Part 1: An Overview of AWS Storage Services
In the first part of this series, we explore fundamental AWS storage services: Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service), Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store) and Amazon Glacier
Published Jan 24, 2024
Part 1: An Overview of AWS Storage Services
Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a comprehensive suite of storage services that cater to diverse needs, ranging from simple file storage to complex, scalable data solutions. In this first part of our series, we will explore the fundamental AWS storage services and their key features.
Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service):
Amazon S3 is a highly scalable, durable, and secure object storage service. It allows you to store and retrieve any amount of data from anywhere on the web. Key features include:
- Durability and Availability: S3 is designed for 99.999999999% durability and 99.99% availability of objects over a given year.
- Scalability: With virtually unlimited storage, S3 can scale to accommodate any volume of data, making it suitable for both small startups and large enterprises.
- Security: S3 provides multiple layers of security, including access control lists (ACLs), bucket policies, and integration with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store):
Amazon EBS provides block-level storage volumes that you can attach to EC2 instances. Key features include:
- Performance: EBS volumes offer consistent low-latency performance, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including databases and transactional workloads.
- Snapshots: EBS allows you to create point-in-time snapshots of your volumes, providing data backup and recovery capabilities.
- Encryption: EBS volumes can be encrypted to ensure the security of your data at rest.
Amazon Glacier:
Amazon Glacier is an extremely low-cost storage service designed for archiving and backup. Key features include:
- Low Cost: Glacier offers a cost-effective solution for storing large amounts of data that is accessed infrequently.
- Durability: Similar to S3, Glacier provides high durability, ensuring the long-term preservation of your archived data.
- Retrieval Options: Glacier offers different retrieval options, allowing you to choose between expedited, standard, or bulk retrieval based on your needs.
In the next part of this series, we will delve deeper into additional AWS storage services like Amazon EFS, AWS Storage Gateway, and explore use cases and best practices for optimizing storage in the AWS environment.