Today,
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS)
announced AWS Snowcone, a new small, ultra-portable, rugged, and secure
edge computing and data transfer device. At under 5 lbs and able to fit
in a standard mailbox or a small backpack, AWS Snowcone is the smallest
member of the AWS Snow Family of devices, enabling customers to collect
data, process it locally, and move it to AWS either offline (by shipping
the device to AWS) or online (by using AWS DataSync to send the data to
AWS over the network). AWS Snowcone is built to withstand harsh
conditions and is designed for a variety of use cases in environments
outside of the traditional data center that lack consistent network
connectivity and/or require portability, including healthcare,
industrial IoT, drones, tactical edge computing, content distribution,
data migration, video content creation, and transportation. To get
started with AWS Snowcone, visit: https://aws.amazon.com/snowcone/.
Millions
of customers have applications that rely on AWS for data processing,
analytics, storage, IoT, and machine learning capabilities.
Increasingly, edge computing use cases (like machine learning inference,
industrial IoT, and autonomous machines) drive customers' need to move
data capture, processing, and analysis closer to end users and devices.
Running applications in disconnected environments or connected edge
locations can be challenging because often these locations lack the
space, power, and cooling common in data centers. Today, customers use
the AWS Snow Family (a collection of physical devices designed to run
outside the data center and ranging in size from the suitcase-sized AWS
Snowball to the 45-foot long ruggedized shipping container AWS
Snowmobile) to collect and process data, run local computing
applications, and move large volumes of data from log files, digital
media, genomic data, and sensor data from connected devices to AWS. As
customers seek to extend the reach of their cloud infrastructure into
more edge locations, new use cases are emerging for edge computing in
more situations like vehicles (land, sea, and air), industrial
operations, and remote and austere sites that require a rugged and
secure device with even greater portability and a smaller form factor
than the AWS Snow Family of devices has traditionally provided.
AWS
Snowcone provides maximum flexibility for edge computing environments,
offering a small, ultra-portable, rugged, and military grade secure
device to run applications and migrate data to AWS. AWS Snowcone
measures 9 inches x 6 inches x 3 inches (23 cm x 15 cm x 8 cm) and
weighs 4.5 lbs (2.1 kg). The device can easily fit in a backpack or
messenger bag, standard mailbox, or any type of vehicle, and is light
enough to be carried by drone. AWS Snowcone can move data to AWS offline
by shipping the device (using its E Ink shipping label) and online
using Ethernet or Wi-Fi with AWS DataSync, which are integrated into the
device. AWS Snowcone features 2 CPUs, 4 GB of memory, 8 TB of storage,
and USB-C power (or optional battery). AWS Snowcone is designed to
operate in extreme environments or disconnected remote sites (including
oil rigs, first responder vehicles, military operations, factory floors,
remote offices, hospitals, or movie theaters) for long periods of time
without traditional data center conditions. With support for AWS IoT
Greengrass, the ability to run Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2)
instances, and ample local storage, AWS Snowcone can be used as an IoT
hub, data aggregation point, application monitor, or lightweight
analytics engine.
"Thousands
of our customers have found AWS Snowball devices to be ideal for
collecting data and running applications in remote and harsh
environments. Since 2015, customer use of Snowball devices has greatly
increased, as has their need for an even smaller device with even
greater portability," said Bill Vass, VP of Storage, Automation and
Management Services, AWS. "With more applications running at the edge
for an expanding range of use cases, like analyzing IoT sensor data and
machine learning inference, AWS Snowcone makes it easier to collect,
store, pre-process, and transfer data from harsh environments with
limited space to AWS for more intensive processing."
Like
other AWS Snow Family devices, all data on AWS Snowcone is encrypted
using military grade 256-bit keys that customers can manage using the
AWS Key Management Service (KMS). Additionally, AWS Snowcone contains
anti-tamper and tamper-evident features to help ensure data on the
device stays secure during transit. AWS Snowcone meets stringent
ruggedization standards (it meets ISTA-3A, ASTM D4169, and MIL-STD-810G
standards) for free-fall shock and operational vibration. The device is
dust-tight and water resistant (it meets the IP65 International
Protection Marking IEC standard). AWS Snowcone has a wide operating
temperature range from freezing (0 degrees C/32 degrees F) to
desert-like conditions (38 degrees C/100 degrees F), and withstands even
harsher temperatures when in storage or being shipped (-32 degrees
C/-25.6 degrees F to 63 degrees C/145.4 degrees F). Setting up an AWS
Snowcone takes only 3 clicks, and once set-up, the device is easily used
and managed through a simple-to-use graphical interface. AWS Snowcone
is available in the US East (Northern Virginia) and US West (Oregon) AWS
Regions, with availability planned in additional AWS Regions in the
coming months.
Deluxe
Entertainment Services (Deluxe) is the world's leading video
creation-to-distribution company offering global, end-to-end services
and technology. "Our work with AWS is a fundamental part of Deluxe's
strategy. One VZN, our new cloud-based IP delivery solution, is a leap
in innovation for digital cinema distribution which has been stagnant
over the past decade, fundamentally changing not only the economics of
film distribution for exhibitors and studios around the globe, but
enabling new theatrical experiences for viewers as well," said Andy
Shenkler, Chief Product and Technology Officer, Deluxe. "The combination
of AWS Snowcone, AWS DataSync, and Amazon S3 are essential to One VZN -
the collective services distinguish themselves from any other cloud
offerings today. The secure, compact AWS Snowcone device, in conjunction
with Deluxe's powerful cloud-based solutions create a truly
differentiated solution of the industry."
SmugMug+Flickr
is the world's largest and most influential photographer-centric
platform. "For over a decade SmugMug has been storing billions of photos
and videos for our millions of users in an accessible, available, and
secure way using Amazon S3. With the introduction of AWS Snowcone, our
customers now have a small, ultra-portable device with 8 terabytes of
storage that allows them to capture more content during a photography or
videography shoot, process the data locally, and then upload it to the
cloud faster than ever," Don MacAskill, CEO & Chief Geek, SmugMug
and Flickr. "AWS Snowcone's small form factor and rugged, secure design
allows us to simply ship these devices to customers so they can
seamlessly copy and preserve their precious and valuable media whether
in the comfort of their own home or out on a shoot off the grid in
jungles, deserts, forests, mountains, in the middle of the ocean, and
even in drone use cases. Customers can then ship the device back to AWS
or retain the device for multiple shoots all while transferring their
data online with AWS DataSync. AWS Snowcone helps our users and
photographers effortlessly and flexibly share their passion, work, and
inspiration with each other leveraging the SmugMug platform."
Federated
Wireless leads the industry in development of shared spectrum Citizens
Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) capabilities. The company's partner
ecosystem includes more than 40 device manufacturers along with cloud
edge partners, dedicated to collaborate for the advancement of CBRS
services. "The combination of AWS Snowcone and the Federated Wireless
Connectivity-as-a-Service private wireless solution enables an expansive
variety of new business models and indoor and outdoor scenarios at the
edge of the cloud, and even beyond the edge of the network," said Iyad
Tarazi, President and CEO of Federated Wireless. "The small form factor
and robust capabilities of Snowcone provides us more flexibility in our
technology architecture. The simplified, innovative delivery and proven
cloud capabilities of the combined solution give organizations of all
types and sizes the security, compute power, portability, and mobility
they need to meet their most pressing business and operational
objectives."
Novetta
is an advanced analytics solutions company focused on mission success
for its customers in the public sector, defense, intelligence, and
federal law enforcement communities. "AWS is leading in the development
of practical, mission-ready edge computing technology that we use to
build solutions to help our public sector clients save lives. AWS
Snowcone is a great example of AWS innovation for the edge," said Rob
Sheen, Senior Vice President, Client Operations at Novetta. "Snowcone
gives us a rugged, secure, and portable edge computing platform that we
can use in disaster zones and austere edge locations. In our recent
field exercises, Snowcone performed admirably as a sensor hub at the
edge to track people and assets in a disaster zone."
CommScope
pushes the boundaries of technology to create the world's most advanced
wired and wireless networks. "Companies looking to deploy private LTE
networks and need simple, easy install solutions will find AWS Snowcone,
coupled with the CommScope CBRS portfolio, function as an optimal
pairing in solving business challenges. Snowcone is a perfect fit for
powering up 100s of edge network devices with private LTE mobility,"
said Upendra Pingle, Vice President, Distributed Coverage and Capacity
Solutions, CommScope. "As an AWS technology partner, CommScope's CBRS
solutions, including our Spectrum Access System and Radio Access Network
offerings, will easily integrate for quick, frictionless deployments
that give users total control of their data. The Snowcone device enables
us to continue driving further innovations in our CBRS solutions all
while transforming the barrier to entry for private LTE networks."