Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba Cloud, also known as Aliyun, is a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, offering cloud computing services. Launched in September 2009, it provides a variety of cloud services on a pay-as-you-go basis. These services include elastic computing, data storage, relational databases, big data processing, anti-DDoS protection, and content delivery networks (CDN). The company operates globally, with 25 regional data centres and 74 availability zones, including key locations in China, Singapore, and Europe. It is the largest cloud provider in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

Alibaba Cloud has a strong history of partnerships and technological advancements. For example, in 2017, it became the official cloud services provider for the Olympics. Its notable collaborations include partnerships with companies such as Vodafone Germany, SK Holdings, and SoftBank. The company also operates several academic partnerships with universities worldwide, supporting research and innovation.

The company provides a range of cloud computing products, including infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). Popular services include AnalyticDB, Kubernetes, object storage, and big data solutions. Alibaba Cloud supports businesses in their digital transformation with its extensive cloud offerings, backed by data centre operations in regions like the United States, Germany, and the Philippines.

Alibaba Cloud also runs a Startup Catalyst Program, offering cloud credits of up to USD 120K to support startups. This program provides technical resources, access to Alibaba Cloud Academy, and opportunities for global networking. The Apsara Conference, hosted by Alibaba Cloud, is an annual event showcasing advancements in cloud computing and AI technologies. Alibaba Cloud designed and launched its in-house ARM-based Yitian 710 chip for data centres, further advancing its technological capabilities.

Alibaba Cloud also partnered with Dubai Holding in March 2023 to upgrade its data centre operations in the Middle East to better serve customers in that region.

Alibaba Cloud, established in September 2009 as a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, began with a focus on offering cloud computing services to online businesses, including Alibaba's own ecosystem. Initially based in Hangzhou, Beijing, and Silicon Valley, Alibaba Cloud quickly expanded its research and development capabilities to build a strong cloud infrastructure.

In November 2010, the company played a crucial role in managing Alibaba’s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, handling 2.4 billion page views in 24 hours. In 2012, it became the first Chinese cloud service provider to attain the ISO27001:2005 certification, meeting international security standards. In January 2013, Alibaba Cloud merged with HiChina, acquiring one of China’s largest domain registration and hosting businesses, expanding its reach further.

By 2014, the company launched its first international data centre in Hong Kong, followed by its defence against a 14-hour Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack that peaked at 453.8 Gbit/s. In 2015, Alibaba Cloud received a $1 billion investment from Alibaba Group, helping it expand its operations with new data centres in Singapore and the United States. This marked the beginning of its international growth, with Singapore designated as its global headquarters. During the same year, Alibaba Cloud’s MaxCompute platform set a new record in the Sort Benchmark by processing 100 TB of data in 377 seconds.

Between 2016 and 2017, the company formed key partnerships with firms such as SK Holdings in Korea and SoftBank in Japan, helping to drive cloud adoption in Asia. In 2017, Alibaba Cloud became the official cloud services provider for the Olympic Games, demonstrating its capability on a global scale. That same year, it entered Gartner's Magic Quadrant as a Visionary in the Cloud Infrastructure as a Service category.

In 2018, the company expanded further by opening new data centres in Indonesia and India. The launch of AnalyticDB in 2019 and its subsequent iterations added powerful data analytics capabilities to its portfolio, and the same year, Alibaba Cloud released the Yitian 710, an ARM-based chip designed in-house for use in its data centres.

In 2021, the company faced challenges when the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology suspended its partnership due to reporting failures around the Log4Shell vulnerability. Despite this, Alibaba Cloud continued to expand its global footprint, launching a data centre in the Philippines and pledging $1 billion in 2022 to upgrade its global partner ecosystem.

In 2023, Alibaba Cloud continued to expand its global presence and maintain its leadership in the cloud computing market. According to Gartner, Alibaba Cloud held the largest market share in the Asia-Pacific region for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), a position it has held since 2018. Globally, Alibaba Cloud ranked as the third-largest cloud service provider, behind Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. The company operated 25 regional data centres with 89 availability zones around the world, providing computing services to millions of customers.

In March 2023, Alibaba Cloud partnered with Dubai Holding to upgrade its data centre operations in the Middle East to better serve customers in that region. TÜV Rheinland also certified the company’s carbon emissions for its customers, reflecting its efforts to reduce environmental impact.

In 2024, Alibaba Cloud focused on innovation and digital transformation, continuing its investment in its global partner ecosystem. At the 2024 Apsara Conference, the company announced updates in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The conference featured sessions covering technology and industry trends, as well as the launch of new AI and cloud computing products. These developments are expected to support Alibaba Cloud’s growth across industries, enhancing its offerings in AI-based solutions and cloud services.

