title: "AWS Updates - January 2026"
dateString: February 2, 2026
draft: false
tags: ["AWS", "Cloud", "AWSUpdates", "AWSNews"]
weight: 102
cover:
image: "/blog/aws-updates/cover.png"
Introduction
AWS keeps pushing the boundaries of cloud innovation, delivering powerful new features and enhancements. Here’s your roundup of the most impactful January 2026 updates that every developer and cloud architect needs to know.
Key Updates
1. Amazon EMR Serverless now supports AWS KMS customer managed keys for encrypting local disks
Published: January 28, 2026
Amazon EMR Serverless now lets you encrypt local disks using AWS Key Management Service (KMS) customer managed keys (CMKs). This gives you more control to meet stringent regulatory and compliance needs beyond default AWS-owned keys.
Amazon EMR Serverless simplifies running open-source big data frameworks for data engineers and scientists—no need to manage clusters or servers. While local disks were already encrypted by default, this update allows customers with strict requirements to use KMS CMKs from the same or different accounts. It works on new or existing applications across all supported EMR release versions.
Specify the key at the application level (for all workloads) or per job/interactive session. The feature is available in all EMR Serverless regions, including AWS GovCloud (US) and China. Dive deeper in the Local Disk Encryption with AWS KMS CMK section of the Amazon EMR Serverless User Guide.
2. Amazon Corretto January 2026 Quarterly Updates
Published: January 26, 2026
On January 20, AWS rolled out quarterly security and critical updates for Amazon Corretto Long-Term Supported (LTS) OpenJDK versions: Corretto 25.0.2, 21.0.10, 17.0.18, 11.0.30, and 8u482. This no-cost, production-ready distribution keeps your Java apps secure and performant.
Grab the downloads from the Corretto home page. Linux users can update via Apt, Yum, or Apk repos. Feedback always welcome!
3. Amazon Connect makes it easier to manage recurring overrides for hours of operation
Published: January 25, 2026
Amazon Connect streamlines contact center scheduling with a visual calendar for recurring events like holidays or maintenance. Set weekly, monthly, or custom overrides (e.g., every other Friday) that auto-apply, delivering personalized customer experiences without manual tweaks.
For instance, auto-greet customers with “Happy New Year!” on January 1st, route to a holiday flow, then snap back to normal on January 2nd. Available in all Amazon Connect regions with API and CloudFormation support. Check the Amazon Connect Administrator Guide or the Amazon Connect website.
4. Amazon Connect adds conditional logic and real-time updates to Step-by-Step Guides
Published: January 25, 2026
Amazon Connect Step-by-Step Guides just got smarter, letting managers craft dynamic, adaptive interfaces. Use conditional logic to show/hide fields, tweak defaults, or make fields required based on prior inputs—perfect for scenario-specific workflows.
Guides now auto-refresh data from Connect resources at set intervals, keeping agents on the latest info. Available in regions like US East (N. Virginia), US West (Oregon), Europe (London), Asia Pacific (Sydney), and AWS GovCloud (US-West). Get started via the Amazon Connect webpage and docs.
5. Microsoft Office, Visio and Project 2024 Apps now on Amazon WorkSpaces
Published: January 21, 2026
Amazon WorkSpaces Personal and Core now offer Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024, Standard 2024, Visio LTSC Professional/Standard 2024, and Project Professional/Standard 2024 from the managed apps catalog.
Add them to new or existing instances via your standard workflow—no bundle changes needed. This delivers a secure, modern desktop experience. Available in all supported regions; pricing is per-app on your WorkSpaces bill. See Amazon WorkSpaces Pricing, Administer WorkSpaces, and Manage applications.
6. AWS Marketplace expands AMI self-service listing experience to FPGA products
Published: January 15, 2026
AWS Marketplace sellers can now self-service Amazon Machine Image (AMI) listings with FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) images—no more manual forms. This speeds time-to-market for hardware accelerators on Amazon F2 instances.
Use the new UI or AWS Marketplace Catalog API to manage up to 15 FPGA images per listing. Built-in validation catches issues early. Learn more in the AWS Marketplace Seller Guide and Catalog API guide. Start at the server product page.
7. AWS Lambda announces cross-account access for DynamoDB Streams
Published: January 10, 2026
AWS Lambda now enables cross-account access for Amazon DynamoDB Streams event-source mappings (ESMs), letting streams in one account trigger functions in another.
Event-driven apps were complex in multi-account setups—replication added overhead. Now, a simple resource policy on the stream grants access, simplifying streaming without replication. Generally available in all commercial and GovCloud (US) regions. Configure via Console, CLI, SDKs, CloudFormation, or APIs. See Lambda ESM docs.
8. Amazon SageMaker Unified Studio now supports AWS PrivateLink
Published: January 5, 2026
Amazon SageMaker Unified Studio now connects your VPC via AWS PrivateLink, keeping data off the public internet for stricter security beyond HTTPS/TLS.
Network admins can onboard endpoints to their VPC; IAM policies then enforce private routing. Available in key regions like US East (N. Virginia), Europe (Ireland), Asia Pacific (Tokyo), and more. Explore at Amazon SageMaker and network isolation docs.
9. Amazon WorkSpaces Core announces monthly pricing for managed instances
Published: January 5, 2026
Amazon WorkSpaces Core adds monthly flat-rate pricing alongside hourly, giving you pay-as-you-go flexibility—no commitments. Pick monthly for steady full-time use, hourly for variable patterns.
These managed instances ease VDI migrations with custom configs, handling lifecycles for persistent/non-persistent workloads. Monthly saves on always-on scenarios. Mix billing types in one deployment; partners like Citrix and Workspot can enable it via APIs. Hourly rates now consolidate on WorkSpaces bills (no rate change).
Details at WorkSpaces for VDI partners pricing, product page, and Core docs.
10. Amazon S3 on Outposts is now available on second-generation AWS Outposts racks
Published: January 1, 2026
Amazon S3 on Outposts now runs on second-gen AWS Outposts racks, ideal for data residency, low latency, and on-premises processing. Choose from 196 TB, 490 TB, or 786 TB tiers for production, backups, or archives.
Use familiar S3 APIs and features with AWS Outposts extending cloud to your data centers. Available wherever second-gen racks are. Visit the S3 on Outposts page or docs.
Summary
Key Highlights
- Performance Improvements: Enhanced scalability and efficiency across multiple AWS services
- Security Enhancements: New features to strengthen cloud security posture
- Developer Experience: Improved tools and integrations for faster development
- Cost Optimization: New options for better resource management and cost control
What This Means for You
These updates showcase AWS’s dedication to:
- Boosting application performance and reliability
- Strengthening security and compliance
- Simplifying operations
- Speeding up cloud app deployment
Conclusion
January 2026’s AWS updates deliver game-changing advances in infrastructure, security, and tools. Whether launching new apps or refining existing ones, these features unlock better cloud architectures.
Stay in the loop with the AWS What’s New page for fresh announcements.
Last updated: February 2, 2026