Storage

Amazon’s most popular storage option is Amazon S3. The S3 stands for simple storage service, and it’s a scalable web-based service for backup and archiving of data.

S3 allows for uploading, storage and downloading, and upon sign-up, new AWS customers receive 5 GB of Amazon S3 standard storage, 20,000 Get Requests, 2,000 Put Requests, and 15GB of data transfer out each month for one year.

Users’ data is stored on servers in multiple data centres, and uses encryption for authentication. There is the option of keeping data private or making it public.

"Amazon S3 provides a simple web-services interface that can be used to store and retrieve any amount of data, at any time, from anywhere on the web. It gives any developer access to the same highly scalable, reliable, secure, fast, inexpensive infrastructure that Amazon uses to run its own global network of web sites. The service aims to maximize benefits of scale and to pass those benefits on to developers."

Amazon S3 is designed for 99.99% availability and 99.999999999% durability. These numbers are surely unquantifiable but they look good for Amazon.

S3 "gives you access to the same highly scalable, reliable, and fast infrastructure that Amazon uses to run its own global network of web sites. You also benefit from pay-as-you-go pricing."