We get it—backups aren’t glamorous, but they’re the quiet champions holding your entire operation together when disaster strikes. They also have a sneaky way of showing up as a big line item in your AWS bill, especially if you need to keep them around for months or even years. Enter the conundrum: how do you keep your data safe and avoid tossing handfuls of cash into the AWS furnace?
Hold onto your coffee—because there’s a way to shrewdly sidestep those rising costs and Catalin walks you through it in this quick video.
The Master Plan: Storing EBS Snapshots in S3 or Glacier
Let’s walk through how to pull off this money-saving maneuver using N2W’s lifecycle management and some insider know-how.
First up, you’ll want to head straight into your backup policies—either whip up a new one or recycle an existing favorite. Attach it to your AWS user and account, and be sure to schedule it wisely. Catalin loves a “monthly” schedule—practical, predictable, and perfect for compliance needs.
But here’s where the real magic starts: lifecycle management. With a quick toggle to “Use Storage Repository,” you unlock the ability to tell N2W exactly when to shuttle those chunky EBS backups off to S3 storage. Once a month is usually a smart start.
Snapshots vs. S3 Copies: Avoiding the Overlap Trap
There’s a crucial choice you need to make at this stage: Do you want to keep EBS snapshots and store backups in S3? If you do—well, brace yourself for overlap and double the costs. That’s not the happy ending we’re after.
Instead, Catalin suggests a canny compromise. Keep a minimum number of EBS snapshots (perhaps just one for the freshest restore point), then send the rest to S3 and let those golden gigabytes rest there for as long as you need: 12 months, 24 months, or whatever fits your retention policy.
Feeling bold? Select the option to delete the original EBS snapshots after the backup has made its glorious journey to S3. No more overlap. Maximum cost savings. The result? All your backups are safe and sound (and affordable!) in S3.
Which S3 Storage Class is Best?
Now, you’re in the driver’s seat. But which S3 storage class should you pick for your precious lifeboat of data?
- S3 Standard: Shave your costs in half compared to EBS. If you need fast, regular access to your data, this is your jam.
- S3 Infrequent Access: You’re looking at up to 75% in savings. Perfect if you rarely need those backups but want rapid retrieval when you do.
- S3 Intelligent Tiering: Automatic cost optimization! Data starts in Standard. If it’s untouched for a bit, AWS transitions it to Infrequent Access for further savings—no lifting a finger.
- Glacier Instant Retrieve: The hero for long-term, rarely accessed backups. Offers the speed of S3 with the deep discount of Glacier, boasting 80–85% cost savings. Don’t be fooled by the name—this “Glacier” is speedy and economical.
The Final Word: Save Money, Sleep Easy
Once your policy settings are locked in, sit back and relax as N2W handles the handoff and retention. Whether you want a minimal on-prem snapshot presence or a fully S3-and-Glacier-based library, you’re in control—no more surprise bills, no more storage anxiety.
So go ahead: optimize, automate, and watch those AWS costs shrink. Your backups deserve better, and so do you.
