Optimize data management on S3 Tables with Intelligent-Tiering

This article explains how to optimize Apache Iceberg data lakes on S3 Tables by combining Intelligent-Tiering storage with maintenance operations like snapshot management and compaction.

• S3 Tables now support Intelligent-Tiering to automatically move data between cost tiers based on access patterns
• Three access tiers: Frequent Access (default), Infrequent Access (30+ days), Archive Instant Access (90+ days)
• Compaction only processes files in Frequent Access tier to avoid promoting cold data unnecessarily
• Snapshot management retains historical data while removing redundant information and unreferenced files
• Compaction strategies include Binpack, Sort, Z-order, and Auto (default) options
• Delete files remain uncompacted until associated data files return to Frequent Access tier
• Manual external compaction jobs may move cold files back to Frequent Access, increasing costs

S3 Tables integrates snapshot management, compaction, and Intelligent-Tiering to balance performance and cost-efficiency for large-scale data lakes without manual maintenance overhead.