2/25/2026, 12:00:00 AM ~ 2/26/2026, 12:00:00 AM (UTC)
Recent Announcements
AWS Outposts racks now support additional Amazon CloudWatch metrics in AWS GovCloud (US) Regions
AWS Outposts racks now support VifConnectionStatus and VifBgpSessionState Amazon CloudWatch metrics in AWS GovCloud (US) Regions. These metrics provide visibility into the connectivity status of your Outposts racks’ Local Gateway (LGW) and Service Link Virtual Interfaces (VIFs) with your on-premises devices.\n These metrics provide you with the ability to monitor Outposts VIF connectivity status directly within the CloudWatch console, without having to rely on external networking tools or coordination with other teams. You can use these metrics to set alarms, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and ensure your Outposts racks are properly integrated with your on-premises infrastructure. The VifConnectionStatus metric indicates whether an Outposts VIF is successfully connected, configured, and ready to forward traffic. A value of “1” means that the VIF is operational, while “0” means that it is not ready. The VifBgpSessionState metric shows the current state of the BGP session between the Outposts VIF and the on-premises device, with values ranging from 1 (IDLE) to 6 (ESTABLISHED). The VifConnectionStatus and VifBgpSessionState metrics are now available for all Outposts VIFs in AWS GovCloud (US-East) and AWS GovCloud (US-West) Regions where Outposts racks are available. To get started, read this blog post and access the metrics in the CloudWatch console. To learn more, check out the CloudWatch metrics for Outposts documentation for first-generation Outposts racks.
AWS Security Agent adds support for penetration tests on shared VPCs across AWS accounts
AWS Security Agent now enables customers to run penetration tests against Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) resources shared from other AWS accounts within the same organization. This new capability allows security teams to perform comprehensive security assessments across their multi-account environments using AWS Security Agent. By leveraging AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM), customers can securely share VPC resources from sub-accounts to a central AWS account where penetration testing is conducted.\n This feature addresses the challenge of testing distributed architectures spanning multiple AWS accounts. Security professionals can now create an Agent Space in a central account and use RAM to access VPC resources from connected sub-accounts for testing. This streamlines security assessments for organizations with complex multi-account setups. The ability to comprehensively test shared VPC resources enhances an organization’s overall security posture. To get started, ensure your accounts are part of the same AWS Organization and configure resource sharing using RAM. Then launch AWS Security Agent in your central account to begin penetration testing across the shared VPC resources. For more information on AWS Security Agent and its penetration testing capabilities, visit the AWS Security Agent documentation.
Amazon Aurora DSQL launches Playground for interactive database exploration
Today, AWS announces Amazon Aurora DSQL Playground, a browser-based interactive environment that enables developers to explore and experiment with Aurora DSQL without requiring an AWS account. Developers can write and execute SQL queries, test schema designs, and experience Aurora DSQL’s PostgreSQL-compatible distributed SQL capabilities directly in their browser with no setup or configuration required.\n Aurora DSQL Playground provides an instant sandbox environment with temporary clusters where developers can learn Aurora DSQL concepts, prototype application schemas, and validate query patterns before deploying to production. The playground includes sample datasets that enable developers to get started faster, understand how Aurora DSQL handles common database operations, and explore best practices for designing schemas optimized for distributed workloads. To get started, visit the Aurora DSQL Playground. For production workloads, get started with Aurora DSQL for free with the AWS Free Tier. To learn more about Amazon Aurora DSQL, visit the webpage.
Aurora DSQL launches new support for Tortoise, Flyway, and Prisma
Today we are announcing the release of Aurora DSQL integrations for popular ORM and database migration tools: an adapter for Tortoise (Python ORM), a dialect for Flyway (schema management tool), and CLI tools for Prisma (Node.js ORM). These integrations help developers use their preferred frameworks with Aurora DSQL while automatically handling IAM authentication and Aurora DSQL-specific compatibility requirements.\n The Aurora DSQL Adapter for Tortoise enables Python developers to build applications using Tortoise without writing custom authentication code. The adapter supports both asyncpg and psycopg drivers, integrates with the Aurora DSQL Connector for Python for automatic IAM token generation, and includes compatibility patches for rich migrations. The Flyway dialect adapts Flyway for Aurora DSQL’s distributed architecture by automatically handling Aurora DSQL-specific behaviors such as IAM-based authentication. The Prisma CLI tools help Node.js developers validate their Prisma schemas for Aurora DSQL compatibility and generate Aurora DSQL-compatible migrations, streamlining the path from development to production. To get started, visit the GitHub repositories for Tortoise ORM, Flyway, and Prisma. Get started with Aurora DSQL for free with the AWS Free Tier. To learn more about Aurora DSQL, visit the webpage.
