AWS Backup for Amazon EKS

Paid APIWeb

Visit AWS Backup for Amazon EKS Alternatives Pricing

What AWS Backup for Amazon EKS is

AWS Backup for Amazon EKS centralizes and automates data protection for EKS alongside other AWS services and hybrid workloads. An EKS backup combines cluster state with supported persistent-volume backups into a composite recovery point. Attached EBS, S3, and EFS storage can be included when connected through supported EKS add-on CSI drivers. Restore choices include a full cluster, up to five namespaces, or individual persistent storage; cluster recovery can target an existing or newly created cluster. Backups can be scheduled with custom retention and copied within or across accounts and Regions, including opt-in Regions. No agent or add-on is needed on the cluster, but its authorization mode must be API or API_AND_CONFIG_MAP. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest using AWS KMS keys. Security features include Vault Lock, logically air-gapped vaults, malware scanning, and Audit Manager reporting. CloudWatch provides job metrics, with CloudTrail and Amazon SNS integrations for logs and notifications. This is a paid service with no free plan. No price is listed; EKS creation is charged per backed-up namespace, and cluster-state storage and restores incur charges.

Who it suits

It suits teams seeking centralized cloud-native or hybrid data protection, including organizations with compliance requirements. EKS users can choose among cluster, namespace, and persistent-storage restores.

What it does well

Combines cluster state and supported volume backups.
Restores full clusters, up to five namespaces, or storage.
Supports scheduled backups and custom retention.
Offers immutable backups through Vault Lock.
Includes CloudWatch metrics and CloudTrail and SNS integrations.

What to know first

No free plan.
EKS authorization must be API or API_AND_CONFIG_MAP.
Does not include external-repository container images or cluster infrastructure.
Does not support FSx via CSI or EKS on Outposts.

Limits

EKS backups exclude external container images, cluster infrastructure such as VPCs and subnets, FSx through CSI, EKS on AWS Outposts, and cross-account EFS through EKS Backups. S3 backups within an EKS cluster backup support snapshot backups only, and charges apply for EKS backup creation per namespace backed up, cluster-state storage and restores, and standard attached-storage operations.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Pay as you go	Usage-based; no minimum fee or setup charges · EKS cluster backup creation fee is charged once per namespace backed up · EKS cluster-state backup storage and restores incur charges · Attached EBS, S3, and EFS storage use standard Backup storage and restore charges	On request

As aws.amazon.com lists them, read 30 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open https://aws.amazon.com/backup/
Use the service through its web or API interfaces
Configure an EKS cluster with API or API_AND_CONFIG_MAP authorization
Attach supported EBS, S3, or EFS storage through EKS add-on CSI drivers
Set a backup schedule and custom retention
Choose a backup vault and AWS KMS key
Configure copy destinations, monitoring, and notifications as needed

Verdict

AWS Backup for Amazon EKS offers several recovery scopes, copy options, and security controls for supported EKS data. Check its storage exclusions and usage-based charges, including per-namespace creation fees, before planning coverage.

Questions

Does AWS Backup for EKS have a free plan?

No. AWS Backup for Amazon EKS is a paid, usage-based service with no minimum fee or setup charges listed.

What can an EKS backup restore?

You can restore a full EKS cluster, up to five namespaces, or individual persistent storage. Full-cluster restores can target an existing or newly created cluster.

Which storage types are supported?

Backups can include EBS, S3, and EFS persistent storage attached through supported EKS add-on CSI drivers.

Are EKS backups encrypted?

AWS Backup encrypts backup data at rest and in transit with AWS KMS keys. EKS child recovery points use the key configured for the target backup vault.

Can backups be copied across accounts or Regions?

Yes. Copies can remain in the same account and Region or cross account and Region, including opt-in Regions.

What does an EKS backup not include?

It does not include external container images or infrastructure such as VPCs and subnets. FSx via CSI, EKS on AWS Outposts, and cross-account EFS through EKS Backups are also unsupported.

Facts from AWS Backup for Amazon EKS's own pages

Agent-free: AWS Backup does not require an agent or add-on on the EKS cluster; the cluster authorization mode must be API or API_AND_CONFIG_MAP. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Copies: EKS backups support same-account and same-Region copies, cross-account copies, cross-Region copies, and copies to opt-in Regions. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
EKS coverage: An EKS backup groups cluster state and supported persistent volume backups into a composite recovery point. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Encryption: AWS Backup encrypts backup data at rest and in transit using AWS KMS keys, and EKS child recovery points use the key configured for the target backup vault. · aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Founded: 2006 · aws.amazon.com, 28 Sept 2026
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States · aws.amazon.com, 28 Sept 2026
Monitoring integrations: AWS Backup includes a CloudWatch dashboard for backup, copy, and restore job metrics and integrates with CloudTrail and Amazon SNS for activity logs and notifications. · aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Not included: EKS backups do not include container images from external repositories or cluster infrastructure such as VPCs and subnets. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Purpose: AWS Backup is a fully managed service that centralizes and automates data protection across AWS services and hybrid workloads. · aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Restore options: You can restore a full EKS cluster, up to five namespaces, or individual persistent storage, with cluster restores targeting an existing or newly created cluster. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
S3 limitation: S3 bucket backups within an EKS cluster backup support snapshot backups only, and specific S3 prefixes attached to CSI driver mount points are unsupported. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Security and compliance: AWS Backup offers Vault Lock for immutable backups, logically air-gapped vaults, malware scanning, and Audit Manager compliance reporting. · aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Storage limitation: EKS backup does not support Amazon FSx via CSI driver, EKS on AWS Outposts, or cross-account backups of EFS through EKS Backups. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Storage supported: EKS backups can include persistent storage on EBS, S3, and EFS when attached through supported EKS add-on CSI drivers. · docs.aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026
Who it is for: AWS describes AWS Backup use cases including cloud-native backup, hybrid data protection, centralized data protection policies, and data protection compliance. · aws.amazon.com, 30 Sept 2026