Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced AWS Snowcone — its smallest ultra-portable, secure, rugged mobile data storage and data transfer device. This Snowcone packs 8 terabytes of storage, 4 GB of memory, and USB-C or battery power.
At under 5 lbs, AWS Snowcone is the smallest member of the AWS Snow family of devices. AWS Snowcone measures 9 inches x 6 inches x 3 inches (23 cm x 15 cm x 8 cm) and weighs 4.5 lbs (2.1 kg). The device can easily fit in a backpack or messenger bag, standard mailbox, or any type of vehicle, and is light enough to be carried by drone.
Snowcone enables customers to collect data, process it locally, and move it to AWS either offline (by shipping the device to AWS) or online (by using AWS DataSync to send the data to AWS over the network).
AWS Snowcone is built to withstand harsh conditions and is designed for a variety of use cases in environments outside of the traditional data center that lack consistent network connectivity and/or require portability, including healthcare, industrial IoT, drones, tactical edge computing, content distribution, data migration, video content creation, and transportation.
With support for AWS IoT Greengrass, the ability to run Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon ec2) instances, and ample local storage, AWS Snowcone can be used as an IoT hub, data aggregation point, application monitor, or lightweight analytics engine. If you are concerned with the pricing of all these applications, then consider that AWS ec2 instance pricing can be negotiated to get the best rates with the help of outside companies.
AWS Snowcone can move data to AWS offline by shipping the device (using its E Ink shipping label) and online using Ethernet or Wi-Fi with AWS DataSync, which are integrated into the device. AWS Snowcone features 2 CPUs, 4 GB of memory, 8 TB of storage, and USB-C power (or optional battery).
Device security and stability
Like other AWS Snow Family devices, all data on AWS Snowcone is encrypted using military grade 256-bit keys that customers can manage using the AWS Key Management Service (KMS). Snowcone contains anti-tamper and tamper-evident features to help ensure data on the device stays secure during transit.
AWS Snowcone meets stringent ruggedization standards (it meets ISTA-3A, ASTM D4169, and MIL-STD-810G standards) for free-fall shock and operational vibration. The device is also dust-tight and water resistant, meeting the IP65 International Protection Marking IEC standard.
Snowcone has a wide operating temperature range from freezing (0 degrees C/32 degrees F) to desert-like conditions (38 degrees C/100 degrees F), and withstands even harsher temperatures when in storage or being shipped (-32 degrees C/-25.6 degrees F to 63 degrees C/145.4 degrees F).
Snowcone is designed mainly for short-term rentals, but AWS offers discounted pricing for long-term or permanent usage. Setting up an AWS Snowcone rugged mobile data storage unit takes only three clicks. Once set-up, the device is easily used and managed through a simple-to-use graphical interface.
As of its launch in summer 2020, AWS Snowcone is available in the US East (Northern Virginia) and US West (Oregon) AWS regions. Amazon will add additional AWS regions in the coming months.
To learn more about AWS Snowcone rugged mobile data storage pricing, visit aws.amazon.com.
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