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AWS Services Overview

Introduction

AWS provides a wide range of cloud services that support computing, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning, and more.
This document gives an overview of the most important service categories.


Compute

AWS Compute services provide scalable computing capacity in the cloud.

  • Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud): Virtual machines with customizable CPU, memory, and storage.
  • AWS Lambda: Serverless compute for running code without provisioning servers.
  • Amazon ECS (Elastic Container Service): Managed container orchestration.
  • Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service): Managed Kubernetes clusters.
  • AWS Fargate: Serverless containers for ECS/EKS.
  • AWS Batch: Run batch computing workloads at scale.
  • AWS Elastic Beanstalk: Easy deployment of applications.
  • AWS Outposts: Extend AWS infrastructure to on-premises environments, enabling hybrid cloud.

Storage

AWS offers durable, scalable, and cost-efficient storage services.

  • Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service): Object storage for any amount of data.
  • Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store): Block storage for EC2 instances.
  • Amazon EFS (Elastic File System): Managed network file system.
  • Amazon Glacier & S3 Glacier Deep Archive: Low-cost long-term archival storage.

Database

AWS provides a variety of managed database services.

  • Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service): Managed relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MariaDB, Aurora).
  • Amazon DynamoDB: Fully managed NoSQL key-value database.
  • Amazon Redshift: Data warehouse for analytics.
  • Amazon Aurora: High-performance relational database compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Networking & Content Delivery

AWS networking services provide secure, scalable, and low-latency connectivity.

  • Amazon VPC (Virtual Private Cloud): Isolated cloud networks.
  • Elastic Load Balancing (ELB): Distributes incoming traffic across multiple targets.
  • Amazon Route 53: DNS and traffic routing service.
  • AWS CloudFront: Content Delivery Network (CDN).
  • AWS Direct Connect: Dedicated network connections to AWS.
  • AWS Transit Gateway: Simplifies VPC networking by enabling centralized connectivity.

Migration

Services that help migrate applications and data to AWS.

  • AWS Migration Hub: Central place to track migrations.
  • AWS Database Migration Service (DMS): Migrate databases with minimal downtime.
  • AWS Server Migration Service (SMS): Migrate on-premises workloads to AWS.

Management Tools

Services for monitoring, managing, and automating cloud resources.

  • AWS CloudWatch: Monitor metrics, logs, and alarms.
  • AWS CloudTrail: Track API calls for auditing.
  • AWS Config: Track resource configurations and compliance.
  • AWS Systems Manager: Manage resources across AWS and on-premises.

Security, Identity & Compliance

Security and compliance services to protect data and resources.

  • AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): Manage user access.
  • AWS Key Management Service (KMS): Encrypt data with managed keys.
  • AWS Shield: DDoS protection.
  • AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall): Protect web apps from common exploits.
  • AWS Secrets Manager: Securely manage secrets like API keys and passwords.

Application Integration

Services that connect applications and workflows.

  • Amazon SQS (Simple Queue Service): Message queuing service.
  • Amazon SNS (Simple Notification Service): Pub/Sub messaging.
  • AWS Step Functions: Workflow orchestration.
  • Amazon EventBridge: Event-driven application integration.

Analytics

Analytics services allow insights from large volumes of data.

  • Amazon Kinesis: Real-time data streaming.
  • Amazon EMR (Elastic MapReduce): Big data processing with Hadoop, Spark, etc.
  • Amazon QuickSight: Business intelligence and data visualization.
  • AWS Lake Formation: Simplifies building secure data lakes.

Customer Engagement

Services for customer support and engagement.

  • Amazon Connect: Cloud-based contact center.
  • Amazon Pinpoint: Targeted customer communications.
  • Amazon Simple Email Service (SES): Email sending and receiving.

Mobile Services

  • AWS Amplify: Build and deploy mobile/web applications.
  • Amazon Cognito: User authentication for web and mobile apps.

Desktop & App Streaming

  • Amazon WorkSpaces: Managed desktop-as-a-service.
  • Amazon AppStream 2.0: Stream desktop applications to any device.

Media Services

  • AWS Elemental MediaConvert: File-based video transcoding.
  • AWS Elemental MediaLive: Live video encoding.
  • AWS Elemental MediaStore: Media storage.

Business Productivity

  • Amazon WorkDocs: Document collaboration.
  • Amazon WorkMail: Secure email and calendaring.

Developer Tools

AWS provides tools for developers and DevOps engineers.

  • AWS CodeCommit: Source control (like Git).
  • AWS CodeBuild: Build automation.
  • AWS CodeDeploy: Automated deployment.
  • AWS CodePipeline: CI/CD orchestration.

Machine Learning

AWS offers a rich set of AI and ML services.

  • Amazon SageMaker: Build, train, and deploy ML models.
  • AWS Rekognition: Image and video analysis.
  • Amazon Lex: Conversational AI (chatbots).
  • Amazon Polly: Text-to-speech service.
  • Amazon Translate: Language translation.
  • Amazon Comprehend: Natural language processing.
  • AWS RoboMaker: Robotics development and simulation.

Internet of Things (IoT)

  • AWS IoT Core: Connect devices to the cloud.
  • AWS IoT Greengrass: Extend AWS to edge devices.

AR & VR

  • Amazon Sumerian: Create and run AR/VR applications.

Game Development

  • Amazon GameLift: Managed service for deploying multiplayer game servers.