If you’re into web-development or cloud services, you’ve probably heard of Amazon S3. Perhaps you’re just starting and wondering what Amazon S3 is, or if it’s right for you. Rather than searching in the dark, we’ve compiled this handy guide to give you all the relevant information you need to make the best choice.   

How Does Amazon S3 Work? 

Before we get started, what is Amazon S3? S3 stands for Simple Storage Service, and it is a scalable cloud-based hosting service provided by Amazon. We know that’s a whole mouthful, so let’s break it down into manageable bits. 

First, Amazon S3 is scalable and equally suitable for small and large operations. Whether your web hosting needs are relatively modest or massive, Amazon S3 can handle them appropriately. Some people avoid Amazon S3 because they think that it would be an overkill for smaller storage needs.

However, but it scales pretty well for more modest requirements.    

How Is Data Stored in Amazon S3? 

You must be wondering, “How is data stored in Amazon S3?” We’re going to tackle that, and more. Amazon S3 operates in a slightly different way than traditional web hosting or storage solutions. The storage concept of Amazon S3 revolves around “storage buckets.” These storage buckets work such that you upload your data (objects) to the server, and they are placed into your “bucket.” 

• Data Storage in Amazon S3   

Instead of a typical file and folder hierarchy that you have on your computer, Amazon S3 uses a system of prefixes. Prefixes function similarly to folders, in that objects can be grouped by their name. Your AWS (Amazon Web Services) management console will display these prefixes as a folder tree, which is somewhat transparent. 

You can then manually create a folder using your Amazon S3 console interface.      

• A Robust Management Console   

You can manage your storage through a detailed web-interface, which should be somewhat familiar to anyone who has used UNIX-like file managers. You can also send commands directly to your storage server via a command-line interface. The many user interface options go above-and-beyond most other solutions. There is also an API (Application Programming Interface) to directly connect your application to Amazon S3 storage services.     

• Lifestyle Management Features    

You can automatically manage objects stored on Amazon S3 using lifecycle rules. Lifecycles are a set of object policies that allow objects to be transferred, archived, or deleted based on particular criteria.

For example, if any of your objects is older than 30 days, you can automatically move it to the “archived” class. You can also automatically delete an object that hasn’t been accessed after a certain period.  

• Data Protection, Resiliency, and Redundancy   

There are many security and reliability features built into the Amazon S3 service. Multiple versions of the same file (known as version tracking) can be stored and retrieved, which is quite valuable. If you’ve ever made an accidental change to a document and had it auto-save with that change, you’ll definitely understand the benefit of file version tracking. 

As for redundancy, Amazon S3 offers a very robust system in case of a fault. Data is mirrored across several S3 servers. If one server goes down, another fills in the gap. 

You also have access to enterprise-grade encryption for your data. You can encrypt and restrict access to a single object, an object group, or the entire storage bucket. You can also implement server-side encryption on your objects as they are written to the disk and enforce encryption protocols during transmission. 

The final option for protecting your data is by using Write Once Read Many (WORM). As the name implies, WORM institutes a policy where a file or object is written once and then becomes read-only. This policy protects the objects from accidental deletion or any unwanted modification.  

With these protections, you can be sure your data is protected while in storage and during transmission, making Amazon S3 great for the security-conscious.   

How Much Does Amazon S3 Cost? 

Unlike any typical subscription service that most hosting providers use, Amazon S3 utilizes a “pay-per-access” policy. So if your objects aren’t accessed very often, your costs will be lower than if they were used more frequently. Thus, you should optimize your web apps and services to reduce Amazon s3 costs. 

For your convenience, you can use a cost estimates calculator. One of the main advantages of using Amazon S3 is storing large amounts of data that will not be accessed often, such as backup files. Amazon S3 may be significantly more cost-effective than paying for local storage.    

Use Cases for Amazon S3 

We’ve answered the question of how does Amazon S3 work, and looked at the pricing models. Now, let’s take a look at some specific uses for Amazon S3. This is where the versatility and functionality of Amazon S3 really shines.  

• Internal Private Data   

You can use Amazon S3 for various things. What’s even better is that you are not limited to hosting web content only. Besides storing standard web data such as HTML or media files, Amazon S3 also excels at storing large amounts of internal data. This is typically private data, such as logs, system-states, or large databases.      

• System Backups   

Many third-party front-ends interface with Amazon S3 for backup purposes. These solutions are often used by corporations that do not have server farms or in-house backup solutions. There are also separate Amazon S3 plans explicitly geared for backup and archival purposes, which can be useful for individuals or corporations alike.  

When using Amazon S3 for backing up large amounts of data, you may want to consider the lifecycle features mentioned previously. Since system backups tend to be rather large, you can use lifecycle policies to ensure that older backups are appropriately disposed of as newer ones are created. In this way, you can keep your storage bucket tidy and prevent obsolete backups from becoming too numerous.      

• Cloud Storage   

Another use of Amazon S3 is as a storage drive, similar to OneDrive or iCloud. Amazon S3 can be easily integrated into your operating system and used as a cloud drive. You can upload and download your files to your storage bucket as if it were a local drive on your machine. Keep in mind that Amazon S3 charges you for usage rather than a flat monthly fee.     

Is Amazon S3 Right For You? 

Amazon S3 has many benefits, from robustness to cost, but is it right for you? Ultimately, only you can answer that question. That said, here are some helpful additional points to consider: 

• Choose Your Region Carefully   

When you first create a storage bucket, you will need to choose the region that the bucket will be hosted. In this context, the region refers to the physical location of the server. This choice may seem trivial at first, but it can affect delay in the transmission of data, and also the cost of the service.  

Additionally, once you choose your storage region, you cannot change it afterward. This limitation usually doesn’t matter for individuals or smaller businesses, but can be an issue for conglomerates. In a multi-location company, you cannot move storage buckets across locations. 

Your only solution would be to create a new storage bucket in the desired region and copy the objects from one bucket to another. While copying objects between buckets does work, keep in mind that you will still be charged to copy the data – even between buckets.  

• Quotas and Limits   

There are still limits for certain parts of the service, such as encryption, and general resource usage. You can extend these quotas by submitting an extension request via your Management Console. You are generally limited to 100 storage buckets per account (in the US). One hundred buckets are usually more than enough, but again this limit can be increased by submitting a request. 

As for transfer limits, the principal limit is a maximum transfer speed of 1 Gbps (Gigabit-per-second). Transfer speed is a hard-limit, and it is put in place to preserve the quality of service across the network. Without this limit, a client or app could saturate the connections, leading to disruptions or denial of service. 

• Latency with App Interfaces   

If you’re integrating Amazon S3 storage into your applications, be mindful of the transmission delay to and from the server. Unexpected latency could adversely affect your app’s performance. Excessive access could also negatively affect your storage bucket or cause quota issues. Your applications should follow Amazon’s S3’s optimization guidelines to ensure the best performance.    

Amazon S3, A Superior Storage Solution 

With all the versatility, tools, and features that Amazon S3 has, it is a fantastic storage option for many. You should consider your needs and goals and then choose a particular plan best suited for you. Because Amazon S3 scales so well, you can start slowly, and the features will seamlessly grow with you. 

Because Amazon backs it, you know that your storage solution has staying-power. You won’t wake up to find that your data is suddenly gone because the company disappeared or went belly-up. The Amazon brand name has a good reputation, giving you that extra boost of confidence in their service. 

If you’re looking for a reliable storage solution with a myriad of possibilities, Amazon S3 is the right choice to fulfill your storage needs.