Explanation
Correct Answer: C. AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized
Why AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized is the best choice:
- Data Volume (50 TB): 50 TB is a significant amount of data to transfer over network connections.
- Time Constraint (2 weeks): Transferring 50 TB over the internet would take too long, especially with a 90% utilized VPN connection.
- Network Constraints: The existing Site-to-Site VPN is already 90% utilized, meaning there's insufficient bandwidth for such a large data transfer.
- Security Requirements: Snowball provides secure, encrypted data transfer with tamper-evident enclosures.
Why other options are not optimal:
A. AWS DataSync with a VPC endpoint:
- DataSync is designed for ongoing data synchronization, not one-time bulk transfers
- Still relies on network bandwidth which is insufficient (90% utilized VPN)
- 50 TB over limited bandwidth would exceed the 2-week timeframe
B. AWS Direct Connect:
- While Direct Connect provides dedicated network connection, it takes weeks to months to provision
- Doesn't solve the immediate 2-week timeframe requirement
- Still requires transferring 50 TB over network which would be slow
D. AWS Storage Gateway:
- Designed for hybrid storage solutions with on-premises applications
- Not optimized for one-time bulk data migration
- Would still use the congested VPN connection
Key Benefits of AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized:
- Physical data transfer: AWS ships a physical device to your location
- Fast transfer: Transfer data locally at high speeds (up to 100 Gbps)
- Secure: Tamper-evident enclosure, 256-bit encryption
- Time-efficient: Can transfer 50 TB in days rather than weeks over internet
- Cost-effective: No egress charges for data transfer
Calculation for context:
- 50 TB = 50,000 GB = 400,000 Gb
- With a 100 Mbps connection (typical VPN): ~46 days
- With a 1 Gbps connection: ~4.6 days
- With Snowball Edge: Local transfer at 40+ Gbps, then physical shipping
This makes AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized the most practical solution for securely transferring 50 TB of data within 2 weeks given the network constraints.
