In a remarkable gathering at the Amazon VGT2 event in Las Vegas, over 1,300 professionals from various sectors came together to explore the transformative power of cloud technologies. Keynote speakers emphasized the significant influence that Amazon Web Services (AWS) can have on individuals, communities, security, governance, and the economy in Australia and New Zealand.
Highlights from the Amazon VGT2 Event
The Australian government facilitates AWS access
The Australian Government Digital Transformation Agency, dedicated to streamlining public services, has struck a comprehensive agreement with AWS. This initiative enables government organizations nationwide to access AWS services through a simplified procurement process—revolutionizing traditional government purchasing. From the outset, entities can benefit from reduced costs via pre-negotiated terms. For more details, check out the Australian Government Digital Transformation Agency website.
AWS Educate for Australian veterans on the horizon
We are thrilled to announce the upcoming expansion of the AWS Educate program to support Australian veterans, equipping them for careers in cloud technology. This program will launch in 2020, targeting veterans based in Australia. Recent research by AWS and Deloitte Access Economics identified that the primary barrier to cloud adoption in Australia is ensuring employees possess the necessary skills for digital transformation, with 37% of businesses marking this as their biggest challenge. By tapping into the veteran talent pool through AWS Educate, we aim to cultivate the next generation of IT and cloud experts, thereby enhancing Australia’s workforce. For more insights on the AWS Educate for Veterans initiative, visit this excellent resource.
Drones powered by AWS enhance maritime safety
Dr. Emily Dorsey, co-founder of The Ripper Group International, discussed SharkSpotter®, the world’s first real-time AI-driven shark detection system for drones, which operates on AWS. This innovative program detects sharks in ocean waters, providing alerts to beaches or control centers to ensure swimmer safety. Thanks to AWS, latency has been reduced from 10 seconds to under one second, and SharkSpotter is now a smartphone app, expanding its reach globally—potentially saving lives. The company is also developing CrocSpotter®.
Using technology to safeguard children from online abuse
In her keynote, Alex Grant, Head of Product Management at nonprofit Thorn, detailed how they leverage AWS to protect children from online sexual exploitation and combat child trafficking. With the support of AWS, Thorn has significantly expedited investigations, reducing time by as much as 65%, and has successfully rescued 10,000 victims across 55 countries.
Conserving natural resources with tech
Managing New Zealand’s vast public conservation areas, including 13 national parks and 36 conservation parks, has become more efficient with AWS. In his address, Mike Edginton, CIO of the New Zealand Department of Conservation, explained how utilizing AWS data lakes and open-source data code has improved resource deployment and allowed for 24/7 operations.
Celebrating the launch of AWS Security Hub
AWS recently introduced the AWS Security Hub, a centralized platform for viewing and managing security alerts and automating compliance checks. Aligning with CIS benchmarks, the Security Hub enables users to visualize security findings and receive automatic alerts. Simon Elisha, AWS Head of Solutions Architecture for Australia and New Zealand, shared insights on this development during the keynote.
For more information and insights, you can also check this other blog post.
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