AWS Regions
AWS Tutorial: AWS Regions Explained
Welcome to the AWS Regions lesson. Whenever you spin up a server or store a database in AWS, you must first choose a physical location to deploy it. That location is an AWS Region.
Why Learn About AWS Regions?
Choosing the wrong region can result in slow applications, higher monthly bills, and critical legal violations. Knowing how to select the right region is the first step in architecting any AWS solution.
Tutorial Overview
In this tutorial, you will learn the four key factors for choosing an AWS Region:
- Compliance
- Latency
- Pricing
- Service Availability
How to Choose the Right Region
When you deploy your application, you should evaluate your region based on these factors:
- Data Sovereignty & Compliance: Some countries have strict laws dictating that citizens' data must remain within the country's physical borders. If your users are in Germany, you may legally be required to use the Frankfurt region.
- Proximity (Latency): Always choose a region closest to your primary user base. The closer the physical data center is to the user, the faster your application will load.
- Pricing: Due to local taxes, real estate costs, and power costs, AWS services are priced differently across regions. The
us-east-1(N. Virginia) region is generally the cheapest. - Service Availability: When AWS launches a brand new service, it usually rolls out to
us-east-1first. Smaller or newer regions may not have every niche AWS service available yet.
Exercise
?If your business legally requires that user data cannot leave the European Union, which factor is dictating your Region choice?