AWS Specialized Database Services

Amazon Athena

• SQL engine overlay for S3 using Presto

• Queries raw data directly in S3

• Supports formats:

  • JSON, CSV (standard performance)

  • Parquet (optimized performance)

• Best for: Data lake queries without joins

• Differs from Redshift Spectrum (which handles joins with Redshift data)

Amazon Quantum Ledger Database (QLDB)

• Centralized blockchain-based database

• Features:

  • Immutable journal

  • Append-only architecture

  • Hash-chain record linking

  • Higher performance than decentralized blockchains

• Operation:

  • Each record contains previous record's hash

  • Modifications break the hash chain

  • Ensures data immutability

Amazon Managed Blockchain

• Hosted blockchain framework service

• Supports:

  • Hyperledger Fabric

  • Ethereum

• Characteristics:

  • Distributed architecture

  • Consensus-based network

  • Cross-account member support

  • Uses QLDB for transaction ordering

  • Supports external network members

Amazon Timestream

• Purpose-built for time-series data

• Features:

  • Built-in analytics

  • Value interpolation

  • Data smoothing

• Use cases:

  • Industrial machinery monitoring

  • Equipment telemetry

  • Long-term performance tracking

Amazon DocumentDB

• MongoDB-compatible database service

• Features:

  • MongoDB API compatibility

  • Easy migration path from MongoDB

  • AWS-managed redundancy

  • Built-in scalability

  • High availability

Amazon Elasticsearch Service (ES)

• Primary function: Search engine

• Architecture (ELK Stack):

  1. Elasticsearch (storage/search layer)

  2. Intake options:

     • LogStash

     • CloudWatch

     • Firehose

     • Greengrass (IoT)

  3. Kibana (analytics/visualization)

• Characteristics:

  • JSON document storage

  • Analytics capabilities

  • Mature development community

  • Highly scalable

• Best for:

  • Search functionality

  • Analytics tools

  • Real-time dashboards