Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's leading cloud computing provider, has announced the launch of the AWS Israel (Tel Aviv) Region as part of Amazon’s plan to invest an estimated $7.2 billion in Israel through 2037 -- but for those who are less cloud tech-savvy, it may be difficult to understand just what the launch of an AWS Region means.
An AWS region is a geographic area that contains one or more Availability Zones, which are separate from each other and isolated from failures in other Availability Zones. This provides high availability and redundancy for applications and data.
By launching an Israel-based Region, AWS is providing Israeli developers with improved development tools and infrastructure. This will allow them to build and deploy applications more quickly and efficiently, and to take advantage of the latest AWS services and features.
The development offers a multitude of benefits to developers, startups, enterprises, government agencies, education institutions, and nonprofit organizations in Israel, as they now have access to advanced AWS technologies and data centers located within the country, facilitating improved application performance, security, and resilience.
Getting the government to the cloud
One of the significant beneficiaries of this launch is the Israeli government, which had already chosen AWS as its primary cloud provider for the Nimbus contract, which aims to transform government services and promote innovation for the citizens of Israel.
One of the significant beneficiaries of this launch is the Israeli government, which had already chosen AWS as its primary cloud provider for the Nimbus contract, which aims to transform government services and promote innovation for the citizens of Israel.
Yali Rothenberg, the accountant general of Israel, expressed excitement about the new AWS Region, anticipating its potential to accelerate digital transformation in the public sector and enhance customer experience. “We are excited to welcome the new AWS Region to Israel as part of project Nimbus,” she said.
“The establishment of the Israeli Region reflects the long-term commitment of AWS to Israel and to the continuation of their large investments in the Israeli market,” she said, adding that it will also “enable us to migrate substantial governmental workloads to the cloud.”
Does a better cloud mean more jobs?
An economic impact study conducted by AWS highlights the significant contributions the company's investment will make to Israel's GDP and job market. With an estimated average of over 7,700 full-time equivalent jobs supported annually, and a projected $13.9 billion added to Israel's GDP through 2037, the AWS Israel (Tel Aviv) Region is set to be a catalyst for economic growth,” states the company.
Various Israeli organizations and startups have already embraced AWS to drive innovation, cost efficiencies, and rapid scaling. Among these organizations are Bank Hapoalim, the Consumer Protection and Fair Trade Authority, the Transport and Road Safety Ministry, and health-tech startup Aidoc, which utilizes AWS infrastructure for operational agility and model training effectiveness.
“Our utilization of AWS infrastructure and services has been pivotal in driving our operational agility and development velocity,” said Guy Reiner, vice president of Research and Development at Aidoc. “With the new AWS Region, health care providers can now achieve a milestone in data privacy within hospitals and care facilities.”
Since 2013, AWS has also supported Israeli startups through the AWS Activate program, providing them with access to expert guidance, training, events, and up to $100,000 in AWS service credits, fostering the growth of the next generation of Israeli enterprises. The company supports educational initiatives such as AWS Educate and AWS Academy, offering free resources and training programs to prepare students for cloud-related jobs and upskill Israel's workforce. AWS GetIT, focusing on encouraging young girls to consider tech careers, operates in schools across the country, promoting diversity and inclusion in the technology sector.