AWS EBS Support
EBS snapshot lifecycle: automate backups with Data Lifecycle Manager.
Manual or script-based EBS snapshots get forgotten, miss new volumes and pile up cost. Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager creates, retains and deletes snapshots and AMIs from tag-based policies. We set up policies that match your recovery needs and clean up the snapshots already piling up.
When You Need This
The situations where this work pays for itself.
Signs it is time
- No one knows which volumes are backed up and how often
- Snapshot storage cost keeps growing
- You need cross-Region or cross-account copies for disaster recovery
- Compliance requires a defined retention period
- A volume was lost and the last snapshot was months old
What you get
- DLM policies defined as code
- Tagging standard and coverage report
- Cross-Region or cross-account copy setup
- Cleanup of orphaned snapshots and a restore test report
How we do it
A clear, safe process you can follow along with.
1. Define recovery objectives
We agree RPO and retention per workload: how much data loss is tolerable and how long backups must be kept. Those set the schedule and retention for each policy.
2. Tag volumes and instances
DLM policies target resources by tag, for example backup=daily. We apply a tagging standard through IaC and check coverage so new volumes are not missed.
3. Create lifecycle policies
We create EBS snapshot policies with a schedule, retention by count or age, tags copied from the volume, and the DLM execution role. For instance-level targets, snapshots of all attached volumes are crash-consistent as a set.
4. Add application consistency where needed
For databases on EBS we use pre and post scripts through Systems Manager to flush or quiesce before the snapshot, or use database-native backups, since crash-consistent snapshots may not be enough for every engine.
5. Add cross-Region and cross-account copies
We add copy actions to a second Region, using encryption keys that exist there, and share to a separate backup account to protect against account compromise. Fast snapshot restore is enabled only where restore speed justifies its cost.
6. Clean up what exists
We find snapshots not created by a policy, orphaned from deleted volumes or old AMIs, check they are not used by registered AMIs, and delete them after your approval. We use the Recycle Bin retention rules as a safety net.
7. Test a restore
We restore a volume from a snapshot, mount it and verify the data, and record the time taken. A backup that has not been restored is a guess.
Mistakes we help you avoid
Common ways this goes wrong, and what we do instead.
Deleting snapshots one by one to save money
Snapshots are incremental and share blocks, so deleting one rarely frees as much as expected. Use a retention policy.
Deleting a snapshot that backs a registered AMI
It fails or breaks launches. Deregister the AMI first.
Copying encrypted snapshots without the target key
Cross-Region copies need a KMS key in the destination.
Never testing restores
Problems surface during an incident.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager?
It is an EBS feature that automates creation, retention, copying and deletion of snapshots and EBS-backed AMIs based on policies and resource tags.
Are EBS snapshots incremental?
Yes. After the first full snapshot, each later one stores only the changed blocks, though deleting an old snapshot keeps blocks that newer snapshots still reference.
Does DLM replace AWS Backup?
They overlap. DLM is simple and EBS-specific. AWS Backup centralizes many services, with cross-account policies and compliance features. We help you choose.
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