Amazon Simple Storage Service is a common and widely-used storage service solution for the internet. S3 is created to make web-scale computing simpler and valuable. Amazon S3 is also a part of the Amazon Web Services (AWS). Amazon S3 drive internet storage offers high flexibility, reliability, accessibility, and scalability.
It is noteworthy that now, Amazon is not the only S3 company; at the present, Google, Microsoft, and others have also introduced their own S3 services that are discussed in detail in this article.
The amount of data and the number of items stored in storage software is limitless. Amazon’s s3 storage service is valuable for individuals and businesses because they pay only for what they use. S3 service provided by other S3 company, operates the same as well; this includes names like Google Drive, Microsoft One Drive, and Google Cloud. Nevertheless, methodology and terminologies might lead to misunderstandings and complications for new S3 users. How does cloud Storage Work? This article explains the major concepts and working principles of cloud-based storage.
What is Cloud Storage and How Does It Work?
Although Amazon doesn’t provide details about how its cloud-based storage system was created this storage software manages and controls data through an architecture – object storage that aimed to provide maximum storage to the users.
Object storage refers to the system typically created to treat unstructured data as granular information objects instead of volume or a part of a file. There is a global object identifier – a bucket that accesses policies and sets security for objects within it, a collection of metadata, that is utilized to identify objects.
This methodology allows extremely scalable storage in the cloud. Objects can be positioned on several disk drives circulated throughout the data center. Cloud-based storage data centers use specialized software, hardware, and distributed file programs to deliver valuable elastic scalability.
Storage providers like Google Cloud and Microsoft One Drive offer version control and redundancy by utilizing block storage approaches. Data is automatically stored in different spots and circulated across various disks or regions. The S3 cloud system occasionally checks the collected data through its control hash value. In addition, if any corrupted data is observed, the S3 system uses redundant data to restore the item.
S3 Cloud File System
In addition to the S3 cloud’s popularity as a valuable storage system, some users want to use Amazon storage as a file system. However, Amazon S3 already has its file system feature.
In addition, the Drive-in storage system allows Windows users to interact and mount with the S3 network as a local disk. You can also open remote files and browse with any software including Microsoft Office. You can also use Windows File Explorer to rename, move, copy and delete any S3 item or folder.
Distinguish Between Amazon S3 File System and other Cloud Systems
With the help of modern and innovative digital technologies, it is easy to automatically replicate the data that you upload to different clouds like amazon s3, Google Drive, and Microsoft One Drive. Being the first, Amazon S3 file system still remains popular to date in comparison to others. Widow users can connect their PCs to Amazon S3 file system with a S3 drive.
However, the very common and widely-used object stores include Amazon S3, Microsoft Blobs Storage, and Google Cloud Storage. These storage systems are reliable and valuable and available on the internet.
Google Cloud
Google cloud or Google Storage is interoperable with some storage libraries and tools that also work with multiple programs like Amazon S3. Google Cloud offers a similar interface to its storage like Amazon S3.
It has its own valuable set of REST-based APIs JSON APIs and XML. However, these are not compatible with Amazon Simple Service Storage. Google cloud offers AWS S3 access via the S3 API system that’s very effective and valuable.
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive is another s3 company that provides storage solutions to its users. Microsoft s3 is an online storage system in the clouds that also provide comprehensive security and protection to your files. It can also be sued to access your files and documents to multiple devices.
NAS Colocation
Storage devices linked to a system that provides file access to a computer system are referred to as the NAS file system. These storage systems utilize protocols like Server Message Block, Network File Storage, and Common Internet File System to collect, store and share data. Data that is shared by NAS storage include images, documents, and folders.
Businesses and companies now have been using NAS storage systems to keep a record of their data. They considered it as a scalable, low-cost, and effective solution to their business or corporate problems. NAS storage system is utilized for payroll, accounting databases, email systems, data logging, video recording and editing, business analytics, and many more.
However, the NAS storage system involves some security and privacy risks. As you know that, storing any kind of data or file on hard drives or NAS varies from users’ requirements. It, therefore, creates a privacy and security risk as someone might get access to not only the data but can get all personal information of the user.
