Amazon launched the AWS cloud-computing platform in 2006.
Amazon Web Services began with online infrastructure services that allowed developers and businesses to rent computing resources instead of buying and maintaining all their own servers. Amazon introduced Amazon Simple Storage Service and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud in 2006, establishing a major foundation of modern cloud computing.
AWS became strategically important because it added a high-margin business alongside Amazon’s retail operations. Its services include storage, databases, networking, analytics, and artificial intelligence tools. Revenue and operating results from AWS have been closely watched by investors assessing Amazon’s market capitalization.
A common confusion is treating Amazon and AWS as separate public companies. AWS is a business segment owned by Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon’s valuation therefore reflects expectations for online retail, cloud computing, advertising, subscriptions, devices, and logistics together.