AWS

Amazon Web Services dominates cloud computing. The breadth of services is staggering—compute, storage, databases, AI, IoT, and dozens more. For any infrastructure need, AWS likely has a service, often multiple. This breadth is both strength and complexity. EC2 provides virtual servers that scale from tiny to massive. Launch instances in minutes, pay for what you use, terminate when done. For custom infrastructure needs, EC2 offers complete control. S3 stores objects at any scale. Static assets, backups, data lakes—S3 handles them reliably. The pricing is economical for storage, and the durability guarantees are extraordinary. Lambda runs code without servers. Upload a function, define triggers, and it executes on demand. No servers to manage, no scaling to configure. For event-driven workloads, Lambda changes the economics. The managed services reduce operational burden. RDS runs databases, EKS runs Kubernetes, ElastiCache runs Redis. You use the service; AWS handles the infrastructure. This trade-off—control for simplicity—is often worthwhile. The learning curve is substantial. The console is complex, the documentation is vast, and the pricing is notoriously opaque. Accidental costs from misconfigured services are a real concern for new users. For enterprise workloads, AWS provides compliance certifications, security features, and support levels that matter. The enterprise relationships and sales support make AWS the default for large organizations. Mastering AWS is valuable professionally. The skills transfer, the certifications are recognized, and the market demand for AWS expertise is consistent.