Storage

AWS S3 Glacier

Amazon S3 Glacier provides extremely low-cost archival storage with three archive classes optimized for different access patterns and retrieval times.

What is S3 Glacier? (Simple Explanation)

S3 Glacier is an AWS service in the Storage category. Amazon S3 Glacier provides extremely low-cost archival storage with three archive classes optimized for different access patterns and retrieval times.

When Would You Use This?

  • Long-term data archiving
  • Regulatory compliance records
  • Digital preservation
  • Media asset archives
  • Scientific data retention

Who Uses S3 Glacier?

From startups to enterprises, S3 Glacier powers:

StartupsMid-size CompaniesLarge EnterprisesGovernmentNonprofits

What Makes S3 Glacier Powerful

Glacier Instant Retrieval (milliseconds access)
Glacier Flexible Retrieval (minutes to hours)
Glacier Deep Archive (lowest cost, 12-48h retrieval)
S3 Glacier Vault Lock for WORM compliance
Lifecycle policies for automatic archival from S3

Services That Work with S3 Glacier

S3 Glacier is rarely used alone. It's typically combined with:

Compliance & Security

How AWS S3 Glacier fits into major compliance standards:

CIS AWS Foundations

S3 Glacier configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks 1.5–3.0 for secure cloud defaults.

NIST 800-53

S3 Glacier access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families.

PCI DSS 4.0

S3 Glacier encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments.

SOC 2

S3 Glacier security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria.

ISO 27001

S3 Glacier configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.

Ready to secure your S3 Glacier configuration?

Pavora continuously monitors your AWS S3 Glacier for misconfigurations, compliance violations, and security risks.