Initiate restore from Glacier Deep Archive

When initiating a restore from Glacier Deep Archive, the number of days you select for the restored copy to be available does indeed affect the cost, but not in the way you might expect.

The process of restoring an object from Glacier Deep Archive involves creating a temporary copy of the object in the S3 Standard storage class. This temporary copy is what you're able to access during the restoration period.

Here's how the costs break down:

1. You continue to pay for the archived object in Glacier Deep Archive storage.
2. You pay a one-time retrieval fee based on the retrieval option you choose (Bulk, Standard, or Expedited).
3. You pay for the storage of the temporary copy in S3 Standard for the duration it's available.

So, selecting more days for the restored copy to be available does increase the overall cost, but not because of the restoration process itself. The increased cost comes from storing the temporary copy in S3 Standard for a longer period.

In other words, making a restored copy available does cost something beyond the initial retrieval fee. You're essentially paying for S3 Standard storage for that temporary copy for as long as you keep it available.

It's important to note that you're paying for both the archived object (at Glacier Deep Archive rates) and the restored copy (at S3 Standard rates) simultaneously during the restoration period. This dual charging is why restoring archived objects can become costly if not managed carefully.

To optimize costs, it's advisable to choose a restoration period that balances your need for access with the additional storage costs of the temporary copy. Once you've finished working with the restored data, you can delete the temporary copy before the restoration period ends to avoid unnecessary storage charges.
Sources
Understanding archival storage in S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval and S3 Glacier Deep Archive - Amazon Simple Storage Service
Restoring an archived object - Amazon Simple Storage Service
Working with archived objects - Amazon Simple Storage Service

When initiating a restore from Glacier Deep Archive, extending the duration for which the restored copy remains accessible escalates the overall cost. Here's a detailed breakdown:

1. Storage Costs:

Once the object is restored, it is temporarily stored in the S3 Standard storage class, and you will incur S3 Standard storage fees for the restored copy based on how long you keep it available. The longer the object is kept in S3 Standard, the higher the storage costs. The restored object is charged at the S3 Standard rate for the number of days you specify when initiating the restore.

For more information on Glacier Deep Archive and the restore process, refer to:

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/restoring-objects.html

2. Dual Costs:

While the restored copy is available in S3 Standard, you continue paying for the original object stored in Glacier Deep Archive. This results in dual charges: one for the archived object in Glacier Deep Archive and another for the restored copy in S3 Standard storage. Both these charges apply simultaneously during the restoration period.

For further details on how dual charging works, refer to:

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/archival-storage.html

3. Retrieval Fees:

You also pay a one-time retrieval fee, which depends on the retrieval speed option you select:

• Standard (restores in 12 hours)
• Bulk (restores in 48 hours)

These fees apply only for retrieving the data from Glacier Deep Archive. The retrieval process cost is separate from the storage costs of the restored copy.

For pricing details, see: https://aws.amazon.com/s3/pricing/

4. Cost Management:

To optimize costs, it's important to choose a restoration period that balances your access needs with the additional storage costs. Once you are done using the restored data, you can delete the restored copy before the end of the specified availability period to avoid further S3 Standard storage charges.

Conclusion:

Restoring an object from Glacier Deep Archive involves multiple costs:

• Retrieval fees (one-time)
• S3 Standard storage fees (for the restored copy)
• Continued Glacier Deep Archive storage (for the original object)

Managing the restoration period and deleting the restored copy when no longer needed can help control costs. For more details on managing your restored objects, visit the AWS documentation:

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/archived-objects.html