Glacier
Definition
AWS long-term archival storage service for data you rarely access. Like putting old documents in a warehouse - cheaper to store but takes time to retrieve.
Use Cases
- Netflix: Long-term retention of media assets and related data that is rarely accessed but must be preserved for operational and business needs. — Netflix has publicly discussed using Amazon S3 for large-scale storage and leveraging lower-cost archival storage classes for infrequently accessed content as part of lifecycle-based tiering strategies. (Reduced storage costs by moving cold data to cheaper archival tiers while keeping the ability to restore content when needed.)
- NASA: Archiving large scientific datasets and mission data for long-term preservation with occasional retrieval for research and analysis. — NASA has used AWS for storing and distributing large datasets, and archival storage classes are commonly used in such patterns via lifecycle policies to transition older data to lower-cost storage. (Lower long-term storage spend while maintaining durable retention for historical datasets and compliance/preservation requirements.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: Amazon S3 Glacier
- Azure: Azure Blob Storage Archive access tier
- GCP: Google Cloud Storage Archive Storage
- OCI: OCI Object Storage Archive tier
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between S3 Glacier and S3 Standard?
- S3 Standard is designed for data you access frequently, with low-latency access and no special restore step. S3 Glacier is for data you rarely access; it costs less to store, but you typically pay to retrieve data and you may need to wait (minutes to hours, depending on the retrieval option) before you can download it.
- When should I use S3 Glacier?
- Use S3 Glacier when you need long-term, durable storage for data that is rarely accessed, such as compliance archives, audit logs kept for years, old backups, medical or financial records with retention rules, or historical media and research data. If users need instant access or frequent reads, choose a warmer S3 storage class instead.
- How much does S3 Glacier cost?
- Costs depend on the Glacier storage class you choose, how much data you store, how long you keep it (minimum storage duration charges may apply), and how often/how quickly you retrieve it. Pricing typically includes: (1) storage per GB-month, (2) retrieval fees per GB (often higher for faster restores), and (3) request and data transfer charges. For exact numbers, use the AWS Pricing page and the AWS Pricing Calculator for your region and expected retrieval pattern.
Category: data
Difficulty: intermediate
Related Terms
See Also