Cloud storage as a data pipeline destination: when to use Amazon S3 in your ELT

The Cloud Storage Revolution

Cloud storage goes far beyond simply being a space to keep data. It is the key that unlocks opportunities for teams to scale, innovate, and make informed decisions based on solid data. For B2B startups, this is a paradigm shift, allowing them to pursue scalability and agility without getting lost in the complexity or costs of maintaining large physical structures. Every challenge has its ideal solution, and in this guide, you will discover the fundamental concepts, benefits, and details that really matter for your company's success.

Ready to move forward? Come understand how Erathos can transform your data into a competitive advantage through simple, automated, and secure multi-cloud integrations.

What is cloud storage?

Not everyone realizes it, but accessing a file from your laptop while away from the office, or instantly sharing reports with the team, are already practical examples of using cloud storage. It means that information is kept off local computers and servers and is instead maintained in remote data centers accessible via the internet. This frees companies from the routine of managing heavy infrastructure, with the added benefit of accessing resources and capacity on demand without investing heavily in hardware or a specialized team.

By leveraging the cloud, companies can unite people, processes, and tools without geographical barriers. Documents, reports, customer histories, or system data can be integrated and updated in real time. For B2B startups, which need to focus on growth and their customers' experience, it is hard to imagine a more favorable scenario.

How cloud storage works

The logic behind remote storage is simple, at least in theory: companies lease space in data centers operated by third parties and start sending, accessing, and sharing their information via the internet. But behind the scenes, the complexity is much greater. Here is how it all fits together.

Provider Infrastructure

Cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud have built vast networks of servers spread across different regions of the globe. Each server is part of a machine designed to guarantee availability, speed, and security. These are 24/7 monitored environments with hardware redundancy, fault resilience, and resources to balance traffic loads. For example, if one machine has an issue, another immediately takes over without impacting the user.

These large data centers invest in backup power, fire detection systems, climate control, and, of course, logical protection against intrusions or leaks. The goal is for data to always be available, regardless of local failures.

Transfer, Redundancy, and Access

Sending data to the cloud almost always begins by syncing files from a computer (or system) with an application or integration tool. During transfer, the information is encrypted, both in transit and at rest. As soon as it reaches its destination, it can be duplicated across multiple servers and even different regions.

This process, called redundancy, is what ensures a company never loses files, even in the event of a natural disaster or outage. Access to information relies on authentication: login, password, and often multi-factor verification. All you need is an internet connection to access files at headquarters, in a home office, or while traveling.

It might seem trivial, but this mobility is a game-changer, especially for startups, enabling collaboration and fast decisions from practically anywhere in the world.

When cloud storage is used as the destination for a data pipeline, and not just as a file repository for the team, this same transfer logic must handle continuous volume: incremental syncs, query-optimized file formats (like Parquet), and partitioning that avoids generating thousands of small files, which slows down queries in tools like Amazon Athena or BigQuery external tables. This is where integrating data from different sources, which Erathos handles as a managed ELT process, prevents this type of technical detail from turning into manual work for the team.

Types of Cloud Storage

Not all cloud services are the same. The differences go far beyond price and branding. Understanding the options is the first step to making the right choice.

Public Cloud

Public cloud is like sharing an office building: multiple companies rent space in a shared infrastructure. Resources are made available to all clients, with secure, segregated access for each user. Public cloud users share costs and infrastructure, which generally makes it cheaper. It is actually the most sought-after option for those in a rapid growth phase.

• Flexibility to scale up or down storage quickly
• Lower initial investment
• Infrastructure managed by the provider

Classic examples are Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Amazon S3. It is also the favorite model of growing startups looking to scale fearlessly and without budget surprises.

Private Cloud

In a private cloud, the infrastructure is built exclusively for one company. All storage, compute, and networking are dedicated, offering total control over security and customization.

