Blockchain-based Cloud Computing 2: BaaS by AWS
Tags: blockchain, cloud, aws
Published: 2022-04-26 08:42:34

Depending on the use case you plan to *lift-and-shift* into the Cloud, and which provider you chose for it, each of them comes with their own set of chances as well as challenges. However, whenever it comes to Cloud computing we most probably find ourselves either here [Amazon AWS]( https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-aws/) or around there [Microsoft Azure]( https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/). As [comparisons]( https://www.guru99.com/azure-vs-aws.html#3) between these two providers show there is much to discuss about them. Yet, what are the features they provide in the context of Blockchain-based Cloud computing?

## AWS Blockchain Solutions 
AWS, which is short for *Amazon Web Services*, is an on-demand cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. [Related to Blockchains](https://aws.amazon.com/blockchain/) they provide two different services:

-	[Amazon Quantum Ledger Database (QLDB)]( https://aws.amazon.com/qldb/?c=bl&sec=srv)
-	[Amazon Manged Blockchain](https://aws.amazon.com/managed-blockchain/?c=bl&sec=srv)

### QLDB
The QLDB, unlike a Blockchain implementation like Bitcoin, is focused on the immutability and verification as well as the scalability aspect of the utilized distributed ledger technology and has a central, trusted authority that owns and manages the ledger. 

![QLDB, illustration by Amazon]( https://d1.awsstatic.com/r2018/h/blockchain-centralized.8ae3295edc527d53b2a39e10003f58533f7d75de.png)
> [QLDB, illustration by Amazon]( https://d1.awsstatic.com/r2018/h/blockchain-centralized.8ae3295edc527d53b2a39e10003f58533f7d75de.png)

The only question is – *Isn’t the main advantage of a Blockchain its decentralized nature?* Well, it is mostly in its well-known crypto implementations, yet there is the so-called *Blockchain-Trilemma*, which, in short, says that the three properties of a Blockchain *scalability*, *security* and *decentralization* exclude each other, so an implementation cannot have all of these properties at once. Even when looking at different crypto currencies it becomes apparent that the respective developers focused on different aspects when it came to their implementation. 

![The Blockchain Trilemma by bingx]( https://blog.bingx.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/security.png)
> [The Blockchain Trilemma by bingx]( https://blog.bingx.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/security.png)

### Amazon Manged Blockchain
Amazons Manged Blockchain on the other hand is more than a transaction log, like the QLDB, it is a distributed ledger with decentralized ownership. It is compatible with the [Hyperledger Fabric framework](https://www.hyperledger.org/) and [Ethereum]( https://ethereum.org/en/), yet the network created with this service can also remain private. The service takes care of the hardware for each node, network connections as well as the client software running on each machine. Multiple AWS accounts can be part of one network this way.  

![Amazon Manged Blockchain, illustration by Amazon]( https://d1.awsstatic.com/webteam/category-pages/Blockchain/blockchain-decentralized.1f1fa679597b5ff909515eeb4a9ddd47e5a14f0f.png)
> [Amazon Manged Blockchain, illustration by Amazon](https://d1.awsstatic.com/webteam/category-pages/Blockchain/blockchain-decentralized.1f1fa679597b5ff909515eeb4a9ddd47e5a14f0f.png)

### Marketplace Options
Beside these two fully flesh out Blockchain services the AWS marketplace also provides software solutions, again, by the [Hyperledger Fabric Framework such as Sawtooth, Cello and many more] (https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/search?searchTerms=hyperledger). Just like downloading for instance the their [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/hyperledger/) and compiling and running the code on your local machine everything is simply deployed *in the cloud* with just a few clicks. 

## Plug’n’Play 
Taking everything a step further now, these solutions may also be combined with one another and thus are not exclusive. For example, one could [run a Hyperledger Explorer on Amazon Managed Blockchain]( https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/database/running-hyperledger-explorer-on-amazon-managed-blockchain/) according to an architecture like this: 

![Running Hyperledger Explorer on Amazon Managed Blockchain]( https://d2908q01vomqb2.cloudfront.net/887309d048beef83ad3eabf2a79a64a389ab1c9f/2020/10/14/Screen-Shot-2020-10-14-at-15.57.27.png)
> [Running Hyperledger Explorer on Amazon Managed Blockchain]( https://d2908q01vomqb2.cloudfront.net/887309d048beef83ad3eabf2a79a64a389ab1c9f/2020/10/14/Screen-Shot-2020-10-14-at-15.57.27.png)

## Conclusion
Now we know what to expect when looking at AWS for our next Blockchain application in the cloud. For a deeper insight into the detailed differences between Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric based Blockchains or so-called *Blockchain Templates* on AWS feel free to consult the official [Developer Guide by Amazon]( https://docs.aws.amazon.com/blockchain-templates/latest/developerguide/blockchain-template-features.html). 

Looking for a Deep Dive into the topic? 
Also, feel free and go ahead: [Deep Dive on Amazon Managed Blockchain](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j5rhCXw8fE)

In the next post we are going to look at the *Microsoft Azure* approach in this domain! 

Photo by [Aleksandar Pasaric](https://www.pexels.com/de-de/@apasaric/) on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/blick-auf-das-stadtbild-325185/) 🎉