Easy Cloud Computing

Amazon has created a great suite of services that enable the ability to do true cloud computing with a limited IT resource pool and budget, they are called Amazon Web Services (AWS). The services range from providing remote storage to configuration a customized and security private computing infrastructure, and all of these services are coupled with a easy to manage web based interface. This type of service is a real boon to any small company trying to handle a rapidly growing user base with limited human resources and funds. AWS lets you provision computing resources as needed without the overhead of having to purchase and configure physical machines, as well as the infrastructure to create customized application images with a flexible pricing model (if you use what they call spot instances). I personally use the system to create customized demonstration applications that have their own unique resource stack for pennies a day. AWS enables me to expand my computing resources for a fraction of the cost as compared to having a full Server Administration staff on hand, which requires me to invest capital in hardware and operating system licensing. For any person looking to build infrastructure on a budget or just experiment with different applications designs, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is worth a look.