7 Hints for Getting the Most From NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS
Spencer Sells
As enterprises migrate more workloads from on-premises data center systems to the AWS public cloud infrastructure, they’re concerned about leaving their enterprise-grade file services behind.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS is designed to alleviate those concerns by providing a fully managed cloud-native file storage service that combines all the advantages of NetApp’s vast file services expertise with the simplicity and flexibility of the public cloud.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS delivers consistently high performance—exceeding 460k IOPS—as well as low latency, multiprotocol support, and all the capabilities enterprises expect from NetApp’s enterprise-grade on-premises file services. Plus, NetApp handles the infrastructure configuration and management so enterprises don’t have to do it themselves.
But how do you know if you’re getting the most from your NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS deployment? Here are some hints to help you optimize your results.
Hint #1: Choose the right service level for your goals.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS offers three service levels:
- Standard, providing 4,000 IOPS per TB (4k IO) and 16MB of throughput per TB for $0.10/GB per month
- Premium, providing 16,000 IOPS per TB (4k IO) and 64MB of throughput per TB for $0.20/GB per month
- Extreme, providing 32,000 IPS per TB (4k IO) and 128MB of throughput per TB for $0.30/GB per month
You can choose the performance levels that best support your application requirements and cost targets. One key benefit of Cloud Volumes Service is that you are not stuck at the initial service level you chose. You can dynamically change to optimize cost and performance.
Hint #2: Remember that regions affect latency.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS operates in most regions with less than 2msec of latency. But if latency is a top concern for any of your applications, keep in mind that latency depends not only on your use case, but also on the AWS regions you’re using. You can check the typical latency for a region at NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS: Benchmarks .
Hint #3: Speed your time to market with fast copies.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS enables you to create an instant copy of a volume for development, test, data analytics, scaling applications etc.
Hint #4: Relax a little about security.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS employs the XTS-AES 256-bit encryption algorithm for at-rest encryption—encrypting your data by default while maintaining your storage performance. Because the fully managed NetApp service handles the management and rotation of encryption keys, it’s easier for organizations to comply with industry and government regulations without affecting the user experience.
Hint #5: Use Cloud Backup Service for backups.
NetApp Cloud Backup Service is fully integrated into Cloud Volumes Service for AWS, delivering a simple and efficient way to back up databases. Cloud Backup Service stores the backups it creates in AWS S3 object storage, while expanding the data protection capabilities of Cloud Volumes Service through dedicated backups for long-term recovery, archive, and compliance.
Hint #6: Dial in your cloud performance/cost by dynamically adjusting service levels.
NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS lets you control your cloud performance, and your costs, by dynamically adjusting service levels. Do you run at the Standard level but need higher performance for one period of 10 minutes, or for 2 hours per day to handle peak demands? Bump up the service level to Premium or Extreme for just as long as you need to, then return to Standard performance and costs on the fly.
Hint #7: Don’t assume that AWS native services are all you need.
AWS offers its Elastic File System and FSx that provide cloud file storage to meet basic needs. But don’t expect the enterprise-grade capabilities that you get from NetApp data management systems. NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS provides snapshots, rapid copies, data encryption in which all data at rest is encrypted by default, multiprotocol support, and the full range of data management features that you rely on with your on-premises systems.
Get more information.
To find out more about how to get the most from NetApp Cloud Volumes Service for AWS, go to NetApp Cloud Central, where you can read about Cloud Volumes Service for AWS, watch a video, request a demo, view benchmarks, or use the pop-up chat function to ask specific questions.
Spencer Sells
Spencer leads the Cloud Services Solution Planning team in the Cloud Data Services Business Unit focused on enabling customers to run workloads in public clouds. The team consists of product managers and solution architects that work on Cloud Volumes Service and Azure NetApp Files. Prior to this role, Spencer spent eight years at NetApp leading the product and solution management team responsible for providing the best storage for virtual server, virtual desktop, and cloud environments. Spencer has worked in enterprise storage industry for over twenty years. Prior to joining NetApp Spencer held various product management and product marketing positions for Brocade Communications, as well as product management, marketing and operations positions at Gadzoox Networks and Amdahl. Spencer holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Stanford University, and a Master of Arts in International Economics and Japan Studies from Johns Hopkins.
