Amazon just released the BETA of a really useful service if you’re dealing with huge amounts of data. 

AWS Import/Export accelerates moving large amounts of data into and out of AWS using portable storage devices for transport. AWS transfers your data directly onto and off of storage devices using Amazon’s high-speed internal network and bypassing the Internet. For significant data sets, AWSImport/Export is often faster than Internet transfer and more cost effective than upgrading your connectivity.

How does it work?

• Copy your data to a portable storage device (see supported devices).
• Email data loading instructions to AWS in a simple manifest file that includes your Amazon S3 bucket, AWS Access Key ID, and return shipping address. You’ll receive an e-mail back with a unique identifier for the job.
• Securely identify and authenticate the device by digitally signing your manifest file and job identifier with your AWSSecret Access Key and placing that signature file on the device.
• Ship your device along with its interface connectors, power supply and a packing slip to AWS.

When your package arrives at AWS, it will be processed and securely transferred to an AWS data center, where it will be attached to an AWS Import/Export station. Your data load typically begins the next business day after arrival at AWS.

After the data load completes, the device will be detached and returned to you via standard ground shipping.

The limited beta currently supports importing data into Amazon S3 buckets in the US. Support for export and EU buckets will be added in the coming months. 

As with all AWS services, you pay only for the resources that you use. Pricing includes fees for each storage device used and for the number of hours it takes to load your data (data-loading-hours). Estimate your AWS Import/Export charges using the AWS Import/Export Calculator.

• Device Handling - $80.00 per storage device handled.
• Data Loading Time - $2.49 per data-loading-hour. Partial data-loading-hours are billed as full hours.
• Amazon S3 Charges - Standard Amazon S3 Request and Storage pricing applies.

Data transferred between AWS Import/Export and Amazon S3 is free of charge (i.e. $0.00 per GB). 

See documentation for further details.

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