Learning AWS - Getting Started with AWS (Part One)

Introduction:

Welcome to the first part of our journey into the world of AWS. As I progress through the AWS Certified Solutions Architect course, I’ll be sharing my learnings and insights with you. In this post, we'll cover the basics of AWS, its global infrastructure, and some key statistics to give you a solid foundation.

Understanding AWS

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform offering over 200 fully-featured services from data centers globally. AWS is the leading cloud provider in terms of market share and innovation. Here are some updated stats and details about AWS:

History of AWS

AWS launched in 2002 internally at Amazon.com to externalize IT operations. Realizing the potential, they made their first public offering, SQS, in 2004. In 2006, they expanded their services with S3 and EC2, marking the official launch of AWS. Over the years, AWS has continued to innovate, offering a wide range of services that support companies like Dropbox, Netflix, Airbnb, and NASA.

and here is a link for AWS Services launch history

Global Presence

AWS operates in multiple regions around the world, each containing multiple Availability Zones (AZs). As of 2023, AWS has 30 geographic regions and 96 Availability Zones, with plans to launch more regions and AZs in the near future.

AWS Global Infrastructure is where you can see the whole AWS regions and availability zones. also if you want to see that in 3D map you can see it from https://apps.kaonadn.net/5181491956940800/index.html

Revenue and Growth

AWS continues to experience rapid growth. In 2023, AWS generated over $100 billion in annual revenue, reflecting the increasing adoption of cloud services across various industries. AWS's strong financial performance highlights its importance in Amazon’s overall business strategy.

The following chart represents the AWS revenue growth over the years from 2018 to 2023.

Year	Revenue (in billions USD)
2018	25.7
2019	35.0
2020	45.4
2021	62.2
2022	80.1
2023	100.0

Core Services

1. Compute: AWS provides various compute services, including EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), which allows users to run virtual servers on the cloud, and Lambda, a serverless computing service that lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers.

2. Storage: S3 (Simple Storage Service) is one of the most popular storage services, offering scalable and secure object storage for a wide range of use cases. EBS (Elastic Block Store) provides block storage for use with EC2 instances.

3. Database: AWS offers a variety of database services, including RDS (Relational Database Service) for traditional relational databases, DynamoDB for NoSQL databases, and Redshift for data warehousing.

4. Networking: AWS’s global network infrastructure includes VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) for creating isolated networks, Route 53 for domain name services, and CloudFront for content delivery.

Regions and Availability Zones

AWS regions are physical locations spread across the globe. Each region consists of multiple AZs, which are isolated data centers within a region. This design enhances fault tolerance and high availability. For example, the US East (N. Virginia) region has six AZs, while the Asia Pacific (Sydney) region has three AZs.

Choosing the Right AWS Region

When launching a new application, choosing the right AWS region is crucial. Here are the factors you should consider:

1. Compliance: Some governments have strict regulations requiring data to be stored within the country. For instance, if you are deploying an application in France, you might need to store the data in a French region to comply with local laws.

2. Latency: To provide the best user experience, choose a region close to your primary user base. If most of your users are in the United States, deploying your application in a U.S. region will reduce latency and improve performance. Deploying in a far-off region like Australia can lead to significant lag.

3. Service Availability: Not all AWS services are available in every region. Before choosing a region, ensure it offers all the services you need for your application. For example, some newer services might be available only in select regions initially.

4. Pricing: AWS service pricing can vary between regions. It’s important to compare costs and factor in any potential savings or increased expenses based on your chosen region.

Advantages of Using AWS

1. Scalability: AWS services can scale up or down based on demand, ensuring you only pay for what you use.
2. Flexibility: AWS supports a wide range of operating systems, programming languages, and databases, giving you the flexibility to choose the best tools for your needs.
3. Security: AWS follows a shared responsibility model, ensuring robust security for its infrastructure while providing tools for users to secure their applications.
4. Cost-Effectiveness: With a pay-as-you-go pricing model, AWS helps businesses manage costs effectively while providing access to cutting-edge technology.

In this post, we've covered an introduction to AWS, its global infrastructure, and key services. AWS's expansive and reliable cloud platform continues to drive innovation and business growth across the globe. Stay tuned for the next part, where we'll dive deeper into specific AWS services and their applications.

If you’re interested in learning more about AWS, consider exploring the AWS Free Tier, which provides free access to various AWS services for a limited period. Happy learning!