AWS S3 Support
Recover deleted or overwritten S3 objects.
If versioning was on, a deleted or overwritten object is usually recoverable. If it was not, the options are narrow. We check what protection existed, restore the right versions in bulk and set up versioning with lifecycle rules so storage does not balloon afterwards.
When You Need This
The situations where this work pays for itself.
Signs it is time
- Someone deleted or overwrote objects and you need them back
- A script ran with the wrong prefix and removed thousands of keys
- Versioning is enabled but storage cost keeps rising
- You want protection against accidental and malicious deletes
- A bucket has no versioning and holds business-critical data
What you get
- Restored objects with a reconciliation report
- Root cause of the deletion and the permission fix
- Versioning and lifecycle configuration that controls storage growth
- Optional Object Lock or replication design for critical data
How we do it
A clear, safe process you can follow along with.
1. Stop further damage
We pause the job or revoke the permission that caused the deletes, and check whether lifecycle rules might expire noncurrent versions that we still need.
2. Find out what protection exists
We check whether versioning, replication, AWS Backup or Object Lock covered the bucket. Without any of them, objects deleted from a non-versioned bucket cannot be restored by AWS.
3. List versions and delete markers
With versioning on, a plain delete adds a delete marker as the current version. We list with list-object-versions to find delete markers and the prior versions underneath.
4. Restore
To undelete, we delete the delete marker by its VersionId, which makes the previous version current. To roll back an overwrite, we copy the older version over the current key. For many objects we script it or use S3 Batch Operations.
5. Verify
We compare key counts, sizes and checksums against an inventory or the application's expectations before declaring recovery complete.
6. Harden the bucket
We enable versioning, add lifecycle rules that expire noncurrent versions and clean expired delete markers, and consider MFA Delete or Object Lock for critical data.
7. Restrict who can delete
We tighten s3:DeleteObject and s3:DeleteObjectVersion permissions, since permanent version deletion is the real data-loss event.
Mistakes we help you avoid
Common ways this goes wrong, and what we do instead.
Enabling versioning and forgetting lifecycle
Old versions are billed storage. Without noncurrent expiration, cost climbs silently.
Deleting the wrong thing during recovery
Only delete markers should be removed to undelete. We always list and review before bulk deletes.
Assuming versioning protects against everything
A principal with permission to delete versions can still remove history. Object Lock or replication adds a stronger layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I recover an S3 object that was deleted without versioning?
Generally not through S3 itself. Check for replication copies, AWS Backup recovery points, or your own exports. Contact AWS Support only as a last step, with no assurance of recovery.
How do I undelete an object in a versioned bucket?
Delete the delete marker by specifying its VersionId. The most recent real version then becomes current again.
Does versioning increase my S3 bill?
Yes, every stored version is billed. Use lifecycle rules to expire noncurrent versions after the retention period you need.
Want Help With Recover deleted or overwritten S3 objects?
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