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AWS outposts medium security documentation change

Service: outposts · 2025-07-18 · Security-related medium

File: outposts/latest/userguide/term-end-racks.md

Summary

Updated subscription end process documentation with reduced lead time (30 days to 5 business days), simplified renewal procedures, added decommissioning steps with security key destruction, and clarified billing implications

Security assessment

Added requirement to destroy AWS Nitro Security Keys during decommissioning process. This directly addresses potential security risks by ensuring cryptographic materials are properly disposed. The nitro security key handling is a security-specific feature documentation addition.

Diff

diff --git a/outposts/latest/userguide/term-end-racks.md b/outposts/latest/userguide/term-end-racks.md
index 0901e2347..a2529c337 100644
--- a//outposts/latest/userguide/term-end-racks.md
+++ b//outposts/latest/userguide/term-end-racks.md
@@ -5 +5 @@
-Renew subscriptionEnd subscriptionConvert subscription
+Renew subscriptionReturn racksConvert subscription
@@ -13 +13 @@ At the end of your AWS Outposts term, you must choose between the following opti
-  * End your subscription and prepare your Outposts racks for return.
+  * Prepare your Outposts racks for return.
@@ -22 +22 @@ At the end of your AWS Outposts term, you must choose between the following opti
-You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current subscription for your Outposts racks ends.
+You must complete the following steps at least **5 business days** before the current subscription for your Outposts racks ends. Failing to complete these steps at least 5 business days before the current subscription ends might result in unanticipated charges.
@@ -24 +24 @@ You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current su
-###### To renew your subscription and keep your existing Outposts racks
+###### To renew your subscription and keep your existing Outposts racks:
@@ -26,15 +26 @@ You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current su
-  1. Sign in to the [AWS Support Center](https://console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/) Console.
-
-  2. Choose **Create case**.
-
-  3. Choose **Account and billing**.
-
-  4. For **Service** , choose **Billing**.
-
-  5. For **Category** , choose **Other Billing Questions**.
-
-  6. For **Severity** , choose **Important question**.
-
-  7. Choose **Next step: Additional information**.
-
-  8. On the **Additional information** page, for **Subject** , enter your request to renew such as `Renew my Outpost subscription`.
+  1. Open the AWS Outposts console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/outposts/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/outposts/home).
@@ -42 +28 @@ You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current su
-  9. For **Description** , enter one of the following payment options:
+  2. In the navigation pane, choose **Outposts**.
@@ -44 +30 @@ You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current su
-     * No upfront
+  3. Choose **Actions**.
@@ -46 +32 @@ You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current su
-     * Partial upfront
+  4. Choose **Renew Outpost**.
@@ -48 +34 @@ You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current su
-     * All upfront
+  5. Choose the subscription term length and payment option.
@@ -52,3 +38 @@ For pricing, see [AWS Outposts rack pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/rac
-  10. Choose **Next step: Solve now or contact us**.
-
-  11. On the **Contact us** page, choose your preferred language.
+  6. Choose **Submit support ticket**.
@@ -56 +39,0 @@ For pricing, see [AWS Outposts rack pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/rac
-  12. Choose your preferred contact method.
@@ -58 +40,0 @@ For pricing, see [AWS Outposts rack pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/rac
-  13. Review your case details and then choose **Submit**. Your case ID number and summary appear.
@@ -60,0 +43 @@ For pricing, see [AWS Outposts rack pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/rac
+###### Note
@@ -61,0 +45 @@ For pricing, see [AWS Outposts rack pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/rac
+If renewing before the current subscription for your Outposts racks ends, you will be charged immediately for any upfront fees.
@@ -63 +47 @@ For pricing, see [AWS Outposts rack pricing](https://aws.amazon.com/outposts/rac
-AWS Customer Support will initiate the subscription renewal process. Your new subscription will start the day after your current subscription ends.
+Your new subscription will start the day after your current subscription ends.
@@ -67,31 +51 @@ If you do not indicate that you want to renew your subscription or return your O
-## End your subscription and prepare racks for return
-
-You must complete the following steps at least **30 days** before the current subscription for your Outposts rack ends. AWS can't start the return process until you do so.
-
-###### Important
-
-AWS can't stop the return process after you open a support case to end your subscription.
-
-###### To end your subscription
-
-  1. Sign in to the [AWS Support Center](https://console.aws.amazon.com/support/home#/) Console.
-
-  2. Choose **Create case**.
-
-  3. Choose **Account and billing**.
-
-  4. For **Service** , choose **Billing**.
-
-  5. For **Category** , choose **Other Billing Questions**.
-
-  6. For **Severity** , choose **Important question**.
-
-  7. Choose **Next step: Additional information**.
-
-  8. On the **Additional information** page, for **Subject** , enter a clear request, such as `End my Outpost subscription`.
-
-  9. For **Description** , enter the date that you prefer to have the Outpost retrieved.
-
-  10. Choose **Next step: Solve now or contact us**.
-
-  11. On the **Contact us** page, choose your preferred language.
+## Return AWS Outposts racks
@@ -99 +53 @@ AWS can't stop the return process after you open a support case to end your subs
-  12. Choose your preferred contact method.
+You must prepare your AWS Outposts rack for return and complete the decommission process at least **5 business days** before the current subscription for your Outposts rack ends. AWS can't start the return process until you do so. Failing to complete these steps at least 5 business days before the current subscription ends might result in delays in decommissioning and unanticipated charges.
@@ -101,8 +55 @@ AWS can't stop the return process after you open a support case to end your subs
-  13. Review your case details and then choose **Submit**. Your case ID number and summary appear.
-
-
-
-
-AWS Customer Support will contact you to coordinate the retrieval.
-
-###### To prepare your AWS Outposts racks for return:
+###### To prepare your AWS Outposts rack for return:
@@ -190,0 +138,29 @@ Show moreShow less
+An AWS retrieval team will power down the rack. After it's powered down, you can destroy the AWS Nitro Security Key or the AWS retrieval team can do so on your behalf.
+
+###### To return your AWS Outposts racks
+
+###### Important
+
+AWS can't stop the return process after you have submitted your decommission request.
+
+  1. Open the AWS Outposts console at [https://console.aws.amazon.com/outposts/](https://console.aws.amazon.com/outposts/home).
+
+  2. In the navigation pane, choose **Outposts**.
+
+  3. Choose **Actions**.
+
+  4. Choose **Decommission Outpost**.
+
+  5. Choose a reason for the decommission.
+
+  6. Choose **Submit support ticket**.
+
+An AWS representative will contact you to begin the decommissioning process.
+
+
+
+
+###### Note
+
+Returning your racks before the current subscription for your Outposts racks ends will not terminate any outstanding charges associated with this Outpost.
+