Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world's largest cloud computing platform, operated by Amazon and used by organisations across every sector and scale. AWS provides the infrastructure that many of the software products in this Marketplace run on, including computing power, data storage, databases, security services, and AI tools. For councils, AWS is most directly relevant as the hosting environment behind the products they already use. Symphony3's SmartGlue integration platform is hosted on AWS, is listed on the AWS Marketplace, and benefits from the security and reliability foundations that AWS provides.
AWS operates data centres in Sydney and Melbourne, which means Australian councils that use AWS-hosted products can keep their data within Australia and meet data sovereignty requirements under the Australian Government Cloud Policy. AWS is listed on the federal government's whole-of-government cloud procurement arrangement, managed by the Digital Transformation Agency, accessible by all levels of Australian government including local councils.
AWS has been assessed at the Protected level under the Australian Signals Directorate's security framework, one of the most rigorous cloud security assessments available in Australia. It holds ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and PCI DSS certifications. When a council uses an AWS-hosted product, they benefit from this security foundation as part of the service, without needing to manage it separately.