Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - Get started with checksums in Amazon S3 for data integrity checking (STG350)

Summary

Aritra Gupta, a senior product manager on Amazon S3, presented on the importance of checksums for data integrity in Amazon S3.
Amazon S3 performs over 4 billion checksum validations per second to ensure data integrity.
Checksums are unique alphanumeric representations of object contents, calculated using algorithms like CRC32, SHA-256, and MD5.
Checksums are used for data in transit and at rest to ensure data has not been altered.
Amazon S3 supports a variety of checksum algorithms, allowing users to choose based on their use case.
Advanced checksum capabilities include trailing checksums (appending checksums as a trailer to the request) and parallel checksum operations (calculating checksums for each part of a large object in parallel).
The GetObjectAttributes API is recommended for retrieving checksum information, especially for large objects.
Aritra demonstrated how to use checksums with the Python Boto SDK, including how to upload an object with a checksum, handle incorrect checksums, and retrieve checksum information using the GetObjectAttributes API.
The session concluded with an emphasis on the flexibility of checksum algorithm choice, the performance benefits of trailing checksums, and the efficiency of parallel checksum operations for large objects.

Amazon S3's commitment to data integrity is highlighted by the sheer volume of checksum validations performed every second.
The flexibility in choosing checksum algorithms allows users to tailor their data integrity checks to specific regulatory requirements or performance needs.
Trailing checksums can significantly reduce operational costs and time by combining checksum calculation and object upload into a single step.
Parallel checksum operations are a game changer for handling large objects, reducing the time required for integrity checks from hours to minutes.
The GetObjectAttributes API is a purpose-built tool that provides detailed information about object parts and checksums, which is particularly useful for large objects and ensuring data integrity at scale.
The live demo illustrated the practical application of checksums in Amazon S3 and how AWS SDKs facilitate these operations, reinforcing the ease of use and integration into existing workflows.