AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) for easing workload migration to AWS is now available in the AWS EU (London) Region.
Amazon DynamoDB Now Supports Server-Side Encryption at Rest
Amazon DynamoDB encryption at rest helps you secure your application data in Amazon DynamoDB tables further using AWS-managed encryption keys stored in AWS Key Management Service (KMS). Encryption at rest is fully transparent to the user with all DynamoDB queries working seamlessly on encrypted data. With this new capability, it has never been easier to use DynamoDB for security-sensitive applications with strict encryption compliance and regulatory requirements.
Amazon Aurora with PostgreSQL Compatibility is Available in the Asia Pacific (Tokyo) Region
The PostgreSQL-compatible edition of Amazon Aurora is now available in 10 regions. With the addition of the AWS Asia Pacific (Tokyo) region, you have a new option for database placement, availability, and scalability.
Updated AWS Deep Learning AMIs With TensorFlow 1.5 and Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit 2.4
The AWS Deep Learning AMIs now come with TensorFlow 1.5, and Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit 2.4, with support for NVIDIA CUDA 9 and cuDNN 7 drivers. AMI users can now take advantage of the mixed precision training on the V100 Volta GPUs powering EC2 P3 instances. In our earlier tests for TensorFlow 1.5 on Volta , training the ResNet-50 benchmark with synthetic ImageNet data in FP16 mode on a p3.8xlarge instance was 1.8x times faster than training with TensorFlow 1.4.1.
Announcing Responses Capability in Amazon Lex and SSML Support in Text Response
You can now define a response for your Amazon Lex chatbot directly from the AWS Management Console . A response consists of messages dynamically selected from a group of pre-defined messages, populated by the developer. Messages in these message groups can be simple text, or you can use custom markup. In addition, you can also display a response card as part of the response. The responses capability simplifies building dynamic conversations with Amazon Lex. In addition, you can use Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) in a text response.
Amazon Connect Adds Speech Synthesis Markup Language Support for Amazon Lex Chatbots
Amazon Connect customers can now use Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) when using an Amazon Lex chatbot in their contact center, allowing them to personalize conversations with end users by modifying the chatbot voice. Using SSML tags, you can customize and control aspects of speech, such as pronunciation, volume, and speech rate.
Amazon Cognito Simplifies User Migration
Starting today, you can migrate your existing application users to Amazon Cognito user pools more easily. User pools are managed user directories that can scale to hundreds of millions of users. Now, you can migrate users automatically the next time they log into your application while enabling users to continue using their existing passwords.
Amazon ECS Adds New Endpoint to Access Task Metrics and Metadata
You can now query task metadata and container-level Docker statistics for tasks that are launched using the awsvpc network mode. This gives you a straightforward way to get environmental data such as task, container, and image ID, as well as check the status and health of running containers and tasks.
AWS Shield now Integrated with AWS CloudTrail
You can now log all your API calls to AWS Shield through AWS CloudTrail, the AWS service that records API calls for your account and delivers log files to your Amazon S3 bucket. CloudTrail logs can be used to enable security analysis, track changes to your AWS resources, and aid in compliance auditing. Integrating AWS Shield and CloudTrail lets you determine which requests were made to the AWS Shield API, the source IP address from which each request was made, who made the request, when it was made, and more.
Amazon GameLift Introduces Backfill Functionality to FlexMatch, the Dynamic Matchmaking Service for Multiplayer Experiences
Today, Amazon GameLift introduces backfill functionality for FlexMatch, a powerful matchmaking service that enables you to match players together based on rules you define. Whether you choose to build your matches based on player skill, latency, or some other custom criteria, FlexMatch allows you to build robust and flexible matchmaking pipelines to suit your desired gaming experience.