AWS Government, Education, & Nonprofits Blog

A core reason organizations adopt a cloud IT infrastructure is to save money. The traditional approach of analyzing Total Cost of Ownership no longer applies when you move to the cloud. Cloud services provide the opportunity for you to use only what you need and pay only for what you use. We refer to this new paradigm as the Total Cost of Operation in our latest white paper on “Maximizing Value with AWS.” You can use Total Cost of Operation (TCO) analysis methodologies to compare the costs of owning a traditional data center with the costs of operating your environment using AWS cloud services.

Get started with these cost-saving tips and download the whitepaper for more details:

1. Create a culture of cost management: All teams can help manage costs, and cost optimization should be everyone’s responsibility. There are many variables that affect cost, with different levers that can be pulled to drive operational excellence.
2. Start with an understanding of current costs: Having a clear understanding of your existing infrastructure and migration costs and then projecting your savings will help you calculate payback time, estimate ROI, and maximize the value your organization gains from migrating to AWS.
3. Select the right plan for specific workloads: Moving business applications to the AWS Cloud helps organizations simplify infrastructure management, deploy new services faster, provide greater availability, and lower costs.
4. Employ best practices: AWS delivers a robust set of services specifically designed for the unique security, compliance, privacy, and governance requirements of large organizations.

With a technology platform that is both broad and deep, professional services and support organizations, training programs, and an ecosystem that is tens of thousands of partners strong, AWS can help you move faster and do more.

Download the whitepaper to learn more.

Learn more about how to save money in the cloud and join CloudCheckr and AWS at the AWS Public Sector Summit June 12-14, 2017 in Washington, DC. Register today!

Breaking down barriers to opportunity is a top priority for many educational organizations. By expanding learning beyond the confines of a physical classroom, technology helps increase access to courses and level the playing field for students.

For schools and educators, the cloud offers not only cost savings and agility, but also the opportunity to develop breakthroughs in educational models and student engagement. For students, it means access to the resources they need, especially in geographically dispersed areas where access might be limited.

For example, Idaho Digital Learning (IDL), the state-sponsored online school serving K-12 students across all of Idaho, has been an early adopter of cloud in K12 education. Idaho Digital Learning offers an assortment of courses including core curriculum, credit recovery, electives, Dual Credit and Advanced Placement. These courses are offered in Cohort, Flex, and Hybrid formats to accommodate the nearly 27,000 enrolled students’ schedules and learning styles.

Through a strong collaboration between industry, school districts, and the state government, IDL accomplishes its mission to build the pipeline of talent to fill the growing number of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) jobs, which can be a challenge in a rural state like Idaho.

Idaho Digital Learning and AWS

Idaho Digital Learning has been able to use the power of technology to flexibly, conveniently, reliably, and securely deliver content across school districts by providing virtual learning using AWS.

To be able to provide the critical anytime, anywhere access to smaller schools, Idaho Digital Learning migrated all-in on AWS in 2014. The organization uses Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Route 53, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), and Amazon CloudFront to create access and opportunity for all Idaho students and educators through digital learning.

Some of the benefits realized by IDL include:

• Continuity of Operations (no matter the location) – Moving physical locations to a virtualized model shared by districts with multiple failovers provides for always-on access and greater continuity of operations for all users. “Even when faced with incidents, such as a squirrel chewing a line or a snowstorm taking down the power, we were able to provide the services to our students,” said William Dembi, Infrastructure Specialist, Idaho Digital Learning. “The biggest benefit was business continuity. Previously, with on-premises, there were no failsafes. Now, because the solution is virtualized and backed up on AWS, we have peace of mind that we can deliver the content to students and educators, no matter what might pop up and no matter where they are.”
• Security of Student Data – Protecting student data is a top priority with virtual learning. AWS makes many common security practices simple and effective. The Virtual Private Gateway service creates tunnels for encrypted traffic between IDL’s AWS infrastructure and on-premises network. Only SQL traffic is able to reach the SQL servers. NAT Gateways are utilized to protect private subnets from internet traffic. Only requests originating from the private subnet, like Windows updates, are allowed on the private subnets and instances. “Hosting our sensitive data in the cloud eliminates any physical security needs, such as locks and access cards. IAM is utilized to enforce MFA on users with elevated permissions,” said William. “We currently have daily backups of our SIS database that are migrated directly to Amazon Glacier. These backups are encrypted and extremely cost effective, which allows for terabytes of backup uploaded at a minimal cost. The other added bonus has been ease of use. It’s super easy with AWS to just put in a credit card and start working.”
• Data Accessibility and Efficiency – Currently IDLA utilizes more than one Learning Management System (LMS), depending on whether a student is taking a cohort, blended, or flex course. Although these formats vary significantly, especially when it comes to grading versus mastery-based outcomes, a lot of the learning content can be similar. “We had a situation where our teachers had to develop content twice for each LMS, which doubled their work. To solve this issue, we leveraged Amazon S3 as an easily accessible data store for our course content,” said William. “Because we uploaded our content to an LMS-agnostic data store (rather than uploading it to something like Blackboard’s content collection), we were able to develop the content once and just embed it twice. This saved a major amount of development time for our teachers.”

