Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a broad set of commercial computing, storage, database, analytics, application, and deployment services. AWS is used by the UC locations to host websites and web applications, provide backup and disaster recovery, support high bandwidth computing services, and more. The UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) has developed policies, procedures, and the requisite infrastructure for secured, HIPAA-compliant computing within AWS. DGSOM investigators are now able to spin up, through a self-service portal, on-demand virtual machines (VMs) (per their specifications) with common software packages (e.g., R, python libraries, etc.). Authentication and connections to the VMs are linked directly to UCLA’s credentialing system and behind firewalls, ensuring compliance with all UCLA security policies and with routine auditing in place. Methods for per user charges have been established to support researchers, with active engagement by the DGSOM information technology group (DGIT) to expand and enrich offerings.

As of February 2017, UCLA is an Amazon Web Service (AWS) Educate Institution. AWS Educate is Amazon’s global initiative to provide students and educators with the resources needed to greatly accelerate cloud-related learning to help prepare students for a cloud-enabled workplace. AWS Educate provides four pillars of grant-based support for educators and students: 1) content on the Cloud contributed by top educators and AWS to help build courses; 2) training materials to better understand AWS; 3) collaboration tools such as discussion forums, events, and places to upload and rate content; and 4) credits to access AWS services for free.

For more information on AWS, please visit AWS’ site and UCLA’s Software Central.

Last updated
November 15, 2023