With AWS for Windows, you have the ability to choose between creating a fully-managed database service or moving an existing data warehouse into the cloud for superior scale and performance, all without sacrificing the security and reliability that your mission-critical data requires. Let us show you in real time how team PBT uses Microsoft SQL Server in the AWS Cloud every day.

1. Running Microsoft SQL Server
in the AWS Cloud
Amazon Web Services for Microsoft Windows Server provides a wide range of
secure, reliable database services that scale to align to ever-changing
business needs.
AWS for Windows is a cloud computing platform optimized for Windows-based
workloads*. Windows IT professionals looking for a cloud solution that is familiar while
providing security and high-performance should consider AWS for Windows.
In today’s technology-driven business environment, your organization’s data is among its most important assets.
With AWS for Windows, you have the ability to choose between creating a fully-managed database service or moving an
existing data warehouse into the cloud for superior scale and performance, all without sacrificing the security and reliability that
your mission-critical data requires.
Scale with confidence
Amazon Web Services for Microsoft Windows Server gives you access to the capabilities of the familiar SQL Server database
engine. This means that the code, applications, and tools you already use today with your existing databases can be used
with AWS. Whether you are looking for a managed relational database, an ultra-fast, petabyte-scale data warehouse, or a low-
cost, short-term data project, AWS has a database solution for your needs.
With AWS for Windows, you have the flexibility to run SQL Server for as much or as little time as you need. If you are looking
for a high-performance infrastructure environment in which to host a new database, you can create an EC2 instance running a
SQL Server database. You retain the management capability and control of an on-premises database, while skipping the
hardware provisioning associated with standing up a traditional database server. If you’d prefer not to worry about database
administration tasks, AWS offers Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS), a fully-managed service for SQL Server. Amazon
RDS automatically patches the database software and backs up your database, storing the backups for a retention period you
define, and enabling point-in-time recovery. AWS also offers you big data options for online analytical processing, real-time
data analytics, predictive analytics, web session management, and more.
Wide array
of choices
AWS for Windows and Database Hosting
Fully-managed
services
99.95% AvailabilityEnterprise-Grade
Security
Flexible and
Scalable

2. Additional resources & info:
http://aws.amazon.com/rds/sqlserver/
http://aws.amazon.com/microsoft/
http://aws.amazon.com/free/
https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/
Leading enterprises choose AWS for their Windows workloads
© 2015, Amazon Web Services, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
VM Import/Export allows you to migrate an existing SQL Server database to the AWS Cloud using a command line interface
such as Windows PowerShell. This allows you to leverage your existing investments in the virtual machines that you have built
to meet your IT security, configuration management, and compliance requirements by bringing those virtual machines into the
AWS Cloud as ready-to-use instances. With Microsoft License Mobility, you can use your existing SQL Server licenses,
allowing you to move your database to AWS without any additional Microsoft software licensing fees.
Keeping your data secure is always a top priority. You can fully isolate your database on AWS by creating private subnets
inside the AWS Cloud with Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). AWS Direct Connect gives you a secure, dedicated connection
between your on-premises environment and your VPC to provide the high-throughput and low-latency required to move large
volumes of data quickly. Both while in-transit and at rest, data and applications hosted in AWS are protected by 256-bit
encryption. You can choose to provide and manage your own encryption keys, or leverage the fully-managed
AWS Key Management Service to do it for you.
Maintaining high availability of your database is critical. AWS currently features 28 geographically-separate datacenters, known
as Availability Zones, in 11 regions across the globe. AWS also provides backup and disaster recovery services, keeping your
databases available even in the face of natural disasters and other rare events that might cause systems failures. If you are
employing a self-managed database on EC2, Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) will host the data for your database server.
Amazon EBS provides the ability to save snapshots to Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) for database restoration. Or, if you
are using Amazon RDS, backup snapshots are automatically recorded at intervals you choose. Backup storage up to the size
of the provisioned database is provided at no extra cost.
This extensive set of features and capabilities available on AWS for Windows make it the flexible, secure, and reliable cloud
platform for Windows-based database workloads. Empower your organization with petabyte-scale, mission-critical data, fully
managed and configured how you choose.
*Amazon Web Services recommends Microsoft Windows Server.
Hess IT initiated work on Amazon Web Services (AWS) in July 2013 after deciding to streamline
its business and divest its downstream businesses. In order to divest some of its businesses,
the company used multiple versions of Microsoft SQL Server on AWS to separate the business
systems and data for potential buyers.
“This project was about speed to market. The work we did demonstrated to the organization what was possible
working with AWS.”
-Jim McDonald, Lead Architect, Hess