Other Services

Amazon WorkSpaces (Managed Desktop as a Service – DaaS)

Definition

• Amazon WorkSpaces is a fully managed Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering from AWS.
• Allows users to provision Windows or Linux virtual desktops in the AWS Cloud.

Purpose

• Replaces on-premises Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions.
• Provides a secure, scalable, and cost-effective way to deliver desktop environments to users.

Key Features

• Managed DaaS: AWS manages the infrastructure, storage, and desktop provisioning.
• Platform Support: Supports both Windows and Linux desktops.
• Security: Integrated with AWS KMS for encryption and can operate within a VPC for network isolation.
• Pay-as-you-go Pricing: Pay only for the desktops you use (hourly or monthly).
• Remote Access: Users can securely connect from anywhere (home, office, etc.) to their cloud desktop.

Use Case Example

• A company wants to give employees secure remote access to corporate resources without managing physical laptops or VDI infrastructure.
• IT admins provision WorkSpaces for employees to access internal systems securely via the cloud.

Performance and Latency

• Minimize latency by deploying WorkSpaces in regions closest to end users.
  • Example:
  • U.S. office → Deploy WorkSpaces in a U.S. region.
  • European office → Deploy WorkSpaces in a European region.
• General Rule: For any AWS application, deploy resources close to users to improve performance and reduce latency.

Exam Tips

• If you see keywords like:
  • “Managed desktop in the cloud”
  • “Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) replacement”
  • “Secure Windows/Linux desktops for remote users”
• Remember: WorkSpaces = Managed Virtual Desktops in AWS Cloud

Amazon AppStream 2.0

Definition

• Amazon AppStream 2.0 is a fully managed desktop application streaming service.
• It allows users to stream individual desktop applications to any device through a web browser, without installing or managing infrastructure.

Purpose

• Designed for application delivery, not full desktops.
• Lets users access software like Blender, Eclipse, OpenOffice, Firefox, etc., directly in a browser.
• Removes the need for local installations or on-premises servers.

Key Features

• Application-Focused: Streams specific apps, not entire desktops.
• Browser-Based Access: Users access apps via any device with a web browser.
• No Infrastructure Setup: AWS handles scaling, maintenance, and provisioning.
• Customizable Performance: Configure instance types per application (e.g., more CPU/GPU for Photoshop or Blender).
• Scalable and Secure: Easily supports multiple users, securely managed through AWS.

Comparison: AppStream 2.0 vs WorkSpaces

Use Case Example

• An organization wants employees or students to use desktop applications remotely (e.g., 3D modeling or coding tools) without installing them locally.
• They use AppStream 2.0 to stream these applications through a web browser on any device.

Exam Tips

• Keywords like “stream applications,” “run desktop apps in a browser,” or “no full desktop environment” point to Amazon AppStream 2.0.
• Remember:
  • WorkSpaces = Full virtual desktop (VDI)
  • AppStream 2.0 = Application streaming to browsers

IoT Core Overview

• AWS IoT Core lets connected devices (sensors, appliances, etc.) communicate securely with AWS services.
• Supports MQTT, HTTP, and WebSockets for messaging.
• Enables real-time data ingestion, device management, and rule-based data routing.
• Example: Sending temperature data from IoT sensors to AWS Lambda or DynamoDB.

Elastic Transcoder Overview

• Amazon Elastic Transcoder converts (transcodes) media files from one format to another for playback on various devices.
• Fully managed and scalable.
• Example: Convert uploaded videos in S3 to mobile-friendly MP4 versions.
• (Note: AWS MediaConvert is the modern replacement, but Elastic Transcoder still appears in CCP-level content.)

AppSync

• AWS AppSync is a managed GraphQL API service that allows applications to query and update data in real time across multiple data sources (DynamoDB, Lambda, RDS, etc.).
• Automatically handles data synchronization and offline access.
• Example: A mobile app fetching user data through a single GraphQL endpoint.

Amplify

• AWS Amplify helps developers build, deploy, and host full-stack web and mobile applications quickly.
• Integrates with backend services like AppSync, Cognito, S3, and Lambda.
• Example: Rapidly building a React web app with AWS backend resources automatically configured.

AWS Infrastructure Composer

• AWS Infrastructure Composer is a visual tool for designing and deploying AWS architectures using drag-and-drop components.
• Generates Infrastructure as Code (IaC) templates (CloudFormation or CDK).
• Speeds up architecture prototyping and deployment.

Device Farm Overview

• AWS Device Farm is an app testing service that lets you test Android, iOS, and web apps on real physical devices in the AWS Cloud.
• Identifies issues across devices and operating systems.
• Example: Automatically testing a mobile app on multiple phone models.

AWS Backup Overview

• AWS Backup provides centralized, automated backup management across AWS services (EBS, RDS, DynamoDB, EFS, etc.).
• Supports backup policies, retention rules, and cross-region backup.
• Ensures data protection and compliance.

Disaster Recovery Strategies

AWS defines several Disaster Recovery (DR) strategies, based on cost vs recovery speed:

AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery (DRS)

• AWS DRS continuously replicates your on-premises or cloud-based servers to AWS for fast recovery.
• Enables quick failover to AWS during disasters.
• Replaces the older AWS CloudEndure Disaster Recovery service.

AWS DataSync

• AWS DataSync automates data transfer between on-premises storage and AWS (or between AWS services).
• Uses accelerated, secure, and scheduled transfers for large datasets.
• Supports S3, EFS, FSx, and NFS/SMB sources.
• Example: Migrating on-premises file servers to S3.

Cloud Migration Strategies – The 7Rs

Common strategies for migrating applications to AWS:

1. Retire – Decommission unused apps.
2. Retain – Keep apps on-premises.
3. Rehost – “Lift and shift” to AWS with minimal changes.
4. Replatform – “Lift, tinker, and shift” (small optimizations).
5. Repurchase – Move to SaaS alternatives (e.g., Salesforce).
6. Refactor/Re-architect – Redesign using cloud-native services.
7. Relocate – Move entire infrastructure (e.g., VMware) to AWS with minimal changes.

Application Discovery Service & Application Migration Service

• Application Discovery Service (ADS): Collects on-premises system data (CPU, memory, dependencies) to plan migrations.
• Application Migration Service (MGN): Automates “lift and shift” migration of servers to AWS by replicating live servers.
• ADS = Assessment, MGN = Execution.

AWS Migration Evaluator

• Provides cost estimates and migration assessments based on current on-premises workloads.
• Helps determine TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and potential AWS savings.
• Often used before migration to justify business cases.

AWS Fault Injection Simulator (FIS)

• AWS FIS is a chaos engineering service used to test system resilience by simulating real-world failures (e.g., instance crash, network latency).
• Helps identify weaknesses and improve reliability before production issues occur.

Step Functions

• AWS Step Functions is a workflow orchestration service that coordinates multiple AWS services (like Lambda, ECS, SNS, etc.) into a sequence of steps.
• Uses visual workflows defined in JSON-based state machines.
• Example: Automating a process like uploading a file → processing it → storing results.

Ground Station

• AWS Ground Station enables customers to control satellites and process satellite data directly in AWS.
• Removes the need to build and manage ground station infrastructure.
• Example: Satellite companies download imagery and analyze it using AWS analytics tools.

AWS Pinpoint

• AWS Pinpoint is a marketing and user engagement service for sending targeted emails, SMS, push notifications, and voice messages.
• Helps analyze customer engagement and segment audiences.
• Example: Sending promotional emails to users who recently signed up.