AWS Storage Gateway vs Amazon Glacier: What are the differences?

Introduction

This article aims to provide a comparison between AWS Storage Gateway and Amazon Glacier, highlighting their key differences.

1. Data Storage and Retrieval: AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid storage service that allows on-premises applications to store data in Amazon S3 or Amazon Glacier. It provides a virtual machine in the local environment that connects to cloud-based storage. On the other hand, Amazon Glacier is a low-cost storage service designed for long-term data archival. It offers very low storage costs but has longer retrieval times compared to AWS Storage Gateway.

2. Data Transfer Speed and Latency: AWS Storage Gateway provides faster data transfer speed as it operates in the same region as the Amazon S3 bucket or Amazon Glacier vault. It ensures low-latency access to data stored in the cloud. In contrast, Amazon Glacier has slower data transfer speeds and higher latency, which is acceptable for long-term archival purposes but may not be suitable for applications requiring frequent data access.

3. Pricing Model: AWS Storage Gateway pricing is based on the amount of data transferred, storage used, and specific features utilized. The cost includes data transfer, storage, and requests. On the other hand, Amazon Glacier pricing is based on data storage and retrieval. It offers low-cost storage options but incurs retrieval fees depending on the frequency, speed, and volume of data retrieval.

4. Data Lifecycle Management: AWS Storage Gateway provides flexibility in managing data lifecycle by allowing users to define storage tiers. This enables automatic shifting of data between different storage classes based on access patterns. Amazon Glacier is specifically designed for long-term data archival, where the data remains in cold storage for extended periods without frequent access.

5. Data Durability and Availability: AWS Storage Gateway ensures high data durability by leveraging the redundancy and reliability mechanisms of Amazon S3 or Amazon Glacier. It provides high availability with multiple availability zones within a region. On the other hand, Amazon Glacier offers durability of 99.999999999% but is designed for infrequently accessed data, resulting in lower availability compared to AWS Storage Gateway.

6. Integration with On-Premises Infrastructure: AWS Storage Gateway seamlessly integrates with existing on-premises infrastructure by providing virtual appliances. It facilitates smooth connectivity between on-premises applications and cloud storage. In contrast, Amazon Glacier does not offer direct integration with on-premises infrastructure. It primarily serves as a long-term archival storage solution, requiring data transfer from on-premises to the cloud.

In summary, AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid storage service with faster data transfer, more flexible data lifecycle management, and better integration with on-premises infrastructure. Conversely, Amazon Glacier focuses on cost-effective long-term data archival with slower retrieval times, lower availability, and a lower level of integration with on-premises environments.