Amazon Web Services Storage Gateway

Most companies want the reliability and scalability of the cloud, but moving all their storage at once is not always practical. Applications still run on-prem, teams still need local performance, and migrations take time. This is where hybrid storage becomes useful; it lets you keep your on-prem setup while quietly adding the power of AWS in the background.

Table of Contents:

• What is AWS Storage Gateway?
• AWS Storage Gateway Types and When to Use Each
• How AWS Storage Gateway Works (Architecture, Caching & Protocols)
• Use Cases & Benefits of AWS Storage Gateway
• AWS Storage Gateway Deployment Options & Best Practices
• AWS Storage Gateway Security & Compliance
• AWS Storage Gateway Pricing
• Conclusion

What is AWS Storage Gateway?

AWS Storage Gateway is a hybrid cloud storage service that lets you use AWS storage while keeping your on-prem applications exactly as they are. It supports NFS, SMB, and iSCSI, so your servers treat it like regular local storage, but the data is actually stored and protected in AWS.

In simple terms, it gives you local performance with cloud durability.

Here’s what it helps you do:

• Use cloud-backed storage while still working with familiar file, block, or tape interfaces
• Extend on-premises storage without buying new hardware
• Reduce backup and archiving costs by moving data to services like S3, S3 Glacier, and S3 Glacier Deep Archive
• Protect data automatically with AWS durability, encryption, and lifecycle policies
• Start cloud adoption gradually, without disrupting existing applications

This sets the foundation for the three Gateway types you can choose from, which we will discuss in the next section.

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AWS Storage Gateway Types and When to Use Each

AWS Storage Gateway comes in three types. Each one serves a different storage need, so choosing the right gateway depends on the kind of data you work with and how your applications access it.

1. File Gateway (NFS / SMB)

Best for teams that need cloud-backed file shares.

Use it when:

• You want to store files in Amazon S3 but access them locally
• Applications use NFS or SMB
• You need a simple way to archive files to low-cost S3 storage
• You want local caching for frequently accessed data

Ideal for: file servers, analytics teams, media workflows, backup targets

2. Volume Gateway (iSCSI Block Storage)

Best for block storage workloads that still need snapshots in AWS.

Use it when:

• Applications use iSCSI block storage
• You want to keep primary data on-prem, but send point-in-time snapshots to AWS
• You need low-latency local disks but want cloud protection
• You want an easy way to migrate block volumes to AWS over time

Ideal for: databases, ERP systems, virtual machines, on-prem block workloads

3. Tape Gateway (VTL for Backup)

Best for replacing or eliminating physical tape systems.

Use it when:

• You still use tape-based backup workflows
• You want a drop-in replacement that works with existing backup software
• You want to store virtual tapes in S3 Glacier or S3 Glacier Deep Archive
• You want to get rid of tape libraries and manual tape handling

Ideal for: backup teams, long-term archiving, regulated industries

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How AWS Storage Gateway Works (Architecture, Caching & Protocols)

AWS Storage Gateway sits between your on-prem environment and AWS. It looks like local storage to your applications, but behind the scenes, it sends data to the cloud and keeps frequently accessed data cached locally for fast performance.

1. Architecture: What’s Happening Behind the Scenes

At a high level, the architecture has three pieces:

• Gateway appliance: a VM, hardware appliance, or AMI that runs in your environment
• Local cache: stores recently used data so apps get low-latency access
• AWS storage services: S3, EBS snapshots, or S3 Glacier, depending on the gateway type

The gateway handles syncing, data movement, encryption, and reliability automatically. No manual transfers or scripting needed.

2. Caching: Why Performance Feels “Local”

Storage Gateway uses two types of local storage:

• Cache storage: holds frequently accessed data for low-latency reads
• Upload buffer: queues data before it’s pushed to AWS

This setup ensures:

• Reads are fast
• Writes don’t bottleneck
• WAN issues don’t interrupt applications

Your apps simply interact with the gateway as if it’s local storage.

3. Protocols: Works With What You Already Use

Each gateway type uses standard, widely supported protocols:

• File Gateway: NFS, SMB
• Volume Gateway: iSCSI block storage
• Tape Gateway: iSCSI VTL interface

This is why Storage Gateway requires no app changes; it plugs directly into your existing setup.pps to use cloud storage by offering low-latency data access over standard storage protocols.

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Use Cases & Benefits of AWS Storage Gateway

AWS Storage Gateway is used in many on-prem and hybrid setups because it solves practical storage problems without forcing a full migration. Here are the most common ways teams use it, and why it helps.

1. File Archiving to Amazon S3

Move infrequently accessed files to low-cost S3 storage while keeping them accessible locally.

Benefits:

• Reduces storage costs
• Eliminates the need for expanding NAS systems
• Smooth path to S3 Glacier for long-term archiving

2. Backup and Disaster Recovery

Use Storage Gateway as a target for backups from on-prem servers or existing backup software.

Benefits:

• No more physical tapes
• Automatic offsite storage in S3 or Glacier
• Simple-to-manage DR setup

3. Hybrid File Shares

Provide teams with a shared file system backed by S3 but accelerated with local caching.

Benefits:

• Local-like performance
• Centralised storage in AWS
• Easy collaboration for distributed teams

4. Block Storage Snapshots to AWS

Send on-prem block storage snapshots to AWS for protection or migration.

Benefits:

• Offsite, durable snapshots
• Smooth path to EBS volumes
• Works with databases and VMs using iSCSI

5. Replace Tape Libraries (VTL)

Swap tape infrastructure with virtual tapes stored in S3 or Glacier.

Benefits:

• Zero physical tape handling
• Lower archiving costs
• Works with existing backup tools (Veeam, Commvault, NetBackup, etc.)

6. Gradual Cloud Migration

Move data to AWS slowly, without breaking existing applications.

Benefits:

• Migrate at your own pace
• No downtime
• Use familiar protocols (NFS, SMB, iSCSI)

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AWS Storage Gateway Deployment Options & Best Practices

AWS Storage Gateway can be deployed in different ways depending on your environment and performance needs. Choosing the right deployment and following best practices ensures smooth operations and reliable cloud integration.

Deployment Options

• Virtual Machine (VM): Runs as a VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, or KVM VM in your on-premises environment.
• Hardware Appliance: AWS offers a physical appliance for environments that prefer dedicated hardware.
• Amazon EC2: Deploy as an AMI in the AWS cloud, often used for hybrid or remote setups.

AWS Storage Gateway Best Practices

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when you are working with AWS Storage Gateway.

• Gradual Cloud Adoption: Start small with critical workloads, validate performance, and expand usage gradually.
• Cache & Upload Buffer Sizing: Allocate enough local storage for frequently accessed data (cache) and temporary staging (upload buffer) to avoid latency.
• Choosing the Right Gateway Type: Pick File, Volume, or Tape Gateway based on workload and protocol needs. Use File Gateway for shared files, Volume Gateway for block storage, and Tape Gateway for backups.
• Data Protection & Snapshots: Enable snapshots for Volume Gateways and integrate with AWS Backup for consistent, automated backups.
• Monitor Performance: Use CloudWatch and CloudTrail to track performance, usage, and security events.
• Network Considerations: Ensure adequate bandwidth between your on-premises network and AWS to prevent slow uploads or downloads.

AWS Storage Gateway Security & Compliance

AWS Storage Gateway is built to protect your data and help you meet regulatory requirements. Here’s a quick overview of its key security and compliance features:

AWS Storage Gateway Pricing

AWS Storage Gateway pricing depends on the gateway type, storage usage, requests, and data transfer. Here’s a simplified overview:

Tips to Manage Costs:

• Use lifecycle policies to move older files to cheaper storage classes like S3 Glacier Deep Archive.
• Monitor usage with AWS Cost Explorer to identify high-cost workloads.
• Choose the right gateway type and deployment mode to optimise local caching and minimise unnecessary transfers.

Conclusion

AWS is the leader in today’s public cloud market, offering hundreds of world-class features to its users. It has taken several steps in the right direction to bring more and more companies, businesses, and industries to the cloud infrastructure. And that’s the reason why AWS is dominating the cloud computing market. Gateways help companies maintain their on-premises infrastructure while at the same time benefiting from the cloud’s modern capabilities.

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