AWS Podcast Episode #703: AWS News Update, January 13, 2025

Released on January 13, 2025

In Episode #703 of the AWS Podcast, host Lee Shub delivers a comprehensive update on the latest developments and innovations across Amazon Web Services. Covering a broad spectrum of topics—from marketplace enhancements and analytics to artificial intelligence advancements and security updates—this episode serves as an invaluable resource for developers and IT professionals eager to stay abreast of AWS's evolving landscape.

1. AWS Marketplace Enhancements

Streamlined Product Details and Promotional Media

Lee Shub kicks off the episode by highlighting significant updates to the AWS Marketplace, emphasizing the revamped Professional Services product details pages. The new layout is designed to provide a more intuitive and streamlined experience, enabling users to better understand specific services.

“There is a new look for AWS Marketplace Professional Services product details pages so you can get an updated and streamlined layout that lets you understand more about the particular services.” (00:00)

Additionally, the Marketplace now supports self-service promotional media, allowing sellers to enrich their product pages with videos, images, and other media. This enhancement not only improves the user experience but also facilitates easier addition of services to user accounts.

2. Advances in Analytics

Amazon MSK Connect and AWS Glue Improvements

The episode delves into updates in the analytics domain, starting with Amazon MSK Connect, which now supports Apache Kafka Connect version 3.7. This update brings several bug fixes and performance enhancements, ensuring more robust data streaming capabilities.

AWS Glue Data Catalog has introduced advanced automatic optimization for Apache Iceberg tables. Key features include:

• Compaction of deleted files
• Support for nested data types
• Partial progress commits
• Partition evolution

Moreover, AWS Glue has expanded its connectivity with 16 native connectors for popular applications like Adobe Analytics, Asana, Datadog, and Twilio, enhancing data integration flexibility.

Amazon QuickSight has launched a unique key feature for datasets, enabling users to define additional data semantics. This feature significantly improves performance for QuickSight visuals, particularly unaggregated table charts, by stabilizing table pagination and reducing query latency by up to 60%.

3. Enhancements in Application Integration

Amazon EventBridge API Destinations

In application integration, Amazon EventBridge has introduced API Destinations proactive OAuth token refresh. This feature allows developers to preemptively renew OAuth access tokens before expiration, mitigating potential delays and errors during API invocations.

“Amazon Eventbridge announces API Destinations proactive OAuth token refresh, so this allows you to preemptively mitigate delays and errors during invocations when OAuth access token is closed to expiration.” (Timestamp not specified)

4. Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence

Amazon Bedrock and Stable Diffusion 3.5

Artificial Intelligence remains a focal point, with significant updates to Amazon Bedrock:

• Support for latency optimizer models via the SDK, enhancing response times for AI applications.
• Integration with AWS Trainium 2 chips and advanced software optimizations for improved inference performance.

Notably, Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large has been introduced on Amazon Bedrock, enabling the generation of high-quality 1-megapixel images from text descriptions with superior accuracy and creative control.

Meta's Llama 3.370B model is now available on Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker, further advancing model efficiency and performance.

“...customers can now access some more options to optimize their inference for specific use cases.” (Timestamp not specified)

5. Compute Innovations

Amazon EC2 High Memory U7INH Instance

A standout announcement is the introduction of the Amazon EC2 High Memory U7INH instance, developed in collaboration with HP Enterprise. Key specifications include:

• 32 TB of memory
• 1,920 vCPUs
• Powered by fourth-generation Intel Xeon scalable processors (Sapphire Rapids)
• Integrated with the AWS Nitro system

This instance is tailored for compute-intensive, in-memory database workloads such as SAP HANA, offering unparalleled performance within the High Memory family.

Bandwidth Configurations for EC2 Instances

AWS has rolled out Instance Bandwidth Configurations (IBC) for 8th generation Graviton-based instances, allowing users to adjust VPC and EBS service bandwidth by up to 25%. This flexibility enables optimized bandwidth allocation based on specific application needs without increasing instance burst bandwidth or IOPS capabilities.

6. Cost Management Solutions

Custom Billing View

Addressing cost management, AWS introduced the general availability of Custom Billing View within AWS Billing and Cost Management. This feature allows customers to grant member accounts access to cost data across multiple accounts, enhancing visibility and control without exposing the entire Management Console.

“...you can share those views with member accounts using Resource Access Manager, which means that you can allow teams to easily see what their costs are.” (Timestamp not specified)

Users can create filtered views based on cost allocation tags or specific AWS accounts, facilitating more accurate and targeted cost management.

7. Customer Engagement Tools

Amazon SES Mail Manager and Amazon Connect Updates

In customer engagement, the podcast highlights updates to Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) Mail Manager and Amazon Connect:

• SES Mail Manager now supports full lifecycle logging, with configurable monitoring options to CloudWatch, S3, and Firehose.

• Amazon Connect enhancements include:

  • Routing to specific agent proficiencies
  • Excluding certain proficiencies during routing
  • Built-in customer authentication within chats
  • Multi-party chat support, allowing additional agents to join conversations for expertise
  • Extended task durations up to 30 days
  • Agent schedule data integration in Analytics Data Lake for better agent allocation insights

“...this gives you a nice consistent experience between sessions when you connect and reconnect.” (Referencing AppStream updates, context slightly overlapping)

These improvements aim to enhance customer service efficiency and provide deeper insights into agent performance and customer interactions.

8. Database Services Updates

Amazon RDS and Aurora Enhancements

The episode covers several updates to AWS database services:

• Amazon RDS for MySQL now supports Innovation Release Version 9.1 in the preview environment, offering access to new features, bug fixes, and security patches.

• Amazon Aurora has expanded support to include PostgreSQL versions 12.22, 13, 14, 15, and 16.6, urging users to keep their databases updated for optimal performance and security.

• Amazon RDS for DB2 now allows multiple databases within a single instance, supporting up to 50 DB2 databases per instance. This enhancement provides greater flexibility and license optimization for enterprise workloads.

• Amazon RDS for MariaDB extends support to minor versions 10.6.20 and 10.11.10.527.

Performance Boosts for Amazon DocumentDB

• Amazon EBS R6GD Instances for Amazon DocumentDB now feature NVMe backend storage, delivering up to 7 times faster query performance and expanding data caching capabilities.

Additional Database Services

• AWS DMS now supports Kerberos authentication for Oracle and SQL Server source endpoints.

• Amazon Timestream for InfluxDB introduces IPv6 connectivity, enhancing network compatibility.

“...you get faster recovery times.” (Referring to AWS Backup updates, context slightly overlapping)

These updates collectively enhance database performance, security, and manageability, catering to diverse enterprise needs.

9. Developer Tools Enhancements

Kinesis Producer Library Update

For developers, the Kinesis Producer Library now supports the AWS SDK for Java 2.x, offering improvements in performance and security. This update allows users to remove dependencies on the old Java 1.x SDK and upgrade to the latest library versions without altering core data processing logic.

“This new version you can fully remove the dependency on the old Java 1. X SDK and you can upgrade all of your applications running the previous Kinesis Producer library versions to the latest library without a change in your core data processing logic.” (Timestamp not specified)

This enhancement streamlines application development and maintenance, ensuring developers can leverage the latest AWS SDK features seamlessly.

10. End User Computing Updates

Amazon AppStream 2.0 and Amazon WorkSpaces Enhancements

In the realm of end-user computing, several updates were announced:

• Amazon AppStream 2.0 now supports Rocky Linux application and desktop streaming and has introduced a macOS client. Additionally, users can save preferences between streaming sessions, ensuring a consistent user experience.

• Amazon WorkSpaces Personal now integrates with AWS Global Accelerator, which optimizes streaming traffic through AWS's global network and edge locations. This is particularly beneficial for users accessing WorkSpaces over long distances, enhancing connection performance.

“...this gives you a nice consistent experience between sessions when you connect and reconnect.” (Referring to AppStream user preferences)

These updates aim to provide more flexibility and improved performance for end-users accessing applications and desktops remotely.

11. Front End, Web, and Mobile Innovations

Amazon Location Service and AWS IoT Device Management

Updates in front-end and mobile services include:

• Amazon Location Service now supports IPv6, aligning with the broader push for IPv6 adoption across AWS services.

• AWS IoT Device Management introduces high-throughput device connectivity status queries through the new Connectivity Status API. This API supports 350+ requests per second, enabling real-time monitoring and management of large device fleets.

“...you can query the latest connectivity State of IoT devices for monitoring and managed purposes.” (Timestamp not specified)

These enhancements facilitate better device management and connectivity monitoring, crucial for large-scale IoT deployments.

12. Management and Governance Tools

AWS Systems Manager and CloudTrail Updates

Key updates in management and governance include:

• AWS Systems Manager for SAP now supports SAP NetWeaver-based ABAP applications deployed in distributed and high-availability topologies, accelerating deployment times.

• AWS CloudTrail extends support to IPv6, enhancing network compatibility and security tracking.

• AWS Config adds support for three new resource types, broadening its governance capabilities.

• AWS Resilience Hub integrates with Amazon CloudWatch alarms, enabling streamlined alarm management and enhanced assessment accuracy. It also provides tailored fault injection service recommendations, offering customized experiment suggestions based on specific application contexts.

• AWS Console Mobile App introduces notification actions for iOS, allowing users to view logs, start, stop, and reboot EC2 instances directly from event notifications, thereby accelerating incident response and resolution.

• AWS Resource Explorer now supports 59 new resource types, expanding its search and management capabilities.

“...you get customized experiment recommendations based on the specific application context.” (Referring to AWS Resilience Hub)

These updates empower administrators with more robust tools for managing, monitoring, and governing AWS resources effectively.

13. Media Services Enhancements

AWS Elemental MediaConnect Gateway

In media services, AWS Elemental MediaConnect Gateway now supports source-specific multicast. This feature allows users to specify both a multicast group address and an optional source IP address when configuring MediaConnect Gateway bridge sources, providing greater flexibility in media streaming configurations.

“...it’s all about flexibility.” (Referring to MediaConnect Gateway updates)

14. Migration and Modernization Tools

AWS Application Discovery Service and AWS DataSync

Migration and modernization updates include:

• AWS Application Discovery Service now supports IPv6 endpoints, aligning with the increasing adoption of IPv6 in network infrastructures.

• AWS DataSync introduces support for configuration updates across all supported storage locations, including S3 EFS and FSx for Lustre. This allows users to update storage configurations directly without the need to delete and recreate storage locations, simplifying migration workflows.

• AWS Transfer Family adds additional controls over AS2 message attributes, enhancing compatibility with a broader range of trading partners without requiring changes on their end.

“...get faster recovery times.” (Reiterating AWS Backup updates)

These enhancements streamline migration processes and provide more control over data transfer configurations, facilitating smoother modernization initiatives.

15. Networking and Content Delivery Updates

IPv6 and Service Attributes Support

Networking and content delivery improvements feature:

• AWS Secrets Manager now offers IPv6 compatibility for VPC endpoints, catering to users leveraging IPv6 in their network environments.

• AWS Cloud Map introduces Service Level attributes, enabling users to store and access information directly at the service level, improving service discovery and management.

“...you can check them in the show. Notes one” (Referencing resource type updates, context slightly overlapping)

These updates enhance network flexibility and service management, aligning with modern networking standards and practices.

16. Security, Identity, and Compliance Enhancements

AWS WAF and IAM Roles Anywhere

Security updates include:

• AWS WAF Console adds Top Insights visualizations, providing customers with new sections in the All Traffic Dashboard to quickly view critical insights about their environments.

• IAM Roles Anywhere Credential Helper now supports TPM 2.0, enhancing security for credential management.

• AWS Network Firewall extends support to IPv6 service endpoints, ensuring comprehensive security coverage across IPv6 networks.

“...you can quickly get information about what's going on in your environment.” (Referring to AWS WAF Top Insights)

These enhancements bolster AWS's security framework, offering more robust tools and support for modern security protocols.

17. Storage Innovations

AWS Backup and Amazon EBS Updates

Storage services receive notable updates:

• AWS Backup now supports dual-stack environments (IPv4 and IPv6) and introduces Search and Item Level Recovery, allowing users to search backup metadata and recover up to five items at a time, significantly speeding up recovery processes.

• Amazon EBS launches Local Snapshots for AWS Dedicated Local Zones, enabling users to create snapshots within local zone environments.

• The Recycle Bin feature for Amazon EBS Snapshots and AMIs now supports IPv6 addresses for new and existing endpoints, enhancing flexibility in data recovery options.

“...you get faster recovery times.” (Reiterating AWS Backup updates)

These updates provide greater flexibility, performance, and efficiency in data storage and recovery operations.

Conclusion

Episode #703 of the AWS Podcast presents a wealth of updates and enhancements spanning various AWS services and solutions. From marketplace innovations and advanced analytics tools to groundbreaking artificial intelligence models and robust security features, AWS continues to expand its offerings to meet the evolving needs of developers and IT professionals.

Lee Shub concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to explore the detailed updates and participate in upcoming deep-dive episodes, emphasizing AWS Podcast as a prime resource for staying informed and leveraging AWS's extensive capabilities.

“...keep on building.” (Episode closing remark)

For those who missed the episode, the summary encapsulates the key takeaways, ensuring that you stay informed about the latest AWS developments.

Stay tuned for more in-depth discussions and future episodes where AWS delves deeper into these topics and introduces even more innovations to propel your cloud solutions forward.