Learn more about the AWS tools to help every student get the attention needed to thrive in and out of the classroom.

The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act) aims to make government agency spending more transparent to citizens by making financial data easily accessible and by establishing common standards for the data all government agencies collect and share on the government website, USAspending.gov.

We are pleased to announce that the USAspending.gov database is now available for anyone to access via Amazon RDS. USAspending.gov data includes data on all spending by the federal government, including contracts, grants, loans, employee salaries, and more.

The data is available via a PostgreSQL snapshot, which provides bulk access to the entire USAspending.gov database, and is updated nightly. At this time, the database includes all USAspending.gov for the second quarter of fiscal year 2017, and data going back to the year 2000 will be added over the summer. You can learn more about the database and how to access it on the AWS Public Dataset landing page.

Now that this data is available as a public snapshot on Amazon RDS, anyone can get a copy of the USAspending.gov’s entire production database for their own use within minutes. Researchers and businesses who want to work with real data about US Government spending can quickly combine it with their own data or other data resources.

When data is made publicly available on AWS, anyone can analyze any volume of data without needing to download or store it themselves, enabling more innovation, more quickly. Users can use this data with the entire suite of AWS data analytics products and easily collaborate with other AWS users.

Learn more about how to launch your copy of the snapshot and how Amazon RDS can be used to share an entire relational database quickly and easily in the blog post here.

The 2017 City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge will remain open for entries until Friday, May 12– so there is still time to apply!

Through the competition, AWS helps local and regional governments, schools, and districts innovate by simplifying IT workloads that they struggle with and depend on every day, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Content Management Systems (CMS), Open Data portals, Learning Management System (LMS), and more.

Winners are given up to $50,000 in AWS Promotional Credits to support their cloud initiatives and encourage innovation and research.

Here are some examples of how cities are leveraging the AWS Cloud to solve for challenges facing their communities:

• 311 mobile applications allow citizens better access to vital information and open lines of communication.
• Open Data initiatives are allowing researchers to connect disparate datasets, drawing new insights with pre-existing data.
• Justice and Public Safety strategies like wearable cameras and real-time information sharing are keeping first responders as informed as possible.

Looking for ideas before you submit your application? Get advice from a previous City on a Cloud Innovation Challenge Winner, Appriss Safety.

Apply today!

Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies collect endless amounts of data that, however abundant, often fails to paint the whole picture. Now, through the use of data lakes, healthcare agencies across the world are connecting disparate datasets, connecting information, and drawing new insights from years of data.

HHS is in the midst of a digital transformation. Organizations are seeking new, innovative ways to deliver high quality, cost-effective services to beneficiaries. To make informed decisions, organizations must manage:

• Digitization of service delivery
• More data from more services and devices
• Changing laws and regulations
• Healthcare delivery transformation
• Pressure to contain costs
• Growing benefits enrollments
• Aging populations
• New technologies

Actionable and timely analytics are key to effective and efficient service delivery. Enter the data lake. Data lakes allow an organization to load and store all of their data, structured and unstructured, in one centralized repository.

Faced with numerous types and massive amounts of data, organizations are finding that in order to deliver insights in a timely manner, they need a data storage and analytics solution that offers more agility and flexibility than traditional approaches. Organizations in every sector are adopting data lakes because they offer more agility and flexibility than traditional approaches to managing data.

Watch the recording of the webinar on how HHS organizations can use data lakes to develop a single view of their beneficiaries. Don’t miss the next webinar in this series on “How HHS agencies are Running Mission-Critical Systems in the Cloud. Register here.

Register today for our “Building a Serverless Data Lake” bootcamp at the AWS Public Sector Summit.

Keep learning about data lakes, big data, and analytics with CSRA and AWS at the AWS Public Sector Summit June 12-14, 2017 in Washington, DC.

LiDAR point cloud data for Washington, DC, is available for anyone to use on Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3). This dataset, managed by the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), with the direction of OCTO’s Geographic Information System (GIS) program, contains tiled point cloud data for the entire District along with associated metadata.

LiDAR is a remote sensing method that emits hundreds of thousands of near-infrared light pulses each second to measure distances to the Earth. These light pulses generate precise, 3D information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics. LiDAR is popularly used to make high-resolution maps and digital elevation models, with applications in geodesy, archaeology, geography, geology, seismology, and forestry.

