What is AWS and how can it benefit your business? This is the question that we frequently get from SMEs in Singapore
AWS stands for Amazon Web Services, an Amazon-owned cloud storage solution that has numerous benefits to business owners. According to its official description, AWS is a service that offers a broad set of global compute, storage, database, analytics, application and deployment services that assist organisations in moving faster, lowering IT costs and, scaling applications.
Should I Use AWS For My Singapore Website?
AWS is the fastest-growing cloud services provider. It has hundreds of thousands of users across the world, including notable companies such as Netflix, SAP, Coursera, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Thomson Reuters, and many more.
If you are still contemplating whether to start using this platform, the prominence of AWS’s clientele should be enough to convince you.
Standout Features of AWS
Amazon Web Services has a variety of features that make it applicable to different types of businesses. Here are some of the standout features of AWS.
Mobile-friendly Access
Under this category, there are two features – the AWS Mobile Hub and AWS Mobile SDK.
AWS Mobile Hub
This feature works on both Android and iOS devices. AWS Mobile Hub has an inbuilt console that allows you to access AWS services such as development, testing and monitoring of your applications.
Making it a valuable resource for various industries, including AWS for gaming, where reliable infrastructure and scalability are essential for delivering seamless gaming experiences.
The hub also supports content delivery and push notifications.
AWS Mobile SDK
The AWS Mobile SDK allows you to access features such as dynamo DB, S3, and Lambda. The Mobile SDK is computable with iOS, Android, Web, Unity, React Native and many other platforms.
Serverless Cloud Functions
Amazon API and Amazon Gateway assist you in running and scaling your code. All you have to do is upload the code using your smartphone. AWS will take control of the scaling, patching and administration of infrastructure, meaning that you have more time to focus on building your applications.
Databases
Amazon will provide a database that meets your needs. Even better, AWS will manage the databases on your behalf.
Relational Database
This is built for transactional purposes.
Non-relational Database
This is ideal for internet-scale applications.
Data Warehouse
This is best for analytics.
In-memory Data Store
This is suited for caching and handling real-time workloads.
The Graph Database
This works with applications with highly connected data.
Storage
AWS provides an economical, flexible and easy to use storage service. You can either use it independently or in combination with other resources to meet your business requirements. There are three types of storage – the Amazon Glacier for long-term storage, the Amazon EBS for block-level storage volumes, and Amazon Simple Storage Service, which is a scalable storage for analytics and backup.
Security and Compliance
AWS protects at the protocol and port access level. Its security associates with EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) instances and some rules filter the traffic going in and out of these instances. Rules consist of four fields, namely type, protocol, port range, and source.
AWS Marketplace
This is an online store where users can access and purchase software for their business. It operates on a one-click deployment and users can launch the software they want by paying only for what they use. The marketplace has both free and commercial software solutions.
Benefits of AWS to Your Business
Here are some of the benefits you stand to enjoy if you start using AWS for your business in Singapore.
Easy to Use
AWS allows you to host your applications quickly and securely. This applies to both existing applications and new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS-based) applications. You can easily access the AWS application hosting platform using the AWS Management Console or well-documented web services.
No Commitments
One of the most significant befits of AWS is that there are no commitments. You will pay all services by the hour, meaning that you are no longer required to pay once you terminate the connection to AWS servers. Also, there is no minimum spend to be able to use AWS.
Cost-Effective
On AWS, you only pay for the computing power, storage and any other resource you use.
Scalability
Using AWS tools such as Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing, you can easily scale your applications up or down based on the demand. You have access to computing and storage resources whenever the need arises.
Flexibility and Customisable
With AWS, you have the freedom to choose your preferred programing language, database, operating system, and other assets. This enables you to create a solution that works perfectly for your business.
Instead of wasting time and resources on an unfamiliar program, AWS lets you customise the solution to suit your preferences. This way, you get time to attend to and improve your business.
Security
If you are to invest in any solution that handles data, security must be one of the top consideration factors. AWS has state-of-the-art security infrastructure both on the ground and online.
Its data centres are under 24/7 protection by trained security guards. Only authorised personnel can access these facilities. Furthermore, these centres are spread out in multiple locations, meaning that there is always a backup in case of a natural disaster or system failures.
AWS allows you to configure firewalls to three access modes – public, private or a mixture of the two to control access to your information. You can also keep a log of the activities using the CloudTrail, and Identity & Access Management (IAM) features that come with AWS.
Is AWS PDPA Compliant?
The personal data protection act (PDPA) is a data protection law that safeguards the confidentiality of personal data in Singapore. AWS’s practices are in line with the objectives of PDPA, as it grants users total control over their content. These users are solely responsible for implementing security measures to protect their information, and AWS works to provide the resources needed for this task.
Furthermore, AWS services such as development does not have access to user data. It is the role of users to ensure that they are compliant with the PDPA.
Conclusion
If you are after a fast, flexible, secure, and affordable cloud storage solution, AWS is your best bet. The most exciting features include no commitments and paying only for what you use.
Lastly, this service is supported by Amazon’s vast infrastructure, meaning that it can comfortably handle the operations of any business, regardless of its size.
Get in touch for more information about AWS and how it can impact your digital marketing strategies in Singapore.
