MSFTCOST05-BP02 Control Amazon EBS volumes or snapshots lifecycle
EBS snapshots are incremental backups stored in S3, saving only changed blocks since the last snapshot. They can backup unattached volumes before deletion. Two storage tiers available: Standard (higher storage cost and free retrieval) and Archive (lower storage cost and paid retrieval). Managing snapshot lifecycles and removing unused volumes helps optimize costs.
Desired outcome: Implement an effective EBS volume and snapshot management strategy that automatically identifies and removes unused volumes while maintaining cost-efficient snapshot lifecycles across appropriate storage tiers, resulting in optimized storage costs for Microsoft workloads on AWS.
Common anti-patterns:
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Neglecting to delete unattached EBS volumes: Keeping unused volumes active, leading to unnecessary ongoing storage costs for resources that are no longer needed.
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Inconsistent or manual snapshot management: Relying on manual processes or ad-hoc scripts for creating and managing snapshots, leading to inconsistent backup coverage, potential data loss, and inefficient use of storage resources.
Benefits of establishing this best practice:
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By systematically managing EBS volumes and snapshots, you can significantly reduce storage costs by removing unused resources and efficiently tiering snapshots based on access needs.
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Regular lifecycle management ensures that your backup strategy is consistent and up-to-date, reducing the risk of data loss and maintaining appropriate retention periods for compliance and disaster recovery purposes.
Level of risk exposed if this best practice is not established: High
Implementation guidance
To effectively control EBS volume and snapshot lifecycles, start by implementing automated tools such as AWS Data Lifecycle Manager. Configure policies to regularly identify and delete unattached volumes, create consistent snapshot schedules, and manage snapshot retention across appropriate storage tiers. Use tags to categorize resources and enable granular control. Regularly review and adjust your policies to ensure they align with changing business needs and cost optimization goals. Implement monitoring and alerting to track resource usage and potential cost savings opportunities.
Implementation steps
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Set up AWS Data Lifecycle Manager policies to automate snapshot creation and deletion based on defined schedules and retention rules.
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Implement a tagging strategy to categorize EBS volumes and snapshots, enabling easier management and cost allocation.
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Create an automated process to identify and alert on unattached EBS volumes, with an option to delete them after a specified period.
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Establish a tiering policy to move infrequently accessed snapshots from Standard to Archive tier after a set duration to optimize storage costs.
Resources
Related documents:
