AWS Snowball: Moving Large Amounts of Data
AWS Snowball is a physical device that helps you migrate large amounts of data to the AWS cloud. This service is useful when you need to move data over several terabytes, and internet transfer is not a feasible option. The following are the steps, use cases and important points associated with AWS Snowball.
Steps/Explanation
Request a Snowball device from the AWS console: In the AWS console, navigate to the Snowball section and request a device. You will specify the region and the amount of data you need to move.
Receive the physical device: The device will be shipped to you in a tamper-evident box. You can install and power it securely at your location.
Connect the device: After unpacking the Snowball device, connect it to your network, power it on, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Use AWS Snowball client: You can use the AWS Snowball client to transfer your data from your on-premises server to the device.
Ship back and transfer the data: After the data migration to the device is complete, you can ship it back to AWS, where AWS engineers will transfer the data to the AWS cloud.
Verify the data transfer: After the data transfer completes, verify the data integrity to ensure that all data was correctly transferred.
Examples and Use Cases
Example: If you have a media and entertainment company and have large video files that need to be uploaded to the AWS cloud from your on-premises environment, Snowball can help you minimize transfer time.
Use case: In the corporate environment, you may have a large number of historical financial data that must be moved to the AWS cloud. Snowball would be useful to move this massive amount of data quickly and securely.
Important Points
- AWS Snowball is a physical device that can store up to 80 terabytes.
- Data security is ensured using a tamper-evident box.
- AWS Snowball is HIPAA, PCI, and SOC-2 compliant, ensuring security compliance.
- AWS Snowball helps minimize data transfer time and reduce the overall cost of data migration.
- Snowball is useful for data transfer from remote locations over several terabytes.
- Customers pay for the AWS Snowball device's rental and data transfer to AWS.
Summary
AWS Snowball is a physical device that is useful for moving large data sets to the AWS cloud. Snowball is a highly secure and cost-effective way to transfer large data sets, ensuring that data is migrated quickly and safely. It is a perfect solution for customers that have large amounts of data that are challenging or too expensive to move through the internet. With Snowball, you can transfer data with ease and benefit from reduced transfer time, security, and regulatory compliance.