LiDAR data supports the development of new applications for city planning, building restoration, law enforcement and crime prevention, traffic and parking management, autonomous vehicles, and more.

DC OCTO and AWS have made LiDAR data publicly available as an AWS Public Dataset as part of the Smarter DC initiative. The initiative encourages innovation and development of smart city technologies that improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Accessing DC LiDAR Data on AWS

DC’s OCTO’s mission is to improve the quality and lower the cost of services provided by the DC government, through the District’s collective investment and effective application of data and systems. They acquired new LiDAR data in spring 2015 to establish a more thorough and better quality core LiDAR dataset.

“Working with AWS to make DC LiDAR data openly available enables us to provide city data as part of the Smarter DC initiative, to encourage more innovation and development of new smart city applications. The use of LiDAR data in applications will elevate DC’s tech scene and foster more technical growth and solutions to city challenges. It also makes DC Government more efficient in the way it operates, plans, and spends taxpayer funds,” said Archana Vemulapalli, DC Chief Technology Officer.

For example, LiDAR Data supports urban planning projects and management of city assets resulting in more accurate modeling of city features, such as watersheds and flood plains, to more efficiently plan buildings and roadways to improve storm water management and transportation in the city. Also, LiDAR models can help monitor air pollution by detecting particle levels of carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, methane, and even light pollution, which can be used to reduce pollutant concentration in certain areas.

The LiDAR data products are suitable for 1 foot (or less) contour generation.  This project consists of deliverables in accordance with USGS v1.2 specifications and meets or exceeds the level of quality for QL1 (8 points per meter).

Examples of how to access the files via the AWS CLI can be seen here. And visit the Open Data DC catalog as a source for additional DC government data.

If you would like to show us what you can do with DC LiDAR data or would like to receive updates on the project, please reach out to us here. If you have a research project that could take advantage of DC LiDAR data on AWS, you can apply for AWS Cloud Credits for Research.

Image courtesy of Hobu, Inc. Powered by Entwine, Greyhound and Potree, see more here (http://potree.entwine.io/data/dc.html)

AWS announced the launch of AWS EdStart, a new program that helps educational technology (EdTech) startups build innovative teaching and learning solutions using the AWS Cloud. AWS EdStart offers EdTech startups grants of AWS Promotional Credits to build their infrastructure and solutions on AWS and create the next generation of online learning, analytics, and campus management solutions.

If you’ve got a big idea for a company that can change education, AWS EdStart can help. By joining, you’ll also have access to office hours, trainings, and community forums. Your solutions will be built on the same scalable platform used by D2L, Clever, Instructure, Ellucian, Blackboard, Coursera, and Echo360.

Hear from EdTech Startups

From idea to IPO and beyond, AWS is the infrastructure standard for education’s technology ecosystem. Through AWS EdStart, we provide qualifying EdTech startups with the low cost, easy to use infrastructure needed to scale and grow a business of any size.

“The AWS EdTech Startup program is a dream come true for any bootstrapped startup. It gives SKOOKi a perfect jumpstart and peace of mind to iterate the product and processes while utilizing the most trustworthy and robust infrastructure,” said AliSher Rakhimov, Founder and CEO, SKOOKi.

“Vocareum was built upon the notion that cloud infrastructure paired with open source technology will transform how students and professionals learn to code. Our mission is to improve assessment efficiency, student engagement, and learning outcomes with our cutting-edge and cost-effective computing labs. We are excited to find a home with AWS’s EdTech Startup Program, scaling our solution for educators worldwide,” said Sanjay Srivastava, CEO, Vocareum.

“The EdTech industry has seen marked growth in investment due to the impact it has on students globally and the potential for disruption. The AWS EdStart program from Amazon Web Services is timely. It enables startup EdTechs to build and deliver education solutions faster and more cost effectively than before by utilizing the benefits the cloud has to offer. Investors want startups to focus on innovation rather than infrastructure, and AWS EdStart helps education entrepreneurs keep their focus on student outcomes,” said Michael Cohn, Principal, GSV Acceleration.

Apply Today!

Startups can apply to join AWS EdStart if they are less than five years old, based in the United States, and have less than $10M in revenue. Applications should include a plan for an innovative solution for students, teachers, or administrators that solves a current problem and/or disrupts current educational models.

To apply and for more information about the program, visit: aws.amazon.com/awsedstart.

Successful cloud adoption flows from well-designed procurement strategies and cloud-centric contract vehicles. Getting procurement ‘right,’ will lead to a portfolio of cloud technology and services that truly realizes the benefits of cloud computing.

One way to procure the cloud is by issuing an RFP. Public sector organizations can issue a solicitation to an SI or managed service/consulting firm and have them propose a comprehensive solution. This allows you to request comprehensive services, but designate that they must make use of public cloud services.

Below are some tips for writing a cloud-friendly RFP:

Do:

• Focus on the outcomes
• Maintain flexible language
• Focus on functionality needed and overall performance-based requirements
• Encourage recommended alternatives to deliver and/or enhance the services and outcomes you seek
• Take advantage of fluctuating prices rather than a fixed price model
• Specify commercial item terms

Don’t:

• Be overly prescriptive
• Include specific details, which may outdate the contract
• Dictate the specific methods, hardware, and equipment to be used
• Refer to part numbers to achieve desired outcomes

Learn more of the best practices in cloud acquisition and more guidance on writing a cloud-friendly RFP by visiting our “How to Buy” page.

Want to learn more about cloud procurement? Join Smartronix and AWS at the AWS Public Sector Summit June 12-14, 2017 in Washington, DC. Register today!

Hardware multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now available in the AWS GovCloud (US) Region to help bolster data security while giving you control over token keys with access to your data.

AWS Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a best practice that adds an extra layer of protection on top of your user name and password. With MFA enabled, when a user signs in to the AWS GovCloud (US) Region, they are prompted for their user name and password (the first factor, or “what they know”), as well as for an authentication code from their AWS MFA device (the second factor, or “what they have”). Taken together, these factors provide increased security for AWS GovCloud (US) account settings and resources.

The AWS GovCloud (US)-specific tokens are distributed by SurePassID, a third-party digital security company, and implement the Initiative for Open Authentication Time-based One-Time Password (OATH TOTP) standard. The MFA token keys are stored in the AWS GovCloud (US) Region with a separate AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) environment to create logical isolation from other regions during authentication. SurePassID tokens are available for purchase on Amazon.com.

You can enable MFA for your AWS GovCloud (US) account and for individual IAM users you have created under your account. You can also use MFA to control access to AWS GovCloud (US) service APIs.

AWS does not charge any additional fees for using MFA, so after you have obtained a supported hardware or virtual MFA device you can start to deploy MFA with no additional cost.

To learn more about MFA for the AWS GovCloud (US) Region, see AWS GovCloud (US) Product Details.

The American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) is now available as an AWS Public Dataset. AWS and data.world collaborated to make the data available for analysis in the cloud. Now, anyone can access and analyze PUMS data in the cloud without needing to download and store their own copy.

The ACS is the largest and most up-to-date annual survey performed by the US Census Bureau detailing information about the American people and housing units. It affects $400 billion in annual spending and impacts local officials, community leaders, and businesses who rely on the data to understand the changes taking place in their communities.

By hosting this important data where it can be quickly and easily processed with elastic computing resources, AWS hopes to enable more innovation, more quickly. Learn how to access the data at the ACS PUMS on AWS Public Dataset landing page.

We spoke with Jonathan Ortiz, data scientist and knowledge engineer at data.world, and discussed how people can use and work with the ACS data on AWS to help foster a more informed population.

Q. What are the biggest challenges associated with ACS data usage?

The biggest challenge with ACS data usage is its steep learning curve. The learning curve is a byproduct of a very positive aspect of the ACS: it’s so big. It covers an exhaustive number of attributes about people and housing units by practically any geography you could think of, which is fantastic but robust datasets tend to have steep learning curves.

Q. How was ACS data previously made available for use?

There are two ACS data releases: pre-tabulated Summary Files, which are aggregated population estimates by geography; and microdata, which is the non-aggregated, individual record-by-record view of the population. There are countless ways to access the Summary Files, including the Census API and data.world, but there aren’t many options for the microdata, which is what we focused on for this AWS public dataset.

Until now, ACS microdata has been made available via FTP as raw .csv files, and its metadata has been stored in human-readable data dictionaries separate from the data, which required users to constantly refer back and forth between the data and the data dictionary.

Q. Your National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded work transforms the ACS into a graph database – what are the benefits of this approach?

Making the ACS data available as a graph database helps improve usability. Big, raw .csv files can be unwieldy, so putting everything into a secure, queryable database means you don’t have to work with raw files or store anything. Just query what you need!

By using graph data, you can store the metadata along with the data itself. Data.world has removed the data from its silo, so now others can use this as a foundation to link their data to the Census. For example, there are many ACS-powered projects, apps, and analyses using data.world, such as Data For Democracy’s election transparency analysis, which aims to uncover trends and anomalies in US elections.

Q. What do you see as the advantage of making this data available on AWS?

AWS cloud computing serves many, so this makes it easier for those folks to get ACS microdata and use it. It extends the audience of the work we’ve done by orders of magnitude. Developers will now be able to make websites and software applications using the ACS microdata, putting information in front of the American people, which can help foster a more informed public.

Learn how to access the data at the ACS PUMS on AWS Public Dataset landing page.