Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) Reviews

Name: Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)
Brand: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Rating: 4.2 (13 reviews)

4.2 out of 5

13 reviews
100% willing to recommend

328 followers

What is Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)?

Amazon Elastic File System (Amazon EFS) provides simple, scalable file storage for use with Amazon EC2 instances in the AWS Cloud. Amazon EFS is easy to use and offers a simple interface that allows you to create and configure file systems quickly and easily. With Amazon EFS, storage capacity is elastic, growing and shrinking automatically as you add and remove files, so your applications have the storage they need, when they need it.

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Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is the #6 ranked solution in top Cloud Storage solutions and #9 ranked solution in top File and Object Storage solutions. PeerSpot users give Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) an average rating of 8.4 out of 10. Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is most commonly compared to NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP: Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP. Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 54% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 19% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

January 2025

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Helped 831,158 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

MuhammadAzhar Khan

Senior DevOps Engineer at Alibaba Group

The most valuable feature of Amazon EFS is its auto-scaling capability. It's really easy to configure EFS by just creating it and running a command to directly configure it with my servers. It supports unlimited use, and charges are applied based on the file usage at the end of the month. The solution offers reduced downtime and increased durability through its auto-scaling features.

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Mahender Nirwan

Software developer at TAIGLE LLC

There are two of the most valuable features of the product. First, the ease of mounting the solution with our EC2 instances simplifies the integration process. Second, the automatic scaling based on storage needs has saved us from manually managing storage limits, resulting in approximately a 20-30% reduction in storage costs.

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Sri Ganesh

DevOps Developer at AFORV Private Limited

My company uses Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) to provide scalability in the area of storage in the cloud services covered under AWS. The tool is suitable for a wide range of use cases, including two big data analytics and media processing workflows. The tool automatically scales up its system storage capacity. The tool also removes unused files or unused data, or it will remove the files and add certain files. For multiple Amazon EC2 instances, one can use Amazon EFS (Elastic File System). Speaking about Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) in relation to disaster recovery, I can say that RDS is available in EC2 instances, where users can store any file. Suppose a user has a web application that is hosted on AWS services, and if such a user faces any critical component of the application in the database hosted on AWS services, then it is possible to check the configuration files stored in Amazon EFS (Elastic File System), while also being able to check the capabilities and any critical issues faced by the hosting service after it is possible to recover the data with the help of data replication, cross-region duplication, and snapshot backup. Users have to assign automation backup, so it is possible to have a backup with Amazon EFS (Elastic File System). The most beneficial feature of the product for data storage stems from the fact that it serves as a shared file storage. With Amazon EFS (Elastic File System), its users can share data with multiple services, which Amazon fully manages. With the product, users have manual capability planning. The tool also helps with storage management. With the tool, it is possible to automatically scale up based on storage needs. The product also offers manual intervention, along with the shared file system mounted into multiple EC2 instances. Amazon EFS offers multiple AZs. The scalability feature of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) has impacted our company's storage solutions since it automatically scales up, as we have assigned it as a part of AWS services. In our company, we can automatically scale up for better services based on the request load. The tool can also be used for dynamic scaling, or users can apply it for multi-AZ replication. The scalability feature can be used under Amazon EFS performance mode. For security purposes, as a part of AWS, Amazon takes care of the main part of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System). To access any service, my company has to provide the IP addresses and port numbers. My company has virtual private clouds and AZs for network security. My company also has access to both public and private subnets. In our company, we can save on a private subnet. In the private subnet, users don't have any internet access. Right? If you need to access data from the private subnet to the public subnet, then you can add a NAT gateway to access such data. The integration of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) with other AWS services has enhanced our company's infrastructure. It is possible to integrate Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) with AWS EC2 instances, AWS Lambda, Amazon EKS, Amaand AWS RDS. The integration of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) with other AWS services has enhanced our company's infrastructure. It is possible to integrate Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) with AWS EC2 instances, Amazon S3, AWS Lambda, Amazon EKS, and Amazon RDS. As a part of AWS, users can use many services, including Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) for shared file storage. Users can use Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) as a part of EC2 instances or RDS. I rate the overall tool a nine out of ten.

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PeerAnalyst reports

Type	Title	Date
Category	Cloud Storage	Jan 21, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jan 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP	Jan 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs Google Cloud Storage	Jan 21, 2025	Download
Comparison	Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs Nasuni	Jan 21, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP	4.4	15.7%	95%	62 interviews Add to research
Google Cloud Storage	4.4	N/A	97%	77 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Amazon EFS offers valuable features like elasticity and flexible pricing with charges based on storage. Users highlight fast and stable performance, simplicity, and scalability. They appreciate seamless EC2 integration, unlimited usage, and auto-scaling capabilities that reduce storage costs by 20-30%. Amazon's service range and intuitive interface stand out, with efficient data processing through low latency. Multiple server attachment enhances accessibility, making it ideal for engineering and data analysis.

"Amazon EFS is extremely stable, as it is managed by AWS."
"Amazon EFS is extremely stable, as it is managed by AWS."
"Elastic File Systems allow me to share data, provision, and manage capacity and performance in AWS."

Room for Improvement

Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) requires improvements in ease of use, especially for those lacking cloud experience, and better integration with Windows. Connectivity and remote access features need enhancement, and Python package deployment can be slow. Performance and cost transparency require attention. The support team response time is slow. Security and performance optimization are areas of concern. A one-click setup and AI-driven features for nontechnical users could enhance usability.

"The main challenge with EFS is its cost, which is slightly higher compared to EBS or S3."
"EFS could be improved by including a one-click setup."
"Elastic File Systems can be expensive due to the nature of data transfer costs, using services like SSTP, and potentially being costly in a rate-shift context."

ROI

Amazon EFS provided substantial cost savings for data storage. Users appreciated the easy scalability and no upfront cost, leading to efficient data management. Performance improvements were noted due to consistent access speed, enhancing application responsiveness. Users highlighted the reduction in administrative overhead and the flexibility of seamlessly integrating with other AWS services, boosting operational efficiency. These features contributed to a positive return on investment.

Pricing

Amazon EFS pricing is viewed as flexible but can be expensive, especially with high data transfer and storage costs. The pay-as-you-go model charges based on data stored, impacting overall affordability. Cold storage options are cheaper but slower to access. Users report Amazon EFS as mid-ranged but more costly than alternatives like Amazon EBS or S3, potentially reaching $30-$50 monthly. Businesses find challenges with high costs, particularly significant for enterprises with large storage needs.

"The main challenge with EFS is its cost, which is slightly higher compared to EBS or S3. For one GB or ten GB of data, S3 is much cheaper. EFS could cost around $30 to $50 per month for similar usage."
"The product charges are based on the amount of data stored."
"Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) offers a pay-as-you-go model, so whenever you use its services, you need to pay."

Popular Use Cases

Amazon EFS is used for scalable storage, allowing expansion as demand grows, and managing costs effectively. Organizations connect multiple Linux servers running MySQL databases, deploy large serverless functions, and upscale cloud services with EC2 instances. It provides stable, shared file storage for NAS devices, enhancing data management across servers and projects. Educational institutions are transitioning to cloud-based learning systems using EFS prototypes, while consultants architect solutions integrating EFS with other Amazon services.

Service and Support

Many do not require support due to excellent documentation. Some rate Amazon EFS's technical support highly, scoring it eight out of ten. Companies find the support team helpful, quickly resolving issues and challenges. While support wasn't needed for some, Amazon's team is readily available for troubleshooting. Others note previous experiences with Amazon services as responsive, although costly. Overall satisfaction with support where used is evident.

Deployment

Amazon EFS's initial setup is generally straightforward, requiring basic knowledge. Experienced users find it quick, sometimes under ten minutes, while others need more time, particularly for complex configurations or deployments across regions. Some rate its ease as high as a ten out of ten, especially those familiar with Linux commands. However, beginners may encounter challenges, and tasks like deployment using scripts or batch files can take longer, around two hours.

Scalability

Scalability of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is highly praised, often rated eight to ten out of ten. It accommodates small to medium businesses, with some stating it supports hundreds of thousands of users. Deployment is straightforward. Some note occasional scaling challenges during traffic spikes and connection restorations. It integrates well across companies, enhancing operations by reducing downtime and boosting durability with its effective auto-scaling feature, appealing especially to DevOps engineers managing AWS services.

Stability

Amazon EFS stability is mostly rated highly, with many considering it very stable and managing well over time. Some users report no stability issues, while others mention minor glitches. The system meets requirements and performs well, particularly with multipurpose applications. Users appreciate local Amazon support. However, a few rate its stability lower, suggesting variation in experiences. Many are satisfied with its performance over extended usage.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

19%

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

University

Healthcare Company

Retailer

Insurance Company

Comms Service Provider

Real Estate/Law Firm

Media Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Construction Company

Non Profit

Transportation Company

Legal Firm

Performing Arts

Hospitality Company

Consumer Goods Company

Recreational Facilities/Services Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Pharma/Biotech Company

Logistics Company

Outsourcing Company

Engineering Company

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Learn more about Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

When mounted to Amazon EC2 instances, an Amazon EFS file system provides a standard file system interface and file system access semantics, allowing you to seamlessly integrate Amazon EFS with your existing applications and tools. Multiple Amazon EC2 instances can access an Amazon EFS file system at the same time, allowing Amazon EFS to provide a common data source for workloads and applications running on more than one Amazon EC2 instance.

It’s designed for high availability and durability, and provides performance for a broad spectrum of workloads and applications, including Big Data and analytics, media processing workflows, content management, web serving, and home directories.