AWS Outposts vs. AWS Local Zones vs. AWS Wavelength: Edge Computing on AWS

Primary Users

Large Enterprises that have Strict Latency and Compliance Requirements
Industries such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government frequently necessitate local data processing, data residency, and compliance.

Telecom Providers and MSPs
They utilize AWS Wavelength and Outposts to provide 5G-enabled applications and private edge cloud solutions.

Media & Entertainment Companies
Media streaming services, gaming studios, and AR/VR providers utilize AWS Local Zones and Wavelength to provide low-latency content to users around the world.

Industrial and IoT Companies
Manufacturers and IoT providers install Outposts to monitor machines in real time, perform predictive maintenance, and apply AI/ML at the edge.

AWS Outposts

AWS Outposts provides managed AWS infrastructure and services to on-premises environments. Outposts extend the same AWS APIs, tools, and services to your data center, co-location facility, or on-prem facility.
Use Cases: Hybrid cloud applications, local data processing, data residency requirements, industrial IoT.
Services Supported: EC2, EBS, ECS, EKS, RDS, S3 on Outposts, and more.

Example:
A healthcare organization employs AWS Outposts to process patient information on-premises to satisfy HIPAA compliance while replicating data to AWS regions for analytics.

AWS Local Zones

AWS Local Zones bring AWS regions closer to major population centers, providing computing, storage, and networking capabilities for latency-sensitive workloads.
Use Cases: Media rendering, gaming, real-time analytics, live streaming, hybrid migrations.
Latency: Single-digit millisecond latency from metropolitan area end-users.
Availability: Now available in more than 33 locations across the world (as of 2024).

Example:
A video game company puts game servers within AWS Local Zones in Los Angeles and Chicago to minimize player latency.

AWS Wavelength

AWS Wavelength extends AWS services to telco 5G networks to support ultra-low latency applications on the mobile edge.
Use Cases: Autonomous vehicle, AR/VR, industrial automation, smart cities, edge machine learning.
Latency: Single-digit ms over 5G networks.
Telecom Partners: Verizon, Vodafone, SK Telecom, etc.

Example:
AWS Wavelength on 5G networks is employed in a smart city initiative for processing traffic cameras' and IoT sensors' data in real-time, supporting dynamic traffic management.

AWS Outposts

Use Outposts when:

• You require a consistent hybrid cloud experience across on-premises and cloud.
• You have data residency needs across sectors such as finance and healthcare.
• You require low-latency local processing in far-flung areas.
• Edge AI/ML and IoT processing near data sources.

Example:
An automotive company leverages AWS Outposts to process and store sensor data locally for real-time quality control.

AWS Local Zones

Employ Local Zones when you require:

• Proximity to big cities without on-premises hardware deployment.
• Low-latency access for cloud applications such as gaming and media.
• Hybrid cloud deployments where some of the workload stays on-premises.
• Compliance with local data residency law in big cities.

Example:
A film studio uses AWS Local Zones to perform visual effects locally in Los Angeles, accelerating production workflows.

AWS Wavelength

Use Wavelength when you require:

• Ultra-low latency for mobile apps over 5G networks.
• Real-time data processing at the edge of the mobile network.
• Applications with low latency such as AR/VR, autonomous cars, and IoT.
• Integration with telecommunication 5G services.

Example:
An autonomous drone service processes navigation data in real-time with AWS Wavelength at 5G towers, allowing for instant decision-making.

Architectural Patterns

Example 1:
A global bank leverages AWS Outposts for data processing at the branch level, AWS Local Zones for customer analysis at the regional level, and AWS Wavelength for real-time transaction processing on mobile apps.

Example 2:
A media business employs AWS Local Zones for rendering video in New York City, Outposts for on-premises secure video editing, and Wavelength for providing VR over 5G.

Key Benefits

Example
A pharmaceutical company employs Outposts to meet clinical data regulations, Local Zones for collaborative R&D modeling, and Wavelength for real-time analysis of clinical trial data from distant patients.

AWS Outposts Deployment

• Place Order for Outposts Hardware through AWS Console.

• Prepare Site Requirements (power, cooling, networking).

• AWS Deploys Outposts at your site.

• Provision Resources (EC2, EBS, etc.) using known AWS APIs.

• Monitor and Manage through AWS Console and CloudWatch.

Example:
A government agency deploys AWS Outposts in its private data center to locally process classified data, with AWS-managed updates.

