Accelerating Cloud Uploads with Physical AWS Data Transfer Terminals
AWS has introduced Physical Data Transfer Terminals, a solution designed to significantly speed up the transfer of large data volumes to the cloud. These terminals are strategically placed in data centers worldwide, enabling organizations to securely upload data without relying solely on network bandwidth. Whether you’re managing petabytes of archival footage or backups, this solution simplifies cloud migration while enhancing security.
I think this service is especially critical for customers preparing to move out of their data centers and escape the grip of VMware. It removes the guesswork from large data transfers and offers an added layer of security. Honestly, I want an excuse to use one of these terminals—walking into a heavily secured data center, asking for the data transfer terminal, and plugging in hits all the right notes for this '80s kid’s cyberpunk fantasy.
If VMware is holding you hostage, blink twice, and a Bespin sales rep will be there to rescue you immediately. Also, check out this new feature that is in preview.
Amazon Connect Gets a Boost with Generative AI, WhatsApp Integration, and Secure Data Collection
AWS’s customer service platform, Amazon Connect, has received significant upgrades, including:
- Generative AI capabilities for real-time agent assistance and enhanced customer experiences.
- WhatsApp Business integration, allowing seamless communication with customers on a widely used platform.
- Secure data collection to gather sensitive information while maintaining compliance with privacy regulations.
These updates cement Amazon Connect as a key player in the future of customer engagement.
I promise to always help you win with under on the "how many times will they say AI" betting line. That said, the AI capabilities added to Connect are genuinely a game-changer for scaling support. Features like contextually aware suggestions for agents can improve training while maintaining top-notch customer service quality. I plan to implement this at Bespin soon.
Introducing AWS Security Incident Response
AWS has launched AWS Security Incident Response, a service aimed at helping organizations detect, respond to, and recover from security events. By emphasizing automation, this solution allows teams to quickly address vulnerabilities, minimizing downtime.
While I worry when AWS delves into service-oriented offerings (not their core competency, in my opinion), this is a great option for enterprises that want to fully integrate their security within the AWS ecosystem. I would have loved to see this as part of AWS Enterprise Support instead of an expensive standalone service. In the future, they might bundle it. I’ll also be discussing partner-led options for this service with our partner manager.
AWS Transfer Family Expands with Web Apps for Managed File Transfers
The AWS Transfer Family now includes Web Apps for S3, offering fully managed solutions for file transfers. This feature introduces a user-friendly web-based interface for securely uploading, downloading, and managing files directly in Amazon S3. It simplifies workflows, making it an excellent choice for organizations prioritizing security and ease of use.
This announcement was less than a day old when I discussed it over lunch with a customer. For them, it was one of those magical (or frustrating) re:Invent moments where AWS solves a problem they were actively addressing. S3, the most powerful storage service in the universe, now has a secure and straightforward way to expose data to customers—a game-changer for many use cases.
Introducing Buy with AWS: Streamlined Procurement on Partner Sites
AWS introduces Buy with AWS, a streamlined procurement experience powered by AWS Marketplace. Customers can now purchase directly from AWS Partner websites while benefiting from consolidated billing and simplified workflows. By integrating AWS Marketplace features, businesses can access partner solutions with greater efficiency.
As a service provider, I feel this update to AWS Marketplace shopping is long overdue. Consolidating billing and procuring software and services through AWS creates a much smoother and polished customer experience. I look forward to working with our alliances team to implement this for our products and services—and we can help your business integrate it too. Contact us here!
Amazon Q Business Adds Workflow Automation and 50+ New Integrations
Amazon Q Business now includes workflow automation and over 50 new action integrations, enabling organizations to automate repetitive tasks and connect with third-party tools seamlessly. These updates allow teams to focus on innovation rather than manual processes.
While my initial experience with Amazon Q last year was underwhelming, this update shows promise. My testing revealed glimmers of greatness, and I’m excited to explore how these features can enhance our AI-powered operations platform and our customers' workflows.
Introducing GitLab Duo with Amazon Q
AWS and GitLab have teamed up to launch GitLab Duo with Amazon Q, combining GitLab’s powerful DevOps capabilities with Amazon Q’s automation and flexibility. This integration facilitates seamless collaboration, enhanced CI/CD pipelines, and automated application development.
This announcement is exciting for several reasons:
- I love GitLab.
- It’s great to see AI make its way left and into the development realm. This is a good alternative to what Microsoft and OpenAI are doing with Github Copilot
- Wild speculation time: Since AWS announced the deprecation of services like CodeCommit, I suspect GitLab might become an AWS acquisition or a closer partner. If my theory proves true, remember to congratulate me on being a "Cloud Oracle."
If you’ve made it this far, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my take on some of the announcements from re:Invent. This is just a subset of the updates—you can find the full list here. Let me know you if you have any thoughts on the items i’ve listed or their impact.
