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Introduction
Managing AWS infrastructure efficiently demands a careful balance between performance and cost, especially when using NoSQL databases like DynamoDB. If you’re aiming to cut DynamoDB costs, this real-world guide walks you through how we reduced our monthly bill by over 60% without sacrificing data accessibility. By leveraging features like TTL, Streams, and S3, we’ve built a scalable, automated archiving solution.
The Problem Behind Rising DynamoDB Costs
Over the past seven years, our DynamoDB usage has increased exponentially, primarily due to growing hub data. However, we actively utilize only the last six months of data. As a result, older data incurs unnecessary storage costs. The challenge is to maintain data accessibility while significantly lowering expenses.
Cut DynamoDB Costs by Archiving Older Data
To address this, one cost-saving approach is to retain only the last six months of data in the active DynamoDB table while archiving older data to cost-effective storage solutions like Amazon S3.
Cost Analysis
| Cost Element | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Current DynamoDB (Standard Storage) | $795 (June 2023) |
| Active Data in DynamoDB (6 Months) | ~$156.24 (300GB) |
| S3 Storage for Archived Data | ~$100 (1,000GB) |
| Export Cost | ~$0.10/GB |
| Total Estimated Cost | ~$256.24 |
| Upfront Cost (Optional Export Tool) | $960 |
| Potential Savings | $538.76 per month |
Benefits
- Significant cost reduction: Up to 60% compared to current costs.
- Long-term data storage: Archived data remains accessible in S3.
- Enhanced data management flexibility: Active and archived data are clearly separated.
Next Steps
- Implement S3 export functionality (optional).
- Monitor costs to ensure ongoing savings.
Challenges
Nevertheless, a few practical issues arose:
- Initial cleanup of older records may require manual effort
- DynamoDB console export limits data to the last 35 days
- Recovery tools or custom Lambda setups are necessary for large-scale exports
Using Standard-IA to Further Cut DynamoDB Costs
Alternatively, you can use DynamoDB Standard-IA, a storage class specifically designed for infrequently accessed data.
Key Advantages of Standard-IA
- 60% cost reduction: Offers substantial savings for archived data.
- High durability: Replicated across multiple Availability Zones for fault tolerance.
- Automatic scalability: Adapts to data volume fluctuations seamlessly.
Considerations
- Slightly higher latencies: Read and write speeds may be slower than the standard class.
- Limited disaster recovery: Manual cross-region replication is required for additional protection.
- Suitable for infrequently accessed data: Frequent access might negate cost benefits.
Hybrid Strategy to Cut DynamoDB Costs Automatically
Therefore, by combining the strengths of both proposals, we recommend a hybrid approach using DynamoDB TTL, Streams, and AWS Lambda to automate data archiving.
Implementation Plan to Cut DynamoDB Costs with Automation
- Enable TTL: Automatically expires data older than six months.
- Use DynamoDB Streams: Captures expired items.
- Trigger AWS Lambda: Filters and transfers expired data to DynamoDB Standard-IA or Amazon S3.
Benefits
- Automated data archiving: Minimizes manual intervention and ensures timely migration.
- Reduced maintenance: Streamlines data management processes.
- Long-term data access: Archived data remains accessible through S3 or import back to DynamoDB.
- Significant cost savings: Combines reduced storage costs with efficient automation.
Additional Considerations
To ensure a seamless transition and maintain data integrity:
- Compliance: Ensure data retention aligns with regulatory requirements.
- Disaster Recovery: Implement strategies for both DynamoDB and S3 storage.
- Performance Monitoring: Regularly assess impacts on the DynamoDB instance during data archiving.
Final Thoughts on How to Cut DynamoDB Costs Long-Term
By implementing this comprehensive solution, you can achieve substantial cost reductions while maintaining efficient data management and accessibility. This approach not only lowers your DynamoDB storage costs but also ensures a scalable and sustainable data strategy.
Resources for Further Reading
- DynamoDB Standard-IA
- Using DynamoDB Streams with AWS Lambda
- DynamoDB TTL
- Reducing DynamoDB Costs
- AWS S3 Security Best Practices
Senior Software Engineer