Question #1681
A company uses AWS Cost Explorer and observes a consistent monthly increase in Amazon EBS snapshot costs, even though no new EBS volumes are added. The company seeks to minimize these costs with the LEAST operational effort. Which solution should they implement?
Manually identify and delete outdated snapshots. Implement a script to automate future snapshot deletions.
Use Amazon CloudWatch alarms to monitor snapshot counts. Manually delete snapshots when alarms trigger.
Delete all snapshots older than 30 days. Schedule daily snapshots with a custom script.
Remove unnecessary snapshots and configure Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager to automate snapshot retention policies.
Explanation
Answer D is correct because Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) provides a native AWS solution to automate snapshot lifecycle management. By configuring retention policies, DLM automatically deletes outdated snapshots, eliminating the need for manual intervention or custom scripts. This minimizes operational effort while ensuring cost optimization.
Why other options are incorrect:
- A: Manual deletion and custom scripting require ongoing effort to maintain and execute.
- B: CloudWatch alarms still require manual deletion actions, which adds operational work.
- C: Deleting all snapshots older than 30 days may risk data loss, and custom scripts require maintenance.
Key Points:
1. Use AWS-native services (e.g., DLM) for automation with minimal effort.
2. Avoid manual processes or custom scripts to reduce operational overhead.
3. DLM allows flexible retention policies tailored to compliance and cost needs.
Answer
The correct answer is: D