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AWS ElastiCache

What is it​

A fully managed in-memory data store and cache service that supports Redis and Memcached, providing sub-millisecond latency to power fast, real-time applications.

What it's for​

Improving application performance by retrieving data from fast, managed, in-memory caches instead of slower disk-based databases.

Use cases​

  • Web session stores
  • Gaming leaderboards
  • Real-time analytics
  • Caching database queries
  • Message broker
  • Rate limiting

Key points​

  • In-memory performance: Sub-millisecond latency
  • Managed service: No server management required
  • High availability: Multi-AZ deployment with automatic failover
  • Scalability: Automatic scaling of nodes
  • Security: Encryption at rest and in transit

Comparison​

  • AWS ElastiCache vs. Self-managed Redis/Memcached: ElastiCache is a fully managed service that handles the operational aspects of running Redis or Memcached. Self-managed Redis/Memcached gives you more control but requires you to handle all operational tasks. ElastiCache is ideal for applications that need high-performance caching without the operational overhead, while self-managed solutions are better for organizations that need complete control over their caching infrastructure.