resources with AWS Identity and Access Management.

With AWS Identity and Access Management, admins can create a user directory with Amazon Cloud Directory or connect cloud resources to an existing Microsoft Active Directory with the AWS Directory Service.

The AWS Organizations service allows businesses to establish and manage policies for multiple AWS accounts.

Amazon Inspector automatically assesses potential security risks by analyzing your AWS environment for vulnerabilities.

Amazon Macie uses machine learning technology to protect sensitive cloud data.

AWS offers software- and hardware-based encryption, as well as protection against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

You can also acquire secure sockets layer and Transport Layer Security certificates with AWS.

The AWS Management Console is a browser-based graphical user interface that lets you manage resources in cloud computing and cloud storage, as well as security credentials.

It interfaces with all AWS resources, making it a one-stop-shop for managing your cloud infrastructure.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services, including compute, storage, databases, analytics, machine learning, and more.

To get started with AWS, you'll need to sign up for an account, which is free.

AWS provides a free tier for many of its services, allowing you to try them out without incurring any costs.

The first step in setting up your AWS account is to navigate to the AWS website and click on the "Create an AWS Account" button.

AWS supports a wide range of programming languages and tools, including Java, Python, and C++.

You can also use the AWS Management Console, which is a web-based interface that allows you to manage your AWS resources.

To access the AWS Management Console, you'll need to log in to your AWS account using your email address and password.

AWS provides a comprehensive documentation and support resources, including tutorials, guides, and forums.

AWS has made a significant impact on various industries, with notable customers like NASA and the Obama presidential campaign of 2012.

The company's cloud services have been adopted by more than 80% of Germany's listed DAX companies, a testament to its widespread acceptance.

In the financial sector, multiple firms have shifted to AWS in some form, taking advantage of its scalability and cost savings.

The U.S. Navy has also made a significant move, migrating 72,000 users from six commands to an AWS cloud system in 2019.

AWS's broad set of products and services has helped enterprises like these build sophisticated and scalable applications, driving innovation and shaping the future of cloud services.

In 2016, AWS experienced a 64% increase in net income, surpassing Amazon's North American retail business in profitability for the first time.

This milestone led to Andy Jassy's promotion to CEO of the division, a well-deserved recognition of his leadership.

AWS revenue jumped from $2.57 billion in Q1 2016 to $17.46 billion in 2017, a staggering 571% increase.

In 2017, Jassy's annual compensation hit nearly $36 million, a testament to his success in leading the division.

AWS continued to grow, with a 42% rise in stock value in 2016, of which AWS contributed 56% to corporate profits.

In 2019, AWS reported 37% yearly growth and accounted for 12% of Amazon's revenue.

By 2021, AWS accounted for 32% of the $41.8 billion cloud market in Q1, with a 32% yearly growth.

Here are some notable AWS announcements and developments in the current era:

AWS has a wide range of notable customers, including NASA and the Obama presidential campaign of 2012.

The company was awarded a $600M contract with the CIA in October 2013, further solidifying its position as a trusted provider.

In 2019, it was reported that over 80% of Germany's listed DAX companies use AWS, a significant milestone for the company.

The U.S. Navy has also made significant strides in adopting AWS, moving 72,000 users from six commands to an AWS cloud system in August 2019.

Multiple financial services firms have shifted to AWS in some form, taking advantage of its scalability and reliability.

AWS can be a game-changer for game development, literally. Large companies like Ubisoft use AWS services for games such as For Honor.

AWS provides developer back-end services that help with building, deploying and scaling a developer's platform, as well as defending against DDoS attacks.

Amazon Lumberyard is a developer tool that aids in making 3D games.

Analytics help developers know their customers and how they play a game.

Developers can store data and host game data on AWS servers.

AWS has a range of services that make it easy to deploy Internet of Things (IoT) projects. The AWS IoT service is a back-end platform that helps manage IoT devices and ingest data into other AWS storage and database services.

For example, the Amazon IoT Button provides a hardware solution for limited IoT functionality. This means you can quickly and easily integrate IoT capabilities into your projects without needing to design and build custom hardware from scratch.

AWS IoT Greengrass brings AWS compute capabilities to IoT devices, making it possible to run AWS services on devices at the edge of the network. This can help reduce latency and improve the overall performance of your IoT applications.

AWS provides a comprehensive platform for IoT deployments, with a range of services and tools that can help you get started quickly and easily.

AWS has a range of AI model development and delivery platforms, as well as packaged AI-based applications. These include Amazon Lex for voice and text chatbot technology, Amazon Polly for text-to-speech translation, and Amazon Rekognition for image and facial analysis.

Amazon Textract extracts important text and data from documents, while Amazon Kendra enhances website and application searches. Amazon Forecast provides end-to-end business prediction models, and Amazon CodeGuru Security automates code reviews and detects costly, inefficient code.

Developers can build smart apps that rely on ML technology and complex algorithms using AWS Deep Learning Amazon Machine Images. With these images, developers can create and train custom AI models with clusters of graphics processing units or compute-optimized instances.

AWS also includes deep learning development frameworks for Apache MXNet and TensorFlow. These frameworks make it easier for developers to build and train AI models.

Here are some of the AI tools and technologies offered by AWS:

On the consumer side, AWS technologies power the Alexa Voice Service virtual assistant, and developers can use the Alexa Skills Kit to build voice-based apps for Echo devices.

Leading Cloud Innovators are building on AWS to drive innovation and help shape the future of cloud services. They use AWS as a broad set of products and services to run sophisticated and scalable applications.

These applications can help enterprises move faster, operate more securely, and save substantial costs. They also benefit from the scale and performance of the cloud.

Running applications in the AWS Cloud allows enterprises to focus on innovation, rather than managing infrastructure. This enables them to move faster and respond to changing market conditions.

By using AWS, leading cloud innovators can build and deploy applications quickly, which is essential for staying competitive in today's fast-paced business environment.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a massive cloud computing platform that's the primary profit driver for Amazon. It provides a wide range of services, including servers, storage, networking, remote computing, email, mobile development, and security.

AWS has a huge market share, controlling over a third of the cloud market, which is almost twice its next closest competitor. This is a significant advantage for Amazon, as it allows the company to scale its services more efficiently and effectively.

AWS has 105 availability zones, which are essentially locations where its servers are set up. This allows users to choose where their services are hosted, which can be important for security and compliance reasons.

AWS spans across 245 countries and territories, making it a truly global platform. This is a testament to the company's commitment to making its services accessible to customers all over the world.

Here are some key stats about AWS:

AWS's diverse physical locations also provide an additional layer of security, as data is not stored in just one place. This helps to prevent data loss and ensures that services remain available even in the event of an outage.