AWS Data Transfer Terminal
Physical data upload location
Physical AWS locations in select cities where you bring your storage devices and plug them into a high-speed network connection to quickly upload large amounts of data to AWS.
- Cost$$ Medium
- Difficulty●●●●●
- Costs money when idle?No
- Managed by AWS
Think of it asLike taking your hard drive to an AWS fast-charging station to unload data instead of uploading it over your home network.
When to use it
✓ Use it when
You have large data on physical devices (film footage, autonomous vehicles, surveys) that needs to get to AWS quickly, and you are near a terminal.
✗ Avoid it when
Not near a terminal location → Snowball; have a good network connection → DataSync / Direct Connect.
Common uses
- Unload raw film footage to S3
- Upload sensor data from test vehicles
- Speed up large datasets for AI training
What does it cost?
- Pricing model: Billed per hour of reserved connection port use at the terminal; plus storage charges at the destination.
Related services
SAA-C03 study guide
Data Transfer Terminal is covered in these study modules: