Amazon Web Services (AWS) is undeniably the leader in the public cloud market. With over 200 services covering areas from computing and data storage to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, AWS has become the foundation of digital transformation for thousands of companies worldwide. But which of these services are really worth knowing in 2026?

The Hawatel team has prepared a list of 10 of the most interesting AWS services — both the most popular ones and those less known, yet exceptionally useful in practice.

1. Amazon EC2 – the classic of computing power

EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is the heart of AWS. It allows you to run virtual servers in the cloud, scale computing power as needed, and maintain full control over your environment. For many companies, it’s the first step in cloud migration. Thanks to the latest generations of instances based on Graviton processors, EC2 is now not only powerful but also energy-efficient — a key aspect in sustainable IT development.

2. Amazon S3 – reliable data storage

Simple Storage Service (S3) is the foundation of AWS data storage. It provides virtually unlimited capacity, high availability, and durability. S3 is used today for website hosting, backups, analytical data, multimedia, and even AI models. Combined with Amazon Glacier, it also becomes an excellent archiving solution.

3. AWS Lambda – serverless in practice

Lambda is one of AWS’s most innovative services. It lets you run code without managing servers — you pay only for the actual execution time. This enables teams to build lightweight microservices, automate processes, or respond to events (e.g., file uploads to S3) without unnecessary costs. It’s the essence of a modern, flexible approach to cloud application development.

4. Amazon RDS – relational databases in the cloud

Relational Database Service simplifies database management for MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server. AWS handles infrastructure, backups, and updates, while users focus on their data and applications. RDS is now the backbone of many web apps and ERP systems implemented by companies that value stability and scalability.

5. AWS CloudFront – fast and secure content delivery

CloudFront is a global Content Delivery Network (CDN) that speeds up content delivery to users worldwide. With distributed Edge locations, data loads faster and applications run more smoothly. Integration with AWS Shield and WAF provides protection against DDoS attacks, making CloudFront a key component of secure and efficient online applications.

6. AWS IAM – security and access control

Identity and Access Management is a service indispensable for secure cloud operations. IAM allows you to create users, roles, and access policies, defining who has permissions to what within AWS. In 2025, integration with external services and the adoption of Zero Trust Security principles are becoming increasingly popular — a model where every action requires identity verification.

7. Amazon SageMaker – artificial intelligence within reach

AI and machine learning are no longer limited to tech giants. With Amazon SageMaker, any team can build, train, and deploy machine learning models easily and at scale. SageMaker integrates with popular frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn) and automates the entire ML project lifecycle. For companies developing data-driven products, it’s an absolute game changer.

8. AWS Glue – data processing automation

AWS Glue is an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) service that automates data integration processes from multiple sources. It’s perfect for analytical environments and data warehouses, where consistency and quality are key. With Glue, you can build comprehensive data pipelines that feed reporting and analytics systems in real time.

9. AWS IoT Core – connectivity for smart devices

The Internet of Things is gaining importance, and AWS IoT Core enables secure connection and management of millions of devices in real time. It allows companies in industries such as manufacturing, energy, and logistics to build intelligent monitoring and automation systems. Combined with AWS analytical services, IoT Core enables data processing from devices and the deployment of predictive maintenance models.

10. AWS Fargate – serverless containers

Fargate extends the serverless approach to containers. It allows you to run containerized applications without managing ECS or Kubernetes clusters. It’s an ideal solution for DevOps teams seeking to combine the flexibility of containerization with the simplicity of an AWS-managed environment.

Why you should know these AWS services

Understanding key AWS services is not just a technical issue but a strategic one. In a world where digital infrastructure determines competitiveness, the ability to leverage AWS’s capabilities gives companies an edge in speed, security, and innovation.

The Hawatel team has been supporting organizations for years in designing, implementing, and optimizing AWS cloud environments. We help choose the right services, build secure architectures, and fully unlock the potential of the cloud in everyday business.

Summary

AWS is not just a collection of tools but an entire ecosystem that allows companies to operate faster, more efficiently, and more flexibly. From classic solutions like EC2 and S3 to modern AI, IoT, and serverless platforms — Amazon Web Services offers everything a modern digital enterprise needs.

If you want to learn how to use these services in your company, contact the Hawatel experts. We’ll help you design a cloud environment tailored to your goals and needs.