Cloud computing is like renting a computer or software over the internet. You use it when you need it and only pay for what you use. It's a flexible and cost-effective way to access technology resources.
Amazon Web Services (AWS), is a cloud platform or cloud computing provider. Think of AWS as a massive toolbox with all the tools you need to build and maintain digital things, without having to physically own or store the tools yourself. For example, Netflix stores all of their movies and shows on AWS, so they don't have to buy and maintain any physical storage.
Have you ever wondered where all the pictures or messages in your apps get stored? Or how websites run and update without having a physical computer somewhere that you can point to? Well, say hello to cloud computing.
Psst... and who’s one of the major wizards behind this magic? It’s AWS!
Cloud Computing is like having a powerful computer on the internet. You can use it to store data, run apps, build cool things or do anything you’d usually do on a computer.
Let's break down this concept with a few examples.
Streaming music and videos
Online collaboration
Mobile banking and finance
Amazon Web Services (AWS), is one of the most popular cloud computing platforms in the world. It’s like a big virtual toolshed that allows you to rent anything from storage spaces to powerful computing machines.
Traditionally, businesses had to use physical hardware to run computer tasks. This use of physical hardware is called traditional infrastructure. It’s different from cloud computing, as cloud computing also runs computer tasks, but over the internet – without needing physical servers*.
Cloud computing is cheaper, more reliable, faster, and easier than owning and managing all the hardware yourself. Let's break down the differences:
* What is a server? Imagine you have a big, powerful computer. This computer isn't like the one you might have on your desk - it’s designed to run all day, every day, and with lots of power to run many things at the same time. This special computer is what we called a server.
AWS stands for Amazon Web Services. It's like an enormous digital toolshed owned by Amazon where businesses (and people like you and me!) can rent space and resources. Instead of buying and maintaining costly hardware, AWS allows you to use its servers, storage, and other services on a pay-as-you-go basis. These products are delivered over the internet.
From its origin in 2006, AWS transformed Amazon’s business models and changed how other businesses, large and small, operate. AWS offers over 200 fully featured services from data centres globally - from infrastructure technologies like compute, storage, and databases–to emerging technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, data lakes and analytics, and Internet of Things.
AWS introduced the concept of cloud computing and continues to be the leader today, with 32% of all cloud computing customers in the world using AWS. AWS services are trusted by millions of active customers to lower costs, become more agile, and innovate faster.
To make things more tangible, let’s talk about the two most popular AWS services:
AWS offers a broad spectrum of services that cater to different needs. Here's a simple breakdown of AWS' service categories. We'll be diving into the 'how' of these categories later on!
*It's easy to think applications (or 'apps' for short) are just what's on our phones - Facebook or WhatsApp - but those are only one type of application. Apps are a bunch of code that run on computers, phones and other devices. They're designed to perform specific tasks, like loading nextwork.org on the internet, sending messages, playing games, or managing your calendar.