AWS 101: What You Need to Know About the Core Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services and tools for businesses and individuals. It was launched by Amazon in 2006, and since then has become the leading cloud service provider in the market. AWS provides a secure, reliable, and cost-effective infrastructure for businesses to build their applications and run their operations.

What are Core Services?

Core services are the fundamental building blocks of AWS. They are the basic services that provide the foundation for other advanced services and tools. These core services cover a wide range of functionalities, from storage and database management to networking and analytics. In this article, we will discuss the top 6 things you need to know about these core services.

1. Compute Services

Compute services are at the heart of AWS and are responsible for providing virtual servers, known as Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances. These instances allow users to create and run applications on a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS. The compute services also include Auto Scaling, which automatically adjusts the number of EC2 instances based on demand to ensure optimum performance and cost efficiency.

2. Storage Services

AWS offers a variety of storage services to fit different needs and use cases. These include Simple Storage Service (S3), which provides highly scalable object storage, Elastic Block Store (EBS) for block-level storage volumes, and Amazon Glacier for long-term data archiving. These storage services allow users to store their data securely and access it whenever needed.

3. Database Services

AWS provides a range of database services that can handle different types of data and workloads. These include the popular Relational Database Service (RDS) for managing relational databases, DynamoDB for NoSQL databases, and Redshift for data warehousing. With these services, users can easily set up, manage, and scale their databases without worrying about infrastructure maintenance.

4. Networking Services

Networking services in AWS help to connect and secure resources within the cloud environment. These include Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), which allows users to create isolated virtual networks, and Elastic Load Balancing for distributing incoming traffic across multiple EC2 instances. AWS also provides Direct Connect, a service that enables users to establish a dedicated network connection between their on-premises data center and AWS.

5. Developer Tools

AWS offers a range of developer tools to help with the development, deployment, and management of applications on the cloud. These include CodeCommit for source code management, CodeDeploy for automating application deployments, and CloudFormation for infrastructure as code. With these tools, developers can easily collaborate and streamline their development processes.

6. Analytics Services

Analytics services in AWS allow users to process, store, and analyze large amounts of data. These include Amazon Kinesis for real-time data streaming, Amazon EMR for big data processing, and Amazon QuickSight for business intelligence. By utilizing these services, businesses can gain valuable insights from their data and make informed decisions to drive growth and success.


We have discussed the top 6 things you need to know about the core services offered by AWS. These services play a crucial role in providing a secure, reliable, and cost-effective infrastructure for businesses to build their applications and run their operations. By understanding these core services, users can take full advantage of AWS and its capabilities to drive their business forward.