What protocol does AWS S3 use for secure communications?

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) employs HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) for secure communications. HTTPS is an extension of HTTP and incorporates SSL/TLS protocols to encrypt data in transit between clients and the S3 service. This encryption ensures that sensitive data, such as files stored in S3, is protected from eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks, maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the information being transmitted.

Using HTTPS is essential for secure cloud storage operations, as it safeguards the data not only while being uploaded to S3 but also during requests to retrieve that data. This is particularly important for businesses that handle sensitive information, as they must comply with regulations regarding data protection.

Other protocols listed, such as FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SSH (Secure Shell), do not apply to S3 communications. FTP, for instance, is often used for transferring files but lacks built-in encryption, making it unsuitable for transmitting sensitive data. SSH is primarily a protocol for secure remote server access rather than for data storage communications. HTTP, while functional, does not provide the security benefits that HTTPS does since it transmits data in plain text. Thus, the correct choice demonstrates a fundamental aspect of securing cloud storage interactions with AWS S3.