AWS Unveils Snowmobile: Transporting Petabytes in a Secure Tractor Trailer

In the highly competitive cloud computing arena, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is redefining how enterprises move massive data sets to the cloud. The company has introduced “Snowmobile,” a secure, mobile data‑on‑wheels platform that can store up to 100 petabytes (PB) of data in a single tractor‑trailered unit.

During a recent event, AWS CEO Andy Jassy highlighted Snowmobile as a breakthrough solution that addresses one of the most stubborn barriers to cloud adoption: the logistical challenge of migrating petabyte‑scale workloads. By transporting data in a sealed trailer, organizations can transfer exabytes of information to AWS in just a few weeks, circumventing the bandwidth constraints of traditional network transfers.

In addition to Snowmobile, AWS unveiled Snowball Edge, a rugged storage appliance designed for edge computing and the Internet of Things (IoT). As noted by ZDNet’s Larry Dignan, these devices shift the focus of on‑premises infrastructure from servers and data centers to the sensors and devices that generate data in the field.

Expanding the IoT Stack with Greengrass

AWS also launched Greengrass, a runtime that offloads compute, local messaging, and data caching from cloud servers to remote devices. This enables devices to operate with intermittent connectivity while still maintaining synchronization with the cloud.

The expanded AWS portfolio arrives as cloud and IT infrastructure become pivotal drivers of IoT growth. A recent report shows that 21 benchmarked IoT companies reported a 15% rise in quarterly revenue, reaching nearly $7 billion.

See also: Amazon unveils Greengrass for IoT developers.