Amazon Adds OpsWorks Tools To Its Amazon Web Services

Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) said it had bolstered its fastest-growing unit, Amazon Web Services, or AWS, by adding AWS OpsWorks, design software tools that allow developers to manage all tasks required to model and manage their applications.

The Seattle-based e-retailer and content provider said the new functions provide more sophisticated development and management tools.

Companies including Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) and private Sugar Sync, an online storage provider, as well as colleges and government agencies, rely on Amazon Web Services for cloud applications and customer services.

Since inception in 2006, Amazon Web Services has become one of the bigger cloud services providers. Although Amazon doesn’t disclose revenue, analysts such as Jefferies’ Peter Misek reckon its 2012 revenue exceeded $2.1 billion and could rise 50 percent this year to top $3.1 billion.

Scott Wiltamuth, VP for developer productivity and tools for AWS, said OpsWorks enables customers to “automate the entire lifecycle” of their applications.

Shares of Amazon rose $4.66 to close at $269.75 in Tuesday trading. They’re up more than 7.5 percent this year.