The AMI watermark feature lets users add custom identifiers to private Amazon Machine Images that persist through AMI copies across regions or new AMI creations from running instances. Watermarks include metadata like AMI ID, owner ID, region, and creation timestamps, supporting accurate provenance tracking.
This capability aids governance by helping filter related AMIs and enforcing launch restrictions via combination with Allowed AMIs policies, which can be applied organization-wide using Declarative Policies. The feature integrates with EC2 Image Builder for automated watermarking during the AMI build process and is available at no extra cost in all AWS and GovCloud regions.
Source & further reading
Amazon EC2 announces AMI Watermarks for improved AMI governance ↗Source published 2026-06-24. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.