Amazon Onboarding with Learning Manager Chanci Turner

As we reflect on the advancements unveiled at re:Invent, we are excited to share key updates related to AWS Storage and Ingestion Services that will greatly benefit our public sector clients.

AWS Snowball Edge – Scalable Data Transfer with Local Processing Capabilities

The AWS Snowball Edge is a cutting-edge 100TB data transfer device equipped with robust security features, on-device storage, and in-transit compute capabilities supported by AWS Greengrass. This device empowers organizations to efficiently transfer large volumes of data to and from the AWS Cloud. It can also serve as a temporary storage solution for significant local datasets or assist with edge computing tasks in remote or offline environments.

Snowball Edge seamlessly integrates with existing applications and infrastructure using standard storage interfaces, simplifying the data transfer process and ensuring operational continuity even when cloud access is unavailable.

So, how does Snowball Edge enhance cloud data transfer?

With four times the network speed of the original AWS Snowball, it includes built-in WiFi and cellular wireless communication, an NFS interface, and an Amazon S3-compatible endpoint. All data is automatically encrypted, with encryption keys managed securely via AWS Key Management Service (KMS), ensuring sensitive information remains protected during transit and at rest.

The Snowball Edge comes pre-loaded with AWS Greengrass, enabling users to run AWS Lambda functions and process data on-site. This allows the collection and analysis of sensor data, real-time multimedia transcoding, image compression, or running a local Amazon S3-compatible file server.

Operational Workflow

Jobs are initiated directly from the AWS Management Console. Upon job creation, AWS dispatches a Snowball Edge device to your location. Once received, you connect it to your local network and link it with your applications. When ready to return, the E Ink shipping label will update automatically to direct the device back to the correct AWS facility, and you can track the job status through Amazon SNS alerts or the console.

AWS Snowball and HIPAA Compliance

AWS has expanded its HIPAA compliance program to include AWS Snowball, facilitating the secure and economical transfer of large data sets, including Protected Health Information (PHI), to and from AWS. For further details, refer to the HIPAA Compliance whitepaper.

AWS Snowmobile – Rapidly Transfer Exabytes of Data

Migrating petabyte and exabyte-sized data to the cloud has historically been challenging. However, with the AWS Snowmobile, a secure data truck capable of storing up to 100 PB, customers can now transfer vast data volumes to the AWS Cloud in a matter of weeks instead of years.

Snowmobile features tamper-resistant shipping containers that integrate with your network, appearing as local NFS-mounted volumes. Each unit uses approximately 350 kW of AC power and connects via a high-speed switch to support data transfers of up to 1 Tb/second across multiple 40 Gb/second connections.

Security is paramount, and Snowmobile employs comprehensive measures, including chain-of-custody tracking, 24/7 video surveillance, GPS tracking, and encryption using AWS KMS keys. For added security, escorts and on-site guards can be arranged during transit.

New Features for Amazon S3

Amazon S3 CloudWatch Metrics: Gain insights into the performance of applications utilizing Amazon S3 by monitoring 13 new CloudWatch metrics. These metrics enable quick identification of operational issues for web and mobile applications reliant on cloud storage.
Amazon S3 Object Tagging: This feature allows for enhanced management and control over Amazon S3 objects through key-value pair tags. Users can create, modify, or delete tags at any time, enabling customized IAM policies and lifecycle management.
Amazon S3 Analytics and Storage Class Analysis: This new capability helps visualize storage access patterns, optimizing costs by transitioning data to the appropriate storage class.
Amazon S3 Inventory: Simplify workflows with scheduled inventory reports of objects and their metadata in CSV format, available daily or weekly.

Discover More

New advancements in Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) now allow for seamless migration of file data to and from on-premises environments, facilitating cloud bursting and backup solutions when connected via AWS Direct Connect.

AWS Storage Gateway now offers a virtual file server enabling standard file storage protocols for Amazon S3 objects. This allows existing applications to leverage secure and durable cloud storage without modification, simplifying data movement into Amazon S3.

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Contact us today to leverage these innovative services.