Storage Transfer Service transfers data from AWS S3, Azure Blob, HTTP sources, and on-premises systems to Google Cloud Storage with automatic scheduling and incremental transfers.
What is Storage Transfer Service?
Storage Transfer Service is a managed service for migrating and synchronizing data to Google Cloud Storage. The service supports various sources: Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage systems, Azure Blob Storage, publicly accessible HTTP/HTTPS URLs, other Cloud Storage buckets, and on-premises file systems and HDFS. Transfers can be executed one-time, on a schedule, or event-driven. According to Google, the service is particularly optimized for transfers of a terabyte or more; for smaller data volumes, Google recommends alternative tools.
A core feature is incremental transfer: after the initial full copy, only changed or new files are transferred. This significantly reduces transfer time and cost for recurring synchronizations. File filters enable selection of specific file types, directories, or modification periods. Metadata preservation maintains file attributes during transfer.
For on-premises data, the Transfer Service Agent provides an agent that runs on local servers. The agent scans file systems, transfers data encrypted, and supports parallel uploads for high throughput. Multiple agents can be deployed for horizontal scaling. Bandwidth limits prevent impact on other workloads. Storage Transfer Service currently offers no SLA, either for availability or performance.
Typical Use Cases
AWS S3 to Cloud Storage Migration
A company migrates from AWS to Google Cloud. Storage Transfer Service copies S3 buckets to Cloud Storage with metadata preservation. Incremental transfers synchronize changes during the migration phase, and cutover happens with minimal downtime.
Multi-Cloud Backup Strategy
A company uses Storage Transfer Service to regularly replicate production data from another cloud to Cloud Storage. The copy can serve as additional protection within a backup or disaster recovery strategy.
On-Premises Archival
A media company archives local data holdings to Cloud Storage. Transfer Service Agents run on local servers, and transfers can be scheduled outside peak hours to make better use of available bandwidth. Combined with lower-cost storage classes for archival data, long-term storage costs can be reduced.
Daily Data Synchronization
An analytics team regularly synchronizes data sources to Cloud Storage. Storage Transfer Service copies files from external sources, which are then further processed, for example in BigQuery.
Compliance Data Residency
A European company consolidates data in EU regions. Data from global sources is transferred to Cloud Storage in an EU region to support data residency requirements.
Integration with innFactory
As a certified Google Cloud Partner, innFactory supports you with Storage Transfer Service: migration planning, agent setup, transfer optimization, and cost analysis.
Contact us for a consultation on Storage Transfer Service and Google Cloud migration.
Available Tiers & Options
Online Transfer
- Automatic scheduling
- Incremental transfers
- Bandwidth control
- Depends on network bandwidth
On-Premises Agent
- For local file systems and HDFS
- Encrypted transfer
- Parallel uploads
- Agent installation required
Typical Use Cases
Technical Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Storage Transfer Service?
Storage Transfer Service is a managed service for transferring data to Google Cloud Storage. The service supports sources such as Amazon S3, S3-compatible storage, Azure Blob Storage, HTTP/HTTPS endpoints, and on-premises file systems and HDFS, with automatic scheduling and incremental transfers.
From which sources can I transfer data?
Supported sources are Amazon S3 and S3-compatible storage, Azure Blob Storage, publicly accessible HTTP/HTTPS URLs, other Cloud Storage buckets, and on-premises file systems and HDFS via the Transfer Service Agent.
Can I schedule transfers?
Yes, Storage Transfer Service supports one-time transfers, recurring schedules, and event-driven transfers. Incremental transfers copy only changed files, saving time and cost.
How are costs calculated?
Transfers between Cloud Storage buckets are typically free. External sources such as S3, Azure, or HTTP incur usage-based fees, plus any egress costs from the source provider. Current rates are available on the official pricing page.
Is there an SLA for Storage Transfer Service?
No, Storage Transfer Service currently provides no SLA, either for availability or for transfer performance or latency. According to Google, occasional performance fluctuations may occur.
How does the on-premises agent work?
The Transfer Service Agent runs as a container on local servers. It scans file systems, transfers data encrypted to Cloud Storage, and supports parallel uploads for high throughput. Multiple agents can be deployed for scaling.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of Google Cloud (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by Google Cloud.
