Automatically remove abandoned multi-part uploads in Amazon S3 to prevent unnecessary storage costs and optimize cloud spending.
Detailed Explanation
Why This Policy Matters
Incomplete multi-part uploads can silently accumulate in your Amazon S3 buckets, creating hidden cloud waste. These abandoned upload fragments continue to consume storage space and generate ongoing costs, even though they are not usable objects.
Cost Reduction Impact
By implementing a lifecycle management policy to delete incomplete multi-part uploads automatically:
- Eliminate unnecessary storage expenses
- Reduce cloud waste
- Improve overall cloud financial management
- Prevent potential budget overruns
Potential Savings Breakdown
Cost Scenarios:
- Small Organization (50-100 uploads/month):
- Estimated annual savings: $100-$300
- Mid-size Enterprise (500-1,000 uploads/month):
- Estimated annual savings: $1,000-$3,000
- Large Enterprise (1,000+ uploads/month):
- Potential annual savings: $5,000-$15,000
Calculation Factors:
- Storage costs per GB
- Number of incomplete uploads
- Average upload fragment size
- Retention period
Implementation Guide
Infrastructure-as-Code Example (Terraform)
resource "aws_s3_bucket_lifecycle_configuration" "example" {
bucket = aws_s3_bucket.example.id
rule {
id = "delete-incomplete-multipart-uploads"
status = "Enabled"
abort_incomplete_multipart_upload {
days_after_initiation = 7
}
}
}Use Infracost to detect and prevent unnecessary storage costs before they occur automatically. Infracost provides real-time cost estimates and policy enforcement for your infrastructure-as-code, helping you proactively manage cloud expenses.
Manual Implementation Steps
- Navigate to AWS S3 Bucket settings
- Select “Lifecycle rules”
- Create new rule
- Configure “Abort incomplete multi-part uploads after 7 days”
Best Practices
- Set a consistent deletion policy across all S3 buckets
- Monitor and audit incomplete upload patterns
- Implement automated notifications for large upload fragments
- Regularly review storage usage
Recommended Tools
- AWS S3 Lifecycle Management
- Cloud cost optimization platforms
Examples
Scenario 1: Development Environment
A software development team frequently runs large file upload tests. Without proper management, these incomplete uploads can accumulate:
- 50 GB of incomplete uploads
- $6/month in unnecessary storage costs
- Annual waste: $72
Scenario 2: Media Production Workflow
Video production team with frequent large file transfers:
- 500 GB of abandoned upload fragments
- $60/month in storage costs
- Annual waste: $720
Considerations and Caveats
Potential Drawbacks:
- Accidental deletion of in-progress uploads
- Need for careful configuration
- Potential impact on long-running upload processes
When to Be Cautious:
- Critical file transfer workflows
- Large, complex upload processes
- Environments with intermittent network connectivity