I need to have backup of database for 5 years for a Compliance

Question

Hi,

I have a RDS PostgreSQL Database, and we need to have backup of this database for 5 years.

We already tried pg_dump, but the growing size of data making it hard to continue using it but cost wise this is the most effective solution. We already use parallel dumping. The main issue here is that backup tends to fail now because it takes longer time to finish.

Do you have any suggestion as how to tackle this, btw the client also need to have or download the copy of the backup. We wanted to have solution that have best cost to performance ratio

Answer

Hello.

What about using AWS Backup to create snapshots?  
You can control the retention period by creating snapshots with AWS Backup.  
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/creating-a-backup-plan.html  
> This is set as the total retention period in the lifecycle section of backup rule configuration in the AWS Backup console. If you use AWS CLI, this is set using the parameter DeleteAfterDays. The retention period for snapshots can range between 1 day and 100 years (or indefinitely if you don't enter one),

AWS Backup also has a feature called vault lock.  
By using this feature, you can prevent snapshots from being deleted until the retention period you set has passed.  
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/vault-lock.html

If you want to download snapshot data, I think you can export it to S3 and then download it.  
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/USER_ExportSnapshot.html

I need to have backup of database for 5 years for a Compliance

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