Amazon Web Services: Why it’s a Good Place to Host Business Data

As companies adapt to this digital era and start using the internet and other digital resources to operate, they usually start having problems handling all the new data that starts pouring in. As technology becomes more present, the amount of incoming data begins to grow exponentially. To avoid being overwhelmed by all of this information, it is essential for businesses to find cost-efficient ways to store, maintain and back up that data.

From data files to databases, emails, app data and more, each with its own level of complexity to store and maintain, it is clear that a company’s amount of stored data is not only significant but also varied.

While many businesses have traditionally opted for company-owned in-house servers to store this information, experience says that these have very high up-front costs and on-going maintenance costs, and carry the risks of downtime due to unexpected eventualities like power outages and natural disasters.

All these factors, in addition to the rise of a cloud server model, are motivating more and more companies every day to access enterprise-level IT infrastructures to store and maintain data, at a fraction of the cost. Among all the providers of these kinds of infrastructures, there is one that’s making headlines because of all the advantages it provides regarding price, security, and scale. It’s Amazon Web Services.

Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services is an Amazon subsidiary which provides cloud computing capability to anyone who wishes to use it. Cloud computing involves using virtual machines over the internet to store, access and backup all types of data, like files, databases, applications and websites just like you are used to but replacing the need of owning and maintaining your hardware.

It’s an all-in-one solution to reduce the cost of maintenance and security of your business’s IT infrastructure and perhaps the best one in existence. Amazon Web Services has one of (if not) the most significant infrastructure with 15 data centers across the US. They also happen to have been named a worldwide leader in cloud infrastructure by Gartner, which is no small feat.

How is it Helpful

1. Security of Data

As opposed to what one may initially believe, a Public Cloud Environment does not mean a service of public access. It only means that storage space and processing power on a single server can be assigned to different users, which is very different. In fact, Amazon Web Services’ is compliant with the most demanding security standards like HIPAA, FedRAMP, PCI, and SEC. On top of this, it has some of the best teams dedicated to monitoring cyber attacks to their infrastructure. They even have very high-security standards in their physical facilities that prevent most people from just walking into any data center.

AWS offers its clients the tools to lock down their data and implement many layers of security, including data encryption, monitoring, and logging, access control with multi-factor authentication and Denial of Service (DDos) attack mitigation. All your business’s data is encrypted when it is resting in the servers and when it is in transit to provide maximum protection. Proof of the quality and reliability of their service is the fact that it is used by companies like Netflix, Airbnb and the US State Department and NASA.

2. Accurate Costing

Since you only pay for the exact amount of space you use, your budget becomes much more accurate, in addition to being considerably smaller as well. Usually, you base the budget on what you think you’ll require. With AWS, you can get an exact estimate and go with it. This also means that the service can scale with your data storage and computing power needs as they grow in size.

3. End-User Experience

A common fear of migrating to a cloud solution like Amazon Web Services is that it dramatically changes the way the average user will access and interact with files, such as a company shared drive. Fortunately, with the right tools and stable internet connection, you can replicate the same set-up your staff is familiar with to work from anywhere, without sacrificing performance and productivity. When it comes to uptime, AWS is committed to Monthly Uptime Percentage of at least 99.95%.

If your organization’s workload requires a bandwidth-heavy connection and enhanced security, AWS offers a private cloud setup with a dedicated network connection from your network to AWS.

Things to Watch Out For

Technical Understanding

AWS offers a vast range of products through its public cloud, but it’s not simple to understand. Before you make any decision, ask your IT personnel about the services to understand precisely what you need. This will prevent overspending and disruptions or downtime to your organization. It will also prevent your business network from becoming too complicated for your own good.

Migration Difficulty

When you migrate your business data to Amazon Web Services, make sure you have an expert sitting alongside monitoring and conducting the process. The slightest slip-ups could cause you to lose your business data. An expert will make the transition smoother and more successful for you. It is recommended to find an official AWS Partner with experience under their belt.

The Amazon Web Services public cloud is an excellent place for your business data. You can store any amount of data you want and rest knowing that it is protected with some of the highest cybersecurity standards in existence. There are many other services that you can use as well. Consulting an expert before making the switch is the best way to go about it, and Envision Consulting has a vast amount of experience with Amazon Web Services to help you make a confident transition to the cloud.

Contact us if your organization is ready for the big move. Our team will help you plan an AWS migration tailored to your business needs.