[cameronh90]

Just to add that S3 supports a compliance object lock that can't even be overridden by the root user. Also AWS doesn't delete your account or data until 90 days after the account is closed.

Between these two protections, it's pretty hard to lose data from S3 if you really want to keep it. I would guess they are better protections than you could achieve in your own self managed DC.

I'm guessing AWS has some clause in their contract that means they can refuse to deal with you or even return any of your data if they feel like it. Not sure if that's ever happened, but still worth considering it.