When replicating an EFS file system across AWS regions (e.g., for disaster recovery), the destination file system does not automatically inherit the source’s lifecycle policy. As a result, files replicated to the destination will remain in the Standard storage class unless a new lifecycle policy is explicitly configured. Over time, this can lead to significantly higher storage costs, particularly in DR environments where data is rarely accessed but still replicated in full.
EFS charges are based on the amount of data stored in each storage class (Standard and Infrequent Access). Transitioning infrequently accessed files to the IA tier reduces storage costs significantly. However, if a lifecycle policy is not applied, all files remain in the more expensive Standard tier, including on replicated file systems.
