Understand AWS storage classes like S3, Glacier, and beyond. Learn when to use what, and how to optimize for cost, speed, and scalability.
If you’ve ever stood in the storage aisle at IKEA staring at bins, boxes, and shelves wondering, “What do I actually need?”, you already get how confusing AWS storage can be. S3. Glacier. EFS. EBS. Deep Archive. Some are hot, some are cold, and some are...basically digital time capsules.
The thing is, choosing the right AWS storage option is critical to managing performance, cost, and compliance. Pick the wrong one, and you're either burning money or waiting hours to get your data back when you need it most.
This blog breaks down S3, Glacier, and other AWS storage services in plain English—no certifications required. Whether you’re building an app, archiving files, or just trying not to drown in cloud costs, we’ll help you figure out what’s hot, what’s cold, and what’s just right for your use case.
“Data that isn’t accessible when you need it is just expensive clutter.”
— Someone who regretted putting logs in Deep Archive
Let’s walk through AWS storage classes with relatable use cases, clear comparisons, and pro tips for maximizing efficiency. If you've ever asked, “Should this live in S3 or Glacier?”, you're in the right place.
Best for: App data, media files, websites, backups, analytics
Key storage classes:
📊 S3 Intelligent-Tiering saves users an average of 30% without needing manual reconfiguration.
👉 Docs: S3 Storage Classes
Best for: Compliance data, backups, logs, long-term archives
📉 Glacier Deep Archive costs as little as $0.00099/GB/month.
When to use:
Best for: Persistent storage for EC2 VMs
🧠 Use when: You need consistent, high-speed read/write for active apps.
💡 Tip: Snapshots to S3 or Glacier to save on long-term backup costs.
👉 Docs: Amazon EBS
Best for: Shared, scalable, Linux file systems
📦 Great for: Microservices, content management, Dev/Test, SaaS environments
📊 EFS Intelligent-Tiering can reduce costs by 40% for variable workloads.
👉 Docs: Amazon EFS
Best for: Windows-based file systems, HPC, ML
⚡ Used by data-heavy apps like simulations, render farms, and data lakes.
👉 Docs: Amazon FSx
Use CaseBest ServiceNotesApp media & static assetsS3 StandardPair with CloudFrontLarge backupsS3 Glacier Deep ArchiveCheapest, slowestLive databasesEBS (gp3)High IOPS requiredShared file accessEFSIdeal for Linux containersLegacy Windows appsFSx for WindowsEasy lift-and-shift
📈 Proper lifecycle and tagging setups saved startups up to 50% in storage costs.
All this storage theory is great—but what about actually implementing it? You might know where your data should go, but setting up lifecycle rules, access policies, and cost tracking across multiple services? That’s a full-time job.
Enter Proso—your go-to marketplace for cloud experts who know AWS inside and out.
Example:
Your team has been storing logs in S3 Standard for two years. You realize 90% of it hasn’t been accessed. You need someone to design lifecycle rules and automate archiving—without breaking anything. On Proso, you post the task and connect with AWS consultants who’ve done this hundreds of times.
Why Proso makes sense:
A startup CTO shared:
“Our AWS bill dropped by 28% within two months after a Proso consultant helped us move cold data to Glacier and audit public buckets.”
Whether you need to clean up bloated S3 buckets or set up a full archiving strategy, Proso helps you get it done—without draining your dev team’s bandwidth.
👉 Explore now: https://www.proso.ai
AWS storage isn’t just about picking the cheapest bucket—it’s about choosing the right one for each stage of your data’s lifecycle. As your workloads evolve, so should your storage strategy. From real-time access in S3 to long-term archives in Deep Archive, AWS gives you every tool you need to build smarter.
The future of cloud storage is automation and intelligence. Expect more from your cloud provider than just “a place to put stuff.”
What’s next in AWS storage?
So what’s your move?
Action steps:
Choosing the right AWS storage isn’t glamorous, but it’s one of the smartest investments you can make in your architecture—and your cloud bill.
Let your data live in the right place, not just any place.
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