• Isolated and dedicated environment
• More freedom to customize policies, access, and integrations
• Popular among companies in highly regulated industries

Healthtechs, fintechs, or startups that process financial transactions often opt for the private model, where they can enforce strict protocols and develop specific integrations for their systems.

Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid solutions mix characteristics of both previous models. Part of the information lives in a public environment, while sensitive data or critical applications remain under the direct control of IT teams. This model offers a balance between cost savings and security, while also facilitating gradual migration processes.

• Freedom to decide where each type of data will be stored
• Easy adaptation to different stages of the business
• Reduced operational risk in case of incidents

Erathos, for example, works with seamless integrations, connecting sources in public, private, or hybrid cloud environments. This gives you the option to have the best of both worlds without the headache of traditional solutions.

Benefits of Cloud Storage for B2B Companies

On paper, remote storage sounds like a minor tech detail. In practice, it impacts daily routines and strategy. Here is why.

On-Demand Scalability

Startups change in size from one year to the next, or even from quarter to quarter. What every entrepreneur wants is not to be limited by technology. With cloud storage, you just adjust plans and resources as needed.

• Did you acquire a larger volume of clients or contracts? Just scale up your storage space.
• Did you scale back operations for a period? Simply adjust to avoid paying for what you don't use.

This elasticity allows companies to focus on what matters: driving results and innovating, without the constraints of expensive infrastructure.

Reduction in Operational Costs

Maintaining on-premise data centers involves a list of hidden costs: electricity, cooling, dedicated teams, and constant hardware upgrades. By opting for the cloud, you only pay for actual usage, with no waste or upfront investment.

• Pricing proportional to usage volume
• Zero financial surprises with maintenance or failures
• Frees the IT team to focus on innovative projects instead of repetitive tasks

Ultimately, you reduce time spent on maintenance and eliminate the risk of downtime due to equipment shortages. The impact is felt both in direct costs and in the agility of launching new solutions.

Improved Security and Compliance

Security is always a concern. And rightly so. Cloud providers follow strict security protocols, featuring monitored environments, encryption, and regular updates. Additionally, these solutions are often already built to comply with international and local data protection regulations.

• Role-based access control: each person only sees the files they need
• Operation log storage
• Policies to prevent data loss

For B2B companies, which handle data from third parties and enterprise clients, building trust is even more critical. Having a reliable structure means opening doors to grow without restrictions.

Risks and Considerations when Adopting

Some concerns arise right at the beginning, while others appear over time.

Latency and Performance

When data travels over the internet, there is always response time. In day-to-day work, text files, spreadsheets, and reports open quickly, but critical applications might experience lag when the connection fluctuates or the data center region is far away.

• Pay attention to the provider's geographic location
• Run tests to identify impact on sensitive applications

An interesting strategy, practiced by companies like Erathos, is to build pipelines and integrations that minimize latency and optimize the use of multiple access points. This reduces delays and keeps operations smooth even during peak times.

Vendor Lock-in and Dependency

By adopting external services, you establish a trust relationship with the provider. Operational stability begins to depend on contracts, SLAs, and the responsiveness of these partners.

• Monitoring real uptime
• Regularly evaluating service agreements
• Contingency plans for switching vendors, if necessary

Not all vendors follow the same standards, so it is best to choose companies with a proven track record and local presence to facilitate support should any issues arise.

Regulatory Requirements

Brazilian companies, especially those working with large enterprise clients or the public sector, must comply with laws like the LGPD. Cloud solutions need to guarantee management transparency, access traceability, and the ability to delete or anonymize information upon request.

• Guaranteed compliance with Brazilian data protection laws
• Dedicated solutions for secure storage and access control
• Accessible audits and reports for inspection

B2B startups that adopt best practices early on gain points during audit processes, increase competitiveness, and find it easier to sign new clients in highly demanding markets.

How Erathos Simplifies Smart Cloud Storage

Have you ever thought about how simple it would be if you could connect different databases, CRMs, ERPs, and customer spreadsheets to a single cloud destination without writing a single line of code? With Erathos, you can.

