Migration and Transfer
AWS Snow Family
Offline data transfer option for constrained connectivity or very large migrations.
Key points
- Snow Family supports offline bulk transfer and processing at disconnected or bandwidth-constrained locations.
- Device logistics, custody, encryption, and the import or export workflow are part of the migration plan.
Best-known use cases
- Transfer large datasets when available network capacity is insufficient.
- Collect and process data at disconnected edge locations before transfer.
What candidates often confuse it with
- Snow Family addresses offline transfer; DataSync uses online connectivity and Transfer Family serves protocol-based partner exchange.
Key takeaway
Choose Snow Family when network capacity or disconnected operation rules out an online transfer.
Relevant exam tasks
- D1.1 — Task 1.1: Perform data ingestion
- 1.1.2 — Read data from batch sources (for example, Amazon S3, AWS Glue, Amazon EMR, AWS DMS, Amazon Redshift, AWS Lambda, Amazon AppFlow).
- D2.1 — Task 2.1: Choose a data store
- 2.1.4 — Integrate migration tools into data processing systems (for example, AWS Transfer Family).