Amazon S3 offers a variety of storage classes to meet diverse business needs. These classes allow you to balance costs, performance, and availability based on how frequently your data is accessed and how quickly you need to retrieve it.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the different Amazon S3 storage classes, focusing on their features, use cases, and unique characteristics. From frequently accessed data to deep archival solutions, we’ve got you covered!
1. S3 Standard (STANDARD)
The S3 Standard storage class is the default and most widely used option, ideal for storing data that is accessed frequently and requires low latency and high availability.
Key Features:
Designed for frequently accessed data.
High performance with low latency and high throughput.
99.999999999% (11 9s) durability across multiple Availability Zones.
High availability for mission-critical data.
Use Cases:
Cloud-native applications.
Content delivery (images, videos, websites).
Real-time analytics and streaming workloads.
2. S3 Standard-IA (STANDARD_IA)
The S3 Standard-Infrequent Access storage class is optimized for data that is accessed less frequently but still requires immediate retrieval when needed.
Key Features:
Lower storage costs compared to S3 Standard.
Retrieval fees apply for accessing data.
99.999999999% durability and multi-zone availability.
Use Cases:
Backup and disaster recovery.
Long-term storage for active datasets.
Archiving less frequently used files.
3. S3 One Zone-IA (ONEZONE_IA)
S3 One Zone-IA is a cost-effective option for infrequently accessed data that doesn’t require the resiliency of multi-zone availability.
Key Features:
Data stored in a single Availability Zone.
Lower cost than S3 Standard-IA.
Suitable for non-critical or easily re-creatable data.
Use Cases:
Secondary backups.
Temporary storage or caching.
Data processing pipelines.
4. S3 Intelligent-Tiering (INTELLIGENT_TIERING)
The S3 Intelligent-Tiering storage class is designed for data with unpredictable or changing access patterns. It automatically moves objects between access tiers based on usage, helping you optimize storage costs.
Key Features:
Automatically manages data across access tiers:
Frequent Access Tier: For data accessed within the last 30 days.
Infrequent Access Tier: For data not accessed in 30 consecutive days.
Archive Instant Access Tier: For data not accessed in 90 consecutive days.
Optional Archive Access tiers for asynchronous retrieval:
Archive Access Tier: For data not accessed in 90 days, with retrieval times in hours.
Deep Archive Access Tier: For data not accessed in 180 days, with retrieval times in hours.
Use Cases:
Data lakes.
Machine learning datasets.
Dynamic workloads with unknown or changing access patterns.
5. S3 Glacier Storage Classes
Amazon S3 Glacier storage classes are tailored for long-term data retention and archiving. These options are cost-efficient and designed for data that is rarely accessed but needs to be stored for extended periods.
A. S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval (GLACIER_IR)
Designed for rarely accessed data that requires real-time retrieval in milliseconds.
Suitable for long-term data that might still be used occasionally.
Use Cases:
Media archives for active reference.
Medical imaging storage.
B. S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval (GLACIER)
Offers cost-effective archiving with retrieval times ranging from minutes to hours.
Data is archived and unavailable for real-time access.
Use Cases:
Regulatory archives requiring occasional retrieval.
Historical data backups.
C. S3 Glacier Deep Archive (DEEP_ARCHIVE)
The lowest-cost storage class for rarely accessed data.
Retrieval times range from 12 to 48 hours.
Best for compliance and long-term retention (e.g., 7–10 years).
Use Cases:
Legal and compliance archives.
Old project records and historical data storage.
6. S3 Express One Zone (EXPRESS_ONEZONE)
This storage class focuses on performance-sensitive applications while keeping costs low by storing data in a single zone. It is suitable for temporary or easily replaceable data.
Key Features:
Single Availability Zone storage.
High performance and lower latency.
Not recommended for critical data.
Use Cases:
Caching temporary files for processing.
Data replication for non-critical workloads.
Short-term backups.
Comparison of Amazon S3 Storage Classes
| Storage Class | Access Frequency | Retrieval Time | Durability | Cost | Best Use Case |
| S3 Standard | Frequent | Milliseconds | 99.999999999% | High | Real-time applications and active data. |
| S3 Standard-IA | Infrequent | Milliseconds | 99.999999999% | Moderate | Backups, disaster recovery, and less-accessed datasets. |
| S3 One Zone-IA | Infrequent | Milliseconds | 99.999999999% (1 Zone) | Low | Secondary backups or temporary data. |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | Unpredictable | Milliseconds to Hours | 99.999999999% | Varies | Data with changing access patterns (e.g., data lakes). |
| S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval | Rarely accessed | Milliseconds | 99.999999999% | Low | Media archives and medical records requiring quick access. |
| S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval | Rarely accessed | Minutes to Hours | 99.999999999% | Very Low | Regulatory archives and historical data. |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | Rarely accessed | 12–48 Hours | 99.999999999% | Lowest | Long-term compliance and legal archives. |
Conclusion
How to Choose the Right S3 Storage Class
Access Frequency:
Use S3 Standard for frequent, real-time access.
Use S3 Standard-IA or One Zone-IA for infrequent access.
Use S3 Glacier classes for long-term archiving.
Performance Requirements:
Choose S3 Standard or Intelligent-Tiering for high-performance workloads.
Select S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval for archival data that needs fast retrieval.
Cost Sensitivity:
Optimize costs with Intelligent-Tiering or Glacier classes based on access patterns.
Use Deep Archive for the lowest storage costs over long durations.