What is AWS

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a subsidiary of Amazon.com that provides on-demand cloud
computing platforms to individuals, companies and governments, on a paid subscription basis.
The technology allows subscribers to have at their disposal a virtual cluster of computers,
available all the time, through the Internet.
Layman terms –

What is cloud –

To start simply, think of cloud computing as using someone else's computer. For instance, if
you are using Gmail, you are storing your mails on Google's cloud. Your emails are not in
your local PC, but in Google's hard disc. If you are storing files on Dropbox, you are keeping
your files on Dropbox' cloud. Or think of what happens when you play a video on Youtube.
All the movie files are in Google's computers while you are able to watch them 1000s of miles
away from it.

Need for AWS (or cloud in general)–

Previously, companies and consumers just bought their own computers and maintained it.
You will use your PC to store all your songs, videos, files etc. In the same way, your company
will maintain its own servers for storing all the company's documents.
This process is inefficient as maintaining computers is expensive. You need to do all the hard
work like periodically buy new computers, update the OS, secure the system and back data
up periodically.

Competitors –

 Microsoft Azure.
 2) Google Cloud.
 3) Alibaba Cloud.
 4) IBM.
 5) Oracle.
 6) Virtustream.
 7) CenturyLink

Advantages of cloud platforms

Scalable and adaptable - you have a new business idea and need quick
implementation, you can just pay using credit card and buy more computing
resources. Earlier you had to buy new computers, set them up, buy software, space
etc

Security and Reliability -

Data is more secure on Amazon’s web servers than it can be on your computers.
Your hard drives might crash but with multiple backups and security, you can be
assured that your data won’t be lost
Competition avenues-
1. Cost – with many players in market, its important to keep your offering
competitive and billing method transparent
2. Customizations – Offer customers specifically what they want, the amount of
granularity offered to customers in selecting their package is very critical.