In practice, this means: Amazon S3 is a supported destination across Erathos's entire catalog of connectors, allowing you to load data from CRMs, support platforms, databases, and dev tools directly into a bucket, incrementally, without writing sync code.

• True incremental sync. After the initial historical load, only changed data is synced, avoiding rewriting the entire history with every run.
• Intuitive setup. Anyone on the team can set up a connection in a few clicks, without depending on a dedicated data engineer.
• Centralized monitoring. Run metrics, automatic alerts for failures or volume drops, and detailed logs per sync, reducing the risk of data loss going unnoticed.
• Flexibility for hybrid, cloud, or on-premise environments, without requiring new hardware investments.

Unlike many competitors, Erathos's goal is not to migrate data and cut connections with source systems, but rather to build a smart bridge, keeping data synced and available in both environments. This avoids disruptions, allows risk-free testing, and keeps your company in complete control of the data flow.

Additionally, we offer dedicated support throughout the journey, accompanying every step of the integration and working closely with your team to ensure scalability and smooth adjustments to your environment.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cloud Storage

What is data storage?

Data storage refers to the process of keeping digital information for later retrieval and use, whether on local servers, devices, or increasingly, in internet-accessible cloud environments. Today, it encompasses practices of protection, organization, and ease of access, allowing companies to keep their records, reports, and systems always available, even in fast-growth scenarios.

How to choose the best storage solution?

The best choice depends on company size, data volume, security requirements, and budget. Public clouds tend to be more cost-effective and easier to scale, while private clouds offer complete security control. Hybrid solutions are ideal for companies that want flexibility. It is recommended to look for partners like Erathos that offer integration and automation, making management easy without requiring deep technical knowledge.

What are the types of data storage?

The three main types are: public cloud, where the infrastructure is shared; private cloud, featuring dedicated and customized environments; and hybrid cloud, which combines both approaches. Outside the cloud, there is also local storage (on-premise servers and hard drives). Cloud adoption continues to grow due to its combination of security, scalability, and cost reduction.

How to integrate data from different sources?

Integration can be done manually using scripts, or (highly recommended) in an automated way using specialized platforms like Erathos. These platforms connect databases, applications, and systems automatically, creating continuous pipelines to sync information to a single destination, whether in the cloud, hybrid, or on-premise environments.

Is cloud storage secure?

Yes, as long as the provider follows security best practices such as encryption, access control, continuous monitoring, and compliance with current regulations. Specialized clouds typically offer advanced protocols, and companies like Erathos add an extra layer of reliability by monitoring and ensuring end-to-end data freshness.

Can you use cloud storage as a destination for a data pipeline, and not just to store files?

Yes. Amazon S3, for example, is frequently used as a landing zone for raw data before it gets modeled in a data warehouse, a common pattern in modern data architectures. Erathos supports S3 as a direct connector destination, so this use case requires no configuration beyond what you already do to sync to a warehouse.

Does cloud storage replace a data warehouse?

No. Cloud storage holds raw or semi-structured files and is cheap for large volumes, but it is not optimized for fast analytical queries like a warehouse is. Most data teams use both: cloud storage as a landing zone, and a warehouse for modeled data that needs to be queried quickly and frequently.

Conclusion on Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is no longer just a tech innovation. It is a strategic tool for B2B startups to not only survive, but grow at a rapid pace. Flexibility, scalability, and cost reduction change the game for those who need to make fast, competent decisions.

Integrating automatically and keeping your data sources always fresh are differentiators that make companies more agile, connected, and ready for opportunities that pop up unexpectedly. And on this journey, your choice of solution makes all the difference.

Simplify your data management. Scale without limits.

Erathos shows, in practice, that it is possible to get the best out of cloud storage without technical hurdles, manual processes, and with absolute peace of mind regarding data integrity. Talk to us today and discover how to transform your data into a smart, strategic asset for your startup.