Netflix shut down the last data-center infrastructure used by its streaming service in early January 2016, after a seven-year move to cloud computing. That did not mean Netflix stopped using physical equipment: AWS took on most computing workloads, while Netflix’s Open Connect network continued delivering video through appliances and direct connections at internet service providers.
When did Netflix shut down its last data center?
Netflix announced on February 12, 2016, that it had completed its cloud migration earlier that January and shut down the last data-center bits used by its streaming service. The company described the project as a seven-year effort. Netflix’s announcement marked the end of its streaming service’s reliance on its own data centers for those workloads—not the end of Netflix’s physical network infrastructure.
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Why did Netflix move its computing to the cloud?
The move followed a database-corruption incident in August 2008 that prevented Netflix from shipping DVDs for three days. Netflix said the incident exposed the risks of systems built around vertically scaled infrastructure and single points of failure. It chose to rebuild around distributed systems that could scale horizontally and better withstand failures. Netflix’s account of the migration describes this as a redesign, not simply a transfer of existing servers.
What moved to AWS?
AWS became the home for the vast majority of Netflix’s computing, including application logic, storage, distributed databases, data processing and analytics, recommendations, and video transcoding. Netflix’s 2025 Form 10-K says the company currently runs the vast majority of its computing on AWS. Netflix’s annual reports and proxy statements provide the latest cited description of that arrangement.
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Netflix also changed how it built and operated its software. It replaced a monolithic application with hundreds of microservices, shifted to denormalized data and NoSQL databases, and adopted continuous delivery, self-service tools, and loosely coupled DevOps teams. The company’s migration account says the cloud let it provision thousands of virtual servers and petabytes of storage within minutes.
The change coincided with sharp growth in usage and reach. Netflix reported that it had eight times as many streaming members as in 2008 and that overall viewing had grown by three orders of magnitude over eight years. On January 6, 2016, Netflix expanded service to more than 130 new countries, using multiple AWS regions to shift and grow capacity dynamically. Netflix’s 2016 account attributes those figures to the company.
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Did Netflix move everything to AWS?
No. AWS handles most of the computing that runs Netflix’s service, but Netflix delivers video through Open Connect, its own content-delivery network. In practical terms, AWS supports the application and control systems—such as accounts, recommendations, and transcoding—while Open Connect moves the finished video streams toward viewers.
Open Connect places appliances in or near internet service provider networks and uses network interconnections to serve popular content close to subscribers. Netflix’s current Open Connect site describes partnerships with more than a thousand ISPs through embedded appliance deployments and peering. Netflix’s 2025 Form 10-K also describes its own Open Connect network alongside its use of AWS.
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- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
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Netflix’s 2016 explanation said Open Connect delivered all of its video traffic at that time, handling more than 125 million viewing hours per day and peak simultaneous traffic measured in tens of terabits per second. It also said close to 90% of traffic traveled over direct connections with residential ISPs. Those figures describe Netflix’s 2016 announcement, not current traffic levels. The same account said the network had appliances in close to 1,000 locations. Netflix’s migration announcement provides those historical measurements.
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| Aspect | AWS | Open Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Main workload | Application computing, storage, databases, analytics, recommendations, and transcoding | Delivery of video streams to members |
| Where it runs | AWS cloud regions | Appliances in or near ISP networks and network interconnection points |
| How it scales | Elastic cloud computing and storage | Distributed appliances and peering with ISPs |
| Netflix’s role | Relies on AWS for the vast majority of computing, according to Netflix’s 2025 Form 10-K | Operates its delivery network in partnership with ISPs |
The distinction explains why closing Netflix’s own streaming data centers did not eliminate its physical infrastructure. Netflix no longer needed those data centers for the workloads it migrated, but video delivery still depends on equipment placed across networks and on connections between Netflix and ISPs.
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- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
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- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
- Redemption: Online
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