Aurora DSQL launches new integrations for Visual Studio Code SQLTools and DBeaver
Today we are announcing the release of the Aurora DSQL Driver for SQLTools and the Aurora DSQL Plugin for DBeaver Community Edition. These integrations allow customers to leverage popular database tools to run queries against Aurora DSQL clusters, explore database schemas, and manage their data. Both integrations simplify database connectivity by automatically handling IAM authentication and transparently managing access tokens, eliminating the need to write token generation code or manually supply IAM tokens.\n The SQLTools driver integrates Aurora DSQL with Visual Studio Code and is also available on Open VSX Registry for use with VS Code-compatible editors such as Cursor and Kiro. The DBeaver plugin is built on top of the Aurora DSQL Connector for JDBC. Both integrations eliminate security risks associated with traditional user-generated passwords by using AWS IAM credentials for secure, password-free authentication. To get started, visit the Aurora DSQL documentation page for VSCode and DBeaver. Get started with Aurora DSQL for free with the AWS Free Tier. To learn more about Aurora DSQL, visit the webpage.
Amazon EC2 R8a instances now available in the Europe (Ireland) region
Starting today, Amazon EC2 R8a instances are now available in Europe (Ireland) region. These instances, feature 5th Gen AMD EPYC processors (formerly code named Turin) with a maximum frequency of 4.5 GHz, deliver up to 30% higher performance, and up to 19% better price-performance compared to R7a instances.\n R8a instances deliver 45% more memory bandwidth compared to R7a instances, making these instances ideal for latency sensitive workloads. Compared to Amazon EC2 R7a instances, R8a instances provide up to 60% faster performance for GroovyJVM, allowing higher request throughput and better response times for business-critical applications. Built on the AWS Nitro System using sixth generation Nitro Cards, R8a instances are ideal for high performance, memory-intensive workloads, such as SQL and NoSQL databases, distributed web scale in-memory caches, in-memory databases, real-time big data analytics, and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) applications. R8a instances offer 12 sizes including 2 bare metal sizes. Amazon EC2 R8a instances are SAP-certified, and providing 38% more SAPS compared to R7a instances. To get started, sign in to the AWS Management Console. For more information about the new instances, visit the Amazon EC2 R8a instance page.
Amazon EC2 M8i and M8i-flex instances are now available in Africa (Cape Town) region
Starting today, Amazon EC2 M8i and M8i-flex instances are now available in Africa (Cape Town) region. These instances are powered by custom Intel Xeon 6 processors, available only on AWS, delivering the highest performance and fastest memory bandwidth among comparable Intel processors in the cloud. The M8i and M8i-flex instances offer up to 15% better price-performance, and 2.5x more memory bandwidth compared to previous generation Intel-based instances. They deliver up to 20% better performance than M7i and M7i-flex instances, with even higher gains for specific workloads. The M8i and M8i-flex instances are up to 30% faster for PostgreSQL databases, up to 60% faster for NGINX web applications, and up to 40% faster for AI deep learning recommendation models compared to M7i and M7i-flex instances.\n M8i-flex are the easiest way to get price performance benefits for a majority of general-purpose workloads like web and application servers, microservices, small and medium data stores, virtual desktops, and enterprise applications. They offer the most common sizes, from large to 16xlarge, and are a great first choice for applications that don’t fully utilize all compute resources. M8i instances are a great choice for all general purpose workloads, especially for workloads that need the largest instance sizes or continuous high CPU usage. The SAP-certified M8i instances offer 13 sizes including 2 bare metal sizes and the new 96xlarge size for the largest applications. To get started, sign in to the AWS Management Console. For more information about the new instances, visit the M8i and M8i-flex page or visit the AWS News blog.
Today, Amazon Location launched curated AI Agent context as a Kiro power, Claude Code plugin, and agent skill in the open Agent Skills format, usable by any compatible agent. Developers can use this context with generative AI tools such as Kiro, Claude Code, and Cursor to improve code accuracy, accelerate feature implementation, and reduce iteration time when adding Amazon Location-enabled capabilities to their applications. Amazon Location Service is a mapping service that offers geospatial data and location functionality such as maps, places search and geocoding, route planning, device tracking, and geofencing.\n Once loaded by AI development tools, the curated Amazon Location context accelerates development of common location-based solutions such as address entry forms for delivery applications, map display, nearest-store lookup, and route visualization. The context includes pre-validated implementation patterns and step-by-step instructions for these use cases, allowing developers to focus on application-specific logic rather than API integration details.
Amazon Location Service is available in the following AWS Regions: US East (Ohio), US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Malaysia), Asia Pacific (Mumbai), Asia Pacific (Singapore), Asia Pacific (Sydney), Asia Pacific (Tokyo), Canada (Central), Europe (Frankfurt), Europe (Ireland), Europe (London), Europe (Spain), Europe (Stockholm), South America (São Paulo), and AWS GovCloud (US-West).