Internet users, therefore, suggest the Amazon S3 storage system as safe and secured to keep data and any kind of record.
Comparison Table for the Prices of Amazon S3 Cloud, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive.
Whether it’s a small or mid-level business or a large enterprise, people make a decision only after calculating the prices and storage that are offered by cloud-based applications. Here you can explore more about which cloud storage system offers more storage and for what cost.
On average, S3 storage can costs from $0.018 per GB per month and ultimately the price varies from there onwards. On the other hand, the NAS is labor-intensive because you have to purchase hardware for it. Hence, large-scale business corporates and companies who are willing to make serious expenditures on a one-time basis should better utilize the NAS storage service.
| Clouds | Prices, $ (for unit) | Cost for storing 10TB for 10 years |
| Amazon AWS | $0.023 for 1 GB per Month | =0.023x10x1024x10x12= $28 262,4 |
| Google Cloud One | $0.020 for 1 GB per Month | =0.020x10x1024x10x12= $24 576 |
| Microsoft Azure Storage | $0.018 per GB for hot storage, $0.01 per GB per month for cool storage, and $0.002 for the archive. | =0.018x10x1024x10x12= $22 118,4 |
| NAS | cost of the service + the cost of the hardware + the cost of the hard drives that go into that hardware (variable as per service provider. Discussed below in detail) | $15,959 (on average which needs to be paid up-front) |
The total cost of NAS storage service depends upon:
- The cost of service – colocation
- The cost of hardware, and
- The cost of the hard drives that go into that hardware
However, different parameters affect the cost of NAS colocation like rack capacity, hardware, colo electrical power costs, transfer rates, bandwidth, and others. While determining a colocation service you need to evaluate if the colocation meets your business needs or not. Since colocation includes different costs you can evaluate how much it will cost you.
For instance, the service provider “Colocation America” provides NAS storage for the cost of $99 per month, and you have to include the cost of hardware as well that’s approximately $1,699.99 on amazon. Now you need to include the 7 units of Hard Drive – per Hard Drive is around $169.95. Keep in consideration that you will need to change all your HDDs in five years that will cost you something around: $169.95x7x2 = $ 2 379,3. Combine that with the cost of hardware and we have a figure of : $1,699.99 + 2379.3 = $4079.29
The total price of NAS colocation will be — $99x12monthx10years+ $4079.29 = $15 959.
In long run, NAS may come up as a cheaper alternative, but for organizations who don’t have that kind of money at their disposal, Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, or Google is not only an affordable but relatively cheaper option that they can benefit from for a long time. Not to mention you won’t be troubling yourself with the deployment and maintenance of a heavy architecture that you may not have technical or financial capabilities of sustaining.
How Can an S3 System Be Controlled with DAM?
The larger your media archive, the more complicated it is for you to navigate in it. Hence, if you’re struggling with storing and managing larger media archives, no worries! There is this Digital Asset Management system (DAM), that’s created for you to store and manage a large number of data in an easy way. A DAM system is created to enable cloud users in organizing and managing a variety of data and files effectively and simply.
The DAM system collects and stores all types of data including images, videos, audio files. and documents. The system can also be utilized to share data and files between the users with the help of a quick-share option. In addition, Amazon S3 also works well with third-party tools and software. Any S3 system can easily be combined with DAM to solve big data-related issues and challenges.
Once a valuable DAM system is implemented, you can easily integrate the system with the S3 Buckets. S3 cloud’s buckets where you can store your data. When your stored data get accessed to the DAM system you can now easily organize and manage it without any barrier. In comparison, you can mount your Amazon S3 drive to your computer which allows files and folders to be easily moved between local and S3 storage with the Windows File Explorer.
Conclusion
S3 storage can be a good storage system for you. However, you can choose a cloud-based storage system depending upon the existing IT infrastructure and its prices. In addition, Picvario works with any s3-cloud, because it has S3 API integration and even if you like to choose NAS colocation Picvario will collect your files from FTP protocol.
However, we can expand our Picvario on any S3 storage and even on their server. And despite the chosen way you can think about using DAM-system. We can also provide trial access free.
