Gitpod is a secure, managed alternative to AWS Cloud9 for cloud development environments. It combines self-hosted security with managed service convenience, running entirely within customers' AWS accounts and requiring zero operational overhead. Gitpod offers superior developer experience, comprehensive security controls, and enterprise-grade features that have earned the trust of major financial institutions. Key features include environment management, security policy controls, usage monitoring, user management, and a fully scriptable environment with Docker support. The platform is SOC 2 compliant and supports multiple AWS regions. Gitpod's operational model ensures complete control over infrastructure while eliminating operational overhead.