AWS EBS
Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) provides persistent block-level storage for EC2. Each volume is automatically replicated within its Availability Zone.
What is EBS? (Simple Explanation)
EBS is an AWS service in the Storage category. Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) provides persistent block-level storage for EC2.
When Would You Use EBS?
- Boot volumes for EC2 instances
- Database storage (relational & NoSQL)
- Enterprise application storage
- Big data analytics scratch space
Who Uses EBS?
From startups to enterprises, EBS powers:
What Makes EBS Powerful
EBS Pricing & Free Tier
Free Tier: 5GB Standard storage, 20,000 GET requests, 2,000 PUT requests (12 months). After that, ~$0.023/GB/month.
EBS Best Practices
- 1Block all public access by default (never grant s3:* to *)
- 2Enable versioning and MFA delete on critical buckets
- 3Use lifecycle policies to automatically tier to Glacier after 90 days
- 4Encrypt at rest with SSE-KMS (not SSE-S3)
- 5Enable S3 Access Logs or CloudTrail data events for audit trail
Getting Started with EBS in 5 Minutes
- 1Open the AWS Console and navigate to EBS
- 2Click "Create bucket" or "Create file system"
- 3Name your resource (globally unique for S3) and choose a region
- 4Configure public access settings (block all public access by default) and click "Create"
EBS CLI Quick Reference
2 production-ready commands. Full CLI Library (225+ services) →
aws ec2 helpView all EBS CLI v2 commands and subcommandsaws ec2 describe-ebs --helpView options for describing EBS resourcesPros & Cons of EBS
Pros
- Volume types: gp3, gp2, io2 Block Express, st1, sc1
- Multi-Attach for io1/io2 across multiple instances
- EBS Snapshots for point-in-time backup
- Fast Snapshot Restore for instant initialization
- KMS encryption at rest
Cons
- ✕Storage costs compound over time — data tends to grow, not shrink
- ✕Cross-region replication adds latency and egress costs
- ✕Inexperienced users can accidentally expose data publicly (misconfigured bucket policies)
EBS vs Alternatives
EBS vs EC2
Choose EBS for Boot volumes for EC2 instances and Database storage (relational & NoSQL). It excels at volume types: gp3, gp2, io2 block express, st1, sc1.
Choose EC2 as an alternative when your requirements differ. Each service in the Storage category serves different architectural patterns.
Services That Work with EBS
EBS is rarely used alone. It is typically combined with:
Compliance & Security
How AWS EBS fits into major compliance standards. Browse all 41 frameworks →
EBS configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults.
NIST 800-53EBS access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families.
PCI DSS 4.0EBS encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments.
SOC 2EBS security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria.
ISO 27001EBS configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.
Frequently Asked Questions About EBS
What is AWS EBS?
Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) provides persistent block-level storage for EC2. Each volume is automatically replicated within its Availability Zone.
What is EBS used for?
EBS is commonly used for: Boot volumes for EC2 instances; Database storage (relational & NoSQL); Enterprise application storage; Big data analytics scratch space. It's a core service in the storage category of AWS.
Is EBS free?
Free Tier: 5GB Standard storage, 20,000 GET requests, 2,000 PUT requests (12 months). After that, ~$0.023/GB/month.
What are the key features of EBS?
EBS's most important capabilities include: Volume types: gp3, gp2, io2 Block Express, st1, sc1. Multi-Attach for io1/io2 across multiple instances. EBS Snapshots for point-in-time backup. Fast Snapshot Restore for instant initialization. KMS encryption at rest. Each of these is designed to help teams boot volumes for ec2 instances.
How does EBS compare to alternatives?
EBS competes with both AWS-native alternatives (EC2, KMS, Backup) and third-party equivalents. The right choice depends on your specific requirements for scalability, cost, and operational overhead. See the comparisons section below for detailed guidance.
Which compliance frameworks apply to EBS?
CIS AWS v3.0: EBS configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults. NIST 800-53: EBS access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families. PCI DSS 4.0: EBS encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments. SOC 2: EBS security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. ISO 27001: EBS configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.
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