AWS DataSync for Backup solution

AWS DataSync can transfer files from Windows on-premises to S3, but it's not ideal as a backup solution for restoring individual file changes. It performs full transfers rather than tracking incremental changes, making it less suitable for file-level restores.

For your use-case , it is recommended to consider alternatives like AWS Backup, AWS Storage Gateway (File Gateway), or third-party backup solutions that offer incremental backups and file-level recovery.

Regarding cost , DataSync charges $0.0125 per GB transferred and S3 Storage cost apply separately. Solution like Storage GW might be more cost-effective and better suited for backup scenario you have described.

Yes, you can use AWS DataSync as a backup solution to transfer data from your on-premises Windows environment to Amazon S3, and it can be used to restore file changes. Here's how it works:

AWS DataSync is designed to efficiently transfer large amounts of data between on-premises storage and AWS storage services like Amazon S3. It uses an agent that you install on your Windows server to facilitate the data transfer.

For backup purposes, you can set up DataSync to regularly transfer your data from your on-premises Windows server to an S3 bucket. This can be done on a schedule that suits your needs, whether that's hourly, daily, or less frequently.

When it comes to restoring file changes, DataSync is quite efficient. It uses intelligent change detection mechanisms to identify which files have been modified since the last transfer. This means that during subsequent transfers, it will only copy the new or changed files, not the entire dataset again. This feature makes it suitable for both initial full backups and ongoing incremental backups.

To restore files, you can use DataSync to transfer the data back from S3 to your on-premises location. You can choose to restore the entire backup or select specific files or folders.

Regarding cost, AWS DataSync charges based on the amount of data transferred. You pay only for the data you copy. There are no upfront costs or commitments. However, keep in mind that in addition to DataSync costs, you'll also incur charges for the S3 storage used to store your backups and any data transfer costs associated with moving data in and out of AWS.

It's worth noting that while DataSync can be an effective backup solution, it's primarily designed for data transfer and synchronization. For more comprehensive backup features like versioning, retention policies, and point-in-time recovery, you might want to consider using DataSync in conjunction with other AWS backup services.

Remember to carefully plan your backup strategy, considering factors like frequency of backups, retention period, and recovery time objectives to ensure it meets your specific needs and compliance requirements.

Sources
Using AWS DataSync to transfer differentials after Snowball device is transferred to S3 | AWS re:Post
Which aws service i can use to continuesly sync data from onpremises to aws | AWS re:Post
Transferring data between AWS accounts using AWS DataSync | AWS Storage Blog
AWS DataSync in AWS GovCloud (US) - AWS GovCloud (US)