Software Alternatives & Startups

AWS Lambda VS AWS Shield

Compare AWS Lambda VS AWS Shield and see what are their differences

AWS Lambda

Automatic, event-driven compute service

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
AWS Shield

AWS Shield is a managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service that safeguards web applications running on AWS. 

Rating
0 reviews
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Which is more popular?

Based on our record, AWS Lambda seems to be a lot more popular than AWS Shield. While we know about 297 links to AWS Lambda, we've tracked only 14 mentions of AWS Shield.

social mentions
297 vs 14
Cloud Computing popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 118

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

AWS Lambda
AWS Shield
Website aws.amazon.com aws.amazon.com
Pricing
Open source
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Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

AWS Lambda 6 features
AWS Shield 5 features
  • Scalability
    AWS Lambda automatically scales your application by running your code in response to each trigger. This means no manual intervention is required to handle varying levels of traffic.
  • Cost-effectiveness
    You only pay for the compute time you consume. Billing is metered in increments of 100 milliseconds and you are not charged when your code is not running.
  • Reduced Operations Overhead
    AWS Lambda abstracts the infrastructure management layer, so there is no need to manage or provision servers. This allows you to focus more on writing code for your applications.
  • Flexibility
    Supports multiple programming languages such as Python, Node.js, Ruby, Java, Go, and .NET, which allows you to use the language you are most comfortable with.
  • Integration with Other AWS Services
    Seamlessly integrates with many other AWS services such as S3, DynamoDB, RDS, SNS, and more, making it versatile and highly functional.
  • Automatic Scaling and Load Balancing
    Handles thousands of concurrent requests without managing the scaling yourself, making it suitable for applications requiring high availability and reliability.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cold Start Latency
    The first request to a Lambda function after it has been idle for a certain period can take longer to execute. This is referred to as a 'cold start' and can impact performance.
  • Resource Limits
    Lambda has defined limits, such as a maximum execution timeout of 15 minutes, memory allocation ranging from 128 MB to 10,240 MB, and temporary storage up to 512 MB.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    Using AWS Lambda ties you into the AWS ecosystem, making it difficult to migrate to another cloud provider or an on-premises solution without significant modifications to your application.
  • Complexity of Debugging
    Debugging and monitoring distributed, serverless applications can be more complex compared to traditional applications due to the lack of direct access to the underlying infrastructure.
  • Cold Start Issues with VPC
    When Lambda functions are configured to access resources within a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), the cold start latency can be exacerbated due to additional VPC networking overhead.
  • Limited Execution Control
    AWS Lambda is designed for stateless, short-running tasks and may not be suitable for long-running processes or tasks requiring complex orchestration.
  • Comprehensive Protection
    AWS Shield provides strong protection against DDoS attacks, including Layer 3/4 infrastructure attacks and Layer 7 application attacks, ensuring reliable service availability.
  • Fully Managed
    AWS Shield is a fully managed service, meaning that it requires minimal effort to deploy and maintain, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations.
  • Global Coverage
    AWS Shield provides protection across all AWS regions, ensuring consistent security for applications deployed across different geographic areas.
  • Cost Efficiency
    With AWS Shield Standard, businesses receive basic DDoS protection at no additional cost, which can be particularly advantageous for smaller enterprises or startups.
  • Advanced Protection Plans
    For businesses needing enhanced protection, AWS Shield Advanced offers additional features such as 24/7 support from the DDoS Response Team and financial protections under specific conditions.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost for Advanced Features
    While AWS Shield Standard is free, AWS Shield Advanced incurs additional costs, which might be significant for smaller organizations or those with limited budgets.
  • AWS Ecosystem Dependency
    AWS Shield is designed to work within the AWS ecosystem, which may not be suitable for businesses using a multi-cloud strategy or relying heavily on on-premises infrastructure.
  • Complex Configuration for Advanced Settings
    Configuring advanced protection features might require specialized knowledge and understanding of AWS security best practices, potentially increasing administrative overhead.
  • Potential Overhead
    There might be additional overhead in terms of managing AWS Shield alongside other security measures, particularly for organizations with complex environments.
  • Limited to DDoS
    AWS Shield is specialized in DDoS protection. Organizations requiring a full spectrum of threat mitigation will need to integrate it with other security services.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

AWS Lambda
AWS Shield

Overall verdict

  • AWS Lambda is a strong choice for developers looking for scalable, event-driven applications with minimal management overhead. It is particularly beneficial for applications that experience intermittent traffic or unpredictable workloads.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Lambda is a popular serverless computing service because it allows users to run code without provisioning or managing servers. It automatically scales applications by running code in response to triggers such as HTTP requests, changes in data, or system events. This can significantly reduce operational overhead and costs, as you only pay for the compute time you consume.

Recommended for

  • Developers building microservices or serverless applications.
  • Companies looking to reduce infrastructure management.
  • Startups wanting to quickly deploy applications with limited operational costs.
  • Organizations needing to integrate with other AWS services for a comprehensive solution.
  • Projects with unpredictable or variable workloads that require automatic scaling.

No analysis of AWS Shield yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

AWS Lambda 3 videos + Add
AWS Shield 2 videos + Add

AWS Lambda Vs EC2 | Serverless Vs EC2 | EC2 Alternatives

More videos

  • - AWS Lambda Tutorial | AWS Tutorial for Beginners | Intro to AWS Lambda | AWS Training | Edureka
  • - AWS Lambda | What is AWS Lambda | AWS Lambda Tutorial for Beginners | Intellipaat

AWS Shield Overview

More videos

  • - DNS DDoS mitigation using Amazon Route 53 and AWS Shield - February 2017 AWS Online Tech Talks

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
AWS Lambda
AWS Shield
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

AWS Lambda no reviews yet
AWS Shield no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

AWS Lambda 297 mentions
AWS Shield 14 mentions

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Alternatives to AWS Lambda and AWS Shield

When comparing AWS Lambda and AWS Shield, you can also consider the following products.