AWS Storage Gateway
Hybrid cloud storage solutions
Storage management software
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What is AWS Storage Gateway
AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that connects on-premises environments to AWS storage using standard file, volume, or tape interfaces. It is used by IT and infrastructure teams to extend local storage, support backup and archive workflows, and provide low-latency access to frequently used data with cloud-backed durability. The service runs as a virtual appliance or hardware appliance and integrates with AWS services for storage, monitoring, and identity. It is typically adopted in AWS-centric architectures where on-premises applications need compatible access patterns while data resides in AWS.
Multiple gateway interface modes
The product supports file, volume, and virtual tape library (VTL) gateway modes to match common storage and backup patterns. This allows organizations to keep existing application protocols (NFS/SMB, iSCSI, tape workflows) while shifting data to AWS storage. It reduces the need to refactor legacy applications that expect traditional storage interfaces. The mode selection also helps align performance and cost characteristics to specific workloads.
Deep AWS service integration
AWS Storage Gateway integrates tightly with AWS storage targets and related services such as IAM for access control and CloudWatch for monitoring. This simplifies operating the gateway within AWS governance, logging, and security models. It also enables straightforward use of AWS-native storage classes and lifecycle policies once data lands in AWS. For organizations standardizing on AWS, this reduces tooling fragmentation compared with standalone storage management products.
Local caching for low latency
The gateway maintains on-premises cache to provide faster access to frequently used data while storing the authoritative copy in AWS. This design supports hybrid use cases where applications remain on-premises but need cloud-backed capacity and durability. It can reduce WAN dependency for hot data compared with purely cloud-mounted storage approaches. Cache sizing and placement provide practical levers to tune performance for specific sites.
Primarily AWS-centric design
The service is designed to connect on-premises environments to AWS storage and does not function as a general multi-cloud gateway. Organizations pursuing a vendor-neutral or multi-cloud storage strategy may need additional tools or parallel gateways for other clouds. This can increase operational complexity when data mobility across providers is a requirement. It also tends to fit best when AWS is the primary cloud standard.
Operational overhead on premises
Although managed as an AWS service, the gateway still requires on-premises resources (virtualization or hardware appliance), local disks for cache/buffer, and network planning. Performance depends on WAN bandwidth/latency and correct cache sizing, which can require ongoing tuning. Site-level outages or misconfiguration can affect access to data and backup workflows. This is more operationally involved than purely cloud-native storage consumption.
Not a full storage platform
AWS Storage Gateway provides connectivity and caching rather than end-to-end storage management features such as advanced NAS scale-out controls, broad third-party storage orchestration, or cross-platform data services. Some capabilities (e.g., backup policy management, ransomware detection, or complex tiering) may require additional AWS services or separate products. Organizations expecting a single console for heterogeneous storage estates may find the scope limited. It is best evaluated as a hybrid access layer rather than a complete storage management suite.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go Free tier/trial: 100 GB free trial with the Paid plan. The trial includes the first 100 GB written to AWS per account and no transfer charges into AWS.
Example costs / pricing components (official statements):
- Data written to AWS by a gateway: $0.01 per GB (up to a maximum of $125.00 per gateway per month).
- File Gateway: storage and requests are billed at Amazon S3 rates (objects written through a File Gateway are stored as S3 objects and S3 request/storage charges apply).
- Volume Gateway: you are billed for the amount of volume data stored in AWS; EBS snapshots taken from Storage Gateway volumes are stored and billed by Amazon EBS (snapshot storage billed at EBS snapshot rates).
- Tape Gateway: virtual tapes are stored in Amazon S3 and can be archived to Amazon S3 Glacier (Flexible Retrieval) or Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive; storage and retrieval are billed at the applicable S3/Glacier rates. (There are charges for retrieving archived virtual tapes; see official FAQ for per-GB retrieval examples.)
- Data transfer: data transfer pricing varies by region and gateway host; data transfer OUT from Storage Gateway to an EC2-based gateway in the same region is $0.00 per GB. Additional charges may apply for CloudWatch logs/events/metrics if configured.
Notes & references: All pricing is region-dependent; many Storage Gateway storage components are billed at the underlying AWS service rates (S3, EBS, Glacier). AWS provides an AWS Pricing Calculator and contact/sales options for personalized quotes.
Seller details
Amazon Web Services, Inc.
Seattle, Washington, USA
2006
Subsidiary
https://aws.amazon.com/
https://x.com/awscloud
https://www.linkedin.com/company/amazon-web-services/
