Storage service selection is a critical component of workload migration and modernization on AWS, requiring architects to match application requirements with appropriate storage solutions. AWS offers diverse storage services categorized into block, file, and object storage types.
Amazon S3 serves …Storage service selection is a critical component of workload migration and modernization on AWS, requiring architects to match application requirements with appropriate storage solutions. AWS offers diverse storage services categorized into block, file, and object storage types.
Amazon S3 serves as the primary object storage solution, ideal for unstructured data, backups, archives, and static content. It provides eleven 9s of durability and integrates with various AWS services. S3 storage classes like Standard, Intelligent-Tiering, Glacier, and Glacier Deep Archive help optimize costs based on access patterns.
Amazon EBS delivers persistent block storage for EC2 instances, supporting various volume types including gp3, io2, and st1 for different performance requirements. EBS is essential for databases, boot volumes, and applications requiring low-latency access to data.
Amazon EFS provides scalable, elastic file storage for Linux workloads, enabling multiple EC2 instances to access shared data simultaneously. For Windows workloads, Amazon FSx for Windows File Server offers fully managed native Windows file systems with SMB protocol support.
Amazon FSx for Lustre delivers high-performance file systems for compute-intensive workloads like machine learning and high-performance computing, integrating seamlessly with S3 for data processing.
AWS Storage Gateway bridges on-premises environments with cloud storage, offering File Gateway, Volume Gateway, and Tape Gateway options for hybrid architectures during migration phases.
When selecting storage services, architects must evaluate factors including performance requirements (IOPS, throughput, latency), durability and availability needs, access patterns, cost optimization opportunities, and integration requirements. Data classification, compliance requirements, and encryption needs also influence decisions.
For migrations, AWS DataSync accelerates data transfer between on-premises storage and AWS, while AWS Transfer Family supports SFTP, FTPS, and FTP protocols for file transfers. Understanding these services enables architects to design resilient, cost-effective storage architectures that support both migration objectives and long-term operational efficiency.
Storage Service Selection for AWS Solutions Architect Professional
Why Storage Service Selection is Important
Storage service selection is a critical skill for AWS Solutions Architect Professional candidates because choosing the right storage solution directly impacts application performance, cost efficiency, data durability, and operational complexity. AWS offers numerous storage services, each optimized for specific use cases, and selecting the wrong service can lead to performance bottlenecks, excessive costs, or architectural limitations during migration and modernization efforts.
What is Storage Service Selection?
Storage service selection involves evaluating workload requirements and matching them with the most appropriate AWS storage service. The primary AWS storage services include:
Amazon S3 - Object storage for unstructured data, backups, archives, and static content Amazon EBS - Block storage for EC2 instances requiring persistent, high-performance storage Amazon EFS - Managed file storage for Linux workloads requiring shared access Amazon FSx - Fully managed file systems (Windows File Server, Lustre, NetApp ONTAP, OpenZFS) AWS Storage Gateway - Hybrid storage connecting on-premises environments to cloud storage Amazon S3 Glacier - Low-cost archival storage for infrequently accessed data
How Storage Service Selection Works
The selection process involves analyzing several key factors:
1. Access Patterns - Frequency of access (hot, warm, cold data) - Read/write ratios - Sequential vs random access
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Storage Service Selection
1. Identify the Protocol First Questions often hint at the required protocol. SMB means FSx for Windows, NFS could mean EFS or FSx, block storage means EBS.
2. Look for Shared Access Keywords Terms like 'multiple instances,' 'shared file system,' or 'concurrent access' point toward EFS or FSx rather than EBS.
3. Consider Migration Context When migrating existing workloads, match the source storage type. Windows file servers migrate to FSx for Windows, NetApp to FSx for ONTAP.
4. Evaluate Performance Clues High IOPS requirements suggest EBS io2 or io2 Block Express. HPC workloads suggest FSx for Lustre.
5. Watch for Cost Optimization Scenarios Questions mentioning infrequent access or archival needs point to S3 Glacier or S3 Intelligent-Tiering.
6. Hybrid Scenarios Signal Storage Gateway On-premises applications needing cloud storage integration typically require Storage Gateway solutions.
7. Eliminate Based on Constraints EBS is limited to single Availability Zone attachment (except Multi-Attach for specific use cases). EFS spans multiple AZs.
8. Remember Service Limits Know maximum file sizes, volume sizes, and throughput limits for each service to eliminate inappropriate options.
9. Data Lake Questions Data lake scenarios almost always involve S3 as the foundation due to its scalability and integration with analytics services.
10. Read the Full Question Pay attention to all requirements before selecting an answer. A solution might meet performance needs but fail on protocol or sharing requirements.