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AWS Snowball Reviews

Vendor: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
4.2 out of 5
Badge Ranked 1
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What is AWS Snowball?

Snowball is a petabyte-scale data transport solution that uses devices designed to be secure to transfer large amounts of data into and out of the AWS Cloud. Using Snowball addresses common challenges with large-scale data transfers including high network costs, long transfer times, and security concerns. Customers today use Snowball to migrate analytics data, genomics data, video libraries, image repositories, backups, and to archive part of data center shutdowns, tape replacement or application migration projects. Transferring data with Snowball is simple, fast, more secure, and can be as little as one-fifth the cost of transferring data via high-speed Internet.

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Buyer's Guide
Cloud Migration
January 2025
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AWS Snowball mindshare

Product category:
Cloud Migration
As of February 2025, the mindshare of AWS Snowball in the Cloud Migration category stands at 0.8%, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Cloud Migration
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

AWS Snowball's key features include high-speed, cost-effective data transfer, user-friendly interface, robust security measures with end-to-end encryption, scalability, and flexibility. Users appreciate its ability to merge data, utilize edge computing, and maintain durability and portability. Additionally, AWS's management functions reduce administrative efforts, making it ideal for large data volumes. Its security ensures safe data handling, even if lost, with logging and monitoring features enhancing overall data management.
  • "The support team's awesome, and they've always been very responsive."
  • "I like that I can take data and send it straight to S3 when it loads in."
  • "The solution is elastic."

Room for Improvement

AWS Snowball could enhance connectivity options and expand availability to more countries. While intuitive for experienced users, beginners find it challenging. Prepackaging for different industries, improving data ingestion, and increasing stability is needed. Risks associated with physical handling, unauthorized access, and security during transit should be addressed. Improved support response, particularly regarding account issues, is necessary. AWS’s cost structure in comparison to alternatives like Azure and Google needs consideration based on geographic and customer context.
  • "Snowball is not interesting and is a pain to deal with."
  • "It's not cheap."
  • "The costs of services the customer needs also matter, such as storage requirements and whether storage is rational."

ROI

Users reported a significant reduction in data transfer time and costs with AWS Snowball. They mentioned streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency. The initial investment was quickly recovered due to lower operational expenses. Enhanced data security and reliability contributed to improved business continuity. Users experienced faster time-to-insight and a notable decrease in manual handling errors, validating their decision to use AWS Snowball for their data migration and storage needs, enhancing overall business performance.

Pricing

AWS Snowball's pricing involves costs based on the chosen device, data amount, and service fees. Users highlight the flat job fee, including ten days of usage, without additional transfer fees. Despite being costly, the pricing aligns with the product's value. Enterprises appreciate the affordability with on-demand and committed payment models, catering to varied data migration needs. Additional costs like customs fees may apply, but significant expenses can arise from services like SQS due to frequent use.
  • "The tool's pricing depends on the type of Snowball device you choose, the amount of data you need to transfer, and the service fees involved. There’s a standard price for larger data transfers and a flat job fee, which includes the first ten days of on-site usage. Typically, there are no additional data transfer fees."
  • "It's not a cheap solution, but the price is right for the product."

Popular Use Cases

Organizations primarily utilize AWS Snowball for moving large data volumes, facilitating ETL processes, and enhancing data warehousing. Users appreciate its secure and efficient data transfers, especially where internet reliance is impractical. Snowball assists in disaster recovery and accelerates cloud-based research and development tasks. Companies find it valuable for large-scale migrations, optimizing limited bandwidth scenarios, and enabling local secure data transfers from on-premises to AWS Cloud.

Service and Support

AWS Snowball customer service and support receive positive feedback. Users highlight the responsive and knowledgeable technical team, especially important during critical issues. There is praise for quick response times and structured support for enterprise clients with technical account managers attached. The service depends on chosen SLA, with 24/7 support being crucial yet more costly than competitors. While direct responses can take up to 24 hours, extensive documentation often aids in problem resolution.

Deployment

AWS Snowball's initial setup experiences varied. Some users found it straightforward, requiring minimal steps and personnel, while others described it as complex, needing assistance and prior knowledge. The setup's ease depended on user expertise and project specifics. Deployments ranged from days to weeks, influenced by data size and project complexity. Instructions were clear, but non-specialists faced challenges. Navigating the AWS management console involved several steps, highlighting variability in user experiences based on familiarity and project demands.

Scalability

AWS Snowball offers varying scalability experiences. Many find it highly scalable, supporting thousands of users and ideal for medium-sized businesses, with elastic and vertical scaling. Challenges arise when urgent scaling is needed post-return. Some note manual scaling requirements for EBS and limitations in handling massive data volumes. Multiple devices might be needed for large transfers. Ratings for scalability range from seven to nine out of ten, reflecting its capacity to meet diverse organizational needs.

Stability

AWS Snowball exhibits commendable stability, as many users express satisfaction with its performance. Some rate its stability as high as nine out of ten. Users appreciate the infrastructure AWS provides, contributing to its stability, especially for on-premises data management. While some mention occasional instance failures, stability issues are rare. A few believe there is room for improvement, but most are pleased with its seamless data transfer capabilities.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Cloud Migration Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Retailer
6%
University
5%
Energy/Utilities Company
5%
Insurance Company
4%
Educational Organization
4%
Healthcare Company
4%
Comms Service Provider
3%
Construction Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Non Profit
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Media Company
1%
Performing Arts
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Wholesaler/Distributor
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Marketing Services Firm
1%

Learn more about AWS Snowball

AWS Snowball was previously known as Amazon AWS Snowball, Amazon Snowball, Snowball.

AWS Snowball customers

Wazee Digital, Craftsy, Live Nation, Essess

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