Today, Alibaba Cloud operates 25 regional data centres with 89 availability zones worldwide. It remains the largest cloud service provider in China and the Asia-Pacific region, offering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Its services include e-commerce solutions, big data processing, IoT, and object storage. Alibaba Cloud continues to focus on innovation, cloud security, and driving digital transformation for businesses globally.

Alibaba Cloud’s mission is to provide secure, reliable, and scalable cloud computing services that empower businesses and organisations globally. They aim to support digital transformation by offering a wide range of cloud-based solutions, including computing, storage, big data, artificial intelligence, and security services. By leveraging their expertise, Alibaba Cloud strives to help companies grow, optimise operations, and innovate in a rapidly changing technological landscape. Their focus is on delivering flexible, cost-effective services that meet the unique needs of customers across industries while ensuring compliance with international security standards and regulations.

Alibaba Cloud's vision is to lead the global cloud computing industry by advancing technology, enhancing data intelligence, and driving innovation across industries. The company envisions a future where businesses can seamlessly adopt cloud services to achieve greater efficiency, security, and scalability. By continuing to expand its global reach and partnerships, Alibaba Cloud aims to be the preferred cloud provider, promoting digital transformation in various sectors. Its long-term goal is to make cloud technology accessible to all businesses, regardless of size, while contributing to the sustainable growth of the digital economy.

Alibaba Cloud provides a wide range of cloud computing products and services designed to support businesses of all sizes. These offerings cater to various needs, including computing power, data storage, security, big data processing, artificial intelligence (AI), and more. Below is a detailed overview of Alibaba Cloud’s key products and services.

Computing Services: Alibaba Cloud offers Elastic Compute Service (ECS), a high-performance virtual server that provides secure, flexible, and scalable computing power. ECS is used for a variety of purposes, from hosting websites to running large-scale business applications. The CloudBox service is a fully managed cloud infrastructure that provides local deployment for users who require strict data control. A dedicated Host allows businesses to have dedicated cloud servers for better resource allocation and compliance.

Alibaba Cloud also offers serverless computing options like Function Compute (FC), which enables users to run code without managing servers. Serverless App Engine (SAE) provides a platform for hosting applications efficiently, removing the need for infrastructure management. Elastic GPU Service offers powerful parallel computing for data-heavy tasks like AI and machine learning.

Storage Solutions: Alibaba Cloud provides various storage solutions to meet different business requirements. Elastic Block Storage (EBS) offers high-performance and reliable block storage for applications that require quick access to data. Object Storage Service (OSS) is a secure and cost-effective service for storing large amounts of unstructured data, such as images and videos. It is widely used for backup, archiving, and distributing content.

For file storage, Alibaba Cloud offers Apsara File Storage NAS, which allows businesses to access shared storage for their applications. Cloud Backup provides a fully managed backup service to protect data and ensure business continuity. Alibaba also offers Hybrid Cloud Storage for enterprises that need a mix of on-premise and cloud-based storage solutions.

Networking and Content Delivery: Alibaba Cloud’s Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) service allows businesses to create isolated networks in the cloud, giving them full control over network configuration. Elastic IP Address (EIP) provides public IP resources for connecting cloud instances to the internet.

To distribute content globally, Alibaba Cloud offers a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which accelerates the delivery of websites, videos, and other content to end-users by distributing it through a network of global servers. The Global Accelerator (GA) further improves the performance of internet applications by routing traffic efficiently across Alibaba Cloud’s global infrastructure.

Security Services: Security is a top priority for Alibaba Cloud, and they provide a range of security services to protect businesses from online threats. Anti-DDoS offers protection against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Cloud Firewall serves as the first line of defence, securing networks from external threats. Web Application Firewall (WAF) protects websites and online applications from cyberattacks.

Alibaba Cloud also offers services for Data Security through its Key Management Service (KMS), which helps businesses manage encryption keys securely. The Security Center monitors and responds to potential security risks in real time, providing businesses with 24/7 protection.

Artificial Intelligence and Big Data: Alibaba Cloud’s AI and Machine Learning services allow businesses to incorporate intelligent solutions into their operations. Platform for AI (PAI) provides a comprehensive suite of machine learning tools, enabling businesses to train models and automate tasks. AIRec offers personalised recommendation services, helping companies improve user engagement.

For big data processing, Alibaba Cloud provides MaxCompute, a large-scale data warehousing and processing platform. Hologres offers real-time analytics, making it easier to gain insights from data.

Database Services: Alibaba Cloud offers a range of database services, including ApsaraDB for MySQL, ApsaraDB for PostgreSQL, and ApsaraDB for SQL Server, which provide managed relational database solutions. PolarDB, another key service, is designed for high scalability and performance, compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL databases.

Developer Tools: To assist developers in managing cloud resources, Alibaba Cloud offers API Gateway, which allows businesses to open their services to third parties. Cloud Shell provides command-line access for managing cloud resources, while Resource Orchestration Service (ROS) simplifies resource management and deployment.