Amazon Simple Storage Service is a storage option many startups are considering because it meets their budgetary, scalability, and flexibility constraints. If your startup is thinking of considering S3, it’s highly likely that you have already researched and learned about its different storage classes – each comes with several choices that need to be made. Which storage class is the best for your data? What about accessibility? This guide solves it all for you.
This guide is structured to first help you understand the fundamentals of storage classes and later help you make informed decisions that are business-driven, including how to save up to 60% by choosing the right class.
In this blog, we will cover:
What is Amazon S3?
Overview of S3 Storage Classes
How to Choose the Right Storage Class
Cost Optimization Strategies (Native and Pump)
Steps to Get Started
What is Amazon S3?
Amazon S3 storage class that offers its users cloud-based object storage. It is a convenient service where entire datasets can be uploaded on the server and retrieved when required. Amazon S3 provides storage irrespective of whether the data is being accessed frequently or stored for the long term, allowing users to store and manage their data efficiently.
Here’s why Amazon S3 is a market leader:
Unlimited scalability: S3 conveniently expands alongside your business and accommodates almost limitless data storage without concern over capacity constraints.
99.999999999% data durability: Known as “11 nines,” rest assured your data is highly safeguarded against failure due to excessive built-in redundancy across numerous facilities and regions.
Customizable storage classes: Standard (frequent access), Intelligent-Tiering (automated cost optimization), Glacier (archival), and more are some choices which enable you to customize your storage per your data usage patterns and budget.
Global availability and low latency: Leverage AWS’s global infrastructure to ensure your data is accessible wherever you or your customers are located.
Comprehensive security: Your data is protected with encryption, compliance with global certifications such as HIPAA, GDPR, and ISO, and securely controlled fine-grained access.
Integration with other AWS services: To optimize application and workflow development, other AWS tools such as EC2, Lambda, and CloudFront can be used in collaboration with S3.
The Basics of S3 Storage Classes
Amazon S3 has various storage classes based on different use cases. The goal? To help you only pay for what you really need. Below, we summarize the available options:
Storage Class | Use Case | Access Time | Cost |
S3 Standard | Frequently accessed data (e.g., apps, websites) | Milliseconds | Higher |
S3 Intelligent-Tiering | Unpredictable data access patterns | Milliseconds | Cost-efficient automation |
S3 Express One Zone | High-performance storage, latency-sensitive applications, and analytics/ML workloads. | Milliseconds | Lower than Standard |
S3 Standard-IA | Long-term, infrequently accessed data | Milliseconds | Lower than Standard |
S3 One Zone-IA | Re-creatable, infrequently accessed data | Milliseconds | Lowest among IA tiers |
S3 Glacier Instant | Archival data needing instant access | Milliseconds | Very low |
S3 Glacier Flexible | Archival data accessed occasionally (e.g., annually) | Minutes to hours | Lower than Instant |
S3 Glacier Deep Archive | Rarely accessed data (e.g., legal compliance) | Hours to days | Lowest of all |
Now, let’s dig deeper into these options.
1. S3 Standard
It is typically the default class of storage and is optimal for data that is often used and requires high performance. It is best suited for the following due to its high performance and low latency:
Applications hosted in the cloud
Running dynamic media and web servers
Analytics heavy datasets
Cost-wise, S3 Standard is the priciest option, but its exceptional performance justifies the price if your operations demand frequent access.
2. S3 Intelligent-Tiering
It is perfect for unpredictable access patterns. It segments your data usage over time and automatically applies it to the most economical tier; high-frequency, low-frequency, archive or deep archive. The advantages of these are:
Full automated cost efficiency.
No additional retrieval fees.
Ideal for data lakes or user-generated content.
There is little to no monitoring required, which makes it ideal for inexperienced startups who don't know how often certain files will be needed.
3. S3 Express One Zone
S3 Express One Zone is best suited for data that has less importance as well as lower durability requirements. Unlike other classes, it stores data in a single AWS Availability Zone which significantly reduces the cost. This class is well suited for the following:
Provisional data storage.
Re-creatable logs or datasets.
Keep in mind that this class of storage is the most cost-effective, but the data has a higher risk of loss which makes this option unsuitable for important or sensitive workloads.
4. S3 Standard-IA
Whenever your data is not frequently accessed but needs to be immediately fetched (like backup files and disaster recovery files), Standard-IA would work perfectly. The costs incurred while storing data are still lower than S3 Standard, but make sure to remember the costs incurred while retrieving data per GB.
5. S3 One Zone-IA
One Zone-IA is less durable but cost-effective, accommodating data in a single AWS Availability Zone rather than multiple zones. Use cases include:
Secondary backups.
Re-creatable logs or data.
However, do keep in mind that this is not a great option for sensitive data or mission-critical data.
