Platforms
AWS
Amazon's cloud platform, offering compute, storage, databases and managed services paid for by use, with running costs that follow the architecture you choose.
Part of Cloud, Data & AI
Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides compute, storage, networking, databases and managed services that are used on demand and paid for by use, instead of bought as hardware.
Where it fits
Capacity stops being a procurement decision. Environments can be created and removed as needed, which makes realistic test environments affordable. Managed services take over operational work: a managed database such as Amazon RDS applies minor patches, takes automated backups, and fails over when Multi-AZ is enabled. AWS also has a region in Bangkok for workloads that need to keep data in Thailand.
Its limits
Running cost becomes a monthly expense that follows architecture decisions, so an inefficient design shows up on every invoice. Moving a system onto AWS unchanged often does not save money. Savings come from scaling down when demand drops and from managed services, and a static workload on always-on instances can cost more than the hardware it replaced.
How we use it
We set up account structure, identity and access, and cost-allocation tags before the first workload moves, because adding them later across live systems is harder. We use managed services where they remove work the client's team would otherwise carry. On the GMMTV e-book platform, sign-in runs on Amazon Cognito.