AWS EBS for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Amazon Elastic Block Store
In the world of cloud computing, having reliable and high-performance storage is just as important as computing power. Whether you're launching a web application, database server, or development environment, the underlying storage system plays a critical role. That's where Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) comes in.
If you're new to AWS or trying to understand how cloud storage works, this beginner's guide to AWS EBS (Elastic Block Store) will help you get a clear understanding of what it is, how it works, and when to use it.
What Is AWS EBS?
Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) is a high-performance block storage service designed to work with Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud). EBS volumes provide persistent storage, which means your data stays intact even if your EC2 instance is stopped or terminated.
Unlike Amazon S3 (object storage), EBS is block-level storage, similar to a physical hard drive connected to your cloud server.
How AWS EBS Works
Here's how it fits into the AWS ecosystem:
You launch an EC2 instance (a virtual server).
You attach one or more EBS volumes to the instance.
The instance treats the EBS volume like a local hard drive.
You can read, write, format, or mount the volume as needed.
EBS volumes can be detached, resized, and snapshotted.
Key Features of EBS
Persistent Storage
Unlike instance store volumes, EBS data persists after instance termination.
High Availability
EBS is designed for 99.999% availability and replicates within an Availability Zone (AZ).
Snapshots
You can create point-in-time backups stored in S3.
Encryption
Data at rest and in transit is encrypted using AWS KMS.
Performance Options
Choose between SSD (fast) and HDD (throughput-focused) based on workload.
Types of EBS Volumes
AWS offers different EBS volume types, each suited for specific use cases:
| Volume Type | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| gp3 (General Purpose SSD) | Most workloads (default) | Balanced price/performance |
| io2/io2 Block Express | IOPS-intensive workloads | High durability, high IOPS |
| st1 (Throughput Optimized HDD) | Large data warehouses/logs | High throughput |
| sc1 (Cold HDD) | Infrequent access workloads | Lowest-cost HDD |
Common Use Cases for EBS
EBS volumes are ideal for:
Operating Systems – Boot volumes for EC2 instances
Databases – High IOPS volumes for SQL, NoSQL, etc.
Web Servers – Storage for application files and logs
Data Analytics – Scalable storage for processing data in batches
Backup & Recovery – Snapshots and volume replication
Whether you're launching a single EC2 instance or scaling a production app, EBS provides the durable storage needed for both development and enterprise use.
How to Create and Attach an EBS Volume
Here’s a quick beginner-friendly overview:
Open AWS Management Console
Navigate to EC2 → Elastic Block Store → Volumes
Click “Create Volume”
Choose volume type (e.g., gp3)
Set size, AZ, and encryption
Click “Create”
Select the volume and click “Attach Volume”
Choose the target EC2 instance
Connect to your EC2 instance via SSH and mount the volume using CLI commands.
We’ve published a complete tutorial on our site with all the Linux commands and screenshot walkthroughs—ideal for first-time users.
Understanding EBS Snapshots
Snapshots are backups of your EBS volumes, stored in S3. You can:
Restore snapshots into new volumes
Automate snapshot creation with Lifecycle Manager
Share snapshots across regions or accounts
This feature is extremely useful for:
Disaster recovery plans
Environment cloning
Scheduled backups
AWS EBS Pricing Breakdown
You’re charged based on:
Storage size (per GB per month)
Snapshot storage
Provisioned IOPS (for io2)
Data transfer (if moving snapshots across regions)
Example (as of 2025):
gp3 volume: ~$0.08/GB-month
io2 volume: ~$0.125/GB-month + IOPS fees
Snapshots: ~$0.05/GB-month
EBS pricing is transparent and flexible. Our AWS Cost Estimator tool can help you project your EBS costs based on usage, volume type, and snapshot strategy.
Security in EBS
Security is built into EBS:
Encryption using AWS Key Management Service (KMS)
Access Control via IAM policies
Private Networking using Amazon VPC
Audit Trails with AWS CloudTrail
For compliance-driven environments, EBS supports encryption-at-rest by default and integrates well with AWS Organizations.
EBS vs S3 vs EFS: What’s the Difference?
| Storage Type | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| EBS | Block | EC2 instances, databases |
| S3 | Object | Static files, backups, web assets |
| EFS | File system | Shared access, NFS workloads |
Beginner Tips for Using AWS EBS
Always select the correct AZ — volumes and EC2 instances must be in the same zone.
Enable encryption by default to meet security standards.
Use gp3 for general-purpose workloads; it's better than gp2 in most cases.
Take regular snapshots—especially before upgrading apps or performing changes.
Monitor IOPS usage to avoid performance bottlenecks.
Final Thoughts: Why Use AWS EBS?
Amazon EBS is essential for running any stateful application in the cloud. It’s durable, secure, flexible, and deeply integrated into the AWS ecosystem.
Whether you're a beginner deploying your first EC2 instance or a DevOps engineer managing a fleet of microservices, EBS provides the persistent, high-performance storage backbone your workloads need.