6. S3 Glacier Classes
When dealing with archival storage, these classes provide the most unbeatable economical options:
S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval, used for slower retrieval speeds but still occasional access.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive is the most cost-effective option for data that will remain untouched for years.
S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval for instant archival data access retrieval (for example, medical imaging).
You can utilize any Glacier option when working with compliance checks or some long-term retention media.
How to Choose the Right Storage Class for Your Startup
Choosing the right cloud storage class for your startup may rely upon your data access frequency, budget, and data availability. Here is a summary to facilitate your choice:
1. Data Access Frequency
Think about how often you will need to access your data:
Frequent Access (Daily): If you access active files like customer information or reports on a daily basis, S3 Standard is the best option due to its high performance and quick retrieval time for frequently used data.
Occasional Access (Monthly): For data that is not routinely accessed, such as monthly reports or backups, Standard-Infrequent Access or One Zone-Infrequent Access will work. While these options are more cost-effective storage, they still remain dependable.
Rare Access (Yearly): For files that are seldom accessed such as legal records or logs, Glacier storage (e.g., Glacier Flexible or Deep Archive) is the best choice. These are economical options for files that are not frequently accessed.
2. Cost vs. Retrieval Fees
Certain storage types like Standard-IA or Glacier come with lower storage costs, but they impose fees for data retrieval. If you don’t access stored data frequently, these classes will ultimately save you money. On the other hand, if you need the data on demand, S3 Standard might be a better choice, even though it is more expensive because there are no retrieval charges.
3. Durability and Availability
For essential data, the primary concern should be durability and availability of your information. Storage classes available, like S3 standard and Standard-IA, store your information across multiple AWS zones. This guarantees high durability and safeguards against unforeseen outages. For less valuable or easier-to-replace information, Express One Zone or Glacier classes are low-cost alternatives.
Putting It All Together
To choose the right storage class, the answer depends on how frequently you will require the data, the spending limit, and the significance of having the data accessible, protected and pricing. Achieving your ideal balance will require the greatest value for your start-up.
Cost Optimization Tips for Startups
1. Use S3 Lifecycle Policies
Reduce manual monitoring by setting rules to automatically migrate objects. For example:
Move objects from S3 Standard to Standard-IA after 30 days.
Transition to Glacier Deep Archive after 180 days.
2. Archive Non-Essential Data
Leverage Glacier classes for massive cost savings. For example:
Legal compliance files can sit in Deep Archive at $0.00099/GB.
Old media files can transition to Flexible Retrieval.
3. Leverage Intelligent-Tiering
Avoid guessing! This storage class optimizes costs automatically as your data’s access patterns evolve.
4. Use Pump to Save on S3 Costs
Is it difficult to manage your S3 storage payments? Pump is here to help with its AI-powered group buying service that helps businesses cut costs by up to 60%, all at no cost to you. Here is how:
Smart AI Savings: Pump’s AI monitors your AWS outgoings and benchmarks it against data from other clients. It makes smart purchases on your behalf and takes care of everything from optimization to buying and even selling commitments.
Shared Billing: Pump consolidates the spending of all customers to create a group discount that can be shared easily. Therefore, for S3, scaling savings becomes much easier and more flexible based on collective spending.
As an example, if your monthly S3 bill is $100, Pump could bring it down to $91, saving you $9 with no extra effort.
Getting Started with Amazon S3 for Startups
Here’s how to set up your S3 storage tiers, but be sure to follow the links provided to get a full understanding:
Create Your Bucket: Open the AWS Management Console and select "Create Bucket."
Select Storage Classes: Assign the appropriate S3 storage class to your files.
Enable Lifecycle Policies: Automate transitions using the Lifecycle policy editor.
Monitor Costs and Usage: Use AWS Cost Explorer or third-party tools like Cloudability or S3 Stat.
Why Amazon S3 is a Strategic Advantage for Startups
Choosing the right S3 storage class is not just about saving money. It’s about scaling efficiently, protecting your customers’ data, and staying flexible in unpredictable markets. Your startup’s data management is a keystone to competitive advantage – and with S3, you’ll have a robust toolkit ready to grow with you.
Looking for more tips or need expert advice? Amazon offers tools like the AWS Pricing Calculator to help with cost projections.
Your startup doesn’t just need storage. It needs smart storage - and with the right S3 storage class, you’re already on your way.
Join Pump for Free
If you are an early-stage startup that wants to save on cloud costs, use this opportunity. If you are a start-up business owner who wants to cut down the cost of using the cloud, then this is your chance. Pump helps you save up to 60% in cloud costs, and the best thing about it is that it is absolutely free!
Pump provides personalized solutions that allow you to effectively manage and optimize your AWS and GCP spending. Take complete control over your cloud expenses and ensure that you get the most from what you have invested. Who would pay more when we can save better?
Are you ready to take control of your cloud expenses?
