What is EFS Infrequent Access (EFS-IA)?

Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) Infrequent Access (EFS-IA) is a storage class designed to optimize cost-effectiveness for workloads that require access to data less frequently, but still need the same durability and low-latency performance offered by standard Amazon EFS.

Understanding Amazon EFS

Amazon EFS is a fully managed file storage service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS), offering scalable and elastic file storage that can be shared across multiple Amazon EC2 instances and AWS services. It is designed to provide high availability, durability, and performance for a wide range of use cases, from content management to big data analytics.

Introducing EFS Infrequent Access (EFS-IA)

EFS Infrequent Access (EFS-IA) is a storage class introduced by AWS to address scenarios where customers have data that is accessed less frequently but still needs to be readily available when required. It provides a cost-effective option by offering lower storage costs compared to the standard Amazon EFS storage class.

Key Features of EFS Infrequent Access:

1. Cost-Optimized Storage: EFS-IA provides a lower storage cost compared to standard Amazon EFS, making it suitable for workloads that can tolerate slightly higher access latencies in exchange for reduced storage costs.

2. Same Performance and Durability: EFS-IA retains the same performance, durability, and scalability features as standard Amazon EFS. It supports low-latency access to data and maintains high levels of availability and durability across multiple Availability Zones (AZs) within an AWS region.

3. Lifecycle Management: EFS-IA includes lifecycle management features that automatically move files not accessed for a period of time to the EFS-IA storage class. This helps optimize costs by transitioning data that becomes less frequently accessed over time to a more cost-effective storage tier.

4. Integrated with AWS Services: EFS-IA seamlessly integrates with AWS services and features, allowing applications and services to leverage its capabilities without requiring changes to existing workflows or configurations.

5. Access Patterns: EFS-IA is ideal for workloads with access patterns that include periodic access to data, such as data backups, disaster recovery, infrequently accessed archives, and batch processing jobs.

Use Cases for EFS Infrequent Access:

• Backup and Recovery: EFS-IA can be used to store backup data and archives that are accessed infrequently but need to be readily available for recovery purposes.

• Data Archiving: Organizations can use EFS-IA to store historical data and archives that are accessed sporadically for compliance or regulatory purposes.

• Batch Processing: Workloads that involve periodic batch processing jobs can benefit from EFS-IA by storing input and output data that is accessed during processing but may not be needed continuously.

• Development and Testing: Development and testing environments that require access to shared file storage but do not continuously access all data can utilize EFS-IA to reduce storage costs.

How to Use EFS Infrequent Access:

1. Creating EFS File Systems: You can create an EFS file system and specify EFS-IA as the storage class during creation. Alternatively, you can transition an existing file system's data to EFS-IA using lifecycle management policies.

2. Managing Lifecycle Policies: Use AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or SDKs to configure lifecycle management policies that automatically transition files from the standard storage class to EFS-IA based on access patterns and age of data.

3. Monitoring and Optimization: Monitor the usage and performance of your EFS-IA file system to ensure it meets your application's requirements for access latency and cost-effectiveness. Adjust lifecycle policies as needed to optimize costs.

Conclusion

Amazon EFS Infrequent Access (EFS-IA) offers a cost-effective storage solution for AWS customers who have workloads with infrequent access patterns. By leveraging EFS-IA, organizations can reduce storage costs while maintaining the same high levels of performance, durability, and scalability provided by standard Amazon EFS. Whether you're storing backup data, handling periodic batch processing jobs, or managing data archives, EFS-IA provides a flexible and efficient storage option within the AWS ecosystem.