AWS Snowmobile

AWS Snowmobile is a petabyte-scale data transfer service that allows businesses to move massive amounts of data to AWS. It is designed for organizations that need to transfer extremely large datasets, such as exabyte-scale data lakes, archives, and digital media libraries. Snowmobile is essentially a secure, ruggedized shipping container that is transported by a truck, providing a physical means of transferring large volumes of data to the cloud.

Key Features

  1. High-Capacity Data Transfer:
  • Capacity: Each Snowmobile can transport up to 100 petabytes of data in a single trip.
  • Multiple Units: For even larger datasets, multiple Snowmobiles can be used simultaneously.
  1. Secure and Encrypted:
  • Data Encryption: Data is encrypted with 256-bit encryption keys managed through the AWS Key Management Service (KMS).
  • Physical Security: The Snowmobile is designed with security in mind, featuring tamper-evident seals, GPS tracking, and 24/7 video surveillance during transit.
  1. Efficient and Cost-Effective:
  • Fast Transfer Speed: Significantly reduces the time required to transfer large datasets compared to traditional network-based transfers.
  • Cost Savings: More economical for transferring massive datasets compared to network transfer costs and timescales.
  1. Seamless Integration with AWS:
  • Data Import: Once the Snowmobile arrives at an AWS data center, the data is transferred directly to Amazon S3 or other AWS storage services.
  • Custom Solutions: AWS works closely with customers to ensure the data transfer process meets specific needs and requirements.

Use Cases

  1. Data Center Migration:
  • Organizations looking to move their entire data center to the cloud can use Snowmobile to transfer large volumes of data quickly and securely.
  1. Data Archiving:
  • Businesses with extensive archives of digital media, scientific research data, or other large datasets can use Snowmobile to transfer this data to AWS for storage, backup, and long-term retention.
  1. Disaster Recovery:
  • In the event of a significant disaster, Snowmobile can be used to rapidly transfer backup data to AWS, enabling quick recovery and business continuity.
  1. Big Data Analytics:
  • Companies dealing with big data can use Snowmobile to transfer large datasets to AWS for analytics and processing using AWS’s suite of big data and machine learning services.

Process Overview

  1. Assessment and Planning:
  • AWS works with the customer to understand their data transfer needs and plan the logistics of the Snowmobile deployment.
  1. Delivery and Setup:
  • The Snowmobile is delivered to the customer’s data center, where AWS professionals help connect it to the local network and configure the data transfer.
  1. Data Transfer:
  • Data is transferred from the customer’s on-premises storage systems to the Snowmobile using high-speed network connections.
  1. Transport:
  • Once the data transfer is complete, the Snowmobile is transported to an AWS data center under strict security measures.
  1. Data Import:
  • The data is offloaded from the Snowmobile and securely imported into the designated AWS storage services.
  1. Finalization:
  • AWS ensures the data has been successfully transferred and verifies data integrity. The customer can then access and use their data in AWS.

Security Measures

  • Encryption: Data is encrypted during transfer, with encryption keys managed by the customer through AWS KMS.
  • Physical Security: The Snowmobile is equipped with multiple layers of physical security, including GPS tracking, 24/7 surveillance, and escort security teams.
  • Access Controls: Access to the Snowmobile and its contents is strictly controlled and monitored to prevent unauthorized access.

Summary

AWS Snowmobile is a highly effective solution for organizations needing to transfer extremely large datasets to AWS. It offers a secure, fast, and cost-effective method for moving up to 100 petabytes of data per Snowmobile. By providing robust encryption, comprehensive physical security, and seamless integration with AWS services, Snowmobile simplifies the process of large-scale data migration, enabling businesses to efficiently leverage the power of the AWS cloud for their storage, processing, and analytics needs.

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