Box is ideal for businesses needing collaborative file sharing and quick access, while Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive is best for organizations requiring long-term, low-cost archival storage with less frequent access needs. The choice depends on the specific use case and data access requirements.
| Attribute | Box | Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 10 GB for individual users on the free plan; unlimited storage for Business and Enterprise plans; 50GB default for departmental folders (more can be requested). | Virtually unlimited scalability |
| Data Security Measures | Encryption: TLS 1.3 (or TLS 1.2) for data in transit, AES 256-bit encryption for data at rest, key-wrapping encryption. Compliance: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, FedRAMP. Other: Least privilege access, multi-factor authentication over VPN. | Encryption: Data is encrypted by default, both in transit and at rest, using AES-256 encryption. You can also use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) for additional control over encryption keys. Compliance: Supports security standards and compliance certifications, including SEC Rule 17a-4, PCI-DSS, HIPAA/HITECH, FedRAMP, EU GDPR, and FISMA. Also compliant with ISO standards. IAM: Integration with AWS CloudTrail to log, monitor, and retain storage API call activities for auditing. AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies can be implemented to restrict access to vaults and archives. Object Lock: Amazon S3 Object Lock enables WORM (Write Once Read Many) storage capabilities. |
| File Sharing and Collaboration Features | Real-time collaboration, share files/folders with anyone, granular access controls, version control, task management, Box Notes. | S3 integrates with other AWS services, allowing you to automate and coordinate data transfers. |
| Data Recovery Options | Quick restoration for accidental deletions, recycle bin feature, document version restoration, cloud backups with 99.9% SLAs. | Suitable for backup and disaster recovery. Cross-region replication can be set up to automatically replicate data to another AWS region. In the event of data loss or corruption, organizations can retrieve backups. |
| Integration with Other Services | Integrates with 1,500+ apps including Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, Zoom; APIs for enterprise integration. | Integrates with most AWS services. It also integrates with AWS Backup and Amazon S3. |
| Access Speed and Latency | Varies based on network conditions, user location, and file size. | Designed for data that is accessed less than once a year. Provides two retrieval options ranging from 12-48 hours. |
| Pricing Structure | Individual, business, and enterprise options; business plans require a minimum of three users. | Offers the lowest cost storage in the cloud. Pay only for what you need, with no minimum commitments or upfront fees. As of 2023, prices in the US East (N. Virginia) Region: First 50 TB/month: $0.00099 per GB. |
| User Interface | User-friendly interface on web and mobile apps. | Can be integrated into any current AWS infrastructure. |
| Data Redundancy and Availability | Stored in multiple locations within Google Cloud Platform (GCP) data centers with a multi-region strategy across the continental US. | Designed for 99.999999999% (11 nines) of data durability. Data is redundantly stored across multiple physically separated AWS Availability Zones in a given year. |
| Scalability | Scalable data storage that is easy to upgrade; virtually unlimited cloud storage capacity. | Offers virtually unlimited scalability. |
| Version Control | Automatically keeps track of document versions. | Supports versioning. |
| Mobile Access | Mobile apps for iOS and Android devices for secure content capture, viewing, and sharing. | The service can be integrated with mobile devices for on-the-go access. The service supports multipart upload to handle large datasets. |