AWS, which stands for Amazon Web Services, is a cloud computing technology platform provided by one of the most well-known organisations, Amazon. This innovative and evolving platform provides customers with a myriad of services like servers, storage, networking, virtual computing, email, hosting services, and privacy.
Storage is an essential asset for practically every organisation. Previously, industrial owners had to develop their own power plants to have an uninterrupted power supply in their factories. However, after establishing public utility private plants, the factory owners were able to avoid the complexities of developing their own power plants and instead purchased electricity at a low cost. The very same logic applies to AWS.
AWS – A Technical Definition
AWS is a leading player in the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) industries, providing a broad range of remote cloud services to businesses and startups.
It provides services that do not necessitate additional workforce, electricity, storage, or capital. Whether a fresh startup or a Fortune 500 corporation, business owners may efficiently address their shortcomings by implementing AWS.
AWS provides the following services:
- Compute service
- Storage
- Database
- Content distribution and networking
- Tools for security
- Tools for developers
- Management tools
What Is Cloud Computing?
Let’s start with a brief introduction to cloud computing before moving to AWS.
Cloud computing is a conventional technology that uses a remote server to supply services, including servers, databases, and storage.
Cloud-based servers provide more power and confidentiality than local servers for storing information and data. Cloud storage facilities are located in undisclosed sites worldwide, guaranteeing a high level of security. If an issue arises, cutting edge technology resolves it within hours.
How Does AWS Work?
Almost everything is now online, and nearly every business owner is devising strategies for presenting their products and services online. Whether it is a social media website, an e-commerce application, or an exam portal, the data entered, modified, or removed in them should be stored in a secure, trustworthy, and flexible storage. And that storage is provided by AWS.
Companies can also establish their own storage. However, if the purchased storage is too ample or insufficient to store your data, you will experience data loss. AWS comes to the rescue in such cases. You can use as many services as you like on AWS and only pay for those you use.
Building Blocks of AWS
AWS is organised into numerous sections that handle services like storing, server hosting, database administration, cloud hosting, etc. The following are the components that makeup AWS.
- Amazon EC2
- AWS Lightsail
- AWS Lambda
- Amazon S3
AWS EC2
EC2 is an abbreviation for Electric Compute Cloud. EC2 is a virtual server that provides resources such as CPU, memory, storage, and networking capacity depending on the requirement of the application.
Developers can select instances with varying CPU, memory, storage, and networking resource settings. Each type is offered in a variety of sizes to accommodate variable workloads.
Amazon Machine Images are used to build instances (AMI). The machine pictures function similarly to templates. They are pre-installed with an operating system (OS) and other software that determines the user’s operating environment. Users can choose from the AMIs given by AWS or design their own. There are three popular methods for creating an EC2 instance.
Compute Optimised: These are best used in situations where high request rates are needed and industry-leading processors are required.
Scientific and financial modelling and simulation, machine learning, enterprise data warehousing, and business intelligence are examples of types of applications.
Memory-Optimized: These instances have the cheapest memory cost. These instances are ideal for Open source databases, real-time big data analytics, and in-memory caching are examples of applications that benefit from greater memory and less CPU power.
Storage Optimised: These instances can access SSD storage exceptionally quickly in order to serve data retrieval requests.
They are also well-suited for memory-intensive applications such as data processing, data warehousing, analytics workloads, and log processing.
AWS Lightsail
In comparison to other AWS services, AWS lightsail is a simple cloud hosting server platform that is straightforward to deal with. AWS lightsail, which is ideal for beginners, allows users to set a server in only a few clicks.
Unlike EC2, which provides managed VM instances where you have complete control over every aspect of the VM, lightsail provides uncontrolled VM instances, ideal for small developers who do not want to cope with the complexity.
This service can easily host your website on the AWS network. Furthermore, with data centres in all major regions across the globe, consumers can enjoy a smooth and consistent connection at all times.
AWS Lambda
AWS Lamba is a serverless compute service that allows developers to run programs without having to handle the tedious task of managing servers.
You can concentrate on designing applications using lambda rather than worrying about CPU, storage, or memory infrastructures.
Amazon S3
When it comes to storing data, organisations must consider storage costs and security. The arrival of Amazon S3 alleviated this concern. Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a facility that allows you to store any quantity of data or information.
Running apps, providing services to clients, hosting websites, and storing up emails all necessitate data storage. Companies believed that remote storage repositories such as Amazon S3 were more trustworthy, adaptable, and safe than holding extremely critical info in unwarranted local repositories.
AWS S3 charges are relatively affordable compared to other cloud storage because you just pay for the amount of storage you utilise. In addition, if you need to transfer storage, AWS promises an immediate and appropriate storage transfer.
How Does AWS Charge for Its Services?
AWS services aren’t free to use, but that doesn’t imply they’re prohibitively expensive. Amazon has a pay-as-you-go feature that enables users to access any of their services for as long as they need them. You will only pay for the services you use.
For instance, suppose you manage an e-commerce website and sales spike one day. To provide quick service to clients, you will require a large amount of storage, services, and computing power.
When you use AWS, you won’t have to worry about not purchasing enough storage because it automatically allots the sufficient capacity to store data in its remote cloud storage. This advantageous aspect is not available in physical storage, which is why almost every organisation is migrating to AWS.
What Makes AWS So Secure and Highly Reliable?
AWS uses data centres to access, control, and operate its servers, storage, and other services. Currently, AWS operates 84 data centres across the globe, including Australia, Canada, India, Spain, New Zealand, Israel, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.
Data centres are scattered around the globe for privacy reasons. However, if an unanticipated malfunction or catastrophic event occurs, the data centre will be impacted, and services will be disrupted.
Multiple data centres are created to avoid the possibility of an abrupt interruption in service. However, in the event that one of the data centres is compromised, the service is continued by another data centre.
Third-party cyberattacks are also prevented in the data centres. Amazon makes significant measures to preserve its customers’ privacy. Amazon, which has extensive experience in cloud computing, employs comprehensive security and maintenance 24/7. If an issue arises, it is resolved within hours, which cannot be expected from local storage facilities.
Who Uses AWS?
AWS is a godsend for small business owners and aspiring startups. Not only does it provide storage at a minimal cost, but it also provides services that you would not be able to provide even if you built your own storage.
Before we get into the specifics of AWS, let’s take a look at some of the most well-known organisations that use it to manage their operations.
Airbnb
Airbnb is a vacation rental service that allows users to book hotels, motels, and temporary residences. During peak vacation periods, when demand for hotel rooms is high, the application must provide a seamless booking experience, which is accomplished utilising AWS.
Airbnb started using AWS after a year of its launching.
Disney
Unsurprisingly, Disney is a popular entertainment network for both children and adults. Disney benefits from AWS by providing seamless entertainment via channels and applications.
Epic Games
It’s no surprise that the world’s most renowned game firm, the creator of every popular game ever created, uses AWS to supply its services globally. Epic Games can give a flawless gaming experience to every user worldwide, thanks to AWS’s convenient features.
Netflix
Storage, video transcoding, recommendation engines, and analytics are all handled by AWS for the popular video streaming platform. This enables them to give high-quality videos to their viewers, which is why Netflix is the market leader in streaming media applications.
NASA
If you are still sceptical about the merits of AWS, you may rest certain that NASA, the American space agency, trusts in its services. NASA archives photographs, video footage, and other data collected over decades in AWS storage, which is still accessible to millions of people worldwide.
Pinterest is a one-stop destination for aesthetically appealing pictures in almost every area, and it relies on AWS for high-quality services.
Other major AWS users include Samsung, Twitter, Unilever, Reddit, McDonald’s, ITV, The Guardian, Financial Times, and many others.
We can infer from this information that these enterprises, which many regard as the leading competitors in their respective industries, place a high value on storage and server demands and rely on AWS to provide those needs.
AWS is extremely advantageous not only to large enterprises but also to small businesses.
Advantages of AWS Services
We’ve explored what AWS is and how it can help users relieve stress linked to storage and server constraints. Let’s wrap up this article by discussing the benefits of AWS services under the following headings:
- High-Level Security
- Scalability and Flexibility
- Global Availability
- Cost-Effective
High-Level Security
Most people are hesitant to use AWS because they are concerned about security. We’re here to dispel any possible doubts you may have.
Data centres scattered in remote and concealed locations throughout the world. The user, you, will have no knowledge of which data centre stores your information. Because Amazon applies top-level security measures to its data centres, it is safe to say that your information is protected.
AWS offers a variety of security options, including
- 24/7 access to data experts.
- IAM services are used to track user access.
- Built-in firewall which allows very specific access from highly restrictive to the public domain
- IAM services for tracking user access
- Features enabling multi-factor authentication and encrypted data storage
Scalability and Flexibility
Amazon does not provide a fixed package for you to use their services; instead, the services are provided based on your needs, which can be raised or dropped based on your activities. Therefore, Amazon is the best choice for cloud storage because it only charges you for the services and storage space you consume.
Global Availability
The AWS Cloud encompasses 84 Availability Zones across 26 geographic areas worldwide.
Cost-Effective
Since AWS prefers a pay-per-use approach, you only pay for the services you utilise. It also doesn’t charge any migration fees if you switch to another cloud storage provider.
The Bottom Line
Amazon Web Services is without a doubt the future of cloud technology. As one of the most successful subsidiaries of the Amazon conglomerate, it is constantly improving and introducing profitable features to attract more consumers.
If you are looking for a career in the technology industry, then without a doubt, the knowledge of AWS is necessary and will be useful in a variety of ways.
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