AWS Lambda – Automated Snapshot Cleanup

This project demonstrates how to use AWS Lambda with Python (boto3) to automatically clean up unused EC2 snapshots, reducing manual effort and optimizing AWS storage costs.

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🚀 Project Aim

• Delete snapshots that are not associated with any volume.
• Delete snapshots that are associated with a volume but the volume is not attached to any EC2 instance.

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🛠 Tech Stack

• AWS Lambda (Serverless Compute)
• Python 3.x with boto3
• Amazon EC2 (Snapshots, Volumes, Instances)
• AWS IAM (Role-based permissions)
• Amazon CloudWatch (Event trigger)

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Fork this repo for later use

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⚙️ Setup Instructions

1. Create Lambda Function

• Log in to AWS Console → Lambda → Create function
• Choose Python 3.x as runtime

2. Configure IAM Role

• Create a new IAM policy with these permissions:
  • DescribeInstances
  • DescribeVolumes
  • DescribeSnapshots
  • DeleteSnapshot
• Attach this policy to the Lambda’s execution role

3. Update General Settings

• Set Timeout = 10 seconds (to avoid unnecessary AWS charges)

4. Add Code

• Copy code from lambda_function.py in this repo
• Paste into Lambda code editor → Save → Deploy

5. Test the Function

• Create an EC2 instance and take a snapshot of its volume
• Run the Lambda test → Snapshot will remain (since it’s linked to active volume)

• Delete the EC2 instance and run Lambda again → Snapshot will be deleted automatically

  

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✅ Expected Output

• Before deletion: Snapshots exist but are linked to volumes/instances

• After deletion: Unused snapshots are automatically removed

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📊 Key Learning

• Hands-on with serverless computing
• Configuring event-driven automation with CloudWatch
• Securing automation with IAM role-based access
• Cost optimization by cleaning unused resources

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