To get started, download and install the context to your agent of choice from the amazon-location-agent-context repository on GitHub, or learn more about using AI and LLMs to accelerate development with Amazon Location Service.
Amazon WorkSpaces Applications extends support for 4K resolution
Amazon WorkSpaces Applications now supports up to 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution on non-accelerated instance types and across all client connection modes. Previously, higher resolution monitors were limited to graphics-accelerated instances in WorkSpaces Applications classic mode. This update allows you to choose the appropriate instance type and provide a better end-user experience that aligns with your hardware investments.\n This new feature benefits customers by providing a consistent and high-quality streaming experience across instances regardless of hardware acceleration capabilities. Whether using native application mode, classic application mode, or desktop view, your end users can now enjoy up to 4K resolution if their display device supports it. This enhancement is particularly valuable for users with ultra-wide monitors (21:9 aspect ratio) at 4K resolution, ensuring applications display with optimal clarity and detail at the maximum supported resolution of 4K. These features are available at no additional cost in all the AWS Regions where WorkSpaces Applications is available. WorkSpaces Applications offers pay-as-you-go pricing. To get started with WorkSpaces Applications, see Amazon WorkSpaces applications: Getting started.
To enable these features for your users, you must use a WorkSpaces Applications image that uses a WorkSpaces Applications agent released on or after February 4, 2026, or an image that uses Managed WorkSpaces Applications image updates released on or after February 18, 2026.
Announcing new metal sizes for Amazon EC2 M8gn and M8gb instances
Today, AWS announces the general availability of metal-24xl and metal-48xl sizes for Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) M8gn and M8gb instances. These instances are powered by AWS Graviton4 processors to deliver up to 30% better compute performance than AWS Graviton3 processors. M8gn instances feature the latest 6th generation AWS Nitro Cards, and offer up to 600 Gbps network bandwidth, the highest network bandwidth among network optimized EC2 instances. M8gb offers up to 300 Gbps of EBS bandwidth to provide higher EBS performance compared to same-sized equivalent Graviton4-based instances.\n M8gn and M8gb instances offer instance sizes up to 48xlarge and metal-48xl, with up to 768 GiB of memory. M8gn instances offer up to 600 Gbps of networking bandwidth, up to 60 Gbps of bandwidth to Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS), and are ideal for network-intensive workloads such as high-performance file systems, distributed web scale in-memory caches, caching fleets, real-time big data analytics, Telco applications such as 5G User Plane Function (UPF). M8gb instances offer up to 300 Gbps of EBS bandwidth, up to 400 Gbps of networking bandwidth, and are ideal for workloads requiring high block storage performance such as high-performance databases and NoSQL databases.
M8gn and M8gb instances support Elastic Fabric Adapter (EFA) networking on 16xlarge, 24xlarge, 48xlarge, metal-24xl, and metal-48xl sizes. EFA networking enables lower latency and improved cluster performance for workloads deployed on tightly coupled clusters.
The new metal-24xl and metal-48xl sizes are available in the AWS US East (N. Virginia) region.
To begin your Graviton journey, visit the Level up your compute with AWS Graviton page. To get started, see AWS Management Console, AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI), and AWS SDKs.
AWS Backup extends support for Amazon Neptune to five additional AWS Regions
AWS Backup now supports Amazon Neptune in five additional AWS Regions: Europe (Zurich), Asia Pacific (Melbourne), Canada West (Calgary), Asia Pacific (Malaysia), and Europe (Spain).\n This expansion brings policy-based data protection and recovery to your Amazon Neptune clusters in these newly supported Regions.
To start protecting your Amazon Neptune clusters with AWS Backup, add your Amazon Neptune clusters to your existing backup plans or create a new backup plan, and attach your Neptune clusters to the newly created backup plan. To learn more about AWS Backup for Amazon Neptune clusters, visit the product page, pricing page, and documentation. To get started, visit the AWS Backup console, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), or AWS SDKs.
AWS Blogs
AWS Japan Blog (Japanese)
- Inefficiencies hidden in AI coding and how to spot them
- Transform supply chain logistics with Agentic AI
- AWS Weekly Roundup: Claude Sonnet 4.6 on Amazon Bedrock, Kiro in the Kiro in GovCloud region, new agent plugins, and more (February 23, 2026)
- An initiative to expand the use of Amazon Q Developer to the entire project
AWS Architecture Blog
AWS Big Data Blog
AWS Compute Blog
AWS for Industries
Artificial Intelligence
- Efficiently serve dozens of fine-tuned models with vLLM on Amazon SageMaker AI and Amazon Bedrock
- Building intelligent event agents using Amazon Bedrock AgentCore and Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases