As a leading global trading company, Amazon operates data centers worldwide, providing customers with access to a range of bookable services, including virtual servers, storage solutions, networking, databases, and comprehensive development interfaces. Notably, some of these services are even available at no cost to interested customers.

In addition to its own services, AWS provides the opportunity for users to promote their products on specialized marketplaces through the platform. Notable clients leveraging Amazon’s servers include renowned cloud service Dropbox, NASA, and Netflix. However, AWS isn’t just appealing to large corporations; it also serves government institutions and individual users. The platform’s remarkable scalability, coupled with high availability, makes it an attractive option for a diverse range of customers.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands as the largest provider of cloud computing platforms today, commanding a significant share of the market. Its dominance can be attributed in part to being one of the earliest providers to offer services on such a vast scale.

Today, this model is not exclusive to startups. Here are several large companies that significantly depend on this solution:

• Netflix
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

The list is very long.

Expedia, a prominent travel company, utilizes this technology in approximately 80 percent of major applications. The primary advantage highlighted by Expedia is its ability to facilitate the rapid introduction of innovations.

Cloud computing refers to the ability to access virtual computing resources or platforms over the Internet. It encompasses three distinct variants:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS),
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) and
• Software as a Service (SaaS).

Users can enjoy numerous benefits when opting for cloud computing:

Beyond substantial cost savings from eliminating the need for hardware, cloud services offer significant advantages such as high scalability and robust data security. These benefits are crucial for both businesses and individuals looking to leverage cloud technology.

The most recognized services encompass virtual server management and virtual storage solutions, prominently featuring Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Simple Storage Service (S3).

EC2 Elastic Compute Cloud

EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is a fully scalable virtual server designed to adapt to your specific needs. These servers typically operate without fixed contract periods, allowing for hourly, minute, or even second billing. This flexibility enables potential customers to access computing capacity quickly during peak times, without the constraints of long-term commitments.

Alongside the required performance offered across various tiers, you have the flexibility to choose between Linux and Windows as your server operating system.

S3 Simple Storage Service

Another prominent offering from Amazon’s cloud services is the [S3 (Simple Storage Service)](https://aws.amazon.com/de/s3/), a robust file hosting solution. This service functions as a storage management system with virtually unlimited capacity. You only pay for the storage you actually use, and accessing your files is seamless through a user-friendly web interface via HTTP/HTTPS.

Alongside traditional online storage, Amazon Web Services provides virtual network drives and archiving solutions. The availability of data is assured with a remarkable 99.99% reliability.

Virtual databases from the cloud

Cloud-based virtual databases are included in the offering as well. AWS differentiates between two key products: SimpleDB and Relational Database Services (RDS).

SimpleDB

SimpleDB offers an intuitive solution for efficient data management. It enables you to store and pay for small to medium-sized data volumes within a high-performance environment, ensuring you only pay for the storage space you actually use.

Relational Database Service (RDS)

RDS is built on MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, or Oracle, and its pricing is determined by the amount of storage utilized and the computing resources allocated.

Elastic Beanstalk

Beyond its virtual computing capabilities, AWS provides access to development environments and directory services. The Elastic Beanstalk platform serves as a robust platform-as-a-service for development in Java and Python, as well as for managing containers with Docker.

Additionally, AWS provides various services, including workflow and notification management, designed to enable developers to centrally control and streamline their tasks. A significant advantage for developers is the opportunity to showcase their work to third parties through the well-known AWS Marketplace.

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Amazon employs Identity and Access Management (IAM) as its directory service, allowing you to effectively manage users and roles. Additionally, IAM facilitates user management for Amazon S3 and EC2 services, enhancing security and control over your resources.

Amazon CloudWatch

Amazon provides customized solutions for administrative processes, such as monitoring booked services. For instance, you can effectively track and manage your booked servers and storage solutions using Amazon CloudWatch. Additionally, you can effortlessly design scaling plans that enable you to switch to more robust service tiers during peak periods.

The eight most used services include:

• Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)
• Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud 2 (EC2)
• Amazon CloudDrive (Classic Cloud Storage)
• Amazon CloudSearch (Powerful search service)
• Amazon Dynamo Database (NoSQL database)
• Amazon ElastiCache (Caching-Service)
• Amazon Mechanical Turk (network for “human intelligence”)
• Amazon Redshift (Data Warehouse-Service)

Amazon’s cloud service frequently faces criticism due to the more lenient data protection regulations in the United States compared to those in Germany and Europe. In Europe, companies are required to align with the GDPR and ensure compliance, even when utilizing AWS.

The onus of securing data and applications in the cloud falls squarely on the companies themselves. If you anticipate challenges in implementing the GDPR, please reach out to us. We are here to provide you with the support you need.

Are you thinking about using AWS services? Let’s explore why AWS is a favorite choice for so many businesses:

1. Free to Start

If you’re just starting out, like many startups, AWS makes it easy to dip your toes into cloud solutions—completely free! For example, you can develop and host an app on AWS without any costs upfront. You’ll only start paying once your app gains traction and attracts a larger audience. This means you can save on initial investments and only pay for success.

2. Effortless Scalability

If your app takes off and your server resources start feeling the strain, no problem! AWS allows you to quickly and easily scale up by adding more EC2 instances. It’s as simple as a few clicks.

3. All-in-One Solution

Setting up a professional server setup often involves juggling multiple providers: a database from one, servers from another, and data storage from yet another. The result? A patchwork that’s hard to manage. AWS simplifies this by offering everything you need in one comprehensive solution.

4. Quick Setup

With AWS, getting your server setup up and running is a breeze. Compared to the time-consuming process of piecing together solutions from various providers, AWS lets you hit the ground running faster than ever.

5. Lightning-Fast Performance

Thanks to its user-friendly design and scalability, AWS solutions are built for speed. Whether you’re running a small project or a large-scale application, you can count on fast execution.

AWS takes the complexity out of cloud computing, making it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. Ready to explore? Dive into AWS and see the difference for yourself!