Hi everyone! I'm part of an ISV company, and we're currently using AWS and Google Cloud for all our workloads. However, we've got a new project based in mainland China, and we've been told that all data must stay within the country's borders. I looked at our AWS account but couldn't find any regions in China. I even tried to sign up on amazonaws.cn, but it seems they require a local Chinese business license, which we don't have. I'm looking for advice on how to navigate this situation. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Peter.
3 Answers
Getting an account in China definitely requires a local business license, plus you'll also need ICP licenses if you're planning to expose domains. It’s a good idea to reach out to your legal counsel and see if they can recommend a lawyer or firm that specializes in acquiring these licenses. You might also want to check out other cloud providers that are more focused on China—they can often provide better support. Just a heads up, features in China might be lagging behind what you see in AWS in other regions.
Have you thought about partnering with a local company in China? They can help you get the necessary licenses. It's also worth discussing the requirement of keeping data in China with your client. Sometimes it's misunderstood as a strict law when it might be more about internal business policy.
If you're already an AWS customer, definitely talk to your account manager about connecting with the AWS China sales team. They have experts who are familiar with the specific requirements. You'll likely need legal counsel to navigate the licensing and will probably need a local entity in China to handle everything. If keeping incoming network connectivity isn't crucial, Alibaba Cloud offers a non-ICP option, but it's somewhat limited. Just be prepared for deployment hurdles if you're going full cloud-native in AWS China.
Exactly! Your AWS team will be the best resource for getting in touch with the China division to provide guidance.