AWS S3 to Filen Transfer: 3 Ways to Move Your Objects to Encrypted Storage

Learn how to transfer files from AWS S3 to Filen using three methods: AWS CLI download and upload, S3 sync bridge with Filen Desktop, or cloud-to-cloud transfer with CloudsLinker. Migrate your S3 buckets to zero-knowledge encrypted storage.

Introduction

Moving data from AWS S3 to Filen means shifting from Amazon's scalable object storage to a privacy-first, zero-knowledge encrypted platform. Whether you're archiving old projects, reducing AWS costs, or need truly private storage for sensitive data, this guide covers three approaches. You can use AWS CLI for direct control, set up a local sync bridge for verification, or use CloudsLinker for hands-off server-to-server transfer. The right method depends on your data volume and technical comfort.

Start Cloud Transfer Compare Methods

Developer note: S3 transfers can incur egress costs. Check your AWS billing before migrating large amounts of data. CloudsLinker's server-side transfer may reduce costs compared to downloading through your network.

Pick a Method in 30 Seconds

Developer control

AWS CLI Method

Full command-line control. Best for scripted migrations.

Local verification

Sync Bridge

Download locally, verify, then sync to Filen.

Hands-off

Cloud-to-Cloud

Direct server transfer. Fastest for large buckets.

Method 1: AWS CLI Download + Filen Upload

Best for: developers who want scripted control, small to medium transfers.
Trade-off: requires CLI setup; uses local bandwidth for both download and upload.

Step 1: Configure AWS CLI

If you haven't already, install the AWS CLI and configure it with your credentials:

aws configure
# Enter your AWS Access Key ID
# Enter your AWS Secret Access Key
# Enter your default region (e.g., us-east-1)

Step 2: Download objects from S3

Use aws s3 sync to download your bucket contents to a local directory:

# Sync entire bucket
aws s3 sync s3://your-bucket-name ./local-folder/

# Sync specific prefix/folder
aws s3 sync s3://your-bucket-name/prefix/ ./local-folder/

# Exclude certain file types
aws s3 sync s3://your-bucket-name ./local-folder/ --exclude "*.log"

Step 3: Verify and organize locally

Check that all files downloaded correctly. Compare file counts and sizes. This is a good time to reorganize folder structure if needed before uploading to Filen.

Step 4: Upload to Filen

Use the Filen Desktop client or web interface to upload your local folder. For large uploads, the desktop client is more reliable and supports background sync.

Bandwidth tip: Run large downloads overnight or during off-peak hours. Use --only-show-errors flag to reduce CLI output for large syncs.

Method 2: Local Sync Bridge (S3 Tools + Filen Desktop)

Best for: non-technical users, visual verification, ongoing backup workflows.
Trade-off: requires sufficient local storage; slower than direct transfer.

This method uses GUI tools to download from S3, then Filen Desktop to sync to encrypted storage. It's more visual than the CLI approach and good for verification.

Choose an S3 client: Download a GUI tool like Cyberduck, CloudBerry Explorer, or FileZilla Pro.
Connect to S3: Add your AWS credentials and connect to your bucket.
Download to local folder: Create a staging folder (e.g., "S3-to-Filen") and download your S3 objects there.
Verify files: Check file counts, sizes, and open a few files to confirm integrity before proceeding.
Install Filen Desktop: Download and configure Filen Desktop.
Set up sync: Point Filen to your staging folder and sync to Filen storage.

Benefits

Visual interface for browsing S3 contents.
Easy to verify files before uploading.
No command-line knowledge required.

Drawbacks

Requires local storage for all data.
Two-step process (download then upload).
Slower than direct cloud-to-cloud transfer.

Method 3: Cloud-to-Cloud Transfer with CloudsLinker

Best for: large S3 buckets, enterprise migrations, minimal egress through your network.
Trade-off: requires authorizing third-party access to S3.

CloudsLinker connects directly to AWS S3 and transfers data to Filen server-to-server. This bypasses your local network entirely, making it the fastest option for large migrations.

How it works

Enter your AWS Access Key and Secret Key.
CloudsLinker auto-lists all your S3 buckets.
Select buckets/objects, connect Filen, and transfer.

Why this is often best for S3

Avoids egress through your local network.
Server-to-server speeds are typically faster.
Handles large object counts efficiently.

Step-by-step setup

Open CloudsLinker and create a new transfer task.
Add AWS S3 as the source. You'll need:
- Access Key ID
- Secret Access Key
- Region
CloudsLinker will automatically list all buckets accessible with your credentials.
Add Filen as the destination. Enter your Filen credentials (enable 2FA first for security).
Browse your S3 bucket and select objects or prefixes to transfer.
Configure transfer options:
- "Skip existing" to avoid duplicates
- File filters to exclude certain types
- Destination folder structure in Filen
Start the transfer and monitor progress from the dashboard.

S3 credential best practices

Create a dedicated IAM user for the transfer.
Grant only s3:GetObject and s3:ListBucket permissions.
Delete or disable the credentials after migration.

After the transfer

Verify object counts match between S3 and Filen.
Spot-check a few files for integrity.
Review error logs for any failed transfers.

Google Drive to Filen transfer task in CloudsLinker

Start Cloud Transfer Create a Filen Account

AWS S3 vs Filen at a glance

Category	AWS S3	Filen
Encryption model	Server-side encryption (AWS manages keys) or client-side.	Zero-knowledge, client-side encryption (you control keys).
Pricing model	Pay per GB stored + requests + egress bandwidth.	Flat subscription plans, no egress fees.
Use case	Scalable infrastructure storage, application backends.	Private encrypted storage, personal/team files.
API access	Extensive REST API, SDKs for all major languages.	Desktop/mobile apps, web interface.

Before You Start: Quick Prep Checklist

Calculate data size: Check your S3 bucket size to estimate Filen storage needs and potential egress costs.
Review bucket structure: Decide if you want to preserve S3 prefix structure or reorganize in Filen.
Create limited IAM credentials: For cloud-to-cloud transfer, use credentials with minimal permissions.
Enable Filen 2FA: Turn on two-factor authentication before connecting services.
Test with a small prefix: Migrate a small folder first to validate the process.
Consider object metadata: S3 metadata may not transfer; document any critical metadata separately.

FAQ

S3 custom metadata (like Content-Type, Cache-Control, custom headers) generally won't transfer to Filen, which stores files rather than objects. File modification dates usually preserve.

Only the current version of each object transfers. If you need old versions, download them separately from S3 before migration.

Objects in Glacier or Deep Archive must be restored before transfer. Initiate a restore in S3, wait for completion, then run the migration. This adds cost and time.

Yes. CloudsLinker supports S3-compatible APIs. Use your provider's endpoint URL along with your access credentials.

AWS charges for data transferred out of S3 (currently ~$0.09/GB for first 10TB). Check AWS pricing calculator for your specific region and volume. Cloud-to-cloud transfer still incurs egress costs, but the transfer happens faster.

Conclusion

The right AWS S3 to Filen method depends on your data size, technical skills, and how hands-on you want to be. For developers comfortable with CLI tools, the AWS CLI approach gives you full control. For larger migrations where you want local verification, the sync bridge works well. And for the fastest, most efficient transfer of large S3 buckets, CloudsLinker handles the migration entirely in the cloud. Always test with a small bucket or folder first to validate the process.

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