Database

AWS Neptune

Amazon Neptune is a fast, reliable, fully managed graph database service. Build applications with highly connected datasets using property graph and RDF models.

41 Compliance Frameworks → AWS CLI Library → Database Security Guide →

What is Neptune? (Simple Explanation)

Neptune is an AWS service in the Database category. Amazon Neptune is a fast, reliable, fully managed graph database service.

When Would You Use Neptune?

  • Identity and fraud graphs
  • Knowledge graphs
  • Recommendation engines
  • Social networking applications
  • Security and network topology graphs

Who Uses Neptune?

From startups to enterprises, Neptune powers:

StartupsMid-size CompaniesLarge EnterprisesGovernmentNonprofits

What Makes Neptune Powerful

Support for Gremlin, openCypher, and SPARQL query languages
Neptune Serverless for automatic scaling
Multi-AZ with 15 read replicas
Neptune Streams for change data capture
Neptune ML for graph neural networks

Neptune Pricing & Free Tier

Free Tier: 750 hours/month of db.t2.micro (12 months), 20GB storage, 20GB backup. Pay-as-you-go from ~$0.017/hour.

Check latest pricing on AWS →

Neptune Best Practices

  1. 1Enable Multi-AZ deployment for production workloads
  2. 2Encrypt at rest with KMS — all RDS/DynamoDB engines support it
  3. 3Set up automated backups with at least 7-day retention
  4. 4Use IAM database authentication instead of passwords where possible
  5. 5Monitor with Performance Insights and set CloudWatch alarms on CPU >80%

Getting Started with Neptune in 5 Minutes

  1. 1Open the AWS Console and navigate to Neptune
  2. 2Click "Create database" and choose your engine (or go serverless)
  3. 3Configure instance size, storage, and Multi-AZ deployment
  4. 4Set master username/password (use Secrets Manager for production) and click "Create"

Neptune CLI Quick Reference

2 production-ready commands. Full CLI Library (225+ services) →

aws neptune helpView all Neptune CLI v2 commands and subcommands
aws neptune describe-neptune --helpView options for describing Neptune resources

Pros & Cons of Neptune

Pros

  • Support for Gremlin, openCypher, and SPARQL query languages
  • Neptune Serverless for automatic scaling
  • Multi-AZ with 15 read replicas
  • Neptune Streams for change data capture
  • Neptune ML for graph neural networks

Cons

  • ✕Managed databases cost more than self-hosted for predictable, steady workloads
  • ✕Cold starts on serverless databases (Aurora Serverless) can impact latency-sensitive apps
  • ✕Vendor lock-in risk — migrating large databases out of AWS is non-trivial

Neptune vs Alternatives

Neptune vs S3
Choose Neptune when

Choose Neptune for Identity and fraud graphs and Knowledge graphs. It excels at support for gremlin, opencypher, and sparql query languages.

Choose S3 when

Choose S3 as an alternative when your requirements differ. Each service in the Database category serves different architectural patterns.

Services That Work with Neptune

Neptune is rarely used alone. It is typically combined with:

S3LambdaEC2KMSCloudWatch

Compliance & Security

How AWS Neptune fits into major compliance standards. Browse all 41 frameworks →

CIS AWS v3.0

Neptune configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults.

NIST 800-53

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

PCI DSS 4.0

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

SOC 2

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

ISO 27001

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Neptune

What is AWS Neptune?

Amazon Neptune is a fast, reliable, fully managed graph database service. Build applications with highly connected datasets using property graph and RDF models.

What is Neptune used for?

Neptune is commonly used for: Identity and fraud graphs; Knowledge graphs; Recommendation engines; Social networking applications; Security and network topology graphs. It's a core service in the database category of AWS.

Is Neptune free?

Free Tier: 750 hours/month of db.t2.micro (12 months), 20GB storage, 20GB backup. Pay-as-you-go from ~$0.017/hour.

What are the key features of Neptune?

Neptune's most important capabilities include: Support for Gremlin, openCypher, and SPARQL query languages. Neptune Serverless for automatic scaling. Multi-AZ with 15 read replicas. Neptune Streams for change data capture. Neptune ML for graph neural networks. Each of these is designed to help teams identity and fraud graphs.

How does Neptune compare to alternatives?

Neptune competes with both AWS-native alternatives (S3, Lambda, EC2) 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 Neptune?

CIS AWS v3.0: Neptune configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults. NIST 800-53: Neptune access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families. PCI DSS 4.0: Neptune encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments. SOC 2: Neptune security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. ISO 27001: Neptune configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.

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