Do we need to enable the versioning to apply lock or retention on the object and bucket?

Hello,

Object Lock works only in buckets that have S3 Versioning enabled.

Refer this documentation: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/object-lock.html

No, enabling versioning is not required to apply lock or retention policies on objects and buckets in Amazon S3. Even if bucket versioning is suspended, you can still apply lock or retention policies to objects within the bucket.

Lock policies help enforce retention periods for objects to comply with regulatory requirements or company policies. Retention policies prevent objects from being deleted or modified for a specified period.

Enabling versioning in a bucket allows you to retain multiple versions of an object, which can be useful for data protection and recovery purposes. However, lock and retention policies are independent features that can be applied to objects regardless of whether versioning is enabled or suspended in the bucket.

Hello,

Enabling versioning is indeed a prerequisite for applying lock or retention policies on objects and buckets within Amazon S3. Object Lock and retention policies are tightly integrated features designed to ensure data integrity, compliance, and regulatory adherence. As per AWS documentation, Object Lock functionality is only operable within buckets that have versioning enabled.

While the provided expert answers may seem contradictory, it's crucial to adhere to AWS guidelines for robust data management practices. Thus, to implement effective data governance strategies, enabling versioning is imperative, empowering users to enforce retention periods and prevent unauthorized alterations or deletions.

For comprehensive insights and guidance, refer to the official AWS documentation on Object Lock and versioning policies within Amazon S3:

Object Lock Documentation :- https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/object-lock.html

Versioning Documentation :- https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/Welcome.html