This highlights the latest enhancements and features introduced to AWS EC2. We track the new updates and post them here so you can keep up with changing AWS EC2 cloud features and services.

High-end graphics rendering, gaming, and spatial computing.

Common service combinations and architecture patterns using AWS EC2.

Training large AI/ML models.

Real-time video encoding and high-performance streaming.

Running large in-memory databases like SAP HANA.

General-purpose web servers, application servers, and mid-sized databases.

Applications with occasional high CPU bursts but generally low usage.

Tightly coupled, parallelized HPC workloads.

Scientific simulations, distributed analytics, and CPU-based ML inference.

Large-scale data warehousing, log processing, and Hadoop clusters.

Real-time analytics and applications requiring high IOPS.

AI/ML inference at scale.

Running SAP HANA and other large enterprise applications.

High-performance web servers and batch processing.

Development, test, and low-traffic environments.

Real-time data processing and analytics.

Hosting large-scale relational databases like Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.

High-performance gaming and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

In-memory caching for high-performance applications.

Large-scale data processing with Hadoop, Spark, or Presto.

Collecting and processing data from IoT devices.

Processing large datasets in batch mode.

Hosting microservices and API backends.

Hosting large ERP systems like SAP and Oracle ERP.

Running complex financial simulations and risk modeling.

Analyzing large geo-spatial datasets.

To maximize AWS EC2, choose the right instance types and sizes based on your workload requirements, and use Auto Scaling to dynamically adjust capacity based on traffic. Implement spot instances and reserved instances to optimize cost-efficiency and availability.

These instance types are examples that may be relevant to your use cases. This is a just a general suggestion, keep in mind you should do extra research to validate your needs. AWS is constantly changing specs and costs so make sure to confirm these fit your needs. See the main listing earlier in this section for more detailed suggestions.

AWS EC2 Operational Excellence Best Practices focus on ensuring the reliable and efficient operation of Amazon EC2 instances. These practices include setting up proper monitoring and logging to detect and respond to issues quickly, optimizing resource usage to manage costs effectively, and implementing automation to reduce human error and improve response times.

AWS EC2 Security Best Practices are designed to protect your instances and data from unauthorized access and vulnerabilities. Key practices include implementing robust identity and access management (IAM) policies, enabling encryption for data at rest and in transit, and regularly patching and updating your instances to address security vulnerabilities.

Ensure high reliability by distributing instances across multiple availability zones and using Auto Scaling groups to handle changes in traffic and maintain uptime. Implement regular backups and disaster recovery plans to safeguard against data loss.

Optimize EC2 performance by selecting the appropriate instance types and using Elastic Load Balancing to distribute traffic. Monitor instance metrics and adjust configurations as needed to handle varying workloads efficiently.

Manage EC2 costs by leveraging Reserved Instances, Spot Instances, and Savings Plans to reduce expenses. Use AWS Cost Explorer to track usage and identify opportunities for cost savings.

Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements by configuring instance logging, monitoring, and access controls. Maintain detailed records of instance configurations and changes for auditing and compliance purposes.

Use EC2’s advanced features such as Elastic GPUs for graphics-intensive applications and EC2 Spot Instances for cost-effective compute capacity. Explore integrations with AWS Batch and AWS Lambda for scalable and serverless computing solutions.

Document your EC2 instance configurations, including instance types, security settings, and network configurations. Maintain records of instance provisioning, modifications, and performance metrics for troubleshooting and compliance.

Common use cases for AWS EC2 include running web servers, application servers, databases, and high-performance computing tasks. EC2’s flexibility allows you to support a wide range of applications and workloads.

Consider alternatives if you require specialized computing environments not fully supported by EC2, such as specific bare-metal or hardware-based compute requirements. EC2 provides extensive computing options but may not meet all niche or highly specialized needs.

Use EC2’s capabilities to address challenges such as scaling applications and handling high-traffic scenarios. Integrate with Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing to manage traffic and maintain application performance efficiently.

Alternative services that can be used instead of AWS EC2, with their strengths and ideal use cases.