AWS Local Zones Deployment

• Enable Local Zones in your AWS Console.

• Provision Compute/Storage resources (EC2, EBS, etc.).

• Deploy Workloads near users in metro locations.

• Integrate with VPC, security groups, and monitoring services.

Example:
A film production firm allows the Los Angeles Local Zone to deliver massive-scale VFX and decreases latency for artists.

AWS Wavelength Deployment

• Collaborate with a Wavelength-enabled Telecom Provider (e.g., Verizon, Vodafone, etc.).

• Deploy Wavelength Zones in the mobile network edge.

• Provision Compute/Storage through EC2 and EBS in Wavelength Zones.

• Build Low-Latency Applications that are 5G-optimized.

• Monitor and Manage with CloudWatch and AWS services.

Example:
A telemedicine service provider implements real-time video consultations on 5G networks through AWS Wavelength for ultra-low latency experiences.

Use Case 1: Hybrid Cloud for Healthcare

Problem

A hospital chain needs HIPAA-compliant data processing locally and cloud-based analytics.

Solution

• AWS Outposts for local data storage and processing within hospitals.

• AWS Local Zones for regional data analytics and AI modeling.

• AWS Wavelength for mobile patient monitoring across 5G networks.

Outcome

• Reached HIPAA compliance.

• Lower latency for patient monitoring.

• Facilitated quicker diagnosis with real-time AI-driven analytics.

Use Case 2: Smart City Deployment

Problem

A smart city project requires real-time processing of data for traffic management, surveillance, and public safety.

Solution

• AWS Wavelength for real-time video analysis from CCTV cameras on 5G.

• AWS Outposts for local data processing and storage in government offices.

• AWS Local Zones for city-level analytics and public services management.

Outcome

• Decreased traffic congestion by 35%.

• Enhanced public safety response times by 25%.

• Enabled predictive maintenance on mission-critical infrastructure.

1. What is the difference between AWS Outposts and AWS Local Zones?
   Outposts: On-premises deployment for data residency and hybrid workloads.
   Local Zones: AWS-managed infrastructure in metro regions for low-latency access.
   Example:
   A bank employs Outposts for on-premises compliance and Local Zones for regional disaster recovery.
   

2. How does AWS Wavelength minimize latency?
   Wavelength deploys AWS infrastructure to 5G network edges with minimal network hops to achieve single-digit millisecond latency.
   Example:
   An AR gaming application employs Wavelength to provide real-time graphics rendering for mobile users.
   

3. Do I have to use Outposts with an AWS Region?
   No. Outposts are regional extensions and must be connected to the parent region.
   Example:
   A government agency processes workloads on Outposts connected to the AWS GovCloud (US) region.
   

4. What compliance certifications are offered for AWS Outposts?
   Outposts have support for HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC, ISO, and FedRAMP (by region).
   Example:
   A healthcare provider uses Outposts to provide HIPAA-compliant management of patient data.
   

5. How does pricing vary for Local Zones versus Outposts?
   Local Zones: Pay-as-you-go AWS pricing.
   Outposts: Hardware commitment upfront plus service charges.
   Example:
   A gaming startup employs Local Zones to escape up-front CapEx expenses.
   

6. Are Local Zones available worldwide?
   Yes. AWS has extended Local Zones to 33+ cities globally.
   Example:
   A media organization uses Local Zones in Amsterdam and Tokyo for international video rendering.
   

7. Can I run AI/ML workloads on AWS Wavelength?
   Yes! Use Wavelength for real-time inference near IoT devices or 5G endpoints.
   Example:
   A factory executes real-time machine learning inference at the 5G edge.
   

8. How is security handled with AWS Wavelength?
   Wavelength employs AWS security services, such as IAM, VPC, and CloudTrail, in 5G deployments.
   Example:
   A communications company protects customer information through IAM policies on Wavelength nodes.
   

9. What networking considerations are required for Outposts?

Needs Direct Connect, VPN, or AWS-managed network connections for redundant, secure networking.
Example:
A defense contractor implements Direct Connect for high-bandwidth, secure data exchange.

AWS Outposts, Local Zones, and Wavelength offer robust edge computing solutions to suit various requirements. On-premises hybrid cloud, metro region proximity, or 5G ultra-low latency – AWS has it all.
Are you ready to unleash the power of AWS at the edge?
Reach out to us today for a complimentary consultation on AWS Edge Computing Solutions!