Recently back from AWS:ReInvent, I’m still processing all the data. AWS is Amazon’s Web Services. Amazon is currently hosting 3 times more cloud services than their closest competitor (Azure), making them the 800 pound gorilla of cloud computing. AWS:ReInvent is the trade event they recently held in Las Vegas. Writing a blog helps me process, so here’s my blog about the show. Thanks for helping me process.
First of all, ReInvent is huge. Content was being delivered in three different hotel convention centers- Venetian, Aria, and MGM. The last Vegas show that had me humping up and down the strip to multiple venues was a COMDEX. If size matters, and it generally does, AWS matters.
Second of all, AWS is for builders. This is the ad campaign they’re currently running and in this case, there is truth in advertising. AWS has designed their platform to make developers happy. AWS wants developers empowered on an almost magical level. If you’re a developer and you would prefer to build on a different platform than AWS, please let AWS know why. They want and need you to love AWS.
The third impression I came away with is that multi-cloud really isn’t a thing. As you get deeper into any public cloud and begin to architect and automate for it, you’ll do more and more things that work only for that specific provider. As you mature in cloud, you lose the ability to move workloads easily between providers. This, by the way, shouldn’t surprise anybody. Every product is designed to get and then keep customers.
Cloud thing number 4 - cloud economics are absolutely dependent on automation. DEVOPS initiatives are working to drive down all IT costs and our ability do this both internally and externally is critical. AWS is written from the ground up with automation in mind.
Lastly, for many areas of technology, AWS comes across like a Bond villain. There are a number of companies who have been developing, innovating, and selling old school things like servers, networking and storage for decades. Thanks so much for all the help, but AWS has it from here. There is really no need for any of that going forward.
And, to be completely honest, that goes for anybody in operating system, backup or database technology as well. In fact, AWS really seems to have their sights set on Oracle. Why would anybody need that? AWS has it. Better, cheaper, and stronger as far as their concerned.
Look, if you’re absolutely dying to use your old school stuff on top of AWS, feel free. That’s fine but you should intellectually realize where this all ends. You don’t need any of that stuff and you will be assimilated.
So, where do I come down on all this personally?
If I was starting a SAS company tomorrow, I’d start it in Amazon. No brainer.
If I was running a Fortune 50 company, would I close my data centers and move everything to Amazon? No, probably not. I don’t think the economics work. I would use AWS and other cloud providers for burst usage and more experimental use cases.
At the end of the day, it’s a great option for many things